Maths Revision

REMEMBER Maths is like sports. The more you practise, the better you become.

• The maths muscle gets stronger, the more maths practice we do;

• The stronger the maths muscle, the faster it works;

• The stronger it is, the harder the problems it can solve;

• The stronger it is, the easier maths becomes.

General Tips

Always show your working

In order to get full marks in a lot of questions you must show your working. Even if you end up getting the final answer wrong, the use of the correct method will be awarded.

Answer all the questions

You're certain to get zero if you put nothing down, so even if you're genuinely completely stumped, have a random guess from what you do know.

But be careful not to waste time when you've got questions still to answer that you can do. If you're stuck, move on and return to those that have left you stumped at the end.

Make your final answer clear

If you've done a lot of working out, make sure to clearly highlight your final answer so it is not lost. Cross out anything you don't want the examiner to consider.

Do a common sense check

Check your answers with a bit of common sense. For example, a probability should always be between 0 and 1 (or 0 and 100%). The adjacent length of a triangle shouldn't be longer than the hypotenuse, and so on.

Watch for units and rounding

Read the question carefully and see if the answer needs to be given in a specific unit, which may need to be converted.

Make sure that you also always keep calculations in the same unit, so no multiplying metres by centimetres.

Finally, only round the final answer at the end - not any numbers you may get when working out.

Check your equipment

Before the day of the exam, ensure you have all the right equipment ready including - if required - a calculator.

Get a good sleep and eat well

Have a good night's sleep the day before, eat a good breakfast and drink lots of water to keep you hydrated. Arriving in the exam room with a hangover is not the best way to go...