The Edexcel M1 (16/05/12 - AM) Revision Thread
Maths exam discussion - share revision tips in preparation for GCSE, A Level and other maths exams and discuss how they went afterwards.
-
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12
Subscribing to this.
I hated mechanics up until about a month ago, literally couldn't do anything. But its starting to click, and I've gone from getting 20% to 70-75% on past papers.
I'm currently still struggling with momentum and impulse, and resolving is occasionally an issue. I need to practise a bit on pulleys, but I'm very nearly there with mechanics. Surprisingly I've got to this stage quicker than with stats (which I LOVED), as probability didn't click until the day before the exam.
I'm doing this straight after C1 - I have five maths exams this summer as the only one I've done is S1. So I'm hoping to get M1, C1 and C2 out of the way soonish so I can concentrate on C3/4. How's everyone revising - papers or books? -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12really? momentum and impulse was the only thing I understood until I actually started revising :L(Original post by ninegrandstudent)
Subscribing to this.
I hated mechanics up until about a month ago, literally couldn't do anything. But its starting to click, and I've gone from getting 20% to 70-75% on past papers.
I'm currently still struggling with momentum and impulse, and resolving is occasionally an issue. I need to practise a bit on pulleys, but I'm very nearly there with mechanics. Surprisingly I've got to this stage quicker than with stats (which I LOVED), as probability didn't click until the day before the exam.
I'm doing this straight after C1 - I have five maths exams this summer as the only one I've done is S1. So I'm hoping to get M1, C1 and C2 out of the way soonish so I can concentrate on C3/4. How's everyone revising - papers or books?
I have 7 maths exams
C3,C4,M1 (resists) 90,69,69 ums in them. Retaking the C3 because I don't want to rely on C4 so much for an A*
exams I am taking for the first time D2, S2, FP2, FP3 (predicted A's in all because I got A's in the ones before
)
-
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12how long and how did you go from 20% to 70% .... i need to do this, i'm still on the 20% stage and struggling majorly(Original post by ninegrandstudent)
Subscribing to this.
I hated mechanics up until about a month ago, literally couldn't do anything. But its starting to click, and I've gone from getting 20% to 70-75% on past papers.
I'm currently still struggling with momentum and impulse, and resolving is occasionally an issue. I need to practise a bit on pulleys, but I'm very nearly there with mechanics. Surprisingly I've got to this stage quicker than with stats (which I LOVED), as probability didn't click until the day before the exam.
I'm doing this straight after C1 - I have five maths exams this summer as the only one I've done is S1. So I'm hoping to get M1, C1 and C2 out of the way soonish so I can concentrate on C3/4. How's everyone revising - papers or books?
-
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12Just do a lot of past papers, then go through the solutions on www.examsolutions.co.uk(Original post by wam-bam)
how long and how did you go from 20% to 70% .... i need to do this, i'm still on the 20% stage and struggling majorly
-
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12thank you for this resource!!!! it's amazing!!!!(Original post by NutterFrutter)
Just do a lot of past papers, then go through the solutions on www.examsolutions.co.uk
p.s then your spoiler just killed my thoughts on your amazingness
Last edited by wam-bam; 29-03-2012 at 21:50. -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12Yeah, everyone elsec eems to find it really easy as well...mental block I believe!(Original post by JordanS94)
really? momentum and impulse was the only thing I understood until I actually started revising :L
I have 7 maths exams
C3,C4,M1 (resists) 90,69,69 ums in them. Retaking the C3 because I don't want to rely on C4 so much for an A*
exams I am taking for the first time D2, S2, FP2, FP3 (predicted A's in all because I got A's in the ones before
)
And I know I've not got that many to do, its still enormous pressure as they are NOT resits so I have no UMS (bar 92 in s1) to fall back on!
It probably took 3 weeks- with one double lesson, homework taking another double, and a paper each week. One thing that was really helpful for me was something my yeacher does. she goes through every past paper and seperates into topics, then gives us dedicated worksheets with tmreal exam questions to practise - really good for ironing out problems. She's done this for every module. And for mechanics, not the others, shes done every single question from every book AND paper, so we have every worked solution. Its amazingly useful if you're ever stuck.(Original post by wam-bam)
how long and how did you go from 20% to 70% .... i need to do this, i'm still on the 20% stage and struggling majorly
My advice is to stick with papers, but split into topics so you're learning and concentrating on one or two every week. Make sure you look out for abnormal questions so you're not caught out. And good luck! -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12if you are planning on doing M2, then Momentum and impulse becomes quite difficult, and there are usually a lot of marks for it (e.g. two 7 mark questions).(Original post by ninegrandstudent)
Subscribing to this.
I hated mechanics up until about a month ago, literally couldn't do anything. But its starting to click, and I've gone from getting 20% to 70-75% on past papers.
I'm currently still struggling with momentum and impulse, and resolving is occasionally an issue. I need to practise a bit on pulleys, but I'm very nearly there with mechanics. Surprisingly I've got to this stage quicker than with stats (which I LOVED), as probability didn't click until the day before the exam.
I'm doing this straight after C1 - I have five maths exams this summer as the only one I've done is S1. So I'm hoping to get M1, C1 and C2 out of the way soonish so I can concentrate on C3/4. How's everyone revising - papers or books? -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12God no! I've had enough mechanics to last me a lifetime - stats all the way! I'm only doing normal maths so no need for M2. A group I know have chosen to do all the mechanics modules and have formed a little club - why they'd choose to do it I don't know, but then I REALLY don't enjoy mechanics!(Original post by brittanna)
if you are planning on doing M2, then Momentum and impulse becomes quite difficult, and there are usually a lot of marks for it (e.g. two 7 mark questions). -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12Out of stats and mechanics, mechanics would win any day. Stats can be very uninteresting at times (most of the time) whereas mechanics is always fun and relatively challenging.(Original post by ninegrandstudent)
God no! I've had enough mechanics to last me a lifetime - stats all the way! I'm only doing normal maths so no need for M2. A group I know have chosen to do all the mechanics modules and have formed a little club - why they'd choose to do it I don't know, but then I REALLY don't enjoy mechanics! -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12
there are quite a few videos here (If examsolutions doesn't have the paper you're looking for):
http://www.youtube.com/user/maths247...chanics&view=1
http://www.m4ths.com/index.php?p=1_6_V-links -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12I disagree - stats <3(Original post by brittanna)
Out of stats and mechanics, mechanics would win any day. Stats can be very uninteresting at times (most of the time) whereas mechanics is always fun and relatively challenging. -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12
I haven't started M1 at all :| !
I'm planning to go through the exercises in the book+ check the solutions in the CD, then go through the past papers>> all in two weeks :O
I've done physics as last year, so I'm thinking it won't be too bad :/ .. Right??
Knowing I have 13 exams this summer, I'm feeling pretty stressed -_-" -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12Fair enough, I would do both just to be safe(Original post by raheem94)
Yes, i am on edexcel, and i used the Heinmann books.
Review exercises contain a lot harder questions than past papers. The past papers have simple question which i don't think are a good practice, i don't do many past papers, but i do solve all the review exercises, and it works out well for me.
I don't think it is worth to do 20 past papers. I will certainly solve so many papers for subjects other than maths, but in maths if you understand all the concepts then you can spend time on other subjects rather than doing papers.
As all the review exercises are past papers questions (they date back a long way sometimes) , they are worth doing true. However, some are completely unnecessary for example there's a question in my final M2 chapter in the review exercise of a ladder problem where the wall and ground are rough. However in the spec , it says that they won't ask questions where both wall and ground have frictional components, hence for the purpose of the M2 exam, it is utterly irrelevant to do! (although certainly worth it for pleasure/honing your maths ability if you seek to study it at uni)
The more recent past papers probably give an indication of what the chief examiner is going to aim to throw at you and hence I feel doing these are worth more.
Still, I have done both for C1 and C2 and still will for the summer exams! -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12Yes, if you have enough time then you should do both.(Original post by Mr Tough)
Fair enough, I would do both just to be safe
As all the review exercises are past papers questions (they date back a long way sometimes) , they are worth doing true. However, some are completely unnecessary for example there's a question in my final M2 chapter in the review exercise of a ladder problem where the wall and ground are rough. However in the spec , it says that they won't ask questions where both wall and ground have frictional components, hence for the purpose of the M2 exam, it is utterly irrelevant to do! (although certainly worth it for pleasure/honing your maths ability if you seek to study it at uni)
The more recent past papers probably give an indication of what the chief examiner is going to aim to throw at you and hence I feel doing these are worth more.
Still, I have done both for C1 and C2 and still will for the summer exams!
I don't read the spec, so i don't know much about it. I just solve the whole book, and don't go for past papers. The questions in the past papers are very easy, so i don't find a need to do them, review exercise has a lot harder question then which you will find in the latest past papers so its better to do it.
I didn't did even attempt a single past paper for M2 but still got 90UMS(71/75 raw marks), i should have scored full but some stupid mistakes let me down.
So my point is that past papers should only be done if you are completely confident that you know everything. Then when you will go to past papers, you will see that the questions will seem very easy to you, and you will probably be scoring full in those. -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12True, I totally agree with your last paragraph there lol!(Original post by raheem94)
Yes, if you have enough time then you should do both.
I don't read the spec, so i don't know much about it. I just solve the whole book, and don't go for past papers. The questions in the past papers are very easy, so i don't find a need to do them, review exercise has a lot harder question then which you will find in the latest past papers so its better to do it.
I didn't did even attempt a single past paper for M2 but still got 90UMS(71/75 raw marks), i should have scored full but some stupid mistakes let me down.
So my point is that past papers should only be done if you are completely confident that you know everything. Then when you will go to past papers, you will see that the questions will seem very easy to you, and you will probably be scoring full in those.
Are you in year 12 or 13? What are you hoping to study at uni? -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12I am in year 13. In year 12, i did complete A-Level in maths and chemistry. In year 13, i am doing complete A-Level in further maths and physics.(Original post by Mr Tough)
True, I totally agree with your last paragraph there lol!
Are you in year 12 or 13? What are you hoping to study at uni?
I have applied for chemical engineering to uni.
What about you?
In which year are you studying and which subjects do you take? -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12So in your school you just study 2 subjects a year then? I'm in year 12, currently studying Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Economics.(Original post by raheem94)
I am in year 13. In year 12, i did complete A-Level in maths and chemistry. In year 13, i am doing complete A-Level in further maths and physics.
I have applied for chemical engineering to uni.
What about you?
In which year are you studying and which subjects do you take?
By the end of this year i will have done 5 of the 6 Maths Modules, 1 FM module, and the AS part for chem and economics
Good luck dude! Where have/did you apply to? -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12(Original post by Mr Tough)
So in your school you just study 2 subjects a year then? I'm in year 12, currently studying Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Economics.
By the end of this year i will have done 5 of the 6 Maths Modules, 1 FM module, and the AS part for chem and economics
Good luck dude! Where have/did you apply to?
In our school we study 2 A-Level subjects in an year. If we want to do anymore subjects then we do them in the next year.
In my first year i did A-Level math(C1-4, M1-2) and chemistry, got an A* in both.
In my second year, i am doing further maths(FP1-3, S1-2, M3) and physics.
Actually i am self-studying further maths by using the books, but will give the exam through the school. In my school no one does further maths, i am the only one doing it.
Chemistry is the only well taught subject in my school, so all other subjects need to be self-studied. I had to self-study maths last year, because the teaching was very poor.
I have applied to uni of toronto, McGill and waterloo.
You are doing edexcel chem and maths, right?
Which grade are you aiming for? -
Re: Edexcel revision for Mechanics (M1) 16/05/12Ah right, you live in Canada??(Original post by raheem94)
In our school we study 2 A-Level subjects in an year. If we want to do anymore subjects then we do them in the next year.
In my first year i did A-Level math(C1-4, M1-2) and chemistry, got an A* in both.
In my second year, i am doing further maths(FP1-3, S1-2, M3) and physics.
Actually i am self-studying further maths by using the books, but will give the exam through the school. In my school no one does further maths, i am the only one doing it.
Chemistry is the only well taught subject in my school, so all other subjects need to be self-studied. I had to self-study maths last year, because the teaching was very poor.
I have applied to uni of toronto, McGill and waterloo.
You are doing edexcel chem and maths, right?
Which grade are you aiming for?
Congrats on the grades btw!
We're doing edexcel maths, but aqa chemistry! The aqa grade boundaries for the practical component of the a level is ridiculously high, every year you seem to need 50/50 raw marks to get 60/60 ums!
So far, i've got 200/200 in maths and 100/100 in chem but those were the easy starter modules so the ones in june are more important...im aiming for A*s in everything although economics isn't taught as well as I had hoped in my school so I will seriously need to put in many hours to achieve the grade i want!
I think in my ISA test , I either scored 29 or 30 out of 30, so I'm hoping I won't drop a mark there
I'm doing the exact same modules as you though...it must be hard to self teach further maths! Other than using the heinmann books, how do you do it??! You must be really smart haha
Apparently we're going to be taught both M3 and S3 in my school and then we get to decide which module to sit the exam in...
Which do you prefer, mechanics or statistics??
C3,C4,M1 (resists) 90,69,69 ums in them. Retaking the C3 because I don't want to rely on C4 so much for an A*
)