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The 2013 STEP Prep Thread!

Yeah ive printed the whole booklet apart from the III parts; i just need a reference for the 'advanced problems in mathematics' booklet :smile:

Perhaps you could be the one to make that reference? :smile:

Reply 181

M2k13

Original post by msmith2512

I would suggest you start with STEP I and look at 2006 onwards. Have a proper go at each question - they will be hard to start with until you start to get to know what you are looking for each time. If you get stuck then play around with the question - if this doesn't help go on to then next one and come back the following day.

Don't use the answer thread until really necessary. Then only as a hint and continue to work through the question.

Thank you

,when i finish plenty of AEA papers i'll start STEP practise then. I shall use that advice too :tongue:

Original post by shamika

The following require little A-Level maths at all:

1999 STEP I Q1
2003 STEP I Q2
2005 STEP I Q1
2006 STEP I Q1
2006 STEP I Q2 (hint: don't use calculus)
2007 STEP I Q1
2009 STEP I Q1

... and so on. These are among my favourite questions, since they test whether you are methodical and persistent, two skills very necessary to succeed at university style maths. (They also happen to easy once you've practised a few of them, so if you get something similar in your paper you can pounce on it!)

Pretty much any pure question post 1999 in STEP I and II will be accessible with C1-C4. Leave the later exams for actual practise and study if/when you get an offer from a university requiring STEP.

Also use the Siklos booklets - great for practise at this level...

Thanks! I looked at them, quite interesting but tricky :s-smilie:

but i shall not attempt them until i start doing STEP :colondollar:

, i would probably use the Siklos booklet too, seems useful :biggrin:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 182

TheMagicMan

15

Original post by M2k13

So which papers are best to do that do not involve Further pure ?

If you are planning to do step i would recommend picking up fp2 and fp3 this summer, so that you can do all the step questions and so that you have more time to absorb and understand them. Also ask your teachers if you can do step in lessons (this really helps with finding time for preparation)

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Reply 183

TheMagicMan

15

Original post by shamika

The following require little A-Level maths at all:

1999 STEP I Q1
2003 STEP I Q2
2005 STEP I Q1
2006 STEP I Q1
2006 STEP I Q2 (hint: don't use calculus)
2007 STEP I Q1
2009 STEP I Q1

... and so on. These are among my favourite questions, since they test whether you are methodical and persistent, two skills very necessary to succeed at university style maths. (They also happen to easy once you've practised a few of them, so if you get something similar in your paper you can pounce on it!)

Pretty much any pure question post 1999 in STEP I and II will be accessible with C1-C4. Leave the later exams for actual practise and study if/when you get an offer from a university requiring STEP.

Also use the Siklos booklets - great for practise at this level...

I didn't even know the booklets existed until two weeks before the exam :wink:

I'm not sure how useful I would have found them as having the solution right there is just too tempting

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Reply 184

shamika

16

Original post by TheMagicMan

I didn't even know the booklets existed until two weeks before the exam :wink:

I'm not sure how useful I would have found them as having the solution right there is just too tempting

LOL!!!

Hmmm, I never really thought about that. I think they're designed so that questions/discussion are on odd numbered pages, solutions on even (so you can quite easily miss the solutions). I think now they're most useful for knowing Siklos' thoughts and opinions - you've got TSR to ask for hints :tongue:

PS: Agree with learning FP2/3 first before tackling STEP, I think

Reply 185

M2k13

Original post by TheMagicMan

If you are planning to do step i would recommend picking up fp2 and fp3 this summer, so that you can do all the step questions and so that you have more time to absorb and understand them. Also ask your teachers if you can do step in lessons (this really helps with finding time for preparation)

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I'm not sure learning FP2/3 in the holidays is a good idea >.> since I started FP1 in school this week, and only learnt the basics of complex numbers :colondollar:

(mainly i = (root)-1)...
So January onwards I might do STEP 2&3 prep since I'll cover FP2/3 from then :redface:

And yes I already have asked my teacher :biggrin:

, luckily shes my form tutor too :smile:

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Reply 186

Stray

6

Original post by M2k13

I'm not sure learning FP2/3 in the holidays is a good idea ...
So January onwards I might do STEP 2&3 prep...

As you're planning, it's best to start now with STEP I, and then ramp up to STEP II - there is a much bigger gap between A-level Maths and *any* STEP question than there is between a STEP I question and a STEP III question.

You don't need to wait until you've done FP2/3 in January before you start on STEP II, it only needs the normal maths modules + proof by induction.

Some people have said that they prefer STEP II / III to STEP I - the ideas tend to be quite nice and meaty, with more 'aha!' and less 'busy work' than STEP I, where sometimes you're wading through a lot of algebra (which certainly tests an important skill but can be really dull!)

It can also help to recognise that the various topics are artificially broken down for A-level modules. There is no reason, once you understand the complex numbers stuff from FP1, not to go on to do the complex numbers stuff from FP2/3 (depending on your exam board). If you find a gap that needs filling then pick up that extra knowledge to fill it. Then you can tackle a complex numbers question from STEP III.

The module syllabi are a bit of a hinderance if you let yourself be a slave to them... :smile:

Reply 187

MathsMan12

For STEP III, what modules and chapters do you need to know? (Im on edexcel btw)

Reply 188

Lord of the Flies

OP

19

Original post by MathsMan12

For STEP III, what modules and chapters do you need to know? (Im on edexcel btw)

The entire Maths and Further Maths syllabus.

Reply 189

bananarama2

Original post by Lord of the Flies

The entire Maths and Further Maths syllabus.

And additional further maths for some questions.

Reply 190

MathsMan12

Original post by wcp100

And additional further maths for some questions.

So you need to pretty much know, c1-c4, fp1-fp3, m1-m5, s1-s4 (edexcel)

Reply 191

Llewellyn

14

Original post by MathsMan12

So you need to pretty much know, c1-c4, fp1-fp3, m1-m5, s1-s4 (edexcel)

You don't "need" to. In STEP you need to answer 6 questions out of 13 (you can choose which). So if you'd rather avoid statistics, then you can, and you don't need to learn up to S4. The same goes for mechanics. A lot of people stick to pure and would only "need" up to fp3.

However, it would be a good idea to do as much maths as possible. You don't want to limit yourself to certain questions if you can avoid it.

Reply 192

bananarama2

Original post by MathsMan12

So you need to pretty much know, c1-c4, fp1-fp3, m1-m5, s1-s4 (edexcel)

You can specialise as explained by Llew.

Reply 193

GreenLantern1

Let's make a 2014 STEP Prep Thread!

Reply 194

bananarama2

Original post by GreenLantern1

Let's make a 2014 STEP Prep Thread!

Reply 195

Llewellyn

14

Original post by GreenLantern1

Let's make a 2014 STEP Prep Thread!

Having a thread for an exam 2 years away does seem a bit inane.

If you're going into year 12 in Sept, then why not sit STEP I in 2013? There is no better preparation for 2014 and the experience would be good for the real thing.

Reply 196

M2k13

Original post by MathsMan12

So you need to pretty much know, c1-c4, fp1-fp3, m1-m5, s1-s4 (edexcel)

Wow, Edexcel seems to have more mechanics/stats modules than WJEC :redface:

.
WJEC has
M1-2 &M3 if further maths mechanics
S1-2 &S3 if further Maths stats

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Reply 197

Lord of the Flies

OP

19

Original post by GreenLantern1

Let's make a 2014 STEP Prep Thread!

And I thought this thread was a tad early... :rolleyes:

Seriously, a good number of people who would hypothetically take STEP in 2014 would not have the mathematical experience to tackle STEP questions yet.

Reply 198

Dirac Spinor

10

wrt necessary modules, there aren't really any. I did STEP III mechanics before I'd gone anywhere past M1. Most of the stuff is figure out-able, you've just got to know a few definitions.

Reply 199

GreenLantern1

Original post by Llewellyn

Having a thread for an exam 2 years away does seem a bit inane.

If you're going into year 12 in Sept, then why not sit STEP I in 2013? There is no better preparation for 2014 and the experience would be good for the real thing.

Yee I would definitely be preparing for it but want to get the best grade possible and I feel my mathematical maturity and persistency .e.g. sticking to a question for hours and not being tempted to look at a solution as well as my algebraic fluency would be a great deal better in year 13 than it would in year 12 so I don't want to risk that.

Original post by Lord of the Flies

And I thought this thread was a tad early... :rolleyes:

Seriously, a good number of people who would hypothetically take STEP in 2014 would not have the mathematical experience to tackle STEP questions yet.

I've tackled a few STEP I questions successfully at the beginning of year 11. And the thread would not need to be focused on STEP but preparation for it in terms of other problems.

The 2013 STEP Prep Thread!

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