[x0x]

Hi
I have been self-teaching myself C1 Mathematics (Edexcel) over the summer (i want to get a head start :P). Everything is going fine, although i need someone to answer these questions:
1- When you sketch and transform graphs, does it have to be to scale? (even though you include the coordinates of any intersections)
2- Would it be a good idea to do Solomn papers (is that how you spell it :P ) , they seem harder compared to the past papers :P
3- Would be reasonably possible for me to score full marks if i know how to do every type of question by heart? or is there more to it than just "knowing" how to do a question? ( I was predicted an A* at the IGCSE exam i sat in may, i hope i did well )
Thank you very much in advance for your help;much appreciated
N.B. please excuse my poor grammar; i haven't been practising my English much lately :P

[gdunne42]

(Original post by x0x)
Hi
I have been self-teaching myself C1 Mathematics (Edexcel) over the summer (i want to get a head start :P). Everything is going fine, although i need someone to answer these questions:
1- When you sketch and transform graphs, does it have to be to scale? (even though you include the coordinates of any intersections)
2- Would it be a good idea to do Solomn papers (is that how you spell it :P ) , they seem harder compared to the past papers :P
3- Would be reasonably possible for me to score full marks if i know how to do every type of question by heart? or is there more to it than just "knowing" how to do a question? ( I was predicted an A* at the IGCSE exam i sat in may, i hope i did well )
Thank you very much in advance for your help;much appreciated
N.B. please excuse my poor grammar; i haven't been practising my English much lately :P

1. No. Marks are awarded for the correct general shape and clearly indicating intresections with the axes or marking asymptotes

2. It's a personal opinion but I think Solomon papers are a waste of time for C1 and C2 and in some cases can be demotivating becuse they are much harder than the real thing. Others will disagree with me.

3. If you've done all the questions in the text book and achieved full marks from the available past papers you can be confident of doing well in the real thing. Things get a bit trickier in C3 and especially C4 but for C1 & C2 just knowing the content is enough.


really useful site if you are self teaching
http://www.examsolutions.co.uk/

[x0x]

(Original post by gdunne42)
1. No. Marks are awarded for the correct general shape and clearly indicating intresections with the axes or marking asymptotes

2. It's a personal opinion but I think Solomon papers are a waste of time for C1 and C2 and in some cases can be demotivating becuse they are much harder than the real thing. Others will disagree with me.

3. If you've done all the questions in the text book and achieved full marks from the available past papers you can be confident of doing well in the real thing. Things get a bit trickier in C3 and especially C4 but for C1 & C2 just knowing the content is enough.


really useful site if you are self teaching
http://www.examsolutions.co.uk/

Thank you; i really appreciate your help
And yes, i am using that website

[r85m916]

It is very encouraging to hear that you wish to have a head-start in preparation for your maths A-level. With an A* - hopefully- in your IGCSE, you should find that Core 1 is accessible to you, maybe with a couple of challenges on the harder material.

gdunne42 has offered some good advice; however I feel that, once you have a solid grasp of the C1 material, you should try some Delphis or Solomon C1 papers. Yes, indeed, they are usually more challenging - and with some twist-style questions, but they will enable you to develop strong abstract reasoning skills needed to succeed in a full maths A-level.

Moreover, I would suggest that you develop your general algebra skills, if you haven't done so already, to get used to the level of questioning that you'll experience at A-level. However, assuming that you achieve an A* in your IGCSE, it is already indicative that you are competent at manipulating algebra.

Also, I would suggest that you learn, and are able to reconstruct, some fundamental proofs for C1. My advice would be to do this for arithmetic series and co-ordinate geometry - such as the equation of a straight line. It is rare for them to do so, but they may ask you to prove the formula for arithmetic series in the C1 exam, as it is on the syllabus and only requires C1 knowledge.

Anyway, after my essay-like response (sorry to type so much!), I wish you the very best for your maths A-level. Most of all, enjoy it; because A-level maths is, in my opinion, very satisfying to grasp - and fun!

[u0b2]

1) no.
2) Yes do them, especially if you want 95+
3) 100% in c1 is possible, but it is very easy to make mistakes, as some questions are tedious. Do not memorise the questions, but it wont hurt to do it. Remember for maths practise makes perfect!! so do 20 questions everyday for the next 2 months and you will be fine.

any others questions feel free to ask me

(Original post by x0x)
Hi
I have been self-teaching myself C1 Mathematics (Edexcel) over the summer (i want to get a head start :P). Everything is going fine, although i need someone to answer these questions:
1- When you sketch and transform graphs, does it have to be to scale? (even though you include the coordinates of any intersections)
2- Would it be a good idea to do Solomn papers (is that how you spell it :P ) , they seem harder compared to the past papers :P
3- Would be reasonably possible for me to score full marks if i know how to do every type of question by heart? or is there more to it than just "knowing" how to do a question? ( I was predicted an A* at the IGCSE exam i sat in may, i hope i did well )
Thank you very much in advance for your help;much appreciated
N.B. please excuse my poor grammar; i haven't been practising my English much lately :P

[x0x]

(Original post by r85m916)
It is very encouraging to hear that you wish to have a head-start in preparation for your maths A-level. With an A* - hopefully- in your IGCSE, you should find that Core 1 is accessible to you, maybe with a couple of challenges on the harder material.

gdunne42 has offered some good advice; however I feel that, once you have a solid grasp of the C1 material, you should try some Delphis or Solomon C1 papers. Yes, indeed, they are usually more challenging - and with some twist-style questions, but they will enable you to develop strong abstract reasoning skills needed to succeed in a full maths A-level.

Moreover, I would suggest that you develop your general algebra skills, if you haven't done so already, to get used to the level of questioning that you'll experience at A-level. However, assuming that you achieve an A* in your IGCSE, it is already indicative that you are competent at manipulating algebra.

Also, I would suggest that you learn, and are able to reconstruct, some fundamental proofs for C1. My advice would be to do this for arithmetic series and co-ordinate geometry - such as the equation of a straight line. It is rare for them to do so, but they may ask you to prove the formula for arithmetic series in the C1 exam, as it is on the syllabus and only requires C1 knowledge.

Anyway, after my essay-like response (sorry to type so much!), I wish you the very best for your maths A-level. Most of all, enjoy it; because A-level maths is, in my opinion, very satisfying to grasp - and fun!

Thank you so much for this detailed response; i rarely get a response like that
As for algebra, it is my strongest area in maths - i simply love it
And thanks for the tips regarding proofs. I'll do that as soon as i finish my work on graphs
I wish you all the best, thanks again

[r85m916]

(Original post by x0x)
Thank you so much for this detailed response; i rarely get a response like that
As for algebra, it is my strongest area in maths - i simply love it
And thanks for the tips regarding proofs. I'll do that as soon as i finish my work on graphs
I wish you all the best, thanks again

You're very welcome

Graphs were one of the areas that fascinated me the most in Core 1, because they were a nice way to 'see' the algebra that I was performing. Also, and for future reference, they really help with the algebra, functions and graphs section in Core 3; not to worry for now, but a near-perfect understanding of graphs and algebraic manipulation will make the transition to C3 a breeze - in comparison to those who 'study for the test' and get good C1 and C2 scores, but who have an average-to-poor understanding of what they are actually doing.

C1 is definitely a '100' module, if you don't make silly mistakes. However, it is all too easy for even the very best to make simple, 'school-boy' errors; take care when you solve equations and transform graphs, and you'll ace it

[x0x]

(Original post by r85m916)
You're very welcome

Graphs were one of the areas that fascinated me the most in Core 1, because they were a nice way to 'see' the algebra that I was performing. Also, and for future reference, they really help with the algebra, functions and graphs section in Core 3; not to worry for now, but a near-perfect understanding of graphs and algebraic manipulation will make the transition to C3 a breeze - in comparison to those who 'study for the test' and get good C1 and C2 scores, but who have an average-to-poor understanding of what they are actually doing.

C1 is definitely a '100' module, if you don't make silly mistakes. However, it is all too easy for even the very best to make simple, 'school-boy' errors; take care when you solve equations and transform graphs, and you'll ace it

I am very pleased to hear that! Indeed, Graphs make algebra "come alive". What you said about c3 has really motivated me to master c1
I am actually worried about making very stupid mistakes ( i keep a record of the mistakes i make as i progress through the course so that i could avoid them)

[r85m916]

^--^ I never kept a record of my mistakes as such, but that's a fantastic idea. It's nice to hear that somebody actually wants to do an A-level in maths because they enjoy it, and not just because they are good at it or want a good job at the end of it all. However, being good at it helps; but enjoying it is, for me, the primary reason to study mathematics.

I know that it will seem a long way off at the moment, but do you wish to study maths or a related degree at university?

[x0x]

(Original post by r85m916)
^--^ I never kept a record of my mistakes as such, but that's a fantastic idea. It's nice to hear that somebody actually wants to do an A-level in maths because they enjoy it, and not just because they are good at it or want a good job at the end of it all. However, being good at it helps; but enjoying it is, for me, the primary reason to study mathematics.

I know that it will seem a long way off at the moment, but do you wish to study maths or a related degree at university?

Actually i am planning to do chemical engineering; although i have a burning passion for maths and physics (not to mention chemistry :P) ...
And yes, i really enjoy maths why else would i self teach myself the subject during the summer (sounds weird but thats just me :P)

[r85m916]

(Original post by x0x)
Actually i am planning to do chemical engineering; although i have a burning passion for maths and physics (not to mention chemistry :P) ...
And yes, i really enjoy maths why else would i self teach myself the subject during the summer (sounds weird but thats just me :P)

I welcome the weirdness - haha! Maths will be incredibly useful for chemical engineering. I've looked at some undergraduate physics and engineering books at my city's main library, and the maths is so manly-looking and difficult to grasp that it seems to grow chest hair

[x0x]

(Original post by r85m916)
I welcome the weirdness - haha! Maths will be incredibly useful for chemical engineering. I've looked at some undergraduate physics and engineering books at my city's main library, and the maths is so manly-looking and difficult to grasp that it seems to grow chest hair

That's so cool