[Jack Xerxes]

I'm doing Maths Edexcel Linear. I'm in year 11 and this November I have my first exam for it. I am currently at a B/C grade but I'm aiming for an A/A* grade. What are the best books to buy? I have heard mixed views on CGP.

What is the best book? I am thinking of http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letts-GCSE-W...7294332&sr=1-1 because people have said good things about it. What else do you recommend to get an A/A*?

Thanks )

P.S. Is it worth looking through past papers? If so, up to what year?

[Jack Xerxes]

Anyone?

[gdunne42]

(Original post by Jack Xerxes)
I'm doing Maths Edexcel Linear. I'm in year 11 and this November I have my first exam for it. I am currently at a B/C grade but I'm aiming for an A/A* grade. What are the best books to buy? I have heard mixed views on CGP.

What is the best book? I am thinking of http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letts-GCSE-W...7294332&sr=1-1 because people have said good things about it. What else do you recommend to get an A/A*?

Thanks )

P.S. Is it worth looking through past papers? If so, up to what year?

It's worth doing any past papers since 2008 since the maths is pretty much the same and most of the questions are very similar, but be aware that the syllabus changed and that there are new kinds of questions introduced in the summer exams this year that you need to prepare properly for.

I don't have that Letts book to compare but for Edexcel linear I like these 2 in combination
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics-...7300744&sr=1-6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics-...d_bxgy_b_img_b

The revision guide provides knowledge with a bit of practice, the workbook provides even more. They include questions for the new problem solving, written communication and functional maths that are now included in the exam.

[pop101]

Get this: GCSE Mathematics Edexcel 2010: Spec A Higher Student Book (GCSE Maths Edexcel 2010).
And also, get the practice book: GCSE Mathematics Edexcel 2010: Spec A Higher Practice Book (GCSE Maths Edexcel 2010).
For the A*/A, it's best to get this book: GCSE Mathematics Edexcel 2010: Spec A Practice Book Targeting A and A* (GCSE Maths Edexcel 2010) - all the questions are A*/A level so you will get a great understanding of all the higher questions.
Yes look through past papers, unfortunately since this specification is recent, there will only be a few papers - but do them all.
^ This should be pretty much ensure - with understanding the topics of course, guarantee an A* or an A.

[Jack Xerxes]

Thank you soo much for replying! Do you think its possible to complete both books before the first november exam? If so, how many hours a night? Thanks )

[Master Bob]

Sure get that book if you want. But If you want complete practice with loads of questions, then get
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1846...dir_mdp_mobile

It's edexcel's own course. I thought the textbook was alright, maybe too colourful haha. Got the A* I wanted using the textbook.

And ofcourse, practice as many past papers from the previous 1380 specification to the current. Then, you should be fine.

[gdunne42]

(Original post by Jack Xerxes)
Thank you soo much for replying! Do you think its possible to complete both books before the first november exam? If so, how many hours a night? Thanks )

My recommendation is
Do a paper (there's a set of practice papers in the book to get you started)
Mark it
Use the books to revise any topics you struggled with and then do relevant practice questions.

Then do another paper and repeat the process

Then do another . . . . . . . .

Maths is a subject that you get good at with loads of practice, not by reading revision guides.

I can't really say how much time you need to spend because I don't know you. I can promise that the more you do the better your result will be. Don't do so much you get bored with it or that you start to neglect your other subjects.