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A* Maths A-level

I'm not great at maths but I'm willing to work hard.
I'll be starting year 12 in September and I would greatly appreciate it if someone could offer some advice on how to prepare.
Original post by SANTR
I'm not great at maths but I'm willing to work hard.
I'll be starting year 12 in September and I would greatly appreciate it if someone could offer some advice on how to prepare.


Past papers from day 1 :smile:
The more you do, the better
Reply 2
Original post by The Clockwork Apple
Past papers from day 1 :smile:
The more you do, the better


This would be #1 advice if there is a plentiful supply of past papers.

For instance, Edexcel's current specification started in 2009, giving you ~15 past papers including January, June, Regional and IAL papers. But for some non-Jan exams, you only get ~10 past papers.

Simply hammering through papers exhausts your supply in less than two weeks.

Because of this, I'd recommend doing textbook questions and only starting past papers in your revision period. (With the odd paper for a progress mock).
Reply 3
Original post by The Clockwork Apple
Past papers from day 1 :smile:
The more you do, the better


Thanks!
What would be the best way to go about learning the content?
Reply 4
Original post by Alex:
This would be #1 advice if there is a plentiful supply of past papers.

For instance, Edexcel's current specification started in 2009, giving you ~15 past papers including January, June, Regional and IAL papers. But for some non-Jan exams, you only get ~10 past papers.

Simply hammering through papers exhausts your supply in less than two weeks.

Because of this, I'd recommend doing textbook questions and only starting past papers in your revision period. (With the odd paper for a progress mock).


Thanks!
Also, would you say that it is advisable to start preparing from now onwards?
Original post by SANTR
I'm not great at maths but I'm willing to work hard.
I'll be starting year 12 in September and I would greatly appreciate it if someone could offer some advice on how to prepare.


Hi I was in exactly the same situation as you. From Y7-10 my maths was frankly appalling and I was predicted a B, I am at a top grammar school and I was in the bottom set (bottom 25%) and mid ranking in that set. I worked very hard through the whole of year 11 with my prediction moved up to an A and achieved 90% raw in my maths GCSE. I wanted to take double maths and I was very worried that I might struggle considering I have struggled with Maths and at some stages come bottom in my whole year group Y8/9. But I when I started this year I was at a huge disadvantage, pretty much the rest of my class had taken the FSU/FSMQ what ever you want to call it and they had already learnt a large chunk the majority of the modules and thus they breezed throughout half of the content, whilst I on the otherhand had to work hard at home and at school (sit at the front every lesson - pretty much no socialising with my maths class at all) to learn the content and then work to master the content. From the sounds of your concern you will have to work really hard but if you are only taking single maths then you probably won't be doing maths for more then half the time your doing school work at home.

Firstly, ensure you know GCSE inside out and really to jus practice algebraic perfection - you may struggle to get the answer 90% of the time will out laboriously pouring over your workings. Additionally, acquire a textbook/revison guide for the additional maths unit this will really prepare you or you could start reading up on C1 which is the first module you will be taught.

C1- Algerbra no calculator - you might need to work quite hard on this module as it is about perfection.
C2 - Harder concepts then in C1 but you get a calculator.
S1- ask to take this over M1 if you are not going to apply for physics/engineering, S1 is relatively straightforward and you will generally find that many people don't like S1 as there are elements which you need to revise for and you can't just do - generally an advantage if your pure maths is currently weaker then the rest of your cohort.

My plan which I would advise you follow from know
Holidays - ensure you know GCSE inside out and any bridging content - pay particualr attention to algebraic perfection. Consider getting a tutor.
First and second term - in every lesson sit yourself at the front and focus for the whole of the lesson key point is that you ensure that by the time you leave the lesson you understand the concepts which are taught. DO NOT WORRY if you don't get many questions done in the lesson - this is what I mean about a lot of work at home - complete the exercise questions - same time outside lesson as inside I would say - caution - you may not have a weekend/Saturday/Sunday. For every test ensure a good week before that you know, understand and can apply all of the mathematical concepts and then just practice. Practicing for these topic test really is key to success in maths at a level - practice by doing the vast majority of the exam questions in your exercise book and really do do this - do all of the relevant question in the exam papers 2005-2008 - this is 6 exam papers and you will have mastered the content once you have completed these - and then write - yes write notes for the content and special notes reminding yourself of any special methods/hints and tips which you may need to remember.
Mocks - revise all of the concepts by reading through you notes and papers 2005-2008 to refresh your memory of any hard questions - redo any notably difficulty questions, then complete past papers 2009-2012 - this leaves you only 4 past papers for the summer but honestly repeating a past paper is much better then having to rush through it the night before the exam.
Easter- In the easter holidays go over the concepts once more as above and then go through all of the difficult questions (could highlight them throughout the year) in papers 2005-2012. Do all of the remaining past papers.

Ultimately I would just like to say that Maths A level is near on essential for many courses and that with a lot of work you should be able to get an A* even if currently you doubt yourself or other doubt you - my mum tried to get me not to take maths. Remember, to achieve and A* you will need an average of above 80UMS and an average of 90UMS in C3 and C4 combined at A2 - in year 13.

Plus - what are you looking to study at university and where?
Original post by Alex:
This would be #1 advice if there is a plentiful supply of past papers.
For instance, Edexcel's current specification started in 2009, giving you ~15 past papers including January, June, Regional and IAL papers. But for some non-Jan exams, you only get ~10 past papers.
Simply hammering through papers exhausts your supply in less than two weeks.
Because of this, I'd recommend doing textbook questions and only starting past papers in your revision period. (With the odd paper for a progress mock).


Original post by SANTR
Thanks!
Also, would you say that it is advisable to start preparing from now onwards?


D1 and D2 and the FP modules are the only ones that changed in 2009. C1 - 4 have been running since 2005. M1 -5 and S1 - 4 have been running since 2001.

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