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STEP Prep Thread 2016

This might be the most intensive timed mock I have ever done.. I literally have a headache.

I shouldn't have tried to do chain rule of a chain rule of a ...

I wasted a lot of time again on differentiating a really big expression three times, at least 20 minutes lost...

Do I wager, II 2009?

(btw, if you need solutions to the 2009 papers, we've started making a TSR one)

Reply 7541

Zacken

22

Original post by EnglishMuon

It was originally under this link https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/admissions/workbook.pdf but for some reason it seems to have been moved. Ill keep an eye out though and Ill let you know. I think it was effectively just a review of A level techniques though, not very STEP like.

See my post above. (edit: previous page) :tongue:

-the link that King's website links to seems to be dead. :s-smilie:

Reply 7542

Insight314

7

Original post by Zacken

Do I wager, II 2009?

(btw, if you need solutions to the 2009 papers, we've started making a TSR one)

STEP III 2010

I was able to do 5 solutions, had 20-30 minutes for a 6th but realised I literally had none complete solutions so started working on one of them.

Currently marking it, and first question I am marking is ****ing appalling. 31 minutes on ONLY completing first part of Question 7 because I wasted 25 minutes differentiating the expression

y = \cos(m\arcsin x)

three times. I need to stop doing this. This is one of the key reasons why I can't have 6 attempts or at least 4-5 fully complete solutions. I need to stop thinking STEP questions are A-level, and start using that brain of mine with no mindless robotic computation.

Reply 7543

EnglishMuon

16

Original post by Zacken

See my post above. :tongue:

-the link that King's website links to seems to be dead. :s-smilie:

ah ok, thanks. Hopefully they fix it soon. I tell you what I feel like my maths has been on more form today. The past week has been terrible but when I am at home in a quiet room and no stress, it all seems to come out easily, so thanks for the help :smile:

Reply 7544

Insight314

7

Original post by Zacken

(btw, if you need solutions to the 2009 papers, we've started making a TSR one)

Oh, that's nice. I was gonna say that I could contribute, but you lot are probably going to finish it in a few weeks and I still have 3 more papers (2011, 2012, 2013) to do of STEP III before embarking on STEP II (2006+).

Reply 7545

Insight314

7

Has anyone done STEP III 2010? I need help with marking. :smile:

Reply 7546

Insight314

7

@physicsmaths

How much will first part of Question 7 STEP III 2010 get?

Reply 7547

Insight314

7

Question 3 STEP III 2010:

Spoiler

Reply 7548

sweeneyrod

15

TFW STEP II question 8 has a vectors question with

Spoiler

Reply 7549

Geraer1

2

In Q1, STEP SPECIMEN PAPER II, 1987, the question asks for 'any special case which may arise' does that means that there is only one special case as case isn't in plural? I have just found one special case which is when a=b, but in the TSR forum, the solution appears to have 2 special cases. But I think a+b=0 isn't a special cases, as it is just a=-b. But I am not sure if I am correct or not. :smile:

Question 1

Comparing coefficients of

So

There are two special cases to consider,

(Cover up rule)

Reply 7550

Insight314

7

@Zacken

You done STEP III 2010?

I am waiting for someone to tell me how many marks I would be awarded for my attempt at Question 3 and 7.

Reply 7551

Zacken

22

Original post by Insight314

@Zacken

You done STEP III 2010?

I am waiting for someone to tell me how many marks I would be awarded for my attempt at Question 3 and 7.

Not yet, just done II 2010 today. Will probs do III 2010 on Wednesday.

Reply 7552

Insight314

7

Original post by Zacken

Not yet, just done II 2010 today. Will probs do III 2010 on Wednesday.

All right, no problem. :smile:

@Krollo,
have you done STEP III 2010?

Edit: He is offline. :frown:

Oh well, gonna mark them as I think they are and see if anyone would help me tomorrow.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 7553

Insight314

7

STEP III 2010

Q1: 17/20 - really enjoyed this question.
Q2: 16/20 - used hyperbolic functions instead of the blunt hint they gave at the start of using exponentials - someone tell me if I lose more than a few marks because of that; they did not explicitly state they want exponentials but examiner's report has solutions with exponentials (and that solution is way easier than mine, as it always is.. /sigh)
Q3: 12/20 - found it difficult to understand initially, so I couldn't get through it that much
Q7: 7/20 - horrible question; spent 31 minutes on this question, and wasted 25-30 minutes on differentiating three times when I didn't even have to. Again, my problem with wasting time and doing mindless computation.
Q8: 15/20 - pretty nice question but forgot how to use integrating factor it seems lol

Total: 67/120 - Grade 1

Grade boundaries are pretty low for this paper, so I was 11 marks above Grade 1 and 11 marks off for a Grade S. Getting closer and closer with each paper!

I feel like I wasted too much time again with mindless computation, but I can see that I am improving with it since I even had a bit of time to do a sixth question at the end but decided to improve my other solutions which was a good decision of mine.

Reply 7554

Number Nine

12

anyone got a facebook group chat for step i could join?

Reply 7555

Duke Glacia

16

Original post by Insight314

STEP III 2010

Q1: 17/20 - really enjoyed this question.
Q2: 16/20 - used hyperbolic functions instead of the blunt hint they gave at the start of using exponentials - someone tell me if I lose more than a few marks because of that; they did not explicitly state they want exponentials but examiner's report has solutions with exponentials (and that solution is way easier than mine, as it always is.. /sigh)
Q3: 12/20 - found it difficult to understand initially, so I couldn't get through it that much
Q7: 7/20 - horrible question; spent 31 minutes on this question, and wasted 25-30 minutes on differentiating three times when I didn't even have to. Again, my problem with wasting time and doing mindless computation.
Q8: 15/20 - pretty nice question but forgot how to use integrating factor it seems lol

Total: 67/120 - Grade 1

Grade boundaries are pretty low for this paper, so I was 11 marks above Grade 1 and 11 marks off for a Grade S. Getting closer and closer with each paper!

I feel like I wasted too much time again with mindless computation, but I can see that I am improving with it since I even had a bit of time to do a sixth question at the end but decided to improve my other solutions which was a good decision of mine.

Massive grats !!!!!!!!!!!!! thats truly incredible :wink:

Reply 7556

Insight314

7

Original post by Duke Glacia

Massive grats !!!!!!!!!!!!! thats truly incredible :wink:

Thank you! I think I am finally starting to see some improvement.

How is STEP Prep going with you? :tongue:

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 7557

username1162972

18

Original post by Insight314

@physicsmaths

How much will first part of Question 7 STEP III 2010 get?

Sorry mate i didn't see this till now.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 7558

IrrationalRoot

20

Original post by Insight314

STEP III 2010

Q1: 17/20 - really enjoyed this question.
Q2: 16/20 - used hyperbolic functions instead of the blunt hint they gave at the start of using exponentials - someone tell me if I lose more than a few marks because of that; they did not explicitly state they want exponentials but examiner's report has solutions with exponentials (and that solution is way easier than mine, as it always is.. /sigh)
Q3: 12/20 - found it difficult to understand initially, so I couldn't get through it that much
Q7: 7/20 - horrible question; spent 31 minutes on this question, and wasted 25-30 minutes on differentiating three times when I didn't even have to. Again, my problem with wasting time and doing mindless computation.
Q8: 15/20 - pretty nice question but forgot how to use integrating factor it seems lol

Total: 67/120 - Grade 1

Grade boundaries are pretty low for this paper, so I was 11 marks above Grade 1 and 11 marks off for a Grade S. Getting closer and closer with each paper!

I feel like I wasted too much time again with mindless computation, but I can see that I am improving with it since I even had a bit of time to do a sixth question at the end but decided to improve my other solutions which was a good decision of mine.

Q4 was pretty nice, could've tried that.
Q7 a 'horrible question'?! I thought it was the nicest on the paper! But yeah if you try to differentiate three times then you're screwed. That's what I'm talking about with exam technique; if you're ever about to go into some heavy algebra you should always consider other methods first. And it should also be clear that differentiating three times is far too algebra-heavy to be the intended solution.