So, it is now one year later since I made my post, and I can now say I have passed GCSE maths with a Grade 4!
Here are my own top tips on what helped me in case they might help someone else:
If your teacher or teacher's assistant offers you help - take it - and ask for help when you need it.
Even if you hate maths, do at least half an hour revision for the 4 months leading up to the exam and gradually increase to two hours in the weeks leading up to the exam, but include breaks (10-15 minute tea breaks worked for me). Revision should consist of revision guides, exam worksheets, and past exam papers.
Get revision guides that include questions as well as explanations as practicing maths is the key to knowing what to do in the exam.
Focus your revision on what you find the hardest parts of maths (don't just say algebra, be more specific, like saying "I don't understand expanding brackets"
.
In the exam, use all the time given to triple check answers (especially ones you're unsure of). Use any extra time you've been given additionally.
If you don't know a question in the exam, attempt it by writing down what you know related to that area of maths (e.g. if you struggle on a pie chart then you might write "area of a circle = 360 degrees"
. It could give you marks by pushing you into the next grade boundary.
Talking through maths with a friend, partner, parent, teacher, can help you understand it better, even if you just read revision notes together.
During exam week, make a mental note of topics that did not appear on your paper to focus your revision on those areas (chances are, they will come up later in the next exams).
Here is a rather specific tip that helped me (but may not work for everyone): I found coloured overlays, i.e. the kind they use for dyslexia, helped me write my numbers correctly in the exam - (and I don't have dyslexia, my assessments ruled that out, it only worked for numbers).
Finally, keep trying! It has taken me 5 attempts to pass maths and today, in my twenties, I finally got my results after years of being told to "try harder" (even though I did try sometimes but always got sick of failing no matter what I did), and after being told I had dyscalculia, and after feeling like I should give up on passing maths, I did it and got the grade I wanted because I decided to give it one last try. I knew my dyscalculia meant I could get my answers wrong and fail again, but I give it one last shot. Now passing my worst subject has boosted my confidence in applying for jobs and my master's degree. It could do the same for you, so if you're thinking about quitting, I suggest trying these tips and giving your maths course one last shot. After all, dyscalculia or not, like me, you could have knowledge and luck on your side