how to prep for the tmua

9

so im rly unsure of how to prepare for the tmua. i started preparations at the start of august (hope that wasn't too late seeing as its mid october) and i did a practice paper and i was really bad at it. my brain prefers to follow the maths which has methods and doesn't require a lot of logical thinking, and i dont know how to improve on that, coz every time i come across a question i dont know i have to watch a video explaining it and then it all becomes obvious. my plan was to just spend the next week or so continuing to learn the maths really well and to learn their notes on logic and proof, and then start the past papers nearer the end of august so i dont waste them early on as there arent loads, but i feel like thats not nearly enough prep and help that ill need. anyone have any recommendations (and tell me if ive started too late so that i can start hurrying it up a bit if needed)

Reply 1

Jam.123

15

As you’ve found out, it’s much easier to see a method and verify it than come up with one. You need to develop that kind of logical thinking if you’re to do well in the TMUA as relying on methodical stuff like in the A level just won’t really work.

Reply 2

Jam.123

15

If you know the A level content needed for TMUA stuff, that’s good. Then just keep working at a question, explore what you can do with the info given, experiment a little, etc, until you reach an answer. DO NOT give in and just skip straight to a solution video as that is just useful and won’t help you long term. You must learn how to get stuck and then get yourself unstuck.

Reply 3

aj727338957

1

Original post by Jam.123

If you know the A level content needed for TMUA stuff, that’s good. Then just keep working at a question, explore what you can do with the info given, experiment a little, etc, until you reach an answer. DO NOT give in and just skip straight to a solution video as that is just useful and won’t help you long term. You must learn how to get stuck and then get yourself unstuck.

did you do the TMUA? If so how does it work like in the exam room? It's online right

Reply 4

Jam.123

15

Original post by aj727338957

did you do the TMUA? If so how does it work like in the exam room? It's online right

The computer format is new for the upcoming cycle. Up to now it was all on paper. Should be sort of like how driving theory tests work. You should probably be given some rough paper to work on too.

Reply 5

aj727338957

1

Original post by Jam.123

The computer format is new for the upcoming cycle. Up to now it was all on paper. Should be sort of like how driving theory tests work. You should probably be given some rough paper to work on too.

Are you doing it? If anyone's doing it on october 16th plz let me know what the format is like & if the qs are random for everyone or something! Thanks

Reply 6

Jam.123

15

Original post by aj727338957

Are you doing it? If anyone's doing it on october 16th plz let me know what the format is like & if the qs are random for everyone or something! Thanks

I am not doing it as I did it last year and am due to start uni at the end of September if results day goes well. The questions should be the same for everyone doing it on a certain date. For the format, look at the Pearson VUE example tests to see what it will be like.

Reply 7

abcdef77

OP

9

Original post by Jam.123

If you know the A level content needed for TMUA stuff, that’s good. Then just keep working at a question, explore what you can do with the info given, experiment a little, etc, until you reach an answer. DO NOT give in and just skip straight to a solution video as that is just useful and won’t help you long term. You must learn how to get stuck and then get yourself unstuck.

thank youuu, i’ll try develop that sort of thinking, when did u start revising

Reply 8

Roxanee2077

1

Original post by abcdef77

thank youuu, i’ll try develop that sort of thinking, when did u start revising

probably start building light intuitive reasoning maybe with smc questions ( last 10 - 5 ones) and if you check a solution i mean try trace it back to the working out u've already done. If you've got a strong grasp of the mathematics the logic should really flow naturally.