STEP-help !!

Original post by Ihatemaths5

I’m in yr13 and just had a cbridge maths interview. I’m doing STEP preparation in case i get an offer, which tbh I’m not expecting but I don’t want to give up yet. But im still RLY struggling with step 2, getting halfway through questions and getting RLY stuck. Is this normal atp or should i admit defeat? I hear some people saying i should be on step 3 by feb/march but idk how that’s supposed to happen when step 2 is killing me off rn.
If anyone who’s done step could give any advise or anything id be rly grateful, I sort of just want to know whether there’s hope? I have 4 offers so if i need to step back its fine but i do want to give it a go

How long have you been trying, did you do some step 1, can you post the odd question here and try working though with the odd hint, ....?

Reply 2

OP

Original post by mqb2766

How long have you been trying, did you do some step 1, can you post the odd question here and try working though with the odd hint, ....?

Did all the foundation modules. Have been doing it lightly for a few months but committing since sept. Tbh i still have problems getting through step 1 questions But with long enough i can just about get them. With step 2, when im stuck i look at the next line of the worked solutions for a hint and sometimes that gets me to the end, sometimes it just gets me a few steps further

Reply 3

Original post by Ihatemaths5

Did all the foundation modules. Have been doing it lightly for a few months but committing since sept. Tbh i still have problems getting through step 1 questions But with long enough i can just about get them. With step 2, when im stuck i look at the next line of the worked solutions for a hint and sometimes that gets me to the end, sometimes it just gets me a few steps further

The foundation modules are decent to get you started and the way you describe yourself, it sounds like you may be a bit behind, but not necessarily massively. So how many step 2 papers have you covered, do you try and do the full papers (untimed), are you doing any timed practice, ....

Its not that unusual to have to take the odd hint.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 4

OP

Original post by mqb2766

The foundation modules are decent to get you started and the way you describe yourself, it sounds like you may be a bit behind, but not necessarily massively. So how many step 2 papers have you covered, do you try and do the full papers (untimed), are you doing any timed practice, ....
Its not that unusual to have to take the odd hint.

I’m planning on starring timed papers this holiday (ik it’s late but I’ve been SO busy this year and im having major health problems, thankfully that ones improving). I usually just try and do one question and give myself about 40mins, but that’s in study rooms at school. Mb when i try to do them in silence alone at home it’ll get easier.

I started looking at later papers but was advised to start early and get more recent closer to exams (im working through the 2004-2006 papers atm as they’re the earliest ones with worked solutions on pmt). Should I start trying to do like whole papers each week? It’s such a time commitment but i think i have to just do it

Reply 5

Original post by Ihatemaths5

I’m planning on starring timed papers this holiday (ik it’s late but I’ve been SO busy this year and im having major health problems, thankfully that ones improving). I usually just try and do one question and give myself about 40mins, but that’s in study rooms at school. Mb when i try to do them in silence alone at home it’ll get easier.
I started looking at later papers but was advised to start early and get more recent closer to exams (im working through the 2004-2006 papers atm as they’re the earliest ones with worked solutions on pmt). Should I start trying to do like whole papers each week? It’s such a time commitment but i think i have to just do it

Its kind of hard to give specific advice, but a few things

•

the 2018+ papers (ish, cant remember exactly) are the most relevant as the syllabus changed a bit to make them more alighed with a level maths/further. So make sure you leave enough time to conncentrate on them, whatever year you start with.

•

think about how many weeks you have and realistically how many (complete?) papers you do a week. A rough guestimate is that youd have 24 weeks left and maybe 1 (complete) paper a week. So youd have something like 10 step 2 papers and 14 step 3 papers and thats ignoring exam revision etc nearer june. So really starting step 2 with about 2014 now ....

•

Doing a complee paper a week is something like 2 (completed) questions a day.

•

Dip into the step database if you want practice on specific topics from earlier papers.

•

Do you get much support / discussion at school? Even if its just the odd bit of encouragement.

•

...

Reply 6

OP

Original post by mqb2766

Its kind of hard to give specific advice, but a few things

•

the 2018+ papers (ish, cant remember exactly) are the most relevant as the syllabus changed a bit to make them more alighed with a level maths/further. So make sure you leave enough time to conncentrate on them, whatever year you start with.

•

think about how many weeks you have and realistically how many (complete?) papers you do a week. A rough guestimate is that youd have 24 weeks left and maybe 1 (complete) paper a week. So youd have something like 10 step 2 papers and 14 step 3 papers and thats ignoring exam revision etc nearer june. So really starting step 2 with about 2014 now ....

•

Doing a complee paper a week is something like 2 (completed) questions a day.

•

Dip into the step database if you want practice on specific topics from earlier papers.

•

Do you get much support / discussion at school? Even if its just the odd bit of encouragement.

•

...

Thank you that’s all actually incredibly helpful. And thank you for being honest with me- everyone keeps saying “just try your best, you’ll be fine” which isn’t actually helpful or reassuring. Over Christmas hols im going to sit a few PROPER papers (3 hours plus my extra time, then guess at marks and grade). Just need to commit the time and do it ig

Im not getting much help bcs the only teacher who sat step has just got on leave for a bit, but I have a teacher who’s sent a few kids to cbridge so im going to ask him if he’ll do 1to1 with me

Reply 7

Original post by Ihatemaths5

Thank you that’s all actually incredibly helpful. And thank you for being honest with me- everyone keeps saying “just try your best, you’ll be fine” which isn’t actually helpful or reassuring. Over Christmas hols im going to sit a few PROPER papers (3 hours plus my extra time, then guess at marks and grade). Just need to commit the time and do it ig
Im not getting much help bcs the only teacher who sat step has just got on leave for a bit, but I have a teacher who’s sent a few kids to cbridge so im going to ask him if he’ll do 1to1 with me

Tbh, Id probably not necessarily do complete 3+ hr sessions at the moment, but I would start to do a bit of question selection when you start a new paper and pick the 6 that you think are the best and do them in something like 2 or 3 "a day" within a reasonable time. So soft exam conditions to begin with and then make sure you finish those and then work through the rest of the paper/other 6 questions that week, somewhat open book.

Id guess the key thing is to do the 2 or 3 questions a day fairly religiously, and if there is someone at school to have a winge, talk about progress, ... it will probably make life bearable.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 8

OP

Original post by mqb2766

Tbh, Id probably not necessarily do complete 3+ hr sessions at the moment, but I would start to do a bit of question selection when you start a new paper and pick the 6 that you think are the best and do them in something like 2 or 3 "a day" within a reasonable time. So soft exam conditions to begin with and then make sure you finish those and then work through the rest of the paper/other 6 questions that week, somewhat open book.
Id guess the key thing is to do the 2 or 3 questions a day fairly religiously, and if there is someone at school to have a winge, talk about progress, ... it will probably make life bearable.

Thank you that’s actually a lot more sustainable ig. It’s all so so hard but I’m trying to commit and I’m sure if i put the hours in I’ll see progress.

I do regularly and loudly complain lmao, my maths teacher makes fun of me bcs I go “I hate this I’m quitting” about once a lesson and never do actually quit. Fm teacher let’s me complain and ask for help so I’ll start using him more often I think

Reply 9

Original post by Ihatemaths5

Thank you that’s actually a lot more sustainable ig. It’s all so so hard but I’m trying to commit and I’m sure if i put the hours in I’ll see progress.
I do regularly and loudly complain lmao, my maths teacher makes fun of me bcs I go “I hate this I’m quitting” about once a lesson and never do actually quit. Fm teacher let’s me complain and ask for help so I’ll start using him more often I think

I guessed the latter bit from your username :-)

Reply 10

OP

Original post by mqb2766

I guessed the latter bit from your username :-)

HA yeah. I’m notorious for being extra about maths, the girl who sits opposite me witnesses temper tantrums and goes “riiight okay” and then looks vaguely amused when I’m fine and carrying on a few minutes later

Reply 11

zohokiij0

Original post by Ihatemaths5

I’m in yr13 and just had a cbridge maths interview. I’m doing STEP preparation in case i get an offer, which tbh I’m not expecting but I don’t want to give up yet. But im still RLY struggling with step 2, getting halfway through questions and getting RLY stuck. Is this normal atp or should i admit defeat? I hear some people saying i should be on step 3 by feb/march but idk how that’s supposed to happen when step 2 is killing me off rn.
If anyone who’s done step could give any advise or anything id be rly grateful, I sort of just want to know whether there’s hope? I have 4 offers so if i need to step back its fine but i do want to give it a go

It’s perfectly fine to start of preparing not being able to provide a solution. I am sitting step this summer too, my cousin achieved a SS and told me countless hours everyday will need to be put on this exam and it will be your toughest period yet, but after hundreds and hundreds of questions I am sure you will achieve a top grade.

Reply 12

OP

Original post by zohokiij0

It’s perfectly fine to start of preparing not being able to provide a solution. I am sitting step this summer too, my cousin achieved a SS and told me countless hours everyday will need to be put on this exam and it will be your toughest period yet, but after hundreds and hundreds of questions I am sure you will achieve a top grade.

thanks thats reassuring! so if i just commit enohgh hours (so 1-3 every day is whatI'm planning), i should improve?

Reply 13

zohokiij0

Original post by Ihatemaths5

thanks thats reassuring! so if i just commit enohgh hours (so 1-3 every day is whatI'm planning), i should improve?

yh you should improve tbh I feel like time and detail is the most important for challenging exams like step if that makes sense. I try to go through 2 or 3 problems a day

I am doing light prep but thats because im yet to receive 4 decisions 😭 wbu have u got offers that want high step grade?

Reply 14

OP

Original post by zohokiij0

yh you should improve tbh I feel like time and detail is the most important for challenging exams like step if that makes sense. I try to go through 2 or 3 problems a day
I am doing light prep but thats because im yet to receive 4 decisions 😭 wbu have u got offers that want high step grade?

Not yet, all offers rn are grade only (didnt apply to impoerial bcs hate London). just waiting on cbridge now

Reply 15

OP

Original post by mqb2766

Its kind of hard to give specific advice, but a few things

•

the 2018+ papers (ish, cant remember exactly) are the most relevant as the syllabus changed a bit to make them more alighed with a level maths/further. So make sure you leave enough time to conncentrate on them, whatever year you start with.

•

think about how many weeks you have and realistically how many (complete?) papers you do a week. A rough guestimate is that youd have 24 weeks left and maybe 1 (complete) paper a week. So youd have something like 10 step 2 papers and 14 step 3 papers and thats ignoring exam revision etc nearer june. So really starting step 2 with about 2014 now ....

•

Doing a complee paper a week is something like 2 (completed) questions a day.

•

Dip into the step database if you want practice on specific topics from earlier papers.

•

Do you get much support / discussion at school? Even if its just the odd bit of encouragement.

•

...

Just want to give you a huge thanks. Doing STEP 2016 this week, not timed but marked, and i'm beig liberal with my marks to bve nice to myself lmao bt i think im getting a 2 on this paper which im rly happy abt

Reply 16

Original post by Ihatemaths5

Just want to give you a huge thanks. Doing STEP 2016 this week, not timed but marked, and i'm beig liberal with my marks to bve nice to myself lmao bt i think im getting a 2 on this paper which im rly happy abt

Sounds good. Well done. One of the key things is to make sure you understand the key idea(s) behind the quetsitions, so what tranformations or .... were key to making it hard. If you couldnt manage some questions and had to look them up, come back to redo them in a months time, .... So some decent reflection to try and learn/build on the practice.

Reply 17

zohokiij0