how to get S1 in STEP

I am required to get S and 1 in STEP this year. Last year I only got 64/65...
how many hours per day should I spend on STEP? I would appreciate any suggestion.

Reply 1

mqb2766

21

Original post by AlysaInLA

I am required to get S and 1 in STEP this year. Last year I only got 64/65...
how many hours per day should I spend on STEP? I would appreciate any suggestion.

I guess youre the only person who can give a sensible answer to that, based on what you did last year. But you need to bump your step 2 mark up ~30+ which isnt easy, whereas step 3 is only 5+. From a quick look at your previous posts, you did step early (y12, chinese?).

•

Did you work though many step papers last year?

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What were you expecting, did you feel you underperformed?

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How much time did you spend last time?

From the usual chatter, some people found step 2 last year a bit strange, so your mark may not be that representative, but you obviously need to be putting enough work in over the next two months so in May youre getting an S reliably in practicce.

Reply 2

AlysaInLA

OP

4

Original post by mqb2766

I guess youre the only person who can give a sensible answer to that, based on what you did last year. But you need to bump your step 2 mark up ~30+ which isnt easy, whereas step 3 is only 5+. From a quick look at your previous posts, you did step early (y12, chinese?).

•

Did you work though many step papers last year?

•

What were you expecting, did you feel you underperformed?

•

How much time did you spend last time?

From the usual chatter, some people found step 2 last year a bit strange, so your mark may not be that representative, but you obviously need to be putting enough work in over the next two months so in May youre getting an S reliably in practicce.

Thank you so much for your response! I didn't have the time to work through enough past papers last year, because I had multiple AP exams. I was expecting a grade 1 or even higher in paper 2 and I thought I was going to score much lower in paper 3, but it turns out being I even scored 1 mark higher in paper 3. I definitely feel unperformed. I think my plan is to practice 2h(or 3) per day. By the way, which paper do you think is harder? I think it's paper 3 but my middle school friend says paper 2.

Reply 3

mqb2766

21

Original post by AlysaInLA

Thank you so much for your response! I didn't have the time to work through enough past papers last year, because I had multiple AP exams. I was expecting a grade 1 or even higher in paper 2 and I thought I was going to score much lower in paper 3, but it turns out being I even scored 1 mark higher in paper 3. I definitely feel unperformed. I think my plan is to practice 2h(or 3) per day. By the way, which paper do you think is harder? I think it's paper 3 but my middle school friend says paper 2.

Last year there was a reasonable number of people who said step 2 was harder than step 3, though usually it seems to be the other way round.

Id really hit the step 2 (and step 3 to a degree) over the next couple of months and Id try not to skip the mech/stats questions (as some people do) as these can sometimes be the most predictable, so marks in the bank, especially if youre aiming for S. But the usual advice is to try and do a paper under exam conditions (so 6 questions in 3 hrs) then try and do the remaining questions somewhat open book, then look at the examiners comments/answers. If youre aiming for S step 2, then Id guess youre doing at least 1 papers a week or so for the next 2 months or so? Along with some step 3 as well. That way you should get through at least 10 years worth of step 2 before may and then its fine tuning.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 4

AlysaInLA

OP

4

yeah I would probably try some stats questions but mechanics calculation sucks! I spent 30min last year on one single mech question and I didn't even finish half of it. Also I have to brush up on my stats cuz my school didn't teach me those, AP stats is way too basic for step. Are you taking the exams this year? Good luck to your step prep! And again thank you so much for your advice!

Reply 5

mqb2766

21

Original post by AlysaInLA

yeah I would probably try some stats questions but mechanics calculation sucks! I spent 30min last year on one single mech question and I didn't even finish half of it. Also I have to brush up on my stats cuz my school didn't teach me those, AP stats is way too basic for step. Are you taking the exams this year? Good luck to your step prep! And again thank you so much for your advice!

For the mech/stats, for an S you really need to do 5+ questions nearly fully, and choosing 6 from 10 or 12 should be better than 6 from 8. Agree that Id prioritise stats over mech if you have to, though some of the mech questions can be routine (some are not). For the stats, a fair number of questions are based around expectation of unusual, but simple, distributions or discrete sum by parts or .... so there isnt a huge amount to learn and the step 2 foundation module is a decent, quick intro. Practice is king though.

Im too old, but my lad started there last year.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 6

AlysaInLA

OP

4

I will take a mock exam to see which is better for me, stats or mech. But that will be after I go through some basic practice to recap.

I thought you were a cambridge or imperial offer holder lol. Congratulations to your son! hope I can get into to cambridge this year

how to get S1 in STEP

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