How to go from a grade 8 to grade 9 in aqa gcse maths?

Ok I know I sound dumb saying this but I've been stuck on a grade 8 in math since like year 10 and I'm now in year 11 😭😭 I do aqa so the grade boundaries are so high and I usually struggle with those crazy hard last questions they like to give you that look like some sort of satanic ritual so then I loose 5 marks because I understood the concepts but I don't even get what it wants me to do or where to start and then get a 1 marker wrong or inevitably make a dumb mistake and there's my 9 gone 😭😭 I check my answers by doing the question again but it's near impossible to check them all and I always make atleast a few mistakes that aren't me not understanding the concepts. it's so sad because I get to the last question and it's some stupidly worded geometry one or a hard proof that feels like it could literally be on an A level paper cause I have no clue what it wants off me or where to even begin and I just know right then and there in the exam hall I ain't getting that 9 even though I revised really hard 😭😭 some of the people in my class who get the last question say it took them like 20 minutes to figure out but how are people even doing the paper this quick to have that time because when I rush I make a dumb mistake and then I don't get the 9 I want anyway so what's the point 😭😭even when I think I've done well and I answer all the questions and know how to do everything because I've revised it all I still end up with an 8. I understand that 8 and 9 are the same with regards to uni applications and colleges so it's not like the end of the world I'd just really like a 9 for my own personal satisfaction and because I've done so much revision since year 10 and don't want to end up with the same grade I got in year 10 as if I haven't done all that hard work to try get a 9 😭😭 it also doesn't help that my teacher keeps teaching foundation math concepts over and over again to try get the kids who are failing to pass so the school can get better statistics and whenever we ask her about the grade 9 topics and last question style questions if she can teach us those she either doesn't know herself or tells us that she has to go over the foundation stuff first even though she's already done it like 5 times so the kids who are failing can pass. Again I understand 8 and 9 is the same in terms of universities and colleges I just want one for my own satisfaction since it's really disheartening to have been revising really hard and still get the same grade I got in year 10. Like I know it's dumb I just really want one it would be really nice to have especially because in other subjects I revise hard and get a 9 so why does maths only have to have such ridiculous grade boundaries when they're both aqa😭😭Any tips from people who get 9s in maths especially on how to prepare for those ridiculous last questions would be so helpful 😭😭🙏🙏

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 1

BookWorm578

11

Look out for silly mistakes and complete at least one past paper a week

Reply 2

cremebrülee

4

Original post by FearTheRainbow

Ok I know I sound dumb saying this but I've been stuck on a grade 8 in math since like year 10 and I'm now in year 11 😭😭 I do aqa so the grade boundaries are so high and I usually struggle with those crazy hard last questions they like to give you that look like some sort of satanic ritual so then I loose 5 marks because I understood the concepts but I don't even get what it wants me to do or where to start and then get a 1 marker wrong or inevitably make a dumb mistake and there's my 9 gone 😭😭 I check my answers by doing the question again but it's near impossible to check them all and I always make atleast a few mistakes that aren't me not understanding the concepts. it's so sad because I get to the last question and it's some stupidly worded geometry one or a hard proof that feels like it could literally be on an A level paper cause I have no clue what it wants off me or where to even begin and I just know right then and there in the exam hall I ain't getting that 9 even though I revised really hard 😭😭 some of the people in my class who get the last question say it took them like 20 minutes to figure out but how are people even doing the paper this quick to have that time because when I rush I make a dumb mistake and then I don't get the 9 I want anyway so what's the point 😭😭even when I think I've done well and I answer all the questions and know how to do everything because I've revised it all I still end up with an 8. I understand that 8 and 9 are the same with regards to uni applications and colleges so it's not like the end of the world I'd just really like a 9 for my own personal satisfaction and because I've done so much revision since year 10 and don't want to end up with the same grade I got in year 10 as if I haven't done all that hard work to try get a 9 😭😭 it also doesn't help that my teacher keeps teaching foundation math concepts over and over again to try get the kids who are failing to pass so the school can get better statistics and whenever we ask her about the grade 9 topics and last question style questions if she can teach us those she either doesn't know herself or tells us that she has to go over the foundation stuff first even though she's already done it like 5 times so the kids who are failing can pass. Again I understand 8 and 9 is the same in terms of universities and colleges I just want one for my own satisfaction since it's really disheartening to have been revising really hard and still get the same grade I got in year 10. Like I know it's dumb I just really want one it would be really nice to have especially because in other subjects I revise hard and get a 9 so why does maths only have to have such ridiculous grade boundaries when they're both aqa😭😭Any tips from people who get 9s in maths especially on how to prepare for those ridiculous last questions would be so helpful 😭😭🙏🙏

I’ve defo been in the same boat as you.

First of all, quick question: is your school a grammar/private school? Generally, if the students are ‘smarter’, you’ll find that the questions they give you on your assessments are ridiculously hard, because otherwise, they don’t have anything to base grade boundaries off of (unless your school is using previous years’ grade boundaries).

Now onto the main bit:
Sounds like you’re doing the right thing by practicing a lot. Maybe it’s the bit after you could work on?
Breakdown of what I mean:
Do a timed practice paper. The time limit is super important.
Then mark it. Write down the exact reason you got each question wrong (eg arithmetic error, gave answer in wrong form, don’t understand the question, genuinely don’t understand topic/forgot info)
Regardless of the reason you get the question wrong, note down the topic you lost the marks in.
Review those topics by just completing all the textbook pages and workbooks or whatever.
You’ve said it’s the last question that’s mainly screwing you over in terms of marks, but you’d lose 6 marks tops, maybe, just maybe your errors lie elsewhere.
Take everything I said with a pinch of salt, because obviously I’m not you and haven’t seen your exam papers. By the way you’re talking, I’m sure you’ll figure it out, you’ve got a great attitude.

Now onto those awful last questions:
I GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN.
And the magic thing that completely changed it for me was a bit of advice my friend gave. Applying it to physics as well is super helpful.
I’m going to try explain it the best I can, but otherwise I would recommend you read the first 5 chapters of George Polya’s ‘How to Solve It’.
The magic:
1) you’ve got the hard question in front of you. no clue what to do. What you can figure out, through some educated guesswork, is what topic it is from. As soon as you think you’ve got something, scribble down any relevant formulas from the topic- do not worry if you’ll use them, the important part is getting it down in front of you.
2) Now, reread the question and make sure everything is labelled and you know what values you have, and what you don’t have.
3) By this point, your brain will find it easier to fill in the gaps and figure out which formula/method to use. Think back to past paper questions or any lessons you’ve had.
4) Your brain is all warmed up now. Reread the question to see what answer they actually want you to give. Scribble down, circle or label the values you need to get there. It’s kinda like back working.
5) your brain will probably be bridging the gap between the start and the end. If you’re working at an 8, this should be fine.
6)if it’s a geometry question and you’re still stuck, just subtend lines from different points and see if you find more manageable chunks of the whole thing.
7) solve! Once you’ve figured out the methods you need, you’re on the home stretch!

Sorry if I’ve made assumptions or glossed over stuff, but this is generally the method I use for those last questions. Also, it’s not really a method but a mindset, so if you keep practicing those awful questions, your brain will slowly start to follow the magic process on its own. After a while, tackling those problems will become natural and you’ll learn to not sike out when things don’t work (this was one of the biggest hurdles for me lols, once I got rid of it, my grades sitnificantly improved!)

Any other questions you have, let me know 🙂 hope I could help you

How to go from a grade 8 to grade 9 in aqa gcse maths?

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