I'm trying to get at least a C in maths!
Hi,
I am studying Nat 5 maths this year, and my grades are pretty erratic. I am currently predicted a C6.
At the start of the year I scored an 86% (A1) on a test, but then freaked out in my prelim and failed it.
I got a tutor a couple of weeks ago, and things do seem to be turning around. I managed to achieve a low C on a past paper, but it was very close.
Yesterday I sat another test, which I feel has gone pretty well. I may have even gotten an A!
I just want to ask if anyone has any advice or tips on how to consistently improve my grade and performance in the final exam. Especially when it comes to memorising things like formulas that aren't on the formula sheet.
I am studying Nat 5 maths this year, and my grades are pretty erratic. I am currently predicted a C6.
At the start of the year I scored an 86% (A1) on a test, but then freaked out in my prelim and failed it.
I got a tutor a couple of weeks ago, and things do seem to be turning around. I managed to achieve a low C on a past paper, but it was very close.
Yesterday I sat another test, which I feel has gone pretty well. I may have even gotten an A!
I just want to ask if anyone has any advice or tips on how to consistently improve my grade and performance in the final exam. Especially when it comes to memorising things like formulas that aren't on the formula sheet.
Reply 1
Hi,
What really helped me was focusing on one topic at a time and practicing consistently. I made sure I fully understood each topic before moving on to the next one, which made things a lot easier over time. To stay organized, I wrote out all the topics on a sheet of paper, ranking them from hardest (or my weak areas) to easiest. I prioritized the hardest ones, practicing them until I felt confident, then moved on to the next most difficult ones, and so on, until I reached the easier topics. Breaking down big topics into smaller chunks and revisiting them regularly using spaced repetition also worked wonders for me. I also kept track of areas where I struggled so I could ask for extra help with them.
When it comes to memorizing formulas, repetition is key. Testing yourself regularly really helps make the formulas stick. I also recommend doing past papers regularly to get familiar with the types of questions and formulas you'll need, which will help boost your confidence. A revision timetable is also useful to stay organized and ensure you’re practicing, especially with Easter holidays coming up.
Here are some resources that I’ve found very helpful:
You’ve already made so much progress and you’re absolutely on the right path. Keep going at your own pace, and remember, you're improving bit by bit and that’s what really matters!
What really helped me was focusing on one topic at a time and practicing consistently. I made sure I fully understood each topic before moving on to the next one, which made things a lot easier over time. To stay organized, I wrote out all the topics on a sheet of paper, ranking them from hardest (or my weak areas) to easiest. I prioritized the hardest ones, practicing them until I felt confident, then moved on to the next most difficult ones, and so on, until I reached the easier topics. Breaking down big topics into smaller chunks and revisiting them regularly using spaced repetition also worked wonders for me. I also kept track of areas where I struggled so I could ask for extra help with them.
When it comes to memorizing formulas, repetition is key. Testing yourself regularly really helps make the formulas stick. I also recommend doing past papers regularly to get familiar with the types of questions and formulas you'll need, which will help boost your confidence. A revision timetable is also useful to stay organized and ensure you’re practicing, especially with Easter holidays coming up.
Here are some resources that I’ve found very helpful:
You’ve already made so much progress and you’re absolutely on the right path. Keep going at your own pace, and remember, you're improving bit by bit and that’s what really matters!
(edited 8 months ago)
Reply 2
Original post
by jasmineva3128Hi,
I am studying Nat 5 maths this year, and my grades are pretty erratic. I am currently predicted a C6.
At the start of the year I scored an 86% (A1) on a test, but then freaked out in my prelim and failed it.
I got a tutor a couple of weeks ago, and things do seem to be turning around. I managed to achieve a low C on a past paper, but it was very close.
Yesterday I sat another test, which I feel has gone pretty well. I may have even gotten an A!
I just want to ask if anyone has any advice or tips on how to consistently improve my grade and performance in the final exam. Especially when it comes to memorising things like formulas that aren't on the formula sheet.
I am studying Nat 5 maths this year, and my grades are pretty erratic. I am currently predicted a C6.
At the start of the year I scored an 86% (A1) on a test, but then freaked out in my prelim and failed it.
I got a tutor a couple of weeks ago, and things do seem to be turning around. I managed to achieve a low C on a past paper, but it was very close.
Yesterday I sat another test, which I feel has gone pretty well. I may have even gotten an A!
I just want to ask if anyone has any advice or tips on how to consistently improve my grade and performance in the final exam. Especially when it comes to memorising things like formulas that aren't on the formula sheet.
Jasmine is that your
Reply 3
Original post
by jasmineva3128Hi,
I am studying Nat 5 maths this year, and my grades are pretty erratic. I am currently predicted a C6.
At the start of the year I scored an 86% (A1) on a test, but then freaked out in my prelim and failed it.
I got a tutor a couple of weeks ago, and things do seem to be turning around. I managed to achieve a low C on a past paper, but it was very close.
Yesterday I sat another test, which I feel has gone pretty well. I may have even gotten an A!
I just want to ask if anyone has any advice or tips on how to consistently improve my grade and performance in the final exam. Especially when it comes to memorising things like formulas that aren't on the formula sheet.
I am studying Nat 5 maths this year, and my grades are pretty erratic. I am currently predicted a C6.
At the start of the year I scored an 86% (A1) on a test, but then freaked out in my prelim and failed it.
I got a tutor a couple of weeks ago, and things do seem to be turning around. I managed to achieve a low C on a past paper, but it was very close.
Yesterday I sat another test, which I feel has gone pretty well. I may have even gotten an A!
I just want to ask if anyone has any advice or tips on how to consistently improve my grade and performance in the final exam. Especially when it comes to memorising things like formulas that aren't on the formula sheet.
YouTube is an underrated study technique for maths
Reply 4
Original post
by jasmineva3128Hi,
I am studying Nat 5 maths this year, and my grades are pretty erratic. I am currently predicted a C6.
At the start of the year I scored an 86% (A1) on a test, but then freaked out in my prelim and failed it.
I got a tutor a couple of weeks ago, and things do seem to be turning around. I managed to achieve a low C on a past paper, but it was very close.
Yesterday I sat another test, which I feel has gone pretty well. I may have even gotten an A!
I just want to ask if anyone has any advice or tips on how to consistently improve my grade and performance in the final exam. Especially when it comes to memorising things like formulas that aren't on the formula sheet.
I am studying Nat 5 maths this year, and my grades are pretty erratic. I am currently predicted a C6.
At the start of the year I scored an 86% (A1) on a test, but then freaked out in my prelim and failed it.
I got a tutor a couple of weeks ago, and things do seem to be turning around. I managed to achieve a low C on a past paper, but it was very close.
Yesterday I sat another test, which I feel has gone pretty well. I may have even gotten an A!
I just want to ask if anyone has any advice or tips on how to consistently improve my grade and performance in the final exam. Especially when it comes to memorising things like formulas that aren't on the formula sheet.
Hey, so if you are sitting SQA exams I can try to give you some hints. So, I did nat 5 maths last year and failed miserably and this year I am resitting. I did the exact same past paper I practised last year, I got 12% in it last year, and 74% in it this year. The last couple years of maths have been pretty good exam wise looking back on, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if this year is slightly more difficult, so my advice is to get good at the things that come up every year. Achieve is a really good website to see the frequency of questions. My tactic this year is to get good at the easy things such as surds, completing the square, simultaneous equations, brackets, quadratic formula, standard deviation, fractions, converse of pythagoras, etc. Once you develop a good knowledge at the basic stuff, it will allow you to understand more complex questions such as algebraic fractions, indices, pythagoras in circles and triginometry. Trig stuff gets such a bad reputation... and I don't quite know why, trig equations are so easy and the graphs are often pretty good. My hack for the trig graphs is that if you are unsure on one co-ordinate then put that as you answer for both A and B as you will at least get one answer right. Also, even if you have no clue, answer everything because even attempting and laying out answers may get you a mark. For example, volume, arcs and sectors, similarity and dividing algebraic fractions are all tough topics but even just doing the most obvious thing will get you a mark (e.g. by flipping the fraction), look on marking schemes it will make sense. Also, do past papers all the time. You get extra practise papers on websites such as national5maths and maths.scot and there are many speciman papers out there. I am wishing you the best of luck and also praying for a pass. I hope to hear this was of use... especially on results day!!
Reply 5
In the Nat 5 math exam is really close (this week) but I got an 89% (A1) last year doing Nat 5 math and I would HIGHLY suggest skimming through past papers from 2024-2015 and see what topics are allocated the most marks and take a list of them from most to least marks. While your looking through these take note of what the A-grade questions usually are in terms of topics which can be found mostly at the end of the exam paper. This is what your gonna use to revise and study the topics first which you get the most marks for all the way to the least. It’s important to not memorise how to do question types but to understand WHY your doing it which helps for when those A-grade questions come up and your able to think deeper as you have a further understanding of the topic.
My all time favourite YouTuber for math who has helped me consistently get A’s in Nat 5 and in higher is clelland maths. If your struggling with a topic just search it up on his channel and follow along with his example questions and when he goes through past paper questions by topic or by year
I would also make sure your doing past papers atleast 3-4 from 2024,2023,2022,2019 which can allow you to see a pattern in the way they ask questions and what questions frequently come up.
Hope this helps and good luck!
My all time favourite YouTuber for math who has helped me consistently get A’s in Nat 5 and in higher is clelland maths. If your struggling with a topic just search it up on his channel and follow along with his example questions and when he goes through past paper questions by topic or by year
I would also make sure your doing past papers atleast 3-4 from 2024,2023,2022,2019 which can allow you to see a pattern in the way they ask questions and what questions frequently come up.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- advice for a student going into a second gap year?
- Will my N5 results affect my application to St Andrews later in the year
- Choosing an A level subject
- Optometry Scotland
- Supercurricular Advice
- Cayley Olympiad
- I want to become a lawyer
- a level bio chem maths help
- D to B in AS Bio
- Why is it that I want to be less academically clever like my siblings but clever at
- ╰➤ crunchy's gyg 🌿.ೃ࿐
- Wrecked my year 12 mocks! HELP!!
- idk what to do
- E to A in one week | yr13 maths paper 3 gyg
- I’m so scared
- Parametric Equations/ Range and Domain
- Advanced Highers and Yass Course
- IT COMPUTING / Foundation Year Degree? ( Options )
- Help with grades needed asap
- a level subject mistake 🤔
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 months ago
Could I get into architecture at uni?Last reply 3 months ago
Artificial Intelligence at Edinburgh UniLast reply 4 months ago
SQA Advanced Higher Biology - 27th May 2025 [exam chat]Last reply 4 months ago
[Official] SQA Results Day Countdown 2025Last reply 4 months ago
Predict Your SQA Results! - SQA Results Day 2025Last reply 4 months ago
English portfolio concern sqaLast reply 5 months ago
Scottish student applying to LSEPosted 5 months ago
Make sure you check / change your UCAS email addressLast reply 5 months ago
Is 4 advanced highers too much? - continuedLast reply 5 months ago
Do English Unis care about SQA Higher grades?Last reply 5 months ago
Should I swap Higher Maths for Higher Business Management?Last reply 5 months ago
Transitioning from gcses to highersLast reply 5 months ago
Can you get into LSE with…Articles for you
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
