Maths GCSE revision
I was quite wary on skipping doing the content and going straight to past papers as I am afraid if I miss out on anything i should know for the exam then i would miss crucial marks. Every paper would obviously be different so there could be gaps in my knowledge but now I am really worried with the next steps of my revision as the exam is about a week away and i’m barely even half way through the topic list.
I would appreciate any tips on revising maths as I am currently on sitting on a low 6 and I really do want to get slightly better in the GCSES. I just don’t know any effective ways as I am not sure what I am supposed to know for the exam.
Reply 1
I was quite wary on skipping doing the content and going straight to past papers as I am afraid if I miss out on anything i should know for the exam then i would miss crucial marks. Every paper would obviously be different so there could be gaps in my knowledge but now I am really worried with the next steps of my revision as the exam is about a week away and i’m barely even half way through the topic list.
I would appreciate any tips on revising maths as I am currently on sitting on a low 6 and I really do want to get slightly better in the GCSES. I just don’t know any effective ways as I am not sure what I am supposed to know for the exam.
I just do lots of past papers, been through 25 so far, gone from a 5 to 8
Reply 2
It means you know where to revise too, where you commonly struggle
Reply 3
i use websites like save my exams and examq a lot when i want to go by subtopic
Reply 4
Okay i’ll give this a go, thank you
Reply 5
I was quite wary on skipping doing the content and going straight to past papers as I am afraid if I miss out on anything i should know for the exam then i would miss crucial marks. Every paper would obviously be different so there could be gaps in my knowledge but now I am really worried with the next steps of my revision as the exam is about a week away and i’m barely even half way through the topic list.
I would appreciate any tips on revising maths as I am currently on sitting on a low 6 and I really do want to get slightly better in the GCSES. I just don’t know any effective ways as I am not sure what I am supposed to know for the exam.
What really made a difference for me was consistent practice. Doing loads of past papers helped me build up that exam technique and muscle memory — it’s how I jumped from a grade 4 to a 7 in just a few weeks. I’m in Year 13 now doing A Level Maths, and I still stick to that same method. Practice really is key!
My younger sister (she’s in Year 11) recently did some online Easter revision with MyEdSpace and found it super helpful. They’re actually running a free revision cram course at the moment for subjects like Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. I’m even thinking of joining in myself to brush up for my A Levels! Check it out here
Reply 6
I was quite wary on skipping doing the content and going straight to past papers as I am afraid if I miss out on anything i should know for the exam then i would miss crucial marks. Every paper would obviously be different so there could be gaps in my knowledge but now I am really worried with the next steps of my revision as the exam is about a week away and i’m barely even half way through the topic list.
I would appreciate any tips on revising maths as I am currently on sitting on a low 6 and I really do want to get slightly better in the GCSES. I just don’t know any effective ways as I am not sure what I am supposed to know for the exam.
hellooo~ I’m currently doing AQA Maths and I absolutely love and enjoy every aspect of maths (well just 0.00001% less for those annoying graphs..) I’ve always been able to achieve 9s (or equivalent percentage of scores) since like yr 8, but nowadays my scores are fluctuating at around 75/80 due to the silly mistakes I always make (and its driving me nuts)..
Alongside studying maths, I also enjoy explaining maths to ppl since its very satisfying for me to see the improvements they make after understanding it.
Sites that I use to study for maths:
•
Corbettmaths (brilliant site with banks of questions and videos on each topic)
•
MathsGenie (amazing site if you want more challenging exam questions based on each topic)
•
OnMaths (An alternative site you can use to do past papers)
•
SparxMaths (a site that track your progress and has a bank of questions and videos explaination for every topic)
•
Firstclassmaths (best site for challenging predicted papers, spicy questions to strech yourself to the next level, list of topic appearance based on exams in the previous years, etc)
•
thirdspacelearning (my fav site to refresh myself on a topic that Im about to forget, or even to learn a new topic!)
My advice for doing/ studying for Maths:
•
Always start learning a topic from basic because all the topics are build on the simplest ideas! Just imagine constructing a building, if the base of the building is not stable, it doesn’t matter how perfect the top is, since it’s still inevitably gonna collapse.
•
Always ask for help straight away if ur stuck on smth bc all things in maths are interconnected. This means if u ignore your misunderstandings on one topic, this will very likely affect ur performance on another topic. Think about a 5 marker never just involve one single topic, it’s always a mix of skills from diff topics.
•
Do a lot of past papers, by that I mean at least 2 a week starting from today because getting good grades in maths is all about the amount of practice you do and your exposure to diff types of questions.
•
Always check for silly mistakes at the end. I can never emphasise enough the importance of avoiding silly mistakes, and the truth is, everyone including me still do so in every exam. So just make sure you do every question carefully and underline the important information to reduce the chance of having silly mistakes at the first place!!
•
Don’t stare at a question for 10 minutes in an exam since you do not have time for that. You’ll rather revisit it at the end if you have time cuz maybe by that time your brain will have a different way of interpreting the question!
•
Don’t avoid studying the topics you hate and go for the ones you love since there’ll be absolutely no point studying if you let your brain to just avoid it!
•
Don’t make notes! I do know this is very controversial, but think about you could’ve spend the time on actually practising some questions instead of taking notes. (Maths is a incredibly practical subject, it’s not memory based, you have to adapt on doing the questions). Plus I never make notes for maths.
•
Doing maths is so much better with a buddy there with you, so you can support each other and aim for improvements together.
I hope that you will find some of these information helpful!
Remember it’s never too early or late to start working hard on maths, the more you practice, the better you’ll be!
Please feel free to ask me in wtv way if you have a specific question or topic that you need explaination on (I’ll try my best to do so) or just anything at all about maths! There’s never something too big or small to ask about maths!
GL to everyone on revising!
Reply 7
Alongside studying maths, I also enjoy explaining maths to ppl since its very satisfying for me to see the improvements they make after understanding it.
Sites that I use to study for maths:
•
Corbettmaths (brilliant site with banks of questions and videos on each topic)
•
MathsGenie (amazing site if you want more challenging exam questions based on each topic)
•
OnMaths (An alternative site you can use to do past papers)
•
SparxMaths (a site that track your progress and has a bank of questions and videos explaination for every topic)
•
Firstclassmaths (best site for challenging predicted papers, spicy questions to strech yourself to the next level, list of topic appearance based on exams in the previous years, etc)
•
thirdspacelearning (my fav site to refresh myself on a topic that Im about to forget, or even to learn a new topic!)
My advice for doing/ studying for Maths:
•
Always start learning a topic from basic because all the topics are build on the simplest ideas! Just imagine constructing a building, if the base of the building is not stable, it doesn’t matter how perfect the top is, since it’s still inevitably gonna collapse.
•
Always ask for help straight away if ur stuck on smth bc all things in maths are interconnected. This means if u ignore your misunderstandings on one topic, this will very likely affect ur performance on another topic. Think about a 5 marker never just involve one single topic, it’s always a mix of skills from diff topics.
•
Do a lot of past papers, by that I mean at least 2 a week starting from today because getting good grades in maths is all about the amount of practice you do and your exposure to diff types of questions.
•
Always check for silly mistakes at the end. I can never emphasise enough the importance of avoiding silly mistakes, and the truth is, everyone including me still do so in every exam. So just make sure you do every question carefully and underline the important information to reduce the chance of having silly mistakes at the first place!!
•
Don’t stare at a question for 10 minutes in an exam since you do not have time for that. You’ll rather revisit it at the end if you have time cuz maybe by that time your brain will have a different way of interpreting the question!
•
Don’t avoid studying the topics you hate and go for the ones you love since there’ll be absolutely no point studying if you let your brain to just avoid it!
•
Don’t make notes! I do know this is very controversial, but think about you could’ve spend the time on actually practising some questions instead of taking notes. (Maths is a incredibly practical subject, it’s not memory based, you have to adapt on doing the questions). Plus I never make notes for maths.
•
Doing maths is so much better with a buddy there with you, so you can support each other and aim for improvements together.
I hope that you will find some of these information helpful!
Remember it’s never too early or late to start working hard on maths, the more you practice, the better you’ll be!
Please feel free to ask me in wtv way if you have a specific question or topic that you need explaination on (I’ll try my best to do so) or just anything at all about maths! There’s never something too big or small to ask about maths!
GL to everyone on revising!
Thank you so much, this was all really helpful and will definitely take this into account
It's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed with your GCSE Maths revision.
Here are some tips that might help.
First of all, shift your focus to past papers
Practising past papers is one of the most effective ways to prepare for your Maths GCSE.
Start by attempting a past paper under exam conditions, then thoroughly review your answers, noting any mistakes and the topics they relate to.
Use online resources
Create a focused revision schedule
Try to prioritise topics based on your past paper performance. Allocate specific time slots each day to practice these areas, ensuring you cover your weaker topics and maintain strengths in others.
Have some short breaks to prevent burnout and keep your mind fresh.
Try to practice under exam conditions.
Try to practice under exam conditions by timing yourself while doing past papers.
If certain concepts remain unclear, don't hesitate to seek help. Online tutorials, study groups, or asking teachers can provide the clarification needed to solidify your understanding.
Remember, quality matters over quantity.
Stay positive, and believe in your ability that you are able to succeed.
I hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador
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