IGCSE Maths revision can be tough. This makes careful preparation for the upcoming assessment extremely important.
So whether you are stuck, or just want to look for ideas to put a final polish on your revision, this post is exactly what you need. With our IGCSE Maths revision tips, the top grade is well within your reach.
Why Can Maths IGCSE Revision be so Hard?
IGCSE Maths features a relatively large syllabus loaded with equations, formulas, and quite difficult concepts.
You need to master their application in practice. To do so, it is vital to develop abstract thinking, critical analyses, and strong problem-solving skills.
Some students naturally have a talent for Maths and find it easy and this can be disconcerting for the rest of us. Others have to put much more effort in, but this doesn’t mean you can get a top grade.
If you’re in the latter category, you need to be ready to invest a lot of your time and effort in your IGCSE Maths revision and we have compiled a few tried and true tactics to help you.
Let’s dive in!
How Should Students Prepare for the IGCSE Exams?
If Maths is your strength, you’re in luck. This doesn’t, however, mean that you should skip preparation for IGCSE Maths whatsoever. Chances are that there are some topics that make you struggle or Maths skills that can improve. Your best bet is to focus on these weak points during the revision. Also, it is vital you get used to the mark scheme and understand what the examiners want to see from each type of question.
If Maths isn’t really your thing, you have to give your preparation and revision much more time. It’s better to start as early as possible to go over all the topics in the syllabus carefully and consistently. Make sure to break these topics into three categories:
1) The ones that you don’t know or don’t understand.
2) The ones you are confident with.
3) Everything in between.
Put the most difficult topics at the top of your study schedule and allocate the most time to work on them. It is easy to want to start with the topics you like the most or find easiest, but don’t fall into this trap. The topics that you know well enough can go at the end, making sure you have time to cover them all.
IGCSE Maths Revision Tips to Boost Your Grades
Now that you know how to organize your time for IGCSE math exams, let us share some practical tips for thorough revision.
1. Find the best type of studying for you
Some students learn best on their own, working through problems, writing flashcards, and doing mock tests. However, this doesn’t work for everyone.
Alternatively, prepare in a group. It’s likely that your friends have a good understanding of certain topics, while your grasp of some concepts is better.
Studying together can be really beneficial in terms of sharing information and improving your skills. Even trying to explain complex concepts to your classmates (and vice versa) is a very effective form of learning.
Are you a visual learner, or do you learn better when listening to or talking through a concept? This is the time you should be understanding the best learning approaches for your learning style. So, figure them out and then apply the best to all your subjects.
Use as many resources as possible. Practicing with past papers is not the only thing that makes you better at Maths. You should attempt to diversify your means of studying since different approaches stimulate different senses.
Try to make the most of revision guides, Maths textbooks, YouTube videos, quizzes, puzzles, learning maps, and interactive resources. Some of these resources help you improve your math skills in a fun and entertaining way.
2. Practice is the key
Maths exams are about solving problems and answering questions in the way specified by the exam board.
Understand what the mark scheme is asking for with each type of question on the paper. Understand where the BIG marks lie and make sure you do not skip these all-important questions, and that you give a detailed enough answer so you avoid leaving marks on the table unclaimed.
Therefore, you need to actually practice Maths to reinforce the skills. Solving equations within 30 minutes per day is more beneficial than reading math books for 3 hours. Ideally, mark them yourself using the mark scheme, so that you get used to seeing where you dropped valuable points.
If you feel you need help with this you can buddy up with a friend and mark their attempts while they do the same for you.
3. Use past papers and times questions
Get used to sitting the whole exam in one go and planning your time effectively. You can do this by sitting past papers under exam conditions. Either at home or at school, it doesn’t matter, as long as you are getting the practice in and not cheating! Luck your phone away, set a timer, and do your best.
IGCSE Maths past papers are an excellent opportunity to improve your time planning. They can give you a clear idea of exam formats and questions to expect.
The more Maths questions you do in this way, the better you get at solving problems. ‘Get better’ is not only about finding a correct answer but also about seeing more ways to solve a problem and being efficient with your time.
4. Make the most of your mock exam
Speaking about time, you will have just a couple of hours (depending on the board) to answer all the questions in your exam.
Therefore, when you sit down to do a whole IGSCE Maths paper, you should keep track of time. Setting limits on time will allow you to familiarize yourself with real-exam conditions. It also helps boost performance by getting you used to working under stress.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Remember, you are not alone in this journey. Your teachers are there with you, too. Don’t have any doubt, they carry your best interest at heart. That’s why if you have questions or you’re stuck, they will be happy to come to your aid.
Have friends with an innate talent for Maths? You can take advantage of learning with them and from them. After all, getting help from your peers is less intimidating than turning to your superiors.
6. Book a tutor to help with revision
You can also consider a Maths tutor. Assistance from someone knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive to your needs may pave the way for top grades in your exam. We have a team of experienced IGCSE Maths tutors available today.
Diligence is something you must find within yourself. But we can help with everything else.
Thanks to our tremendous experience, TutorsPlus can guide you through your math quest without stress and anxiety. You can count on us in making clear the most complicated concepts, providing ample study materials, and even setting mock exams. Whatever you struggle with, we have a solution. Our IGCSE math tutors are looking forward to contributing to your success.
You can reach us at 022 731 8148 or info@tutorsplus.com.
