Passing your GCSE Maths can be a difficult task. Over 40% of
students failed their GCSE Maths last summer. So, why do many people
fail their GCSE maths?
Firstly, students do not polish their basic skills from a young age. By basic skills, I mean addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. These are the very first concepts you learn in primary school. What tends to happen is students do not strengthen these skills at a young age and then progress to the more advanced concepts. This results in a partial understanding of all the topics learnt.
Before you can move on to the harder topics, you must master the basics. This means you must practise your arithmetic (addition/subtraction/multiplication/division) on a consistent basis. Once you can answer a wide range of arithmetic questions in a matter of seconds, you can move on.
When you are learning maths, you must perceive it as 'the subject of basics'. Unlike every other curriculum subject, maths derives from the basics. For instance, before multiplication and division came about, there was addition and subtraction. That is why it's very important to master the fundamentals. Once you do, you will be able to grasp the harder ones fairly quickly.
Moreover, when you are attempting to solve a maths problem, you must have this theory of basics, in mind. This is so you can 'think' back to the basics if you're ever stuck on a particular problem.
For example, say you were given this question in an exam:
Solve for x: 3x^2 = 75
You may be a little put-off by this question, at first, but by 'thinking' back to the basics, you will come to a
solution. Firstly, you would attempt to break down this statement. So we have an 'x^2' which simply means a
number multiplied by itself (x squared). Altogether, this statement reads: 3 times a number multiplied by itself
is equal to 75. To find out this unknown, you work backwards. So, divide 75 by 3 to put the unknown
completely on its own. This works out to be 25. Now, the statement reduces to x^2 = 25. You would need
to know your square numbers at this point to deduce that x = 5 (or -5).
When you view maths in this way, the solution begins to unravel and it becomes dead easy! Did you see how we referred back to the previous concepts? We really thought about what the statement said. We know that in algebraic equations, you never see a multiplication sign. Instead numbers and letters are bunched together. Also, we had to think about the notation for a square (which is x^2) and that square roots have both a positive and negative solution.
Ultimately, your maths skills are measured by an examination at the end of a particular course. An exam is simply a set of questions from a wide-range of topics. Exam questions are contextual. This means they're applied to real-life scenarios. Be careful because these questions are quite 'wordy' as opposed to standard maths problems. As you're examined by these type of questions, it is best to work solely on exam questions. Keep practising them. Get a feel for the nature of these questions because this is essentially, how you're assessed. Once you've perfected you're exam technique, you are guaranteed to ace your exam.
Another important issue is memory. Again, an exam is a test of how much you can remember. The more you can remember, the higher the result. It's as simple as that! From past experience, I found that the best (and only) way to improve memory is through repetition. Attempt exam questions over and over again. What you'll notice is, after a while, the methods used will store in your memory banks. Solving these questions will become second nature to you. I emphasise methods because maths questions are generally solved in a step-by-step format. So memorize these methods and pass your maths exam with flying colours!
Firstly, students do not polish their basic skills from a young age. By basic skills, I mean addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. These are the very first concepts you learn in primary school. What tends to happen is students do not strengthen these skills at a young age and then progress to the more advanced concepts. This results in a partial understanding of all the topics learnt.
Before you can move on to the harder topics, you must master the basics. This means you must practise your arithmetic (addition/subtraction/multiplication/division) on a consistent basis. Once you can answer a wide range of arithmetic questions in a matter of seconds, you can move on.
When you are learning maths, you must perceive it as 'the subject of basics'. Unlike every other curriculum subject, maths derives from the basics. For instance, before multiplication and division came about, there was addition and subtraction. That is why it's very important to master the fundamentals. Once you do, you will be able to grasp the harder ones fairly quickly.
Moreover, when you are attempting to solve a maths problem, you must have this theory of basics, in mind. This is so you can 'think' back to the basics if you're ever stuck on a particular problem.
For example, say you were given this question in an exam:
Solve for x: 3x^2 = 75
You may be a little put-off by this question, at first, but by 'thinking' back to the basics, you will come to a
solution. Firstly, you would attempt to break down this statement. So we have an 'x^2' which simply means a
number multiplied by itself (x squared). Altogether, this statement reads: 3 times a number multiplied by itself
is equal to 75. To find out this unknown, you work backwards. So, divide 75 by 3 to put the unknown
completely on its own. This works out to be 25. Now, the statement reduces to x^2 = 25. You would need
to know your square numbers at this point to deduce that x = 5 (or -5).
When you view maths in this way, the solution begins to unravel and it becomes dead easy! Did you see how we referred back to the previous concepts? We really thought about what the statement said. We know that in algebraic equations, you never see a multiplication sign. Instead numbers and letters are bunched together. Also, we had to think about the notation for a square (which is x^2) and that square roots have both a positive and negative solution.
Ultimately, your maths skills are measured by an examination at the end of a particular course. An exam is simply a set of questions from a wide-range of topics. Exam questions are contextual. This means they're applied to real-life scenarios. Be careful because these questions are quite 'wordy' as opposed to standard maths problems. As you're examined by these type of questions, it is best to work solely on exam questions. Keep practising them. Get a feel for the nature of these questions because this is essentially, how you're assessed. Once you've perfected you're exam technique, you are guaranteed to ace your exam.
Another important issue is memory. Again, an exam is a test of how much you can remember. The more you can remember, the higher the result. It's as simple as that! From past experience, I found that the best (and only) way to improve memory is through repetition. Attempt exam questions over and over again. What you'll notice is, after a while, the methods used will store in your memory banks. Solving these questions will become second nature to you. I emphasise methods because maths questions are generally solved in a step-by-step format. So memorize these methods and pass your maths exam with flying colours!