How To Pass A-Level Maths
A level maths can be pretty daunting when compared to GCSE maths. But despite its complexity and volume, every year, thousands of students sit for the exam and pass it. So put your concerns to rest, you can pass the A level maths. You just have to put in the right amount of hard work.
5 tips to help you pass A level maths
So you are interested in finding out how to pass your A level maths? Here are 5 tips guaranteed to make this possible.
1. Master your Core 1 maths
After the first year, most students often discard the knowledge and concepts taught in their AS level. They focus on the topics at hand without going back to previous topics already taught. This is a huge mistake.
The reason why Core 1 maths is a part of the AS level curriculum is because many A2 level topics derive their roots from AS level maths topics. Hence, many examiners set questions only students with a strong grip on Core 1 maths can handle.
So to pass your A level maths, you must master your:
- Surds and indices
- Inequalities
- Coordinate Geometry
- Quadratics
- Sketching Curves.
A good understanding of these topics prepares you for later topics in your A2 level. Plus, it saves you the stress of having too many topics to handle during revision.
2. Do you past papers
Students who scored A or A* in their A level maths usually have one thing in common- they solved every past paper available on the subject.
To pass your A-level maths with an intense revision course; make a habit of solving maths questions using past papers with the help of an online maths tutor. But, you must ensure that the past paper is the same as your current curriculum.
Also, while trying to solve the questions, resist the temptation of checking out the mark scheme before you finish solving them. By attempting the questions first, you hone your ability to solve mathematical problems.
Again, while solving past papers, treat them like they were your real A level exam questions. Often times, students adopt a laid back approach while solving past papers. This shouldn’t be. If there are instructions, guidelines, time limits, try to follow through. This is because passing these self-assessments will aid in boosting your confidence for the upcoming exam.
3. Review after each lesson
This may sound like a trivial tip to passing your A-level maths, but is one of the most crucial points on the subject.
By reviewing the lesson after each class, even for 10 or 15 minutes, you improve your ability to recall vital information. Simply going through your notes shortly after each class, internalizes the topic taught. By doing this, you will be able to find out areas that proved to be a challenge and channel your efforts to them.
4. Work on your speed of solving questions
Many students who fail the A level maths exam complained of not finishing the exam questions before the set time. If you must pass your A level maths exam, you must work on the speed with which you attempt the questions.
You can do this while working on past papers. Assign 2 hours or less to yourself to complete each past paper, and endeavour to work within this time. In this way, you sharpen your ability to understand the examiner’s questions and answer them within the stipulated time.
5. Clarity in answering the exam questions
The final tool that will help you pass your A level maths and make an A or A* is clearly answering the exam questions.
You must understand that your examiners are humans and are obligated to work with stipulated grading schemes. And so when the examiner cannot understand your answers, he cannot give you a pass mark or an A.
You must therefore try to systematically write out your answers as clearly as possible. Don’t worry about filling up your answer sheets. You can always request for another, so long as you achieve the goal of showing your examiner that you know and understand the questions asked.
Of course, if you are looking for some help then our A Level Maths Videos, will give you an insight into how to answer some of the harder questions
Should you require support throughout the year then you can use a online A Level Maths Tutor. Also, our classroom based courses cater for a small group of students at any one time and are highly bespoke catering towards student needs.
Our A Level Maths revision courses take place in a variety of locations including Manchester, Lymm, London and also York.
Our courses take place during half term holidays and we are currently taking bookings for all our courses. With exams in England taking place in 2021 we expect our next A Level Maths revision course during February and our A Level Maths Easter revision courses to be both very popular in 2021. With the current situation with Covid-19 this course will of course be online. The course will be packed full of information to help students prepare for their exams in summer 2021. It is hoped that we can offer our traditional group based maths revision courses as soon as possible.
If you, or your parents would like to find out more, please just get in touch via email at info@exam.tips or call us on 0800 689 1272.