Intermediate GCSE Maths Revision - Mistakes to prevent in the Maths GCSE Exam
Intermediate GCSE Mathematics examines grades E, D, C and B. Each grade may be worth 25% of the marks on the exam paper. Each Intermediate Maths GCSE exam paper starts off using the easier grade E questions and finishes with the harder grade B questions. maths revision Approximately 55% is needed for grade C, and approximately 75% for grade B, (these percentages change from year to year based on the impossibility of the test). All students who revise thoroughly, forget to invest time on the simplest way to achieve and lose marks within the exam. Candidates have to be conscious of these 9 very simple steps as both a resource of very easy marks, and as a method to prevent losing marks needlessly.
1. Show All Procedures in Any Calculations
This is actually the advice given to candidates on the front of the Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper. This is also the number one cause of losing marks. For whatever reason, many candidates (and it is more regularly boys), think that everything they are doing will be perfect and mistake free, so why bother using up precious energy writing needlessly, when they can exercise the solution faster their very own way? Unfortunately, this is the fastest way of losing marks.
Let's consider a two mark question where you need to exercise the length of a model car. The student calculates in their head, or on their own calculator, the length is 0.45 m and writes this answer down. Unfortunately the student will get no marks at all for this if the question stated the answer should be given in centimetres. The two mark real question is comprised of 1 method mark for that method used, and 1 accuracy mark for the correct answer. A student will therefore not obtain the accuracy mark for that correct answer, nor the technique mark as no working out has been shown. So even though they can undoubtedly perform the question and might have got one mark if they had shown their working out, they were left with no marks whatsoever. Instead of staying on target for any grade C through getting one mark out of two, they've fallen behind on an easy question. The test is really as much concerning how to prevent losing marks, because it is about gaining them.
2. Give the Final Answer as Asked For in the Question
The exam question will often state the level of accuracy required for the ultimate answer. For instance to provide your answer correct to 1 decimal place, or to 1 significant figure. If you don't give the way to go within the form requested in the question, you won't obtain the final accuracy mark (1 mark). In algebra or ratio questions, many times, it states to give the way to go in its simplest form. Altogether on the average Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper, around 10% (10 %!) of all of the marks are for giving your answer within the form asked for within the question. Once you start spotting this and making sure that all of your answers are within the correct form that's been requested, you'll stop throwing away plenty of marks.
3. Make use of the Marks Given to Assist you to
There is a factor from a 1 mark question, along with a 4 mark question. If for instance you are doing a 3 mark question in 1 line, then beware, as you've either not shown all of your working out (and will lose marks), or else you haven't spotted correctly what to do, so look at the question again. As a rough guide try to do yet another type of working compared to quantity of marks in the question:
2 mark question: 3 lines of exercising
3 mark question: 4 lines of exercising
This will make sure that you show all of the steps required to get full method marks.
4. Don't Cramp your Exercising
As candidates write around the Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper itself, enough room is not always provided. You shouldn't be tempted to squash your work right into a small space - request extra paper. If you're squashing your projects in, then its common for candidates to leave some steps out - these steps are often the technique steps the examiner must see to get the method marks!
5. Watch out for Mixed Units
Quite often different units are utilized to measure quantities in the same question, for instance:
cm and mm
m and cm
km and m
The golden rule is to always use just one unit throughout, either all centimetres or all metres or all kilometres. Change different measures at the beginning of doing the question towards the same unit.
6. Beware the Calculator Paper!
The GCSE Mathematics exam includes a Calculator exam paper along with a Non-Calculator exam paper. gcse maths revision GCSE Mathematics is the hardest GCSE exam to get the grade you need, and far from making the exam easier, utilizing a calculator often leads to more mistakes along with a lower mark than in the non-calculator paper. It is even more vital that you show all of your working out on the Calculator paper as it is very easy to complete 2 or 3 lines on your calculator without showing any working out. You would lose all your method marks, and when you have made an error you will not have any marks at all. Because the exam paper includes more method marks than accuracy marks it is crucial that you show all your exercising.
7. Not being in DEG Mode
Ensure your calculator is definitely in DEG (degrees) mode, otherwise you will never get Trigonometry questions correct!
8. Don't Measure Diagrams
Whether it states "diagram not accurately drawn" then do not bother measuring the diagram, it will not assist you to, and it will waste time. "Diagram not accurately drawn" means you have to find a calculating method (not measuring method) to get the answer.
9. Jot down Measuring Units
Make sure to write down the units you're using e.g. cm, m, km if they're not given at the end of the question. Should you forget, you will lose 1 super easy mark. (It's very easily forgotten though!).
Conclusion
If you practise and remember these 9 simple steps, you'll be able to prevent losing up to 10% of your exam marks needlessly. Good examination technique ought to be practised as part of Intermediate GCSE Maths exam preparation, so when revising probably the most essential exam questions and exam topics.