Intermediate GCSE Mathematics examines grades E, D, C and B. Each grade is worth 25% from the marks on the exam paper. Each Intermediate Maths GCSE exam paper starts off with the easier grade E questions and finishes using the harder grade B questions. Approximately 55% is required 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 spend time on the simplest way to achieve and lose marks within the exam. Candidates need to be aware of these 9 quite simple steps as both a resource of very easy marks, so that as a method to prevent losing marks needlessly.

maths revision

1. Show All Stages in Any Calculations

This is actually the advice given to candidates around the front from the Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper. This is the main cause of losing marks. For some reason, many candidates (and it is more often boys), believe that everything they do is going to be perfect and mistake free, why bother depleting precious energy writing needlessly, whenever they can work out the answer faster their own way? Unfortunately, this is the quickest method of losing marks.

Let's think about a two mark question in which you need to exercise the length of one car. The student works out within their head, or on their own calculator, that the length is 0.45 m and writes this answer down. Unfortunately a student will get no marks whatsoever for this if the question stated the answer should be succumbed centimetres. The 2 mark real question is comprised of 1 method mark for the method used, and 1 accuracy mark for that correct answer. A student will therefore not get the accuracy mark for that correct answer, nor the method mark as no exercising has been confirmed. So even though they can undoubtedly perform the question and would have got one mark when they had shown their exercising, they ended up with no marks at all. Rather than staying on target for any grade C by getting one mark out of two, they have fallen behind with an easy question. The test is really as much concerning how to prevent losing marks, because it is about gaining them.

2. Provide the Final Answer as Requested within the Question

The exam question will frequently state the amount of accuracy required for the ultimate answer. For instance to provide your answer correct to at least one decimal place, or to 1 significant figure. If you do not give the way to go within the form asked for within the question, you won't obtain the final accuracy mark (1 mark). In algebra or ratio questions, it often states to provide the way to go in the simplest form. Altogether around the average Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper, around 10% (ten percent!) of all the marks are for giving your answer in the form asked for within the question. Once you start spotting this and ensuring all your email address details are within the correct form that's been requested, you'll stop throwing away lots of marks.

3. Use the Marks Given to Help You

There's a factor from a 1 mark question, and a 4 mark question. If for example 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 you have not spotted correctly how to proceed, so consider the question again. Like a rough guide aim to do one more line of working than the number of marks within 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 Working Out

As candidates write on the Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper itself, enough room is not always provided. You shouldn't be lured to squash your work into a small space - request extra paper. If you are squashing your work in, then its very common for candidates to leave some steps out - these steps are frequently the method steps the examiner must see to obtain the method marks!

5. Watch out for Mixed Units

Frequently different units are used to measure quantities within the same question, for example:

cm and mm

m and cm

km and m

The golden rule would be to always use just one unit throughout, either all centimetres or all metres or all kilometres. Change any different measures at the start of doing the question towards the same unit.

6. Beware the Calculator Paper!

The GCSE Mathematics exam consists of a Calculator exam paper and a Non-Calculator exam paper. GCSE Mathematics may be the hardest GCSE exam to get the grade you'll need, and from making the test easier, utilizing a calculator often leads to more mistakes and a lower mark compared to the non-calculator paper. It's much more vital that you show all of your working out around the Calculator paper as it is super easy to complete 2 or 3 lines in your calculator without showing any working out. You would lose all your method marks, and if you have made a mistake you won't get any marks whatsoever. Because the exam paper includes more method marks than accuracy marks it is essential that you show all your working out.

gcse maths revision

7. Not in DEG Mode

Make sure that your calculator is definitely in DEG (degrees) mode, or else you will never get Trigonometry questions correct!

8. Don't Measure Diagrams

If it states "diagram not accurately drawn" then don't bother measuring the diagram, it will not help you, and it'll spend your time. "Diagram not accurately drawn" means you have to find a calculating method (not measuring method) to get the answer.

9. Write 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. If you forget, you will lose 1 very easy mark. (It is very easily forgotten though!).

Conclusion

Should you practise and remember these 9 simple steps, it is possible to prevent losing as much as 10% of the 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.

Intermediate GCSE Mathematics examines grades E, D, C and B. Each grade may be worth 25% of the marks around the exam paper. Each Intermediate Maths GCSE exam paper begins using the easier grade E questions and finishes using the harder grade B questions. Approximately 55% is required for grade C, and approximately 75% for grade B, (these percentages vary from year upon year according to the difficulty of the exam). All students who revise thoroughly, forget to invest time around the easiest way to gain and lose marks in the exam. Candidates have to be conscious of these 9 very simple steps as both a source of super easy marks, and as a method to prevent losing marks needlessly.

maths revision

1. Show All Stages in Any Calculations

This is the advice provided to candidates on the front of the Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper. This is also the number one reason for losing marks. For whatever reason, many candidates (which is more often boys), think that everything they are doing is going to be perfect and mistake free, so why bother using up precious energy writing needlessly, whenever they can work out the solution faster their very own way? Unfortunately, this is also the quickest method of losing marks.

Let us think about a two mark question in which you have to work out the size of a model car. A student calculates in their head, or on their own calculator, the length is 0.45 m and writes this answer down. Unfortunately the student can get no marks at all with this when the question stated that the answer ought to be given in centimetres. The 2 mark question is made up of 1 method mark for that method used, and 1 accuracy mark for the correct answer. A student will therefore not get the accuracy mark for the correct answer, nor the technique mark as no exercising has been shown. So even though they can undoubtedly do the question and might have got one mark when they had shown their exercising, they ended up with no marks whatsoever. Instead of staying on target for any grade C through getting one mark from two, they've fallen behind on an easy question. The exam is as much about how to prevent losing marks, as it is about gaining them.

2. Provide the Final Answer as Asked For in the Question

The test question will frequently state the amount of accuracy needed for the final answer. For example to give the way to go correct to 1 decimal place, in order to 1 significant figure. If you don't give your answer in the form requested in the question, you will not obtain the final accuracy mark (1 mark). In algebra or ratio questions, it often states to give your answer in the simplest form. Altogether around the average Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper, around 10% (ten percent!) of all of the marks are for giving the way to go in the form requested in the question. When you start spotting this and making sure that all of your answers are in the correct form that has been requested, you will stop throwing out lots of marks.

3. Make use of the Marks Provided to Assist you to

There's a significant difference from a 1 mark question, along with a 4 mark question. If for instance you do a 3 mark question in 1 line, then beware, as you have either not shown all your exercising (and can lose marks), or you haven't spotted correctly how to proceed, so look at the question again. Like a rough guide aim to do one more line of working than the number of marks in the question:

2 mark question: 3 lines of working out

3 mark question: 4 lines of working out

This can ensure that you show all the steps required to get full method marks.

4. Don't Cramp your Working Out

As candidates write on the Intermediate GCSE Maths exam paper itself, sufficient space isn't necessarily provided. Don't be lured to squash your projects right into a small space - ask for extra paper. If you're squashing your projects in, then it is common for candidates to depart some steps out - these steps are frequently the method steps that the examiner needs to look into obtain 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 work with only one unit throughout, either all centimetres or all metres or all kilometres. Change any different measures at the start of doing the question to 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 Mathematics is the hardest GCSE exam to find the grade you'll need, and far from making the test easier, using a calculator often leads to more mistakes along with a lower mark compared to the non-calculator paper. It's even more vital that you show all your exercising on the Calculator paper because it is super easy to do two or three lines on your calculator without showing any exercising. You'd lose all of your method marks, and when you earn an error you won't have any marks at all. Because the exam paper consists of more method marks than accuracy marks it is crucial that you simply show all of your exercising.

gcse maths revision

7. Not being in DEG Mode

Ensure your calculator is always in DEG (degrees) mode, or else you won't ever get Trigonometry questions correct!

8. Don't Measure Diagrams

Whether it states "diagram not accurately drawn" then do not bother measuring the diagram, it won't assist you to, and it'll waste time. "Diagram not accurately drawn" means are looking for a calculating method (not measuring method) to find the answer.

9. Jot down Measuring Units

Remember to get the exact units you are using e.g. cm, m, km if they are not given after the question. If you forget, you'll lose 1 very easy mark. (It's very easily forgotten though!).

Conclusion

If you practise and don't forget these 9 easy steps, you'll be able to prevent losing as much as 10% of the exam marks needlessly. Good examination technique should be practised included in Intermediate GCSE Maths exam preparation, and when revising the most essential exam questions and exam topics.