Topic outline
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Mathematics – Top 10 Revision Tips
1. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Maths is a skills based subject and therefore you need to attempt as many questions as possible. Past paper practice is essential if you are going to do well.
2. Use your topic Tests
Your assessment booklets will make a very effective revision list as you go through the year. Each test score you get highlights your strengths and weaknesses on the course. This can help you to use your time wisely when revising.
3. Fill in your Diagnostic sheets after every test
When you finish a test, your mistakes are clear in your mind. However, at the end of the year, it is hard to remember every topic, so the diagnostic sheets can be very useful in pinpointing what went well and what went wrong on each assessment.
4. Don’t just read a revision guide
Reading a revision guide is useful but as they have worked solutions it can be easy to think you know a topic if you can follow their answer. Starting a questions from scratch is much harder. Always have a pen and pencil ready to attempt worked examples before you read them. Then use their answer if and only if you get stuck.
5. Make sure you have all your equipment
It is important you always have your maths equipment. We all need practice using a compass or a protractor, so don’t assume you can just do it when you need to in an exam. It can be easy to use your phone as a calculator but remember you can’t do this in the exam so it may get you into bad habits.
6. Presentation is important
Think about how you write down work in lessons. Would you be able to read it and follow it at a later date? If you show all your workings, it is much easier to revise as you can see how a question should be answered. Using shortcuts in lessons may cause you a lot more work in the long term.
7. Use the learning Log
The learning log has a list of everything you need to learn off by heart before your exam. Spread this out over several months to make it easier.
8. Use popular websites to revise
There are many great revision websites. Each have a different style so research a few and work out which one best suits you. Don’t assume every website is the same. Also, make sure the website is aimed at your exam board.
9. Wolfram Alpha
This is a maths website that allows you to ask questions and see solutions. This is a great place to look at if you ever become stuck on a question.
And Finally
10. Practice, Practice, Practice!
This is so important it is worth saying twice!