Top 10 Exam Techniques 📚✍️ (A-Level Maths & Further Maths)

[@suniel4610]

I'm in Year 12, and thank you for making these videos . Your videos actually help me understand the content more.

[@BicenMaths]

You’re welcome - very pleased to hear they’re helpful for you 👍🏼

[@donakahawe]

I cannot thank you enough for the resources you have provided on google drive, your videos are the best!

[@BicenMaths]

You’re so welcome! Thank you for the lovely compliment 😃

[@humayrakadir5853]

The reattempting questions instead of glancing over really helps me to notice mistakes

[@BicenMaths]

This is definitely a top tip of mine! You’ve only truly understood a question when you’re able to complete it yourself - ideally after a couple of weeks if you had to look at the answer 👍🏼

[@JakubS]

Hey, I do exactly the same thing with the calculators! I have a Casio cg50 for when I need it, and I have an simple light-blue classwiz for quick calculations without needing to switch menus

[@BicenMaths]

Great minds!

[@leahlester2620]

Thank you so much! You always deliver👏

[@BicenMaths]

🙌🏼

[@Shameimaruru]

Have a further maths exam tomorrow, thanks for this

[@BicenMaths]

Good luck! 🍀

[@AA-bw6yb]

Amazing video & very helpful Just wondering when will you be posting Chapter 1 & 2 for Core Pure 1 (Further Maths) Keep up with your videos, very helpful especially in the time we’re in. 👌

[@BicenMaths]

Hmmm I’m not too sure, but probably won’t be until end of May/beginning of June time, as currently spending a lot of time on the teacher assessments for my Year 13 classes. Is that too late for you?

[@AA-bw6yb]

@@BicenMaths Thanks for your reply. I was hoping to begin going through the core pure one playlist next week, but I’m aware this time is very busy for you, so I understand if you can only post later next month.

[@jeninmacc4218]

Thank you Mr Bicen - this was so helpful! :)

[@mariadoloresalonso4618]

You make my life so much easier, thank youu!

[@BicenMaths]

🙌🏼

[@alijabbar3744]

Not gonna lie, this Mr Bicen fellow is lowkey precious

[@leviackerman5870]

Love the hair sir and thank you so much !!!

[@BicenMaths]

Thank you! 💇🏽‍♂️ 😊

[@AceOfHearts001]

Love this vid ! Thanks a lot.

[@AceOfHearts001]

Quick Q Mr Bicen, if we forget to label certain question or subpart of it, like if we forget to show where part b or c started but its clear we are answering the next part having worked out the previous, is there a penalty or is condoned? Thanks.

[@BicenMaths]

It’s condoned but is best avoided - you want to make the examiner’s job as easy as possible, so they can give you as many marks as you deserve!

[@AceOfHearts001]

@@BicenMaths Thanks a lot!!!

[@ozone9942]

Hi, I have two questions 1. Will you be penalised for using the functionality of quadratic solvers in the exam or any other calculator technology (going straight from the quadratic to the answer without using the formula)? 2. If the working out doesn't exactly match the mark scheme or has some missing working out, but leads to a correct answer in the end will it still gain full marks? Thank you for these videos, they are immensely helpful.

[@BicenMaths]

1. If it says 'using algebra' you can still use the calculator, but you must make it look like you factorised it or completed the square yourself! They are explicitly looking for algebra here. But they can't tell if you've used it or not! 2. Yes, 90% of the time you would get full marks - if it says 'show that' or 'showing full working' be careful to include more lines of working just to be safe!

[@nacarcarr8047]

Thank you for doing this!

[@ericfire1904]

hi, i wanted to have your opinion on something. For further maths, how much should i concentrate on past papers, since there arent of the new spec, should i just keep doing the exam questions in the book?

[@BicenMaths]

Hi Eric - if you're looking for more past paper questions for Further Maths there are a few options: 1) Textbook Review Exercises - these are all past paper questions 2) MadAsMaths website, IYGB papers - click 2019 spec, then use the following codes: FP1: Core Pure 1, FP2: Core Pure 2, FM1: Further Mechanics 1. There are some papers that aren't available yet, but if you click through you should find some. These are really tough questions, so great practice! 3) Past Paper questions from Physics and Maths Tutor. Go to 'maths papers', and scroll down to the old modules. You can find similar style questions in old papers. Here's a mapping to help with some of the topics, giving the topic and the name of the old module where you can find the papers: Old FP1: complex numbers, Argand diagrams, matrices, linear transformations, series, proof by induction Old FP2: method of differences, de Moivre's, differential equations (1st and 2nd order), Maclaurin series, polar Old FP3: hyperbolics, further calculus, 3x3 matrices You'll need to flick through the paper to find relevant style questions, but these are really good. Bear in mind that they didn't do as much modelling before, so they don't have many in this style. But it's still really useful. Hope that helps! Mr Bicen

[@bushramukadam8276]

could you please do a walkthrough for a further mechanics paper ?

[@BicenMaths]

I’ll see if I have time, but I’m pretty busy at school right now with the Year 13 exams 😅 😰

[@EllieA-hl8lu]

hello, thank you for this video. Im doing aqa, is it wise to do the stats or mechanics section first and then the pure? I do struggle with mechanics, but I am good at stats. pure needs more thinking imo, so I was wondering if I should complete the applied sections so I can focus on pure.

[@BicenMaths]

It's difficult for me to advise on this - but what I can recommend is for you to try some different approaches when doing timed practice, and see which works best for you! That way you can be confident that when you go into the exam you're using the strategy that works best for you. Give it a go!

[@blessinglndy]

Hi sir, I got a 7 math gcse and I’m now taking maths alevel. I’m having a bit of a hard time doing tests , I either get a really good grade or a really bad one. Sometimes I feel like I’m falling behind my class as most got 8/9s in their gcses and it can feel like I should give up. I’m unsure on what to do I love maths it’s so fun to me but I’m not amazing at it. Do you have any tips or do you think I should quit. (Btw i love your videos they’re so useful)

[@BicenMaths]

Hi Blessing, thanks for your comment. To start with, I'd like to say that comparing yourself to other students in the class isn't a good idea - everyone learns at different rates, and just because you're behind now, it doesn't mean that you will be at the end of the course! It's much better to spend your energy reviewing content after lessons, and (crucially) practising questions in exam conditions (timing and marking them, and repeating any that you get a wrong a few days or even weeks later). If you love maths, and you find it fun, you mustn't lose this - comparing yourself to others will probably mean you'll enjoy it less, and then you won't do as well anyway. So my top tips are: 1) continuing enjoying and practising maths - we are lucky to be able to study a subject we enjoy! 2) don't compare yourself to others in your class (remember at the end of the course it only matters what you get, and your grade!) 3) practise questions in exam conditions more so than others in your class - this will give you an edge in exams and will help you get better in tests. Good luck! Mr Bicen

[@btdamaze7129]

Hi, love your videos, are you going to be doing FS1 and FS2? Your videos are really useful so hope you have FS1 and FS2!

[@BicenMaths]

I’m considering what I’ll be working on next, and FS1 is up there, but FS2 is unlikely. Are you in Year 12? It might not be for a while unfortunately as I don’t teach FS1 at my school! Pleased you like my videos!

[@itachi6336]

@@BicenMaths Will you be doing an FP1 playlist sometime in the future

[@BicenMaths]

I’ve taught FP1 before, so this is likely to happen, can’t guarantee when though I’m afraid!

[@btdamaze7129]

@@BicenMaths oh okay, yes I’m in year 12 doing both FS1 and FS2!

[@itachi6336]

@@btdamaze7129 I've seen the FS2 content. looks scary.

[@christiannehoward9218]

Hi sir, my further maths exam is coming but while doing past papers although I am pretty clear on concepts I always make silly mistake like forgetting to carry over the minus or substituting something wrong. Do you have any tips to help me with this?

[@BicenMaths]

Silly mistakes are one of the hardest things to combat. I recommend writing out more lines of work than you might usually do, and not rushing. It might sound counterintuitive to take your time, but it’s time you’ll save when you get the answer correct the first time. There’s other things like writing the key information out at the top of your working (not just underlining in the Q), and noting important details down - like units, which can sometimes be of importance. I would also recommend repeating a question after you do a silly mistake, and proving to yourself it can be done if you take your time, not just correcting the working! Good luck!

[@christiannehoward9218]

@@BicenMaths Thank you so much I will try all this. I really appreciate your help.

[@mrfreerunners1]

sir when would you recommend to do the review exercises and the mixed exercises within the edexcel books ?

[@BicenMaths]

If I were studying this, I'd probably want to do the mixed exercises when I get to the end of studying a chapter, as there are often some interesting questions in there to deepen understanding. I'd likely return to the mixed exercise of chapters I originally found challenging for revision. And I'd then do the Review Exercises as extra questions, perhaps a while later to get a mix of different topics - perhaps start off doing all the multiples of 3, then next time do one more than the multiples of 3 (talking about question numbers here!). That's what I'd do if I were studying!

[@mrfreerunners1]

@@BicenMaths Thank you Sir. You are always so helpful! :)

[@h027s]

bicen maths best boy

[@winlarter4235]

is there further maths for GCSE too ? and thank you again for this video !!!

[@BicenMaths]

There is for some exam boards, but I don’t teach it, so can’t tell you much about it I’m afraid! I know that it is more related to A-Level Maths rather than Further Maths though.

[@olivercadman4522]

Hi sir im currently getting 8/9s in my gcse 'assesments' do you think further maths would be a good fit for me. Im afraid of the difficulty and workload of taking 4 very hard subjects

[@BicenMaths]

I wouldn’t be afraid of it if you’re getting 8s and 9s, sounds like you must be a good mathematician! I’d ask you to consider how much you enjoy maths - if you really love it, and you can happily sit down and do lots of maths practice and feel good about it, then further maths is a great fit for you. If you’re not that into maths, I’d probably recommend not taking it. The difficulty level isn’t something to worried about - but being able to commit enough thought and time to it is the crucial thing. Does that make sense? I’m planning on making a video very soon about what to consider before picking maths/further maths at A-Level, so look out for that for more advice and guidance!

[@olivercadman4522]

@@BicenMaths yes thankyou that makes sense.

[@harrypratt5860]

Will you be making a further statistics everything you need to know

[@BicenMaths]

Maybe in the future, but not any time soon - this is because I currently don’t teach this module and so don’t have the depth of teaching knowledge I need to create this sort of content.

[@adolfTitlerr]

Can you please tell the model of the classwiz you're using

[@BicenMaths]

It’s the Casio fx cg50

[@adolfTitlerr]

Is it allowed by the British council

[@BicenMaths]

All I know is that it is allowed in the British Edexcel exams, so my guess is it’s the same for any international exams too. But I think you can find out on your qualifications specification!

[@adolfTitlerr]

I will be giving CAIES Alevels in May/June , so I guess they'll allow it

[@RazSadq]

Absolutely terrified for tomorrow's exam

[@BicenMaths]

Get a good night's rest, and be ready to do your best tomorrow! Remember not to spend too long on any questions and skip small ones that you get stuck on. Lots of marks to be gained across all the questions! Good luck!

[@HomelessCoaching]

Cheers sir

[@rhett-says-hullo4229]

They allow two calculators!?

[@Ilm_Seekers]

Yh

[@fatmabatmaz2]

Yes I feel like they shouldn't allow that

[@irrelevance3859]

@@fatmabatmaz2doesnt make a difference really

[@fatmabatmaz2]

@@irrelevance3859 if u can use them simultaneously properly like further maths kids it can save a lot of time tho

[@fatmabatmaz2]

Some of my friends tell me they have 20 mins left , meanwhile I just make it , having not answered like five 1 markers because they just ask for too much in too little time.

[@BicenMaths]

Great suggestion 👏🏼 1 markers should be sacrificed to have more time elsewhere if you’re in a rush!

[@Athfan]

In my education thing, they don't let us use the graphical calculators

[@BicenMaths]

That’s crazy! The exam boards allow you too, and they are huge time savers. That’s disappointing, I’m sorry about that!

[@Athfan]

@@BicenMaths Ikr, thanks tho, I really appreciate it and find ur videos helpful, glad I found ur channel before it's too late, But about the calculators thing, I suppose it can't be helped and I have to suffer throughout the exam, but anyways I'll manage it.

[@BicenMaths]

If I were you, I’d get my own calculator, and use it anyway. In theory, they can’t stop you using it in the exam as it’s a public exam where the rules state it can be used. Might be worth getting a parent to call in to your school? Every small thing can help!

[@Athfan]

@@BicenMaths I really don't know bro, but I'll try to manage anyways, btw I have my final exams for this whole year like next week. Wish me luck, I watched a lot of u videos and It helped me understand, Now I hope I can just get good grades to pass :)

[@BicenMaths]

Wishing you the best of luck! 🍀

[@KhalidTij]

If I got a 7 in gcse maths can I get an A in a level maths

[@BicenMaths]

Absolutely! It’ll take some hard work, making sure you stay on top of all the things you learn by revising as you go, but it’s possible of course. I’ve had many students get an A who got a 7, but each one of them was very organised, stayed on top of their workload, and always did extra independent work/revision/practice. Good luck! 😃

[@alfieburns3979]

HES DIED HIS HAIR

[@BicenMaths]

🤣

[@Kacpers9]

Forget spare time this year Edexcel don't care