How to excel at A-level maths by-yourself?
LikeIf you're aiming to excel at A-Level Maths on your own, a maths tutor can offer valuable guidance. However, if you're tackling it independently, here’s a structured approach:
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Develop a Comprehensive Understanding: Before you can excel, you must understand the topics inside out. The best way to achieve this is through your textbook and YouTube. Go through your textbook to grasp the theory behind each topic and review the examples provided. If something is unclear, YouTube resources like Bicen Maths and Hind Maths offer detailed explanations that can help you develop a comprehensive understanding.
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Practice Your Skills: Maths is a subject that thrives on practice—practice and more practice. I recommend working through all the questions in your textbook, particularly the Exam-style and Challenge questions. This approach will help you identify your weaknesses so you can revisit step one to address those gaps.
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Tackle Exam Questions: Textbook questions are useful for understanding but often lack the application and tricks found in exam questions. To achieve the grade you need, you must practice past papers and exam questions from your exam board and, if possible, from other boards as well. This practice is crucial for applying your knowledge effectively and spotting patterns in exam questions.
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Challenge Yourself: A-Level Maths papers often contain 1 or 2 particularly tough questions designed to challenge even top students. These questions typically appear towards the end of the paper and require a deep understanding of multiple topics and clever problem-solving skills. To prepare, work on challenging questions from sources like Madasmaths or YouTube videos on the top 10 hardest A-Level maths questions. For an extra challenge, consider the Cambridge STEP 1 paper.
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Learn from Others: It’s beneficial to explore multiple methods for solving problems. Sticking to one method can limit your understanding. Try different approaches by examining your friends' methods, mark schemes, and examiner reports. Quick shortcuts and varied methods can save time and improve efficiency in exams.
- Repeat: Consistency is key. Avoid cramming, which is stressful and ineffective. Integrate these practices into your study routine as you learn topics in school. This will help you maximize your time for exam questions and enhance your skills steadily.