IGCSE Maths – Some Basic Prep

Like any other international examination, studying for the IGCSE Maths requires a clear strategy, a revision plan and access online resources as well. You can also look for online IGCSE Maths tutors or study groups to help you prepare. You can find  IGCSE Maths online resources, textbooks and  past papers online easily. But you will need well-thought out strategy if you want to score and A or A* in these exams.

In this article we are going to talk about three main courses of action that you will need to undertake while preparing for the IGCSE Maths examinations.

Practising Past Papers

Past papers are really the key to IGCSE success roadmap. They are literally the best reference to prepare for IGCSE maths! Try to do as many past papers as you can. You could actually get the past 10 years papers printed and solve them all. But you will need a clear strategy on how to use the past papers to improve performance at the IGCSE Maths exams.

Strategy 1

Start with one paper at a time. Complete everything regardless of how long it takes. Then, do one of the papers in the time allowed provided. This approach will help better your time management skills. Then answer the rest of the papers. After that correct your mistakes. Then repeat this entire cycle . This helps to simulate an actual examination scenario and following this approach will get you be exam-ready by the time the D-day arrives. It won’t be long before you will be able to sit down and tackle anything that they throw at you and tackle every question in your stride.

Strategy 2

After solving the papers, check them. Then, correct  the errors you have made.   This approach helps a lot. Try to practice all the zones, as the difficulty level of the papers keep changing.
 
Strategy 3

Study carefully the mistakes that you have made while doing past patterns Usually there is trend that recurs, which actually reveals the weak points in your understanding of certain concepts. Thus, solving past papers actually let you know your weak areas that you need to work on.

Strategy 4

Know and understand your command words. Command words tell you how to answer a specific exam question or complete an assessment task. Below is a list of the command words released by Cambridge Assessment Internationa Education ,which you will see in revised syllabuses published from 2019 onwards. These command words published in the syllabus will be in exam and assessment materials from 2022 onwards.

The definitions will help you understand what the words are asking you to do. Any subject-specific command words will also be listed in the syllabus. The list does not include simple instruction words like write, circle or find.

Analyse:

                Examine in detail to show meaning, and identify elements and the relationship between them

Assess:

                Make an informed judgement

Calculate:

                 Work out from given facts, figures or information

Comment:

                 Give an informed opinion

Compare:

                 Identify/comment on similarities and/or differences

Consider:

                 Review and respond to given information

Contrast:

                 Identify/comment on differences

Define:

                 Give a precise meaning

Demonstrate:

                  Show how or give an example

Describe:

                   State the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features

Develop:

                    Take forward to a more advanced stage or build upon given information

Discuss:

                    Write about issue(s) or topic(s) in depth in a structured way

Evaluate:

                    Judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount or value of something

Examine:

                     Investigate closely, in detail

Explain:

                     Set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why and/or how and support with relevant evidence

Give:

                     Produce an answer from a given source or recall/memory

Identify:

                    Name/select/recognise

Justify:

                    Support a case with evidence/argument

Outline:

                    Set out the main points

Predict:

                    Suggest what may happen based on available information

Sketch:

                    Make a simple freehand drawing showing the key features, taking care over proportions

State:

                    Express in clear terms

Suggest:

                    Apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid responses to make proposals/put forward considerations

Summarise:

                   Choose and present the main points, without detail

Exam Day – Some Things to Remember

On the website of the Cambridge Assessment International Education, the following instructions are given for examinees to follow on exam day. It is good to be familiar with the rules beforehand, so that you are not caught unawares on the day itself.

• Remember, no notes, text books or communication devices such as phones and smart watches are allowed in our exams.
• Check with your teacher about where you can leave your bag and coat. Also make sure you don’t take any unauthorised items with you in the exam room. Remember this includes mobile phones and smart watches.
• In the exam, your pencil case, food and drink must be in clear containers.
• Full Centre Supervision: For exam security purposes you could be required to spend a period of time - before, after or between exams - in a room being supervised. This is called full centre supervision. Full centre supervision will depend on your school or exams timetable. If you are required for full centre supervision then you must attend otherwise you may not receive a grade for your exam. In full centre supervision you are allowed to talk to other students and read any notes you have. However, you cannot: use a phone, a computer, tablet or smart watch, or communicate with anyone outside of the supervision room.
• During the exam:  Make sure you write your name, candidate number, centre name and number on every exam paper you write on. Ask your teacher if you do not know this information.
• If you feel unwell or need to use the bathroom, ask an invigilator if you can leave the exam room. Make sure the appropriate information is given to you if you have an access arrangement, such as needing extra time to complete your exam.

IGCSE online Maths tutoring is available 24 /7 to help students to take classes anywhere & anytime. Find some of the best online Maths tutors and personalised face to face classes here at www.wizert.com . Visit and sign up for a free demo class.