How to pass GCSE Maths

Passing your GCSE maths is essential for several reasons, from getting into Sixth Form to obtaining a university place and even helping your land your future job. Whether you're in year 11 and working towards GCSE teacher assessment or Years 9 and 10 and working towards your GCSE exam here's what you need to know.

As a core subject maths is vital. You may feel solving trigonometry and algebra won't help you in life, but the maths skills at the GCSE level help build up essential skills that you will use daily. Skills such as problem-solving, analysing data, logical thinking and more. If you're struggling with maths GCSE, make sure you do all of the following.

Ask for help now

Maths is a subject that builds on previous learning; this means if you miss a crucial component, have knowledge gaps or don't understand a topic, you need to seek help sooner rather than later. Start with your class teacher, and if that doesn't help consider a math tutor. The right tutor will help you understand and talk you through the concepts behind your work. Taking the time to make sure you know what you're doing can help your maths revision and your understanding of the topic as a whole.

Build confidence in your ability

So much about becoming good at maths, is having the right mindset. Believing you are 'bad' at maths or you can't do maths is wrong. With the right level of help, teaching that is personalised to your needs and hard work, everyone can pass maths. What helps is to ask for more feedback from teachers to see what you are doing well and what needs work. Where possible also try to participate more in class discussions, this can help you see problems from different angles and understand the work more clearly.

Use all the maths resources available

Besides your GCSE textbook and notes in class, utilise all the maths resources available to you like MyMaths. This provides interactive lessons, booster packs for revision, worksheets, and a wealth of GCSE and A-Level resources.

Also, access YouTube for channels like mathematics and StudyTubers, giving you their best maths GCSE tips like Unjaded Jade.

Keep revising even if you don't have exams

Continuous revision of maths is vital for several reasons; consolidation of everything you have learnt, subject understanding, and limiting the amount you have to do when sitting your maths GCSE. Even with the 2021 GCSE assessment, you won't just be tested on memory but subject knowledge, how you use the facts to show you understand the curriculum. This means you have to know the subject and know it well.

Remember, practice makes perfect

Even if you are one or two years away from sitting your actual GCSE exam, it pays to practice as you learn. Try to work through papers without referring to a revision guide or your notes, as with each past paper you do; you are potentially increasing your grade by a small percentage.

Also, check your answers and look for mistakes that will cost you marks. If you do this every time you do a practice paper, you will become adept at finding these in your actual GCSE paper.

Above all, remember math is a cumulative subject so you can't miss any of the building blocks or have gaps that will cost you marks. This means, learn your basic arithmetic to help you will pick up the more advanced concepts. To ensure you cover everything, read the exam specification, list every topic, and do practice questions until you feel confident about the subject and sub-topic.

For more on Maths GCSE see How to build your maths GCSE skills, The Benefits of a maths tutor and how to maximise your maths GCSE result.