Revision Tips for GCSE/IGCSE Maths Exams 2: Planning

This is the second in a new series of blogs for students revising GCSE Maths, or IGCSE Maths in preparation for the AQA GCSE Mathematics or Edexcel IGCSE Mathematics exams.

How to plan your revision for GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics

It has been said that the key to successful revision is good planning and to some extent this is true. The following points are worth considering when organising your Mathematics revision:

Choose a suitable study area

Try to find somewhere quiet to work where you can concentrate without interruption. Good lighting and a comfortable chair are also important.

Have everything you will need to hand

There is no point in sitting down to revise only to spend half of your intended study time hunting around the house for things you suddenly realise you need. Collect together your course files, textbooks, calculator, ruler, protractor, compasses, pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, tracing paper, graph paper, etc. and keep them in a sensible place so they are easy to find each time you come to revise.

Plan your time sensibly

Nobody can concentrate for hours on end so be realistic about how long you will spend and take regular breaks. You may be revising for other subjects, too, so make sure you allocate enough time to each one.

Use reward psychology

Yes, you have the big goal of a good GCSE grade but planning smaller rewards into your revision time can be motivating – anything from a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit to five minutes on Facebook can help to keep you going (just make sure you stick to your time limit!)

Don’t forget to eat!

You will perform better and remember more if you eat and drink sensibly

Do the revison!

And finally…..get down to it!

Don’t spend too long planning – all you really need is a study plan that takes into account other commitments and divides up your time along with a realistic list of topics you want to go over (maybe topics you found most challenging during the course, or those you found trickiest in your final two Tutor-marked Assignments) and some past papers. You don’t need it to have a fancy layout and be coloured in neatly.

Debby Gill

Maths Tutor