The Golden Rule: Practice, Practice, Practice
Maths is not a spectator sport. You can't get better at it by watching someone else solve problems. The only way to improve is to solve problems yourself — lots of them, regularly, and with increasing difficulty.
Don't Just Do Easy Questions
It's tempting to practise questions you can already do. This feels productive but doesn't push your abilities forward. Aim to spend at least half your practice time on questions that challenge you. If you're getting everything right, the questions are too easy.
Understand the Method, Not Just the Answer
When you check your answer, don't just see if you got it right. Understand the method. Can you explain why each step works? If you can't, you've memorised a procedure without understanding it — and that understanding is what examiners test.
Work Through Mistakes Properly
When you get a question wrong: 1) Identify exactly where you went wrong. 2) Understand the correct method. 3) Try a similar question without looking at the solution. 4) If you get it wrong again, get help. Use StudyVector's tutor for step-by-step explanations of any problem.
Practise Mixed Questions
In the exam, questions aren't sorted by topic. You need to identify which method to use. Practise with mixed-topic question sets so you get used to selecting the right approach. StudyVector offers mixed practice sessions across all topics.
Time Yourself
As your exam approaches, start timing yourself. Aim to answer questions at exam pace (roughly 1 mark per minute for most exam boards). If you're too slow, you may understand the material but run out of time in the exam.
Review Regularly
Don't just learn a topic and move on. Come back to it a week later and try more questions. This spaced practice ensures the methods stay fresh in your memory.
Start Practising Now
StudyVector gives you instant access to practice questions for every Maths topic with step-by-step solutions. Start building your skills today.