Maths GCSE exam

[__tink]

This is the only GCSE exam I'm dreading. I feel like I don't know anything. I'm going the higher tier, and I need at least 52% to pass. But in the practise papers in class, I've only managed no where near that. I really need to get a C. HELP!

[Fiend_85]

ok, well the first question is that if you are genuinly nowhere near then why are you higher tier?

However, for genuine helpful suggestions make use of your resources, bitesize is good, and your teachers are there for a reason, get you and a couple of mates (ones you can trust to WORK) sit down with a paper and maybe the numerical solutions and go through it together.

To be honest there's not a lot of help other than that you could get here.

In fact, just to emphasise, I've just been playing around on bitesize, it does look really helpful.

[__tink]

I've been entered for Higher because I'm in top set.

[olaola]

I've been entered for Higher because I'm in top set.


writethe formulars on the case of ur calculator and smuggle that into the exam, that will be very helpful. (n.b. only a suggestion)

And just do plenty of practice papers

[Fiend_85]

shut up olaola.

Seriously tink, go try out bitesize. And if you want you can always post problems here and I'll work through them for you with explainations.

[__tink]

One of the main things I'm stuck on is Trigonometry. I know how to work out the Hypotenuse, Opposite and Adjacent, but after that I'm stuck.

[olaola]

One of the main things I'm stuck on is Trigonometry. I know how to work out the Hypotenuse, Opposite and Adjacent, but after that I'm stuck.

Trigonometery always looks a lot more complecated than it is. Practice the cosine rule, and area of a triangle, all you have to do is put numbers in a formular

[__tink]

I understand it now

[Daibach]

i was entered for higher tier maths, and in the run up to the exams, i was getting Ds, Es and Fs (which of course are automatic fails for higher tier).

i just had a go at loads of past papers and had my teacher look through them and show me where i was going wrong.

bbc bitesize is useful as well.

most of all, just don't panic. i found that panicing just made things worse.

i came out with an A in the end, so it must have worked.

anyway, good luck :thumb:

[O_o]

I understand it now

that was quick !!

good luck :D :D :thumb:

[Ballerina]

you only really need to do higher if you're wanting an A-A*...intermediate goes up to a B so you'd be better off doing that tier - it's the one i'm doing
I'm totally dreading maths too...it's too much to remember.

[__tink]

It's too late to change tiers now.

[Sofie]

you only really need to do higher if you're wanting an A-A*...intermediate goes up to a B so you'd be better off doing that tier - it's the one i'm doing
I'm totally dreading maths too...it's too much to remember.

If you actually know something it should come to you naturally in the exam.

[Kat_B]

the best thing to do is practice as much as you can. work out which topics it is that you find most difficult and practice questions which are to do with them. dont just sit and read through your notes or the books that tell you how to do it, try it out for yourself. and if theres anything you dont understand, ask your teacher or your mates to explain it and go through it with you slowly.

[Sofie]

the best thing to do is practice as much as you can. work out which topics it is that you find most difficult and practice questions which are to do with them. dont just sit and read through your notes or the books that tell you how to do it, try it out for yourself. and if theres anything you dont understand, ask your teacher or your mates to explain it and go through it with you slowly.

This is exactly what I did and I got a C.

[Ballerina]

If you actually know something it should come to you naturally in the exam.
i don't find that with maths...i'll remember that i can do it but i won't remember how cause i just feel overwhelmed
it doesnt help that my teacher just tells us that we're not good enough to 'pass' (by that he means get a C which is balls) all the time either, so i don't feel confident

[Sofie]

i don't find that with maths...i'll remember that i can do it but i won't remember how cause i just feel overwhelmed
it doesnt help that my teacher just tells us that we're not good enough to 'pass' (by that he means get a C which is balls) all the time either, so i don't feel confident

Depending on what you're stuck on, I could probably help you if you want me to?

I see what you mean about not being able to remember stuff. I have this problem as well.

[Fiend_85]

One of the main things I'm stuck on is Trigonometry. I know how to work out the Hypotenuse, Opposite and Adjacent, but after that I'm stuck.
You remember what goes with what function?

Ok, So remember the following.
Sex On Hard Concrete Always Hurts The Old Arse
Sin - Opposite/Hypoteneuse Cos - Adjacent/Hypoteneuse Tan - Opposite/Adjacent.

[twisted_trinity]

soh cah toa?

is that not easier?

[icey]

i retook my maths gcse last year and i memorized all that sohcahtoa stuff as well but tbh it wasnt even on the test and what questions were had all the forumlae listed anyway

[lucifer devil]

i've done mine 4 times. :(

[softworld]

dont worry about it, in my school the 15yr olds are donig their maths gcse now ( the ad-maths ones anyway ) and my ex-gf said it was easy, an A is easy to acheive.

[Sofie]

dont worry about it, in my school the 15yr olds are donig their maths gcse now ( the ad-maths ones anyway ) and my ex-gf said it was easy, an A is easy to acheive.

Yeah, only if you're intelligent. :rolleyes:

[Hannameister]

I got 4 A's 4 b's 1 C and 1 D in my g.c.s.e's and you guessed right the D was in Maths, I am re-sitting it on Monday and should pass but I am shit at it just not good at algerbra.

[Ballerina]

it annoys me that C seems to be the 'pass' boundary, and if you have anything below that then its not worth having (so we've been led to believe) and D/E is actually average for most subjects anyway.

[Lacy]

dont worry about it, in my school the 15yr olds are donig their maths gcse now ( the ad-maths ones anyway ) and my ex-gf said it was easy, an A is easy to acheive.

Wasn't when i took it. Like 4 years ago.

I did intermediate an it was fuckin difficult. Got a D. Was so proud :D

[Replicant]

D/E is actually average for most subjects anyway.

this isn't a good thing, it would of course be much better if the average was higher

[Ballerina]

this isn't a good thing, it would of course be much better if the average was higher
alot of people think its still C though. It's above average now. Employers and stuff need to update a bit i think - cause it's all about C's, i'm a very able student in all areas. Yet i'm struggling for a C in maths. And its one of the most important ones.

[Lacy]

alot of people think its still C though. It's above average now. Employers and stuff need to update a bit i think - cause it's all about C's, i'm a very able student in all areas. Yet i'm struggling for a C in maths. And its one of the most important ones.

I have 5 C's (rest are lower grades), and that doesn't include Maths or Science. Most employers don't really care about you having exactly 5 or if they are certain subjects. A lot of jobs say a-c in maths or english but i've never had a problem getting a job. They just have a broad look to see if your half intelligent or not.

Now with A Levels slightly different, cos like these are likely to matter with employers (hardly any though)

It's so funny how schools make out GCSEs are like the most important thing ever. They're not! Only time they really count is if your going on to further education.

[Ballerina]

I have 5 C's (rest are lower grades), and that doesn't include Maths or Science. Most employers don't really care about you having exactly 5 or if they are certain subjects. A lot of jobs say a-c in maths or english but i've never had a problem getting a job. They just have a broad look to see if your half intelligent or not.

Now with A Levels slightly different, cos like these are likely to matter with employers (hardly any though)

It's so funny how schools make out GCSEs are like the most important thing ever. They're not! Only time they really count is if your going on to further education.
well the only reason i want a C in maths (won't have a problem with english hopefully) is cause after A levels, unis usually want at least C's in maths and english gcse. And i want to go to uni after a levels.

[Lacy]

well the only reason i want a C in maths (won't have a problem with english hopefully) is cause after A levels, unis usually want at least C's in maths and english gcse. And i want to go to uni after a levels.

Well i never went to uni so not sure how much consideration they give GCSEs. Really i think the gist of it all is they are important because you need them for A levels, which in turn you need for uni.

For me and anyone else that didn't bother with all that, they don't really mean fuck all.

[Kat_B]

i think it depends on the uni and the course, im sure when i applied nothing was mentioned about GCSEs, i just knew i needed an A and 2 Bs from the A-Levels. Althought obviously they took GCSE grades into consideration, or at least looked at them when deciding who to offer places too.

I know of quite a few people on my course who dont have a grade C in their GCSE maths because theyve been taking evening classes in order to take their GCSE again to try and get a C.

Maybe things have changed but when I took my GCSES 4/5 years ago, you really didnt need to get that many marks or that high a percentage to get a grade C. im sure when I found out approx what it was, I was shocked it was so slow.

If you dont get a C this time around, you can always do it again, so I wouldnt worry too much.

[Fiend_85]

has it happened yet? how did it go?

[Sofie]

has it happened yet? how did it go?

It's Half-Term right now...

Maybe things have changed but when I took my GCSES 4/5 years ago, you really didnt need to get that many marks or that high a percentage to get a grade C. im sure when I found out approx what it was, I was shocked it was so slow.

IIRC, on the Intermediate papaer, just over 50% is required to get a C. Of course, the exam from Year 10 and some coursework counts towards the final grade. However, the final paper is worth the most.

[Nash]

I've been entered for Higher because I'm in top set.

I was in the top sets but I chose to do the Intermediate level instead. If you think you won't pass the higher then go for Intermediate. It payed off for me as I doubt I would have passed the higher on the day.

Anyway you're teacher should know all this... if he/she doesn't then there is something wrong.

[Sofie]

I was in the top sets but I chose to do the Intermediate level instead. If you think you won't pass the higher then go for Intermediate. It payed off for me as I doubt I would have passed the higher on the day.

Anyway you're teacher should know all this... if he/she doesn't then there is something wrong.

Don't think you can actually do this, tbh. And I think it's too late to change papaer now anyway.

[Kat_B]

ah right, i was talking about the higher paper- you didnt need that much on that to get a C. so yeah, you will need more on the intermediate paper.

[Sofie]

ah right, i was talking about the higher paper- you didnt need that much on that to get a C. so yeah, you will need more on the intermediate paper.

It's only something like 19% for a C I think.

[*~*RazzleDazzle*~*]

I've been told by my teacher to try not to go for Intermediate Tier becaouse the highest grade you can get is a "B" and you've got to answer pretty much all the answers correctly, but, if you do higher yes it is harder but it's something like 33% for a "C".

If your in year 10 (like moi) if your doing intermediate tier next year that that would then be made the higher tier the following year...

[__tink]

Well in the papers so far, I've just about passed them all, getting a C's and a B. In my coursework I think I got an A and a C. It all averages out.. so I need 52% on my last paper (i'm doing modular) to get a C. My exam is on Monday so I'll tell you how it went.. :crazyeyes

[Sofie]

Well in the papers so far, I've just about passed them all, getting a C's and a B. In my coursework I think I got an A and a C. It all averages out.. so I need 52% on my last paper (i'm doing modular) to get a C. My exam is on Monday so I'll tell you how it went.. :crazyeyes

Good luck. But surely if you did great on your coursework, then you may not need a brilliant mark for your exam? :confused:

[__tink]

No idea.. my maths teacher worked it out. :)

[__tink]

Well.. I've just got back from my Non Calculator Maths exam!

When I first opened the paper I was like.. phew. The beginning questions were easy.. but gradually got harder.. and I came to a halt. I just sat there staring at the paper thinking 'Oh... crap' But overall, I hope I did well, seeing as I need such a low mark to pass the paper.

[Cazzoo]

Just got back from doing mine too.. Fuck i hated the first graph question! i knew the graph had to be symetrical and it was a squiggly fucking line. Re-did the calculations over and over and I got different answers everytime and not one of them was right! Same with the simultaneous equation.. I had the right numbers but whether i put - -, ++, - + or + - .. it didn't come out right.. Second graph question i hated too. Couldn't do it. I missed out on about 12 marks through not doing/deffinately getting questions wrong but hopefully i'll still get a B..

[Ballerina]

i did intermediate - wasn't as bad as i thought but some questions made no sense

i had a question with a rectangle, corners called A.B.C.D and i had to shade in the points that were further than 1cm away from like BC or whatever and 4cm away from point A....only thing is, there were no points, it was a plain rectangle. So i just shaded the area

[Cazzoo]

Yeah you had to draw a loci around A and then rule of 1cm infront on BC and then shade in the middle.. at least thats what i did..

Some of the questions were quite badly worded..

[Sofie]

i did intermediate - wasn't as bad as i thought but some questions made no sense

i had a question with a rectangle, corners called A.B.C.D and i had to shade in the points that were further than 1cm away from like BC or whatever and 4cm away from point A....only thing is, there were no points, it was a plain rectangle. So i just shaded the area

That's simple:

Find BC, (which could for example be the line going vertically on the left-hand side) measure one cm from there and shade in that area from the mark you just made.

[__tink]

Btw, I just did Shape, Space and Measurements. Not the Linear exam.

[Sofie]

Yeah you had to draw a loci around A and then rule of 1cm infront on BC and then shade in the middle.. at least thats what i did..

Some of the questions were quite badly worded..

I think you're right and I'm wrong!

[Cazzoo]

I think you're right and I'm wrong!


:p

[Ballerina]

Yeah you had to draw a loci around A and then rule of 1cm infront on BC and then shade in the middle.. at least thats what i did..

Some of the questions were quite badly worded..
thats what i did....it was the shade in the non-existent points bit that got me
i'm glad i'm not the only one that thought they were badly worded!

[niteryder]

hey how did everyone find the maths paper today? i'm doing higher and found it so difficult!!! EEK! im hoping everyone else did too so grade boundaries will be lower HEHE! cant blame me for hoping!!

[Hannameister]

hey how did everyone find the maths paper today? i'm doing higher and found it so difficult!!! EEK! im hoping everyone else did too so grade boundaries will be lower HEHE! cant blame me for hoping!!


I did it today, I actually found it really easy compared to Novembers paper M3 was very easy I think I could get an A, and M4 was ticky but still did well.

All in all I'm very happy went in worrying came out happy, *Fingers Crossed*I get an A or B.

[Hannameister]

It's only something like 19% for a C I think.


I wish I did an English exam board, here in Northern Ireland we do CCEA which is a lot harghser the OCR I think at higher you need 40+% to get a C. And about 65% at intermediate level.

[Randomgirl]

I wish I did an English exam board, here in Northern Ireland we do CCEA which is a lot harghser the OCR I think at higher you need 40+% to get a C. And about 65% at intermediate level.
They are set the grade boundaries so that the same proportions of students get a C so if it is a harder paper the grade boundary will be lower.

[Sofie]

I wish I did an English exam board, here in Northern Ireland we do CCEA which is a lot harghser the OCR I think at higher you need 40+% to get a C. And about 65% at intermediate level.

I was talking about the Higher paper when I said you only needed 19%. I think it's about 40-50% for a C on the Intermediate paper.

[soraliah]

i failed my maths gcse... TWICE!!

got a D initially, and then resat to try and get a C, but failed again!! very annoying.
sure youll do/have done great though!!! :D

[Ballerina]

i failed my maths gcse... TWICE!!

got a D initially, and then resat to try and get a C, but failed again!! very annoying.
sure youll do/have done great though!!! :D
techincally a D isn't a fail - it's actually about average, the only fail there really is, is a U
it annoys me how they make out that if you don't get a C then its not a GCSE worth having - when C is above average anyway

[sophia]

\

[Ballerina]

The only reason a D isn't a fail is because they're afraid to say that anyone has failed. But since every college, university and employer will ask for a C or above, then below a C is a fail for all intents and purposes as you'll have to resit until you get a C.
which i think is ridiculous, to get a C you need to know tons of maths - 90% of which you'll probably never need, unless you're wanting to go further into maths then i don't think they should put so much pressure on pupils
as long as you can do the maths you'll need, some algebra and stuff then you're fine....you don't need to know how to solve quadratic equations and silly stuff like that

[sophia]

\

[Ballerina]

I don't know, you may be right, it's 8 years since I did my maths GCSE (christ I feel old, seems like yesterday) and I can't really remember much about it, except hating quadratic equations.

But I do sort of think that exams aren't supposed to be a walk in the park. If any idiot could turn up and pass them, there'd be not much point in taking them. It's frustrating for those who don't intend to use their maths again to be forced to do it and to have such a high standard to aim for, but if the qualification is going to have any meaning it should be difficult and it should require hard work.
i see your point, but i really do think that the maths course needs a re-vamp, there needs to be more useful maths rather than pointless maths

[Sofie]

i see your point, but i really do think that the maths course needs a re-vamp, there needs to be more useful maths rather than pointless maths

Agreed. But do remember that quite a few people would probably use what you think is 'pointless' in jobs relating to mechanics, engineering, physics, etc.

[niteryder]

i see your point, but i really do think that the maths course needs a re-vamp, there needs to be more useful maths rather than pointless maths

i dont think that is completely true because you don't know if its pointless until you've actually done really. you learn half the syllabus in year 10 (i learnt it all in year 11) so you still have time to choose whether u will take maths on at college thus proving that it is not all pointless. for some maybe it is but others it definitely is not!

[Randomgirl]

i see your point, but i really do think that the maths course needs a re-vamp, there needs to be more useful maths rather than pointless maths
I think teachers need to make stronger links between the maths on the syllabus already and how this maths is useful in the real world. Sadly many teachers don't take the time to do this.

[Ballerina]

I think teachers need to make stronger links between the maths on the syllabus already and how this maths is useful in the real world. Sadly many teachers don't take the time to do this.
my teacher actually told us that most of it is useless! the maths syllabus i'm doing seems very outdated