Contents
The
papers
The
questions
How to prepare for your exam
Handy
hints
Study survival
Useful
links
Your Exam
4th
Year
All pupils
will sit the General and either the Foundation or Credit
exam. For each level, the exam consists of two papers.
5th
and 6th Year
All pupils
will sit two papers at Int 1, Int 2, Higher or Advanced Higher level.
There are
two parts to the Maths exam. The skills and methods you will use are
transferrable between both papers.
Paper 1:
Non-Calculator
As the name
suggests, questions in this paper must be answered without the use of a
calculator.
At Higher
level, a multiple choice component has been introduced into this paper.
Paper 2:
Calculator
For this paper,
the use of calculators is permitted. However, calculators with graphic
capabilities are prohibited.
If you have any doubt about whether your calculator is appropriate for
this paper, ask your teacher BEFORE the day of the exam.
For all
papers, marks are awarded for Knowledge and Understanding, and Reasoning and
Enquiry. Questions at the start of a paper tend to be more knowledge-based,
with later questions requiring problem solving skills.
Knowledge
and Understanding
This type of
question tests your basic knowledge of the course. These questions are often
split into parts which will guide you through the process, and simply require
your understanding of the concepts involved.
Reasoning
and Enquiry
The method of answering may not be so clear but you will have the skills
to answer it. Many RE questions are put into a practical context, looking at
distances, areas, times etc. Remember to answer the question using the
appropriate units. Also, check that your answer makes sense.
RE questions are usually split up into parts. You will often use the answer
from part (a) to help with the answer to part (b). A good indicator of this is
if part (b) contains the word hence or therefore.
When answering RE questions, look out for keywords
that will help you decide which techniques to use.
As soon as possible…
·
If you have
missed any lessons, make sure all your notes are
up-to-date
·
Try extra revision exercises from your textbook
·
Make sure you complete homework issued by your classroom teacher
·
Go to any study sessions that are available
·
Use past
papers.
These will give you the best idea of what to expect from your exam. Try not to
look at the answers until you have completed all of the questions.
·
Practice, Practice, Practice! You can only learn maths
by attempting the questions, not just from reading the textbooks.
Just before
your exam…
·
Don’t cram
the night before. Go over key points and notes
you have already made and make sure you get plenty of rest.
·
Make sure you have all the correct equipment
§
Black Pen – all working and answers must be in pen. Score out anything you don’t
want to be marked. Bring a couple of spares ‘just in case’.
§
Ruler
§
Calculator
§
HB Pencil and Eraser for
the multiple choice section of the Higher Paper 1 (Non-Calculator).
In the exam…
·
Read the whole paper and the instructions
on the front page before answering any questions.
·
Give yourself plenty of time to answer all the
questions.
·
Don’t panic! If you are stuck on a question, move on and come back to it later.
·
Show all your working – even if your final answer is incorrect, you may still be awarded
marks for correct methods.
·
Check that correct units
are used throughout and that your answers ‘make sense’.
·
Never
leave the exam early. If you are finished, use the time to go over all of your
answers. Don’t just ‘read through’ – attempt any difficult questions again to
make sure you get the same answer.
·
To help you
remember formulae, write them down on post-it notes and place them somewhere you will see
every day, e.g. mirror, desk, bedroom door.
·
When you are going through revision questions or past paper questions, highlight words or phrases that
appear frequently to help you become familiar the method involved in solving a
given problem.
·
Vary
the ways you study, using websites, textbooks, past papers and study sessions.
·
Use your checklist to make sure you have COVERED, UNDERSTOOD and REVISED all 
parts of the course.
·
Make a realistic study plan. Give yourself enough time to
cover everything in the course, and extra time for the parts you have
difficulty with.
·
Remember to take a break.
Your brain can only handle so much information in one go, so stop every 45
minutes and ‘chill’.
·
Know your own learning habits. If music or the TV distracts you, try to work in a place that is
quiet.
·
Don’t leave your study until the last minute. Cramming will only tire you out!
·
Ask your teacher if you get stuck – that’s what they are there for.
·
Try not to ‘memorise’ – you will remember
concepts more easily if you understand them fully.
BBC Bitesize (all levels) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/bitesize/
Higher
Still Notes (higher only) - http://www.hsn.uk.net/resources/Higher-Maths
Maths Revision (all levels) – http://www.mathsrevision.com
And Remember…
If you work
hard for the next few months, you will reap the rewards for years to come.