Edexcel Mathematics B (4MB1)
STUDY TIPS AND TRICKS
BY AYESHA ISLAM
Mathematics is a subject that relies on how much you practise.
But that doesn't mean you have to toil on it day and night. It's important to keep the practice consistent and in small chunks. But it depends on the person.
Try to understand the reason behind why you are learning about the topic (their role in real life).
Make sure to read the Mathematics B Specification, specifically the syllabus overview and contents.
After you finish a topic, it's wise to start question paper practice (topic-wise). It will give you plenty of time to practise each question individually.
Watch some videos on all the functions you can use from your calculator for the questions.
When you get stuck in a question, do NOT move on!
- Keep a screenshot of this question.
- Try to solve the question at least two to three times.
- Try to open the markscheme and understand it from there.
- If you can't solve it, then even,
- Ask and discuss it with your teacher, friend/ study buddy (not Chat GPT, as they tend to take the questions wrong occasionally).
This way, you will likely remember these types of questions better. The more time you spend on a question, the better you are at remembering it.
Which takes me to the other advice,
It's useful to have a study buddy with whom you can both try to comprehend difficult questions together.
Everyone has different opinions to offer, which might eventually lead you to merge your ideas to solve the problems.
Create a notebook bank
Separate it into three parts :
- Equations
- Commonly asked questions: to receive easy marks
- Rare (easy or difficult) questions: these tend to discreetly appear on the exams sometimes to mess up your grades, and this is why you should always be prepared.
Try to find multiple ways to solve a question: Sometimes similar questions appear, but with twists, thus preventing you from solving the question in a certain way.
When you can solve an entire paper, test yourself in exam conditions. Time yourself 30 minutes or so less than the actual exam so that you can solve the questions timely manner during the actual exam.
For every question, write the formula you used after solving the question. Make sure to keep some space before solving for that.
Draw Construction, graphs, and additional lines in dark HB pencil, so that it doesn't fade easily and can be scanned easily.
It's always efficient to mark and circle important parts of a question and write them down before starting to solve a question; that way, you do not get distracted trying to solve useless values and wasting time.
When you mark yourself, for your sake, do not mark according to the markscheme rather deduct the entire mark of the question; this might give you motivation to do better.
Check the markscheme to learn what the examiners would mark your work for. To understand what each mark is distributed for.
If you find a question hard, try to solve it every month once without looking at the solved one already in your notebook. If you get it wrong, try to understand why you got it wrong and write down why you got it wrong.
If you want to, you can look at what the Examiner’s Report says on any question of any year.
BEST OF LUCK!