GCSE Maths Foundation

Final exam tips for use immediately before the

exam

GSCE EXAM TIPS

1 Area of a triangle

4cm

6 cm

Area = ( base x vertical height ) ÷ 2

Area = (4 x 6) ÷ 2 = 12

Students always forget to divide by 2

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Don’t be caught out by BIDMAS• • 1 + 2 x 5 = 11 Do the multiplication first• • When • 4 x = 4 x 25 = 100• Square y before multiplying by 4

2 BIDMAS

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• This simply means “1 divided by”

• Reciprocal of 2 =

Reciprocal of 4 =

3 Reciprocals

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• In Maths differences are always POSITIVE

• Difference between 8 and 5 = 3

• Difference between - 3 and – 8 = 5

4 Differences

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• The range of a set of data is just one number• Find the range of 3 , 6 , 8 , 2 , 10

• Range = biggest value - smallest value• = 10 – 2 = 8• Correct answer is 8 do not write 10 – 2 as

your final answer

5 The Range

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Remember to include a key

6 Stem and Leaf Diagrams

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Bearings are angles measured CLOCKWISE from NORTH using 3 figures

7 Bearings

Bearing of O from A is 040˚Bearing of A from O is 220˚

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Put the following decimals in ASCENDING order• 0.3 0.03 0.299 0.33• It is useful to put in extra noughts to ensure all numbers have

the same number of digits after the decimal point

0.300 0.030 0.299 0.330 Correct order

0.030 0.299 0.300 0.330

8 Ordering decimals

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• When asked to find differences between times use a counting on method• Find difference between 9:55 am and 11:20am 1 hour 25 minutes • Use a counting on method

• 5mins 1 hour 20 mins

• 9:55 10:00 11:00 11:20• DO NOT TRY TO SUBTRACT AS NORMAL• 11:20 - 9 :55 This will give you the incorrect answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9 Time

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Alice and Bob share some money in the ratio 1:3• What fraction of money does Alice get ?

Total of 4 ratios. Alice has 1 ratio Alice gets of the money

The common incorrect answer is

10 Ratio

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• A bag contains 3 red , 3 blue and 4 green counters. I pick one at random find the probability I pick a red counter

• Answer • Do not write answer as a ratio • 3:10 is incorrect

11 Probability

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• A racing car travels 60 miles in 30 minutes , find its average speed in miles per hour. Units have to be in hours so we need to change 30minutes to 0.5 hours

Speed = = = 120 miles per hour

• Common mistake 60

12 Speed Distance Time

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• 0.2 x 0.3 = 0.06 common mistake 0.6

• 2 ÷ 4 = 0.5 common mistake 2

13 Decimals

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Make sure numbers are in order before you calculate the median

• Find median of 4 , 7 , 1 , 5 , 1• In order 1 , 1 , 4 , 5 , 7• Correct answer 4• Common mistake 1

14 Median

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Express 24 as a product of its prime factors, give answer in index form

• This simply means use “cherry trees” and write answer using powers.

• 24

3 8 2 4

2 2

15 Prime Factors

Correct final answer 3 x

Remember product means multiply

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Find 20 % of £10.90• 10 % £10.90 1.09• 20 % £ 1.09 x 2 = £ 2.18You must show the green divide by 10 method to find 10%Simply writing 10 % = does not count as a method and you will lose marks if your final answer is incorrect

16 Show full method

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Simplify 3A + B + 6A – 4B• Correct answer 9A – 3B

• Common mistake 9A + 5B

17 Algebra Collecting like terms

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Remember to multiply all terms inside the bracket by whatever is outside the bracket

2 ( Y + 5) = 2Y + 10 Common mistake 2Y + 5

• 2Y ( Y + 4 ) = 2Y2 +8Y • Common mistake • 2Y ( Y + 4 ) = 2Y +8Y = 10Y

18 Algebra Expanding Brackets

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• When describing an ENLARGEMENT you need to say 3 things

• 1 Enlargement• 2 Scale factor of enlargement• 3 Co ordinates of the point the object has

been enlarged from

19 Transformations

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• When describing an REFLECTION you need to say 2 things

• 1 REFLECTION (do not say it flips )• 2 Equation of the line of reflection

20 Transformations

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• When describing an ROTATION you need to say 3 things

• 1 ROTATION ( do not say it turns)• 2 Direction ( clockwise or anti clockwise) and

angle • 3 Co ordinates the object has been rotated

about

21 Transformations

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• When describing an TRANSLATION you need to say 2 things• 1 TRANSLATION ( do not say it slides or moves)• 2 Number of units moved right/left and up/down

• You should also be able to recognise that this means • Translate a shape 2 units right , 3 units down

• Translate a shape 1 unit left , 4 units up

22 Transformations

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Remember to label the axes when drawing graphs

23 Graphs

COLOUR

FREQUENCY

Most students often fail to label FREQUENCY on the vertical axis

Students also forget to label the X and Y axisRemember “X goes across Y to the sky”

GSCE EXAM TIPS

24 Equations of lines you must knowY

X

YY

XX

X =2

Students always get this wrong

Y = 5

Students always get this wrong

Y = X

GSCE EXAM TIPS

When factorising you must have the highest common factor(s) outside the bracket.

Factorise 4Y + 12 = 4 ( Y +3)Common Mistake 4Y + 12 = 2 ( 2Y + 6)

25 Factorising

When factorising you must have the highest common factor(s) outside the bracket.

Factorise 3x2 – 6x = 3x(x – 2)Common Mistake 3x2 – 6x = 3(x2 – 2x)

GSCE EXAM TIPS

+ = When adding or subtracting fractions you must use the lowest common denominatorCommon mistake

+ =

26 Fractions

GSCE EXAM TIPS

Add powers when multiplyingx = x =

Subtract powers when dividing÷ = =

27 Indices

GSCE EXAM TIPS

When solving an equation when X appears on both sides MOVE THE SMALLEST X TERM FIRST

5X + 3 = 2X – 12 -2X -2X

3X + 3 = - 12 -3 -33X = -15 X = - 5

28 Equations

29 Frequency TablesPets Frequency Pets x Frequency

0 12 0

1 60 60

2 28 56

Total 100 116

When asked to find the mean form a frequency table remember to create a final end column and multiply pets and frequency

Mean = 116 ÷ 100 = 1.16 We divide by 100 as there are 100 people in the survey. Common mistake is to divide by 3 as there are 3 rows in the table.

Modal number of pets is 1 ( as this is the highest frequency)Common mistake is to say modal number of pets is 60

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• Questions marked with an * require you to show all of your workings and be able to write full sentences to explain your answers

30 QWC

*

GSCE EXAM TIPS

• You must use the correct mathematical language when answering any questions on angles.

• Words in RED must be used

30 QWC

*

Vertically opposite angles are equal

Angles on a straight line add up to 180

*Angles at a point add up to 360

DO NOT SAY ANGLES IN A CIRCLE ADD TO 360

Angles in a triangle add up to 180

X X

Base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal

Angles in a quadrilateral add up to 360

Alternate angles are equal

Corresponding angles are equal

Allied angles add up to 180

GSCE EXAM TIPS

Do not provide two different answers for the same question if only one answer is required Write as a decimal 0.3 or The correct answer is but as 0.3 is incorrect you will score no marks for this question

31

GSCE EXAM TIPS

Check all answers thoroughly. Have you answered every question. Do your answers make sense.Check to see if there is a question on the back page of the exam paper

GOOD LUCK

FINALLY