One of the most frequent inquiries I get from students is this one. The answer is tricky since it varies greatly depending on the motivation and perspective of each individual learner. But first, the persistent query you are undoubtedly asking yourself right now: “Am I competent enough to receive an A* in A Level Mathematics?”
Yes, to put it briefly. You appear to have already overcome the obstacle of motivation because you are here and are reading this. Second, your teachers obviously believe you can succeed since if you are reading this, you are probably already enrolled in the A Level Maths course. You should consider a professional Maths A Level Tutor, who can guide you and provide you a straight forward pathway to success.
But organization is the one thing you most likely need to work on developing. And no, I don’t mean creating an inordinate number of lists that you will probably never get around to finishing. I mean making revision a routine, an organized process. And that’s what this post aims to do. to assist you in acquiring the abilities that will set you apart from other pupils and enable you to receive an A*. Please keep in mind that these are not simply my suggestions; they are things that I have observed my top students doing over the years in order to receive an A*.
1. Obtain a list of every subject covered in the course.
You are not required to make this. I’ve taken care of that portion for you by creating an exhaustive category-organized collection of questions (click here) that covers every subject on the curriculum. When it comes to editing, this will be your bible. Your documentation of the job you have completed and the work you still have to perform. The exam board’s A Level Maths Specification documents are another resource for a thorough list of all you need to know, but be advised that they are heavy reading!
2. Utilize A Level and AS papers from several exam boards to gain experience with various question structures.
I’ve heard students advised not to take papers from other test boards in the past, and perhaps that was accurate in the past. But with the exception of the Statistics component, which I shall discuss shortly, the current A Level Mathematics specification mandates that the test boards evaluate more content that is aligned than ever before. Of course, various test boards ask different kinds of questions, but that’s a good thing if you want to get the best score possible!
In order to be better prepared for that one very tough curveball that they always seem to throw, you want to make sure that you have been exposed to as many different types of test questions as you possibly can be. Nevertheless, as I mentioned previously, there is a caution. Because of the little discrepancy across the statistics syllabuses, I would advise against answering statistics problems from other test boards. All prior papers that are accessible to the public may be found here.
3. Stop right now and solve the issue if you come across a question that you are unable to complete on paper.
“Address that issue” refers to:
- Determine which A Level Maths topic the question relates to.
- Consult the textbook for further introduction questions about that subject. For this, you might also find my Ultimate Study Tool for A Level Maths helpful, which includes worksheets, exam problems, and training videos for every ability the A Level Maths specification calls for.
- Check for more sources, such as YouTube. You may find my own YouTube videos here, along with a full library of questions organized by topic that I have put together (click here).
- Practice answering test questions by category on the subject once you feel more proficient in it to improve your fluency. You should be doing more as an A* student than merely practicing questions till you get them right. Practice till there are no mistakes!
- After completing the aforementioned steps, go back and try answering the question that stumped you. Hopefully, this time it will seem much simpler.
4. Schedule your time for editing, but don’t overschedule
It’s a good idea to have a rough notion of how much time and when you will be revising for A Level Maths, but you also need to be adaptable. In the past, I’ve witnessed a lot of students get quite anxious because they felt that they had let themselves down somehow because they had fallen 30 minutes short of their goal time for A Level Maths review that week. On the other hand, students sometimes feel that they have neglected their other courses by spending too much time in a given week reviewing A Level Maths. Changing course from a plan is OK.
It’s a useful ability to be able to adjust to the circumstances that arise, therefore it’s okay if it means spending a little extra time on your A Level maths during a given week. In a similar vein, you won’t likely do as much A Level Maths in a given week if you have a significant deadline in another subject, like A Level Physics. Slight departures from your plan won’t keep you from receiving an A* as long as you basically adhere to the time allotted for each topic. Here is a nice place to locate a revision schedule creator for A Level.
5. Complete previous papers back to front when the time arrives.
A word of caution: AVOID DOING THIS IN THE REAL EXAM. But as far as revising goes, this is excellent advise. When you rewrite, you attempt to identify and eliminate any material that you are not quite familiar with in addition to consolidating what you already know. Additionally, tackling papers backwards—that is, starting with the trickiest questions—will enable you to identify these subjects more rapidly, enhancing the effectiveness of your revision strategy and increasing the likelihood that you will receive an A* in A Level Maths.
6. Put off thinking about completing exam papers within the allotted time.
You are setting yourself up for unnecessary stress if you attempt to pace yourself before you are fully comfortable with the subject. You should feel comfortable and assured that the work you have done so far has placed you in a far better position than if you had not done so in order to optimise your chances of receiving an A* in A Level Maths.
7. Become enraged during integration
This is just my opinion, but based on my experiences as a teacher, this is the subject that makes the A* students stand out from the others. Selecting the best integration technique in any particular scenario can be challenging and time-consuming due to the abundance of available ways. Because of this, you should schedule enough of time for revision to address integration, especially when looking at the mixed problems from textbooks or the category-specific questions I have compiled.
8. Seek guidance from individuals who have previously earned an A* in A Level Mathematics.
“That student in the year above who got an A* and is now at Oxbridge” is the perfect person to ask. They will have the finest understanding of the attitude and commitment required to get the highest grade. Additionally, a number of past A Level maths students have graciously shared their guidance on YouTube. UnJaded Jade’s video, which is the most popular, is the one that follows.
9. Seek assistance when necessary
Students frequently make the mistake of believing that editing is only a lonely endeavor. Teachers are here to support students, and one of the most important tools available to you at your school or institution is your teacher’s assistance. We know what to do to try to mold you into one of those students because we have seen kids earn A*s. Additionally, I do provide group and one-on-one tutoring if you think you need more assistance. By clicking or pressing this link, you may learn more.
