How to Get an A or A* in A Level Mathematics 7 Easy Steps

Alamin Ali
Feb 8, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Oct 20, 2022

1. KNOW C1 WELL

The first 5 topics of C1 are everywhere in the course

Surds and indices
Quadratics
Inequalities
Sketching Curves
Coordinate Geometry

If you struggle with any of these key topics then go through them again. They are used in the most difficult problems. Also, make sure you are good at simultaneous equations and

algebraic fractions. When writing a challenging exam question, the examiner will select the use of one of the above.

2. REVIEW AFTER EACH LESSON

After each lesson, the following day or even the following week, flick through the notes of the lesson and try some of the questions. The trick is to remind yourself of

how to do the problem.

This probably seems to be the minor practice to get the A*.

WRONG!

Do this and see yourself excel.

Do this not, and take your re-sits with us.

3. EXAM STYLE QUESTIONS

Don’t do past papers until you have finished the module completely!

What was that? Don’t do them? But I’m sure teachers have said look at exam-style questions. Yes please do that! But not from past papers. There are literately countless places whenre you can get exam-style questions without resorting to

papers. Papers are precious. They are your true and only way to understand how the marks are distributed and how the topics link together. Looking at them early may seem innocent but you will NOT get an A* Grade.

4. REVIEW AGAIN

W H Y I S T H I S M E N T I O N E D T W I C E?

Set questions to review in two months’ time. Only need to set a few, but make sure to write them down and look at them in the future. Give them to a parent or a friend to bring out. This type of review learning impacts medium-term memory and will keep the knowledge fresh for the exam.

5. Past papers are mocks

When practising past papers, remember you are looking at a mock exam. This was actually used before and unless the syllabus has changed (it hasn’t), these questions are completely relevant to what you will be sitting. Practice the papers under exam conditions and get used to time management. When marking papers, use the mark scheme and mark harshly. If you think you haven’t written enough to get the mark, then you probably haven’t.

6. STRIVE FOR EVERY SINGLE MARK

AIMING FOR AN A* IS POINTLESS.

The grade boundaries are relative (dependent on how everyone else performs). You can try and convince yourself that you are on course for an A* when in truth, you are enabling bad habits. It is psychologically easier to visualize getting every single mark than it is to visualise an A*. The former ensures the latter.

7. JOIN APEX TUITION

With 100% of our A-Level students achieving an A or A* grade, and with over 80% of those grades being A* Grades, can you afford not to find out how we can help you?

Our tutorials are taught one to one and they are completely tailored for your needs.

You will receive a learning assessment to find out how best to teach you Mathematics, and we will give you a trial lesson to prove it works.

See what people have said about us by exploring our testimonials page.

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