21/04/2025
As most students are heading back to school tomorrow and exams are just around the corner, here are some useful tips for revision. These are some topics that are always tested on the higher maths paper. Make sure that your child is confident with these:
Recurring decimals (normally 2 to 3 marks)
Surds (can be upto a 6 mark question. Simplifying surds and rationalising the denominator are both tested)
Factorisation - both into single and double brackets.
Completing the square - this is usually used to find the turning point for a quadratic graph (around a 3 mark question)
Functions - composite and inverse. Students often find this really tricky but it is a lot like rearranging formulae!
Trigonometry - you need to know the sine cos and tan ratios (think SOHCAHTOA). Remember that these are on the formula sheet as well!
Non right angled triangle trig includes the sine and cosine rule as well as the area of a triangle. At least one of these will normally be tested. This can be upto a 6 mark question.
Look for a triangle that is not right angled.
Remember that whenever you see a right angled triangle, you should be thinking about SOHCAHTOA and Pythagoras theorem.
Circle theorems is another topic that is always tested. Make sure you know how to describe the theorems since questions normally ask for the reasons.
Vectors also normally turn up. You can get decent marks on vector questions as long as you know the basics, though vector proof can be trickier. You can still gain at least a couple of marks on these even if you are not sure about vector proof. The two main proofs you need to know are: three points lie on a straight line, and that two lines are parallel.
Make sure you know how to solve quadratic simultaneous equations as there is normally a question on these (upto 6 marks).
Loci and construction ALWAYS comes up. Make sure you can draw a perpendicular bisector and an angle bisector (upto 6 marks, though this often can be two seperate questions with one being a 5 mark one and another being a 2 marker).
Transformations - translations, reflections, rotations and enlargements (including fractional and negative scale factors).
You've got this! Use the results from your previous mocks to identify gaps and start your revision from there.
For those on study leave, I have some daytime availability to help master these tricky topics and work on exam technique. Message me for details.
Good luck!
