GCSE

Additional Mathematics

General Examination Tips

 Below is a collection of useful tips for students sitting the GCSE Additional Mathematics examinations.

Topic Tips

Method • We award you marks for attempting to use a correct method; ensure that
the method you are using is clear.

• Trial and improvement is not an acceptable method for this examination.

Timing • Do not spend too much time on a question if you are not making progress –
you have two hours to earn a maximum of 100 marks in each paper.

• Some questions are much shorter than others (compare Questions 1 and 11
on 2006 Paper 1).You should, therefore, use the time wisely and
appropriately.

• Use the total marks awarded to each question as an indicator of the

amount of time that you should spend on that question.

Reading the Question • Make sure you read the question carefully and answer the question you are
asked in the required format.

Formulae • We will provide you with a Formulae Sheet for both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

• Know the formulae that are on the sheets so you are able to quickly check
whether you have remembered them correctly.

• Make certain to learn the following statistics formula for Paper 2 as it is not
on the sheet for your reference: the formula to calculate the median from
a grouped frequency distribution.

Accuracy • Work to (at least) one more significant figure/decimal place than is
required for the final answer.

Showing Your Work • We mark all your attempts at a question, and the best mark is counted.

Cancelled Work • We do not mark cancelled work. We suggest that you never cancel any of
your work (see above).

Notation • Use accurate mathematical notation throughout.

• Be particularly careful to use brackets correctly.

Calculators • Show clearly the full development of your answers. You must put down
sufficient information to convince the examiner that you know how to solve
the problem.

• Show all intermediate steps in your work.

• We will not award any marks if you write down only the answer you
obtained from a calculator and that answer is incorrect (are you sure you
pressed all the right buttons in the right order?). We recommend that you
always show your work. This allows us to award some marks even if your
answer is incorrect.

General Examination Tips

Topic Tips

Layout of Answers • You must write your answers in black or blue pen/ballpoint.

• Use pencil for diagrams only.

• Do not use correcting fluid

Linked Questions & • Part questions labelled (i), (ii), etc are linked and follow in sequence – your
answer to (i) can be used to help in (ii), etc.
Command Meanings
• Part questions labelled (a), (b), etc are independent.

• ‘Hence’ means you should use the result you just obtained.

• ‘Hence or otherwise’ means that you can obtain the most straightforward
solution by using the result you just obtained.

• ‘Show that’ and ‘prove that’ mean the same as ‘find’; we give you the
result so that if you cannot do the first part of the question, you can still
attempt the later parts.

Example: Paper 1 2006, Question 9

(i) Show that x, y and z satisfy the equation
2x + 3y + 4z = 9.

You need to find the equation as if it had not been given.

Sketches • If you are expected to draw a curve on graph paper, then we will provide
you with a grid.

• Otherwise a sketch should indicate the overall shape of the entire curve.

• To sketch a line, you need to label two points.

• To sketch a quadratic, show the correct basic shape and clearly label the
points where the graph crosses the axes.

Checking Your Work • Check that you have answered all the questions – check the number of
questions on the front of the paper.

• Check over your work (if you have time) – careless slips will cost you marks.

• Where possible, check that the answer you obtained is sensible.

Common Errors • Solving quadratic equations by factorising: remember to rearrange the

expression into the form f(x) = 0 before factorising f(x).

• Solving cubic equations: remember to include the first factor you find.

General Examination Tips