General Exam Tips Think Read the question carefully and try to understand the scenario, then think about the Maths you will need to do. Is it perimeter, area, volume, ratio etc? Look at the number of marks given for a question. If it is only one mark, you normally only have to give an answer, or write a sentence. More marks mean that there are more stages to the question and you need to do more work. Look at your answer and see if it makes sense. For example, if the question is about someone’s weight, and your answer is 150kg, you’ve probably done something wrong! Show all your working out, and check your answers by working backwards. Don’t spend ages on a hard or boring question – go back to it at the end.

Questions about time Use a time line to work backwards and forwards in time. Remember that time is counted in blocks of 60, so 2.5 hours is 2 ½ hours. When planning rotas or timetables, make sure you have met all the criteria given. Most questions that ask you plan rotas or timetables are very long and boring – probably best to leave them to last! 6pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 2:30pm 1 hour ½ hour

Questions about money Read the question carefully to find out what they want you to do. Read price information carefully and make sure to match prices with quantities. Remember to subtract the discount if you have to compare prices. Remember to add ‘one off’ costs.

Questions using formulae Always substitute letters for the numbers you are given. Make sure you are using the correct unit. For example in the formula below you have to use the time in hours. Don’t worry if the formula looks complicated and you don’t understand it – just follow the rule.

Questions about ratio To find quantities from a given ratio, add up how many parts there are, then divide the quantity by this number to find out how much one part is. Remember that you will often have to round up with ratios so you have enough of something, even if it means you have too much/too many. Sometimes you will have to scale up or down. It’s often easier to work out how much of something you will need to make one portion, then multiply by the number you need.

Questions about probability Probability can be described by words such as: certain, likely, possible, unlikely and impossible. You can guess the probability of something by what has happened in the past. Probability can be described as a number between 0 and 1, and can be a decimal, fraction or percentage. In some Level 2 questions you may need to compare a decimal, percentage and fraction, and the easiest way to do this is normally to change them all to percentages.

Questions about measures Remember the relationship between metric units and how to convert between them. If you are going from a large unit such as kg, to a smaller unit such as g, you multiply because there will be more of the smaller units. If you are going from a smaller unit such as cm, to a larger unit such as m, divide because there will be fewer of the larger units. Formula for converting between metric and imperial units will always be provided.

Questions about perimeter & area Read the question carefully to decide if you need to work out the perimeter or area The perimeter is the distance round the outside of a shape – just add all the sides. The area is the measure of the surface of a 2D shape. For squares and rectangles, multiply the length by width and give the answer in units² (don’t worry about this symbol on a computer test) Make sure you are working in the same unit with questions about tiles etc. You may need to divide up some shapes to work out the area.

The volume is the amount of space a 3D shape uses – for cubes and cuboids multiply the length by height by width and give the answer in units³. Make sure you are working in all the same units. Be careful as some questions show you the length, width and height, but you only need to calculate the surface area. In level 2, the formula for calculating the volume of other 3D shapes will be given in the question.

Questions about 2D & 3D shapes You may have to show a plan of a 2D shape. Make sure that you follow all the criteria, and pay attention to the scale. In Level 2, you are often asked to draw a net – this is simply a 3D shape opened out. Pay attention to the scale and check all the dimensions of the shape. If you have to draw a 3D shape on isometric paper, start with the base of the shape and draw across the dots.

Questions about averages The mean is the total divided by the number of values. The range is the difference between the highest and the lowest value. The mode is the most common number. The median is the middle number when they are arranged in order of smallest first. With some harder Level 2 mean questions, you’ll have to work backwards to find the total.

Questions about charts & graphs In some questions you just have to write a statement about a graph. Look at the graph carefully to understand what it’s about an write a simple statement. If you have to create a graph, make sure that: The frequency goes on the Y axis, and that the numbers are evenly spaced. DON’T just write in the numbers you are given The groups go on the X axis, and there is a title for the graph if necessary. If you have to make your own key, make sure it is a factor of the numbers you are given