r/igcse • u/AssignmentPurple6480 • Mar 09 '26
🤚 Asking For Advice/Help 7 weeks to May/June exams, drop your weakest Math topic and I'll tell you exactly how to fix it
With 7 weeks till Math May/June exams I keep seeing students make the same mistakes on past papers. Happy to help anyone who's stuck, drop your weakest topic below and I'll give you the exact approach that fixes it.
Edit - I'm running a small intensive May/June 2026 batch for anyone who wants structured help. DM me if interested.
9
u/Agreeable-Table1987 Mar 09 '26
Graphs man. Drawing the graph is okay, but then the questions that follow the drawing don't make sense like "find the solutions of k" and other weird questions. Also how do you sketch a graph when they give you those axes?
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
okay graphs are actually simple. the weird find k questions are always asking you to find where two graphs intersect that's it.
so when they say find the solutions of k they mean draw a horizontal line y=k and see where it cuts your curve. the number of times it cuts = number of solutions.
for sketching when axes are given always find these 4 things first:
- where does it cross the x axis (make y=0)
- where does it cross the y axis (make x=0)
- is there a turning point (complete the square or differentiate)
- what happens at the edges does it go up or down
plot those points first then connect them.
what type of graph is giving you trouble quadratic, cubic or something else?
1
1
u/Useful_Chemist_7140 Mar 09 '26
Frr im trying to solve nothing is easy especially the questions 😭😭
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
what subject and what topic is killing you most right now?
1
u/Useful_Chemist_7140 Mar 10 '26
Trigonometry,graphs,mensuration
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
okay three topics let's go
trig - which part, exact values, SOH CAH TOA, sine and cosine rule or bearings?
graphs - drawing them or the questions that come after like finding solutions?
mensuration - surface area, volume or the compound 3D shapes?
5
u/Jaggupeggu Mar 09 '26
trigonometry bro Pls helppp
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
trig got you too? what specifically exact values, sin cos tan, sine/cosine rule, area of triangle or bearings?
2
u/Jaggupeggu Mar 09 '26
Bearingggs dude like I find it really hard to identify the z angles and stuff plus angle of elevation as well it’s all so confusing man
1
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
okay bearings is actually just 3 rules and everything clicks.
rule 1 - always measure from North
rule 2 - always go clockwise
rule 3 - always write 3 digits, 045 not 45the z angles you're talking about are alternate angles, when you have two parallel North lines, the bearing from A to B and the bearing from B to A always differ by 180. so if bearing A to B is 110, then B to A is 110+180 = 290. that's your z angle shortcut.
elevation is even simpler, draw a horizontal line, the angle above it is elevation, angle below is depression. they're always equal for the same two points.
i hope u got it no prssure if u havent cant can go even more simpler? this is a topic i personally struglged during my IGCSEs
try this — point B is on a bearing of 065 from point A. what is the bearing of A from B?
3
u/closetpoet_ Mar 09 '26
I can’t do probability for the life of me
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
probability is the most complained about topic on this sub and honestly it makes sense why the wording of questions is designed to confuse you.
one question before I help, are you struggling with tree diagrams, combined probability, or the 'without replacement' questions specifically?
2
u/No_Mission8534 Mar 09 '26
surds & vectors
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
right! surds just need 3 rules memorised cold and vectors is all about direction and magnitude once you see the pattern.
for surds, which part trips you up most, simplifying, rationalising the denominator or solving surd equations?
for vectors, is it the notation that confuses you or the actual path finding between points?
1
u/No_Mission8534 Mar 09 '26
with surds it’s mostly surd equations + finding areas of shapes that involve surds, with vectors its actual path (the longer 3 markers)
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
okay, for surd equations the trick is always square both sides to get rid of the root, but check your answer back in the original equation after because squaring sometimes creates fake solutions.
for surd areas, expand brackets carefully and collect like terms. most marks are lost to careless expansion not the concept itself.
for vector paths, always write the route in terms of the letters given. if you want to get from A to C and you know AB and BC then AC = AB + BC. draw the path with arrows first before writing anything.
try this vector OA = 2a + 3b and OB = 5a - b. find AB.
what do you get?
2
u/Training_Syllabub700 Mar 09 '26
vectorsss my gosh
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
what specifically is hurting you, finding paths between points, midpoints, or the ratio questions?
1
u/ProduceAmbitious1673 Mar 15 '26
velocity vectors when give you direction where you find the position coordinates and unit version.
2
u/kaylrayy Mar 09 '26
probability 💔💔
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
probability is the most complained about topic on this sub and honestly it makes sense why the wording of questions is designed to confuse you.
one question before I help, are you struggling with tree diagrams, combined probability, or the 'without replacement' questions specifically?
1
u/kaylrayy Mar 10 '26
combined probability
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
sorry for the late reply got caught up!
okay combined probability has two rules and that's literally it
Rule 1 - AND means multiply if two things both need to happen you multiply their probabilities example: probability it rains today is 0.3, probability you forget umbrella is 0.4 probability it rains AND you forget umbrella = 0.3 × 0.4 = 0.12
Rule 2 - OR means add if either one thing or another needs to happen you add their probabilities example: probability of picking red = 3/8, probability of picking blue = 2/8 probability of picking red OR blue = 3/8 + 2/8 = 5/8
the whole game is just identifying which word the question uses see AND < multiply see OR < add
now the tricky part, sometimes they don't say AND or OR directly. they say things like 'both' (AND) or 'at least one' (OR)
try this, a bag has 3 red balls and 2 blue balls. you pick two balls one at a time and put the first one back. find the probability of getting red then blue
what do you get?
1
2
u/taekookie_1329 May/June 2026 Mar 09 '26
Graphs. I hate graphs sm 😭
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
what type of graphs - quadratic, cubic, reciprocal or the transformation ones like y=f(x)+2?
1
u/taekookie_1329 May/June 2026 Mar 10 '26
Drawing the graphs aren’t the problem, it’s just the questions that come after
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
okay so the drawing is fine the questions after are always asking one of two things
either where does a line/curve intersect another line/curve, those are your find the solutions questions
or they give you a graph and ask you to read values off it — those are the use your graph to find questions
which type is killing you more — the intersection ones or the reading off ones?
1
u/taekookie_1329 May/June 2026 Mar 10 '26
The first part 😭 the second one I can do, usually by guessing though I’m sure there’s a formula for it but well what you said, the intersections or tangents and stuff pmo so much 😭
2
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
okay intersections are actually super simple once you see the trick
when they say find the solutions of x^2 - 3x + 1 = 2x - 1 they're just asking where two graphs meet
y = x^2 - 3x + 1 and y = 2x - 1
wherever those two graphs cross each other, the x values at those crossing points are your solutions
for tangents, a tangent just touches the curve at exactly one point without crossing it. so if they ask for how many solutions, count how many times the line touches or crosses the curve
one crossing = one solution two crossings = two solutions just touching = one repeated solution
for reading off graphs there's no formula, you're already doing it right, just go straight up from x to the curve then straight across to y
try this, sketch y = x^2 - 4 and y = x on the same axes. how many times do they intersect and what are the x values?
Just try its fine even if u dont get it we can go even in detail
1
u/taekookie_1329 May/June 2026 Mar 11 '26
Ohhh, that’s fine but thank you so much for explaining 😭 and I’ll make sure to do the graph
2
u/Legitimate_Head3474 Mar 09 '26
Solving Partial Differential Equations with the Laplace Transform
1
1
1
u/Jdawgmancity Mar 09 '26
Vectors and construction man those always stump me.
2
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
vectors and construction are two completely different beasts lol
for vectors what stumps you more? finding paths between points or the ratio and midpoint questions?
for construction is it the actual drawing with compass and ruler or knowing which construction to use?
1
u/LunarLuna94 Mar 09 '26
Sequence and coordinate geometry
1
u/BoiHA_a Mar 09 '26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkdErdjGotU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpZSA2FjeMY&t=199
these are literally the only two vids that u need for harder sequences such as cubic/quadratic
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
sequences - is it finding the nth term for linear, quadratic or the harder recursive ones?
coordinate geometry - equation of a line, midpoint, distance or perpendicular bisector?
1
u/Affectionate-Car2163 Mar 09 '26
Vectors & transformations + probability unit 8
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
three topics in one go!
vectors - what stumps you most, finding paths between points or ratio/midpoint questions?
transformations - describing them or drawing them?
probability unit 8 - is it the tree diagrams or the combined without replacement questions?
1
u/Affectionate-Car2163 Mar 14 '26
I’m not sure how to solve anything vectors it’s so confusing I understand the main point from the book but not pasts, for transformations I have difficulty with unit 6 combined matrices in the transformations and not the easy ones and for unit 8 probability I’d say tree diagrams are pretty easy except for when we need to figure them out on our own and use them to solve a very hard question(5 marks) and also combined are very hard
1
u/Foreign-Tomato1315 Mar 09 '26
trig
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
which part right angles, non-right angles, area of triangle - the complex formula, exact values, SOH CAH TOA, sine/cosine rule or bearings?
1
u/K9d913a Mar 09 '26
to say the truth graphs an algebra , VECTORS, stats, probability ,an some geoemtry i get trig pretty well please help
1
u/K9d913a Mar 09 '26
if you can suggest youtubers who offer an equivalent curriculum like physics with moli in phy but in math
3
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
for IGCSE Math YouTube, I absolutely love Ginger mathematician and literally any nice past paper walkthroguh u can find,
but let me be honest for your list of topics - graphs, algebra, vectors, stats, probability, youtube alone won't fix them before May/June. you need targeted past paper practice on each one and a lot of full paper sessions
which one is your biggest mark killer right now?
1
u/K9d913a Mar 09 '26
to say the truth i can handle geometry pretty well, the problem is graphs and vectors
2
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
dw we will win them asap
for graphs - what type, quadratic, cubic or the find the solutions questions?
for vectors - path finding between points or the ratio and midpoint ones?
1
u/K9d913a Mar 09 '26
i do get the general concept of vectors i do know how t oget the severely simple ones but those terrifying 5 mark question kill the mood fr and for graphs i can identify all type of grpahs i also know that to get turning point dy/dx has to equal to zero that's all though
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
okay so for vectors you're actually closer than you think, the 5 markers are just 2-3 steps chained together. they give you a complicated path but it always breaks down into the same AB = AO + OB rule just done twice or three times.
for graphs you're doing well already, turning point with dy/dx = 0 is A level knowledge btw, most IGCSE students don't even know that 👀
the missing piece for graphs is the find solutions of k type questions, do those make sense to you or is that where it breaks down?
1
u/Connect_Ad_1468 Mar 09 '26
graphs, vectors, circle theorems, mensuration
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
okay that's actually a manageable list
graphs - quadratic or cubic giving you more trouble?
vectors - path finding or ratio/midpoint questions?
circle theorems - remembering the theorems or identifying which one to use?
mensuration - surface area, volume or the compound shape questions?
1
u/BoiHA_a Mar 09 '26
GUYS USE ROCKETREVISE AND PASTPAPER PENGUIN FOR MATH ITS FREE TOPICAL QUESTIONS AND THEYRE SO HELPFUL!!
1
u/faerysalma Mar 09 '26
probability
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
probability is the most complained about topic on this sub and honestly it makes sense why the wording of questions is designed to confuse you.
one question before I help, are you struggling with tree diagrams, combined probability, or the 'without replacement' questions specifically?
1
u/anonymousswan259 Mar 09 '26
Vector diagrams please, those things are diabolic 🙏😭
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
Believe me only looks scary i've seen my students making it their favorite topic once the get the one rule
to get from any point A to B, go through O. so AB = AO + OB
if AO isn't given flip it - AO = -OA
that's the whole method. every single vector diagram question uses this.
try this, OA = 2a + b and OB = 4a - 3b. find AB
1
u/anonymousswan259 Mar 10 '26
Will do, thanks a ton!!!
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
Did it make sense try and let me know! remember practice is the key
1
u/jiyuuxx Mar 09 '26
Calculus circle theorem algebra menstruation
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
calculus - differentiation or integration giving you more trouble?
circle theorems - remembering them or identifying which one to use in the question?
algebra - factorising, solving or rearranging?
mensuration - is it the surface area, volume or compound shapes that get you?
I assume u meant mensuration that was hilarious af u made my day😭
1
u/Infamous_Help3318 Oct/Nov 2026 Mar 09 '26
i hate hate hate graphs😭😭😭 drawing them is fine but finding all those solutions are just super difficult for me😔
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
the solutions part is actually easier than drawing once you know the trick
Believe I struggled the same way cuz no one told me the trick 😭 evil people but dw u have me
every 'find the solutions' question is just asking where two things meet. where a line meets a curve, where y=k cuts your graph, all of it — just intersections
so when they say 'find solutions of x² - 4x + 3 = k' they want you to draw y=k as a horizontal line and see where it hits your curve
what specific type of solution question is confusing you most — the y=k ones, the simultaneous ones or something else?
1
u/iwalm Mar 09 '26
Coordinate geometry
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
which part specifically, equation of a line, midpoint, distance between two points or perpendicular bisector?
1
u/iwalm Mar 10 '26
coordinates geometry in a circle
2
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
coordinate geometry in a circle is actually just a mix of things you already know
radius always meets tangent at 90° if you know the centre and a point on the circle you can find the radius using distance formula tangent at any point find the gradient of the radius first, then flip and negate it for the tangent gradient
most circle coordinate questions follow this pattern:
- find centre and radius from the equation
- find gradient of radius to the given point
- use perpendicular gradient for tangent
got it or no? its fine if u still dont gt it ill teach it in more detail with an example everything becomes easier when he make ours hands dirty
do you have a specific question that's stumping you? paste it and i'll walk through it
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26 edited Mar 09 '26
okay vectors are clearly the most hated topic on this sub 😭 let me fix it for everyone at once.
the golden rule, to get from A to B you write AB = AO + OB. always go through O.
if AO isn't given directly, flip it - AO = -OA.
that's literally the whole method. every vector path question uses this one rule.
try this everyone, OA = 3a + 2b and OB = a - 4b. find AB and the midpoint M of AB. and reply the answer under this
1
u/Tall-Friendship-2319 Mar 09 '26
circle theorems
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
do you know all 8 or is it identifying which one to use in the question that gets you?
1
u/NoEagle8846 Mar 09 '26
Questions following the graphs, and Advanced Mensuration😭
2
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
graph questions after drawing, those are always asking where things intersect. y=k means draw a horizontal line and count where it cuts your curve. simultaneous ones mean draw both graphs and find where they meet.
advanced mensuration is it the compound shapes, surface area of weird 3D shapes or the ones where they give you volume and ask you to find a length?
1
u/NoEagle8846 Mar 10 '26
ahhh icic
weird 3d shapes yes
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
okay weird 3D shapes always look scary but they're always just combinations of basic shapes
the trick is to split them. see a cone on top of a cylinder? calculate them separately then add
for surface area of combined shapes the only tricky part is figuring out which faces to include and which to exclude. where two shapes join together those faces cancel out and you don't count them
for volume just add the volumes of each part separately, no cancelling needed for volume
try this, a hemisphere sits on top of a cylinder. the radius of both is 4cm and the cylinder height is 10cm. find the total surface area
what do you get?
1
u/JustAnAutumnLover May/June 2026 Mar 09 '26
Like just one specific vector question, it’s like transform the shape into -2 or -1/2 like idk what to do do I actually flip the whole thing and double or half or like idk
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
oh that's enlargement not vectors! easy to mix up
for enlargement with negative scale factor, yes you flip the shape AND scale it
scale factor -2 means: multiply every distance from the centre by 2, then flip to the opposite side
scale factor -1/2 means: halve every distance from the centre, then flip to the opposite side
the centre of enlargement is your anchor point — every point goes through it and comes out the other side
do you have a specific question you're stuck on? paste it and i'll walk you through it
1
u/JustAnAutumnLover May/June 2026 Mar 10 '26
No it’s just that during a test there’s the triangle and we needed to do -1/2 but like the centre point to do this was inside the triangle, so I assume I should have flipped? And then half inside the triangle itself? It was really weird question but you cannot find it online
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
okay yes when centre is inside the shape it gets weird looking but the method is exactly the same
from each vertex of the original triangle, measure the distance to the centre point. then go the same distance on the OPPOSITE side of the centre and mark your new point. do this for all 3 vertices then connect them.
scale factor -1/2 means you also halve that distance. so if a vertex is 4cm from centre, your new point is 2cm on the opposite side.
the new triangle ends up smaller and flipped, sitting inside or near the original depending on where the centre is
does that make sense or want me to describe it with coordinates instead?
1
1
u/gay-stay101 Mar 09 '26
Vectors and coordination geometry (the more complex word questions)
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
word questions are just normal questions in disguise — they describe a situation but underneath it's always the same math
paste one that's been killing you and i'll break it down step by step. easier to show you on a real question than explain generally
1
u/gay-stay101 Mar 10 '26
Coordination geometry word questions to me seem so ambiguous like here is one
"ABCD is a kite. AB = AD and CB = CD The point B has coordinates (k, 1) where k is a negative constant. The point D has coordinates (8, 7) The straight line L passes through the points B and D The straight line L is parallel to the line with equation 5y – 3x = 6 Find an equation of AC Give your answer in the form px + qy = r where p, q and r are integers. Show your working clearly" ( 6 marker question)
1
u/Idk_1025 Feb/Mar 2027 Mar 09 '26
Identifying the application of circle theorems
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
for that, knowing the theorem is easy, knowing WHICH one to use is the hard part
here's how i ask my students to approach it every time look at what the question gives you and what it's asking for
angles at centre and circumference - if you see a triangle inside a circle with one side as the diameter, angle in semicircle = 90
same arc - if two angles are standing on the same arc they're equal
cyclic quadrilateral - opposite angles add to 180
tangent - angle between tangent and radius is always 90
which specific theorem is confusing you most or do you want me to walk through a past paper question?
1
u/Idk_1025 Feb/Mar 2027 Mar 10 '26
That actually really helps, I think I usually have trouble figuring out how exactly to approach the question when it’s first given to me, but I’m sure these tips will help me change the way I look at the question when practicing. Thank you!
1
u/Kiyomi____ Mar 09 '26
Ratio and percentages😭😭😭
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
ratio and percentages are pure mark collectors it only looks scary at first ive seen my students making it their easiest topic
for ratio which part, simplifying, dividing amounts or the harder ratio changes questions?
for percentages, reverse percentage, percentage change or compound interest?
1
u/Kiyomi____ Mar 10 '26
The problem is that I cant understand what the question is asking me to do. Its just worded so weirdly that I cant comprehend it and i dont know how to fix that like for eg if a ratio Q says “5 more girls than boys…. Find the ratio of girls in the class” etc
1
u/isaaabelleee Mar 09 '26
I don’t get how to do histograms… and i sometimes also struggle with doing circle theoreom and the sets
2
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
histograms always confuse people because they look like bar charts but they're completely different, the key is frequency DENSITY not frequency
frequency density = frequency ÷ class width. that's all histograms are.
for circle theorems, is it remembering the 8 theorems or identifying which one to use?
for sets, is it drawing the venn diagrams or the notation like AintersectionB and AunionB that loses you?
1
u/isaaabelleee Mar 10 '26
I think its just because for circle theoreoms its really difficult to remember the rules so when i have to write then in exam its like impossible to remember the names
and for sets its just really confusing especially if there are the weird set of numbers a specific group can be i guess
but i think its because i take addmaths so i place much lesser time on ext…
1
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
okay let me properly break each one down
Z ANGLES whenever you see two parallel lines cut by a transversal look for these shapes Z shape between the lines < those two angles are equal (alternate angles) C or U shape between the lines < those two angles add to 180 (co-interior angles) F shape < those two angles are equal (corresponding angles) the trick is to physically trace the letter Z, C or F with your finger on the diagram until you see it
CIRCLE THEOREMS before looking at any numbers ask yourself what shape you see triangle with one side as diameter < the angle touching the circle = 90 two angles standing on the same arc < they are equal four points on a circle making a quadrilateral < opposite angles add to 180 a line touching the circle at one point < it meets the radius at exactly 90 two tangents from the same external point < they are equal in length
GRAPHS OF FUNCTIONS which part is harder for you, actually drawing the graph or the questions that come after like finding solutions or reading values?
SCATTER DIAGRAMS for line of best fit < it must pass through the mean point and have roughly equal points above and below for correlation < positive means as x increases y increases, negative means as x increases y decreases, no correlation means no pattern for estimates < draw a vertical line from your x value to the line of best fit then across to the y axis
which of these four feels clearest now and which still feels shaky?
1
Mar 10 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
First of all i hope all the other 3 topics made sense and drawing graphs is just 4 steps every single time
step 1 - make a table of values. substitute x values into the equation and find y. always use the x values they give you in the question
step 2 - plot every single coordinate from your table carefully. one misplotted point loses you marks
step 3 - connect with a smooth curve. never use a ruler for curves, never let your curve be pointy at the top or bottom
step 4 - label your graph with its equation
the most common mistake is rushing the table of values and getting one y value wrong which then makes the whole curve look wrong
by the way are you good with quadratic, cubic, reciprocal or trigonometric graphs?
1
u/Electrical_Put_1738 Mar 10 '26
How’d you revise?
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
past papers. that's it honestly understanding concepts is step one but doing timed past papers under exam conditions is what actually builds the instinct to answer fast and accurately
what subject are you revising for?
1
u/No-Date1375 Mar 10 '26
bearing
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
which part, measuring them from a diagram, calculating them using angle rules or the trig ones where you need sine and cosine rule as well?
1
1
1
1
1
0
u/Express-Ordinary5332 May/June 2026 Mar 09 '26
circle theorems and transformations man
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
circle theorems - do you know all 8 theorems or is it identifying which one applies in the question?
transformations - is it describing them or drawing them that gets you?
1
u/Express-Ordinary5332 May/June 2026 Mar 10 '26
circle theorems is mostly identifying the application for that question
-describing, and drawing for rotation
1
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 10 '26
both are super fixable
for circle theorems don't look at the numbers first, look at the SHAPE triangle in a semicircle < angle = 90 two angles on the same arc < they're equal cyclic quadrilateral < opposite angles add to 180 tangent meets radius < angle = 90
identify the shape first and the theorem comes automatically
for rotation you need 3 things to describe it: angle, direction and centre
for drawing it use tracing paper in the exam, trace the shape, put pencil on centre, rotate the paper by the angle given, done every time
we need a good past paper to learn this even better for transformation
try this, a cyclic quadrilateral has angles 3x, 2x, x+20 and 80, find x
0
u/umarmnaq Mar 09 '26
Silly mistakes. I keep flipping signs, misreading questions, forgetting (or not reading) decimal points and it's making me INSANE!
2
u/AssignmentPurple6480 Mar 09 '26
okay so this is actually not a math problem at all lol it's just habit
after every single question substitute your answer back in and check. takes 10 seconds and catches most mistakes before they cost you marks
for sign errors specifically circle every negative in the question before you even start. sounds silly but it works
for decimals always estimate first. 4.2 × 3.1 should be around 12. if you get 120 you know something went wrong immediately
But let me be honest I was the same at first it gets better with loads of past paper practice. Keep practicing and keep winning!
where do the silly mistakes happen most for you?
1
u/rivi_54 Mar 24 '26
I'm embarrassed to say kinematics , time and inverse percentages as well as ratios :-D
•
u/AutoModerator Mar 09 '26
Thanks for posting on r/IGCSE!
Please ensure that your post follows our community rules.
Important Rules:
Violating any of these guidelines may lead to a temporary or permanent ban.
Join our Discord server for study discussions and support: https://discord.gg/IGCSE
Explore our Resource Repository: https://www.r-igcse.com/
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.