TIPS

Below are some suggestions for students who are sitting GCE Mathematics.

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 at AS or A level.

Timing

 Do not spend too much time on a question if you are not making progress – you have 90 minutes to earn a
maximum of 75 marks.

Formulae

 Know the formulae that are in the booklet so you are able to quickly check whether you have remembered
them correctly.

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 your work. (see above)

Notation

 Pay particular attention to the use of brackets and use accurate mathematical notation throughout,
specifically in questions involving calculus and functions.
 Remember to include the integration constant.

Calculators

 You are not allowed to use any type of calculation aid for the C1 examination.
 Remember that the rubric instructs you to ‘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.

 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 mark even if your answer is incorrect.

Layout of Answers

 Attempt questions in sequence, not in parallel – some students split each page into two columns, and this
can be very confusing for the examiners.
 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.
 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.

Exact Answers

 Give your answer in terms of:

o defined constants (for example π , e, g, G);

o a root (for example √3);

o a logarithm (for example ln5); or

o an exact fraction (for example 3/5, or 0.6 – not 0.600).

Reading the Question

 Make sure you answer the question you are asked in the required format. Some common errors that many
students make include:

o to use ‘strips’ instead of ‘ordinates’ in numerical integration;

o to confuse integration and differentiation; and

o to give answers in degrees instead of radians.

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.

Below are some suggestions for students who are sitting papers for modules M1 in GCE Mathematics:

Diagrams

 Draw an appropriate diagram even if the question does not specifically require it.

 We may award marks for an appropriate diagram.

 The diagram should assist you in solving the question.

 Ensure your diagram is neat, clearly labelled and large enough for you and the examiner to read easily.

 Topics where diagrams are particularly useful are: Newton ’s Second Law, variable acceleration, and circular
motion.

Vector Quantities

 Remember that a vector quantity has direction as well as magnitude. This is particularly true when dealing
with impulse and momentum. Students often lose marks by forgetting this and omitting the direction.
Mark Allocation

 The marks schemes for the Mechanics examinations are designed to give as much credit as possible for
mechanics rather than Pure mathematics (this is why marks are awarded for appropriate diagrams).