How to revise for maths: Key tips for student success

Nov 2024 Longer Read: 6 Min

This article is written for students to help them with their revision.

Exam season is always a testing time for students. No matter whether you’re approaching GCSEs or taking on Additional Maths and Core Maths, the best way of overcoming exam anxiety is to make sure you’re fully prepared. This means having a clear schedule and a plan for how to tackle revision.

So what can you do to make this as easy as possible? Here are a few effective study methods for maths you can try to make sure you head into the exam hall with confidence.

Essential resources for maths revision

While notes and other materials from lessons are important when revising maths, they’re far from the only resources available to help with prep. Taking advantage of online, mobile and paper options all ensure you can go into the exam as ready as possible.

Textbooks

Textbooks remain a great way to help with revision. A good resource should include practice questions to help put what you’re revising into action and end-of-chapter summaries that condense down topics into key points.

Benefits of video tutorials

Video tools can be hugely helpful in visualising problems and making the process of solving them easier. They’re particularly useful for getting your head around more complex topics. Videos break down difficult concepts into clear, easy-to-understand steps. They can also help ensure you’re familiar with all the features of your calculator that you’ll need to use during the exam.

We’ve got lots of How To videos on the Casio YouTube channel that can help students understand how to use their handsets and make the most of both graphic calculators and scientific calculators.

Also on YouTube, we highly recommend Bicen Maths. Run by former secondary school teacher Seb Bicen, he’s an expert we’ve worked with closely who focuses on Edexcel A-Level Maths and Further Maths. His lessons are recorded live, helping students to achieve that real teaching experience.

You can also check out these other YouTube channels for free, easy revision help:

Useful interactive apps for maths revision

Multimedia online tools are a great way to make maths more fun, and there are a range of apps out there to help revision by making it interactive. They can help with visualising equations and probabilities, problem-solving and practice tests. By including interactive problem-solving tools, games and simulations, you can see how maths can be applied to real-world problems.

There are also a range of online resources that offer help with everything from real-world examples of maths to how to make the most of your calculator. Some popular apps to try include:

BBC Bitesize
Arc Maths
Photomath
Quizlet
EdPlace
Gojimo
Mathway

Effective revision techniques

Everyone learns in different ways, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how best to revise. However, most people will be able to benefit from the below techniques.

Practice past papers

Past papers are an ideal way to get a feel for what to expect in the exam and the type of question that will be asked. This means you won’t face any surprises in the real thing. As well as just reviewing previous questions, try to simulate exam conditions by giving yourself a time limit and removing distractions. This way, you’ll know how long you should be spending on each section.

In addition to attempting questions, familiarise yourself with the mark schemes and examiners reports. These documents can help you to understand how best to approach questions and demonstrate your mathematical knowledge. There are many places to find these resources online, but one of the best is Maths Genie, which has mark schemes, worked solutions and videos.

Create a study schedule

Creating and then sticking to a clear revision schedule is a great way to manage the different topics and use your time more efficiently.

Things to try include:

Create this as early as possible
Set daily and weekly goals
Use the Pomodoro technique (set a 25 minute timer for studying, then take a short break)

Use active learning strategies

Active learning strategies that break away from simply reading and memorising notes get the brain engaged with the material are great ways to make sure the material sinks in.

Techniques include:

Flash cards
Using your calculator during revision
Quizzing yourself
Working with friends to revise together

Common pain points in maths revision and how to overcome them

Most of us will come across a few common challenges when trying to revise. However, if you know what these issues are likely to be and have a plan in place to deal with them, you can make sure they don’t disrupt your exam prep.

Anxiety and stress management

It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious about exams, and intensive revision can sometimes make people even more stressed. Therefore, it’s really helpful to be mindful of this when studying and have a few techniques that you can turn to if you feel overwhelmed.

Things to try include:

Taking frequent breaks
Using relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises
Eating, drinking and sleeping well
Rewarding yourself for milestones
Not going it alone

Time management issues

Among the hardest parts of revision is managing your time. It’s one thing to create a careful revision calendar, with times for each subject and breaks built in. But sticking to it can be easier said than done. If you find your mind wandering, try these ideas to stay focused

Revise early and often
Make a list of topics and prioritise them
Don’t do too much at once – take frequent breaks
Set clear goals for each revision session
Start with the most challenging topics rather than putting them off

Final tips for successful maths revision

Good planning is essential if you’re to make your maths revision work for you. Creating a clear schedule, with time set aside for the areas you feel need the most practice in, is the best way to make sure you can go into the exam with confidence.

Also, consider mixing up how you learn. You might think using online and mobile resources may be distracting by giving you temptations to browse social media or play games. However, there are ways to help with this – for example, turning your phone into flight mode.

Finally, remember, maths revision isn’t a sprint – pace yourself and don’t be afraid to step away if you feel you need a break or are getting stressed. Follow these tips and you should be able to head into your next maths exam as prepared as you can be and ready to take on the questions. Good luck.