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Gcse Maths: Exam prep strategies to elevate from grade 7 to 9

The top grades come from a small set of hard question types. Here’s how to find them and practise them properly.

Daniel Otieno8 min read
From 7 to 9

On the higher tier, most students who reach grade 7 can already answer the routine questions. The jump to 8 and 9 comes from the last questions on each paper.

Collect the hard questions

Go through recent papers from your exam board and pull out the final five questions from each paper. These repeat the same ideas: proof, circle theorems, vectors, functions and harder algebra.

Remember one of your papers is non-calculator, so practise arithmetic by hand too.Margin note from Daniel

Free download: GCSE and A-level revision timetableUse it alongside this article. We’ll email it to you.

Write every step

Method marks carry you even when an answer slips. Examiners can only reward the working they can see.

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Written by Daniel Otieno

MSc Applied Mathematics. Teaches Mathematics, Statistics one-to-one on NoteStore, online and in person, and writes study guides for the Journal.

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