Introduction
Picture this: you’ve just performed poorly in an A Level Maths test, and now you’re sitting with your teacher, who sternly tells you, “You need to do more work outside of lessons.” You want to ask, “But what exactly should I be doing?”—but instead, you stay silent, worried it might sound like a silly question.
As a maths teacher, I’ve been guilty of giving similar unhelpful advice. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to clearly explain how to revise A Level Maths effectively. Let’s get started!
When to Revise
Revision for A Level Maths can be divided into two main phases:
1. Consolidating Knowledge Immediately After Lessons
This is the most important type of revision. If you regularly consolidate your learning after lessons, everything will feel much easier when exam season arrives. Here’s how to do it:
Complete Classwork at Home: Finish any worksheets or textbook exercises you were given during the lesson. It might take time, and it might be challenging—but this is exactly what high-achieving students do, often quietly and without complaint.
What If You Don’t Have Enough Work?: If your teacher hasn’t provided enough questions, or if you don’t feel confident in what you’ve learned, it’s time to find additional resources. Tools like The Ultimate Study Tool for A Level Maths offer topic-specific video tutorials, worksheets, and fully worked solutions. These resources can help you thoroughly understand each concept.
2. Practising Exam Papers
Exam practice is essential but needs to be done at the right time. Attempting full past papers too early—before you’ve consolidated your knowledge—can be demoralising. Instead:
Focus on Topic-Specific Exam Questions: Work on questions that relate to the topic you’ve just studied. This will help you apply your knowledge in a focused way without feeling overwhelmed. On this site I provide A Level Maths exam questions organised by topic to help you along the way. You can find the same for Further Maths here.
Save Full Past Papers for Later: Attempt full past papers only after you’ve covered a substantial portion of the syllabus (e.g., Pure Maths, Statistics, or Mechanics). This ensures you’re prepared to tackle a wide range of questions.
What to Revise
Knowing what to revise is just as important as knowing how. Follow these steps to pinpoint and address your weak areas:
Attempt a Past Paper
Work through the paper, checking your answers against the mark scheme as you go. When you come across a question you get wrong or can’t answer, STOP. That’s the topic you need to revise.Focus on That Topic
Don’t create long lists of topics to revise. These can feel overwhelming and are a constant reminder of what you can’t do. Instead, focus on one topic at a time until you’ve mastered it. Once you’re confident, return to the paper and move on to the next question. This method ensures thorough and effective preparation.
How to Revise
Now that you’ve identified the topic to work on, here’s a step-by-step guide to revising effectively:
1. Use Video Tutorials
- Find tutorials specifically tailored to the A Level Maths syllabus. For example, The Ultimate Study Tool for A Level Maths includes videos for every topic, starting with the basics and building understanding step by step.
- To get the most out of video tutorials:
- Have a question related to the topic in front of you.
- Pause the video after each key step and try to replicate the process on your own.
2. Practise Textbook Examples
- Use your textbook to reinforce what you’ve learned. Don’t stop practising just because you think you understand a topic—keep going until the questions feel repetitive and easy.
3. Tackle Exam Questions by Topic
Focus on exam-style questions related to the topic you’re revising. Work through as many as possible until you’re consistently getting them right. Resources like ALevelMathsRevision.com offer topic-specific exam questions applicable to different exam boards.
Pro Tip: Once you’re confident, return to the past paper you initially attempted and work on the next challenging question. This process might take a week or more per paper, but it ensures you leave no gaps in your knowledge.
Final Thoughts
The best way to excel in A Level Maths is through consistent and proactive revision. The more you consolidate your learning immediately after lessons, the less stressed you’ll feel when exams approach. While last-minute cramming can help to some extent, it’s no substitute for regular, methodical practice.
Remember: the key to success is repetition, repetition, repetition. With the right approach, you’ll be well on your way to achieving top grades in A Level Maths.