A-Level maths guide and advice
Since I’m now done with my A-Levels, I no longer care about grade boundaries so here’s the best resources and information so you can get an A or A*
Ill cut straight to the point and then get to the personal message after
Resources:
Edexcel textbooks - ( type into google “Edexcel textbooks maths and further maths reddit”) and it should come up
Exam board past papers - Physics and Maths tutor
Challenging questions and papers to strengthen your understanding of the content -Madas maths
( I’ll do a section on Madas maths )
YouTube channels:
Short chapter summaries with example questions - Zeeshan Zamurred
Long form further maths chapter summaries with example questions - Hinds maths
The GOAT for overall Maths and Further Maths- Bicen maths
What you need:
If you can get an iPad or tablet I’d strongly recommend doing so, it reduces paper waste and is much easier to carry around especially if you do multiple STEM subjects. I got the iPad 10th gen with Apple Pencil for around £350 and it’s served me very well.
If you can’t afford the iPad or tablet then paper and pen work good too of course.
You won’t need much else!!!
Calculators:
If you’re doing single maths I’d say a good scientific calculator will do, although the newer Casio’s in my opinion are quite bad the FX-911CW will get the job done.
If you’re also doing further maths I’d recommend a graphical calculator; either the CG50 or the cheaper FX-9750 will both do the same. The CG100 I think is pretty much a step down so if you can get the CG50 then do.
Madas maths:
This website can be confusing, but the main things you’d be using are the following;
I.Y.G.B Practise papers - ranging in difficulty that cover the majority of the spec in one paper! These will be split into MP1 and MP2 to represent AS content and A-Level content respectively. Press on that heading and then go to A-Level practise papers and they’re all there including the further maths stuff. The SYN papers are also really good and might be a little harder.
Maths booklets section - all the sections of this part apart from ADVANCED TOPICS will be useful for your studies just press on them to see the individual topics. If you find this hard you can literally just type into google “ Madas maths ( insert topic name) questions “
THE METHOD:
This is the method I’d follow when learning the content
use the textbook and see their method of approaching questions, use the info in there to attempt the practise questions in the book you will have time to do them ALL so please do. If you struggle on a topic then use YouTube, with the channels listed to see how they explain the content. DO THE CHALLENGE QUESTIONS!
once completing the chapter head over to madas maths to try the harder more complicated questions to solidify your knowledge with harder maths!
then move onto the next chapter
After completing the whole of the syllabus for maths or further maths, do the madas papers- there’s so many you’ll have plenty of practise. This makes the real papers infinitely easier.
Only do the real papers close to the exam as you need to save them till last ( please try to do them atleast 2 times to practise how your exam board presents the questions to you )
If you aren’t sitting AS, then do all the AS papers early to see how far along you are to then plan ahead what you need to do.
In all none of this won’t matter if you don’t try, don’t burn yourself out too early - little and often is always best. Also don’t worry if you see people online saying they can do this that or the other, they’re larping most of the time.
Good luck