GCSE Maths as an adult

[natura]

Can anyone recommend a good way of studying GSCE Maths as an adult, preferably for free, and then paying to take the exam at the end?

I did fine in my actual GCSE at 16, but I've always had a thing about 'I'm not good at Maths', and helping my ex-partner's son with his homework I realised it's actually kind of fun...

I'd like to try learning it again, and challenging the idea that 'I'm not a Maths person' but the courses I've found online are pretty pricy and I'd rather just follow a structure without paying through the nose for it!

I’d just buy a book relating to the exam board you decide to sit - it will have all the topics in. You can then work through it. If there’s any topic you don’t understand there will be loads of free videos to watch on YouTube explaining it. Then do lots of past papers.

Ah, ok @lilyfire, great! Is there much of a difference between the exam boards, do you know?

Another vote for a buy a book.

Look for an exam centre first and then buy the book for the board.

OR if it is just for fun you can get a part time uni loan to study at the OU as long as it is a STEM subject, even if you already have a degree.

THe first unit is a mix of GCSE and A Level.

Corbett Maths is a great resource.

You can print off past exam papers and the marking scheme online at Maths Genie.

Do as many of them as you can, use a textbook and online resources to learn anything you don’t know and you’ll be fine!

All the boards will have the same core content because that content is prescribed by the Department of education. Not individual exam boards. Pearson Edexcel is by far the market leader in maths and I would imagine they'd have lots of resources on their website that you could pull off and use. However it might be worth checking what's your son is studying exam board wise - because he will have lots of resources and textbook etc that you might be able to use.

@natura sorry noted it's ex's son.

Hi - what grade did you get at GCSE? If you haven't got a high grade C or above in old money or 4 - then you could get a free course at your local college - they may have some stuff on line. Or face to face (or even hybrid options).
If you have a grade C then Google local multiply adult numeracy courses and find out what is happening near you.
If you DM me I can send you some links and free stuff.
Good luck and enjoy the journey!

If it's juts the challenge rather than the need for the actual GCSE have you considered open university?

MU123 and MST124 are worth looking at

You won't get it free if you passed originally. How old are your dc? Some schools and community hubs offer courses in maths to support their school learning.

I got a B - fortunately? unfortunately? 😁

This is all really helpful, everyone, thank you!

I'm pretty sure I could self-study it all with a book, the important thing for me will be a bit of structure and accountability.

@spartanrunnergirl I'll have a look at Pearson Edexcel – this is feeling exciting!

Why on earth are you looking to redo something you got a B in?

I don’t think there’s a lot of difference between the boards but I think some are all calculator papers and some have one non calculator. Agree Edexcel is very popular. I chose AQA for my son but the syllabus is pretty much the same.
I understand why you might want to do it. I got a B but didn’t like maths but am finding it a lot more fun helping my son now and could imagine doing it for the challenge to try and get a higher grade.

The powerpoints from Dr Frost are generally pretty good and do a decent job of showing / explaining key points.
I think anyone can download them.
The most difficult part is finding the correct part of his website!

I hope this doesn't come across as patronising - but I work in a maths-heavy STEM field where women are vastly outnumbered. It genuinely gives me such a warm feeling to hear someone who has gone through the system with the "I'm not good at math" narrative (so common) discover that "it's actually kind of fun..."

Good luck, and enjoy!

Also - I know that Isaac Physics is a great revision site for A-levels maths/physics, but appears to have GSCE maths resources as well:
https://isaacphysics.org/gcse?stage=all

Not patronising in the slightest, @bubblebees - thank you for the encouragement, and for the link!

Ok - so that takes a lot of pressure off. I would suggest getting a text book - eBay should have some bargains and then some exam papers, and work your way through. We don't really have a culture of doing maths for fun which is a shame.
You can then tackle some exam papers and mark them yourself using the mark schemes.
But most of all enjoy it, acknowledge the thrill when you've cracked a tricky topic and when you make errors figure out why - was it a calculation error or a procedural mistake?

I suppose it's why you want to do it?

Parts of GCSE Maths can be very boring - looking at you, circle theorem!

Some is interesting and really useful - such as stats, data, percentages, reverse percentages, ratio etc.

Some is good problem solving - such as quadratics, complex algebra (ever wanted to know the interception of 2 circles if you know their equations)

There are a LOT of resources out there - and a lot of past papers with the mark schemes as well.

I love maths and use it everyday. Understanding why an opinion poll difference of 1 percent is meaningless is useful - as many people don't really get that.

Understanding why politicians misuse stats - so useful

You can also see a lot of YouTube videos and podcasts - I like numberphile, More or Less, Matt Parker (Stand Up Maths ) and Hannah Fry.

No point doing GCSE maths, you won't get a free course at college with that B and you'd probably catch up and get bored quite soon.

Go sideways - GCSE statistics?
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/statistics-8382/introduction
Raid the link for ideas and buy a book.

Fun book on maths
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Number-Devil-Hans-Magnus-Enzensberger/dp/1847080537