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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

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Original poster

Help me pass functional skills maths pretty please

31 replies

passthewineplz · 25/07/2015 15:38

Hi, I've got a conditional place at uni and I really really really need to pass level maths 2 functional skills - before the course starts in September.

I've sat the online test a few times with city and guilds, but I'm finding I'm not finishing it in time (I get about 70-80%) and come out with a score between 45-50% so think if I could complete the dam thing I'd pass.

Does anyone have any good tips for passing it please? I'm also struggling with figuring out how to create the graphs when it comes to creating graphs and tables in the exam - can someone explain how to create them.

TIA

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Original poster

passthewineplz · 25/07/2015 15:39

*Functional skills maths level 2.

OP posts:

ShadowStar · 25/07/2015 15:59

Are there past exam papers available to look at? If so, trying to work through those in the time limit would give you some practice.

Also if you have access to textbooks or revision materials questions that cover the sort of questions you might get in the exam, working through those should help you become more familiar with the type of calculations you need to do, which should hopefully help you improve your speed.

Original poster

passthewineplz · 25/07/2015 16:16

Thanks Shaddow, I did the functional skills course and have been practicing the papers. I did one earlier this week and was within the time limit. I seem to be ok with the paper ones, it's online I'm struggling with - as you have to keep going back to the first questions as the scenarios follow through the questions.

The online exam is really faffy, as you have to keep going back and forth. Think that's what I've been struggling with as I only got a couple of answers wrong on practice paper one I did earlier this week. ????

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westcoastnortherneragain · 25/07/2015 16:27

Can you ask to take the exam in a paper form?

Original poster

passthewineplz · 25/07/2015 16:35

To hedge my bets, I'm taking an online one this week. Then next week I'm taking a paper one with a different examining board, as I really really really need to pass - or I lose my uni place

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ShadowStar · 25/07/2015 18:12

The paper one sounds like it might be a better bet, if the online one is that faffy.

eatyourveg · 28/07/2015 07:16

The paper marks take much longer to come through - do you need the result by A level results day? Sounds like its actually the mechanics of the online version rather than the questions themselves. A lot of our students do the paper based ones precisely for this reason - hopefully next week you'll be able to finish all the questions. - Good luck.

mugglingalong · 28/07/2015 07:30

Could you take a screen shot of the scenario and paste into word? You would have to delete it afterwards.

Original poster

passthewineplz · 28/07/2015 23:47

Thanks for the advice. I need to pass before the beginning of September, ideally though by the 20th of August when the GCSE results come out.

Advice I've been given by tutors is to take 5 minutes to properly read each question. So think I'll make some notes at the beginning of each scenario whilst doing the online version. (There's usually 3 scenarios which follow through)

The paper one is a bit easier to digest as there's usually a separate supporting paper to make reference to. So fingers and toes crossed I pass one of the exams.

I'm also feeling a bit more confident after practicing some papers, intend to complicate the answers as I often think the answers can't be so simple. If you get what I mean.

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cosytoaster · 29/07/2015 00:17

Practise, practise practise! You should be able to access the online practise papers on the C and G website without logging in in order to get used to creating graphs, tables and scale drawings with their (clunky) software. Make sure you show all calcs and make sure you do the check at the end of each section properly. Look at the points available for each question - that should give you an idea of the complexity of the answer they are expecting (1 or 2 points usually v simple) and help you avoid getting carried away with the maths. Good luck!

ScentedJasmine · 30/07/2015 07:10

Hello op,
I have just passed C and G level 2 functional maths. I did the paper version. The results took nearly 20 days for my teacher to get to me.
I really feel for you.
First, you need to finish the paper. Task 3 could be the bit you can do well. Paper versions need to be done in black pen- practise if used to pencil.
Always do lots of working out even if sure you are going wrong. you get marks for working out.
Do the easy 'check' questions and make sure you know how to.
You can do this!
Very best of luck and KEEP CALM.

Original poster

passthewineplz · 30/07/2015 20:10

Thanks for the support everyone.

I've done an online exam with EDI (similar to edexcel). It wasn't as bad as C&G as they were all different questions, rather than the exam being split into 3 sections carrying scenarios forward.

I added all of my calculations, and just missed the last question which was 4 marks.

I feel a lot more positive this time, so hopefully I've passed. I'm also sitting a paper test next week with another examination body. So fingers crossed I'll pass one or even both! Lol!

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theaveragebear1983 · 30/07/2015 20:19

I've only taught OCR functional skills; on them 10% of the marks (ie 2 marks for every 20) come from showing you've checked your answers (ie. Reverse calculation) - this can definitely make the different between pass and fail.

Original poster

passthewineplz · 30/07/2015 20:28

That's good, I'm doing the paper version with OCR next week. And have found the practice papers worded better than C&G.

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theaveragebear1983 · 31/07/2015 17:48

If you look on a website called skills workshop you will likely find worksheets (classroom resources) that could help you target any weak areas you might have, plus there might be revision guides and other things. I'd type 'functional skills maths level 2 skills workshop' into google and it should take you to some, there are other sites available but this is where I get a lot of my classroom resources from and you don't need to register. Good luck!

ScentedJasmine · 02/08/2015 10:31

Fingers crossed op. I was convinced I had failed and even dreamed about some of my silly answers! However passed...
Make sure you don't spend too long on a question if getting confused. Like you I have a tendancy to over complicate. Also I analyse wording of questions too much and if question bit ambiguous can tie myself in knots!
Practising doing papers in pen important for me as not what I am happy with as messy.
Also don't lose easy marks by forgetting to label gaphs properly/ forget title etc.
And those checks- easy marks!!
Let us know how you get on...

Original poster

passthewineplz · 02/08/2015 12:35

Thanks for the advice theaveragebear I'll have a look at the website that you've suggested.

Thanks scented I give up with C & G so sat an online exam on Thursday with EDI. I did feel confident when I came out - but I've been dreaming about a couple of silly mistakes I've made, and have been going over the questions in my head to try and figure out if I've done enough to pass.

I did spend too long on a couple of questions, and the format of the exam was different to c & g so didn't have time to answer the last question which was 4 marks.

Hopefully when I sit a paper exam next week with a different examine board, I'll crack it!

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RandomFriend · 04/08/2015 14:55

Practice, practice, practice!

In addition, for the paper test, get all of the past papers (they will be available on-line somewhere). Lay them out on a big table, and try to work out the patters of types of questions that come up. This will help you gain time within the exam as you become able to recognise questions by type.

If you haven't pass the on-line test, make sure that the university knows that you are registered for the paper test and let them know when the results will be provided. That should help prevent them from giving your place away.

Good luck OP!

ScentedJasmine · 04/08/2015 15:32

Have you done the paper version yet op?
I agree with practising, however the day before test did nothing as found I was winding myself up to a state of anxiety.
For me trying to keep calm a big deal. I didn't wholly succeed in keeping calm in the test but as I passed clearly cobbled together enough marks. [Not seen my certificate yet but trusting my teacher that she has!!].
Out of interest, what made you give up on Cand G? I did their paper but occasionally found wording of questions irritating on past papers and on one question in my test felt there was an assumed knowledge of something I didn't have [ a teenage boy would have been fine!].
C and G have limited sample papers [unless I missed some]. I used other boards tests that seemed more freely available on line. I also used Pearsons workbook and the Skillsworkshop mentioned previously.
With the skills workshop I printed out exercises on stuff I knew not happy with eg time questions, converting measurements etc. You will have your own bug bears!
Hope all well.

Original poster

passthewineplz · 05/08/2015 04:20

Hi, I'm doing the paper version later this week - and have already spoken to uni about maths as I've had to send in details of my other qualifications.

I've found C&G difficult online as its wordy, and the scenarios are carried through so you have to keep going back and forth - which gets a bit confusing and I found it to be a frustrating slow process. So I admit defeat with C&G lol!

With the paper version, it's a bit easier to refer to the information as its usually in a seperate booklet.

The online exam I did with EDI was a better format, but I made a few silly mistakes. I'm not a fan of scale drawing, so tend to get flustered when I see those type of questions - and I completely messed up with a question on the cost of an item compared to its weight. Plus it was a different format to c&g and it took me a while to get into it.

I think if I fail the online one, I'll sit it again as it still gives me time to pass by the end of the month (while i'm waiting for the paper results to come back).

The waiting for the results is horrid!!

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RandomFriend · 06/08/2015 11:51

I'm not a fan of scale drawing

Can you get some tuition on that type of question? If someone can explain to you what you have to do on that in the exam, it will enable you to get some marks on that question, and will prevent you getting flustered when you see one.

You need someone who has lots of examples from past papers, who understands the question and who understands how you learn.

Original poster

passthewineplz · 06/08/2015 21:26

Sorry, I've just seen your last message.

I've sat the paper version with OCR today, luckily there was no scale drawing. Yay!

So hopefully as I've answered all of the questions, I've done enough to pass.

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ScentedJasmine · 07/08/2015 07:33

Well, you have certainly shown commitment by doing on line and paper tests.
Answering all the questions is half the battle!
Sounds like you have done fine. Long wait for paper results but online should arrive quicker I think?
Well done for doing it!!

ScentedJasmine · 24/08/2015 10:29

Any results yet op?
Hope all well.....

Original poster

passthewineplz · 01/09/2015 16:08

Hi, I got my paper results back today and pleased to say - I've passed! Yay!

Thanks to everybody for their support

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