Maths GCSE for me! Any advice?

[Brodpit]

I'm considering signing up for a Maths GCSE class in September. I passed my O'level with a C and, for personal reasons, want to understand the current GCSE syllabus beyond looking at textbooks (and improve my grade!).

My local college offers this and does a setting test before the start. I want to be placed in the higher class. Any maths teachers out there - particularly anyone teaching adults - who could recommend what I could be doing now to prepare?

Also, is there much difference between exam boards? My DC's was EdExcel but the college is AQA.

There are no major differences in content between the exam boards but the styles of questions are different.

corbettmaths.com

Has practice papers, 5 a day questions at various levels and pretty much anything you want.

Look at past papers and the answers. It really helped my dc understand why getting the answer right didn’t get you 4 marks. One mark for stating Pythagoras theorem, 1 for writing it out, 1 for inserting the relevant numbers into the theorem, 1 for the right answer etc

Thanks both for your answers.

I’ve looked at Corbett maths but couldn’t work out how they got to the answer even when working backwards!

I think I need a refresher book. Any recommendations?

The CGP guides are very good. Start with a foundation level (grades 1-5). If you can do all of that then move on to higher.

You could do worse than going to the AQA website, downloading a past paper, and having a go. The mark schemes are there so you can see how much you can currently do.

I did AQA as an adult. Highly recommend going to classes but also practicing a lot with downloading past papers. I used the marking schemes to help me figure out the answers. Not to cheat, but to work it out.
I also found Hegarty Maths on YouTube very helpful but I just did a search and it looks like it's closed down :(
There must be other sites though.
I also bought the Higher Tier textbook as our course only provided the foundation one, and worked through the exercises in that.

There are lots of books on amazon.
I was a bit of a swot but I got an 8 which I was thrilled with after failing O level maths at school

@Iwerbe That is a fantastic result. Was that poorer teaching when younger or lack of motivation from younger you do you think?

GCSE Maths Tutor on YouTube is also a good resource. He goes through every topic in detail and then also produces umpteen episodes going through exam papers, sometimes in detail, other times fairly rapidly.

As others have said, CGP is good for text books too. Also www.thirdspacelearning.com

Not a maths teacher, but Khan Academy is a good free online resource. The only downsides are the short exercises and the way it's geared to the US school system. It's great for a refresher though and Sal (the founder who's behind all the videos) is usually very good at explaining things.

Taking a mastery test on KA for different topics (Algebra 1, Geometry etc) will also help you find your stronger and weaker points. I will warn that the topics are HUGE and it would probably take a month to get through Algebra 1 even if you put in 3-4 hours a day. But it really makes you feel like everything's been covered - useful if you want to gain a broader understanding on top of passing an exam.

@TeenDivided I was a little bit unmotivated, but possibly poor teaching as I was just pushed into a lower set and told I wasn't very good at maths. This was late 70s, and we'd be told to revise but not really told how to do it.
I retook English and Maths to get on to an Access to Higher Ed course.
I surprised myself with what I could achieve, and I think the ability to use modern research/revision aids, plus good teachers, made the difference.
I was genuinely so thrilled as I have spent most of my life believing I am bad at maths. Turns out I'm not! (I was 53¾ when I did my exams, and i never did do the access although currently feeling inspired!)

These are all great suggestions, thank you. Khan Academy sounds like a slog, albeit a good one likewise GCSE maths tutor.

Well done on your 8, @TeenDivided ! You should do that Access course or check out the Open University. The latter is what got me back into learning.

@Brodpit , not me, @Iwerbe !

Sorry! Yes, congratulations @Iwerbe !!

Thank you!!