Some people find maths to be one of the most logical and easy to understand subjects, while others get a little lost in the fractions and decimals. Maths is one of the core subjects that children will learn, revise for and then take exams for in the GCSE period. Even those who enjoy maths and find it easy will need to study, and here are some study tips that can make it more manageable. 

There are many different parts to learn and understand in mathematics, and because of this - everyone will have different areas they are strong and weak in. Get a packet of highlighters, and make a colour chart. Use one colour for the hardest to understand and do a colour dedicated to the middle ones, and another for those areas of maths that just make sense. This colour coordination will help you to create a revision plan for maths that allows you to quickly find the areas you need to put more time into. It can also be beneficial to find a GCSE maths tutor to help make those areas of maths click. 

During your revision, you will be able to find past GCSE papers, and these can be a good indicator of some of the questions you can expect. Practising on past papers will also help you to be comfortable with the layout of the exam paper, and when the real one lands in front of you - it won’t be worrying at all. When you are doing the past papers, make sure that you set it up similarly to the real thing. Set timers because often, when revisions, time can slip away from you, and before you know it, you’ve taken hours to complete the test. 

During your revision, it is vital that you have plenty of rest breaks. Taking breaks between revision blocks can allow your brain to start cementing everything you have been reading while you do something else. It is also important that you have enough sleep each evening too. Being well-rested is one of the ways that you can be alert and ready to learn. 

Something that comes up a lot in maths is equations and formulae - there might be several methods to find the answers, and you will need to be well versed in them all. Add each of the variations to the cards, and start to learn them. It is suggested that you need to repeat something around three times for it to start becoming a ‘known’ thing to you. So seeing the cards, saying what you see on the cards, copying it down and repeating this can help you to memorise this. However, you might have a preferred method of memorising things. 

If you struggle to explain how a maths equation works, then it can be worth practising this as often as possible. Once you can confidently and clearly explain it to someone else, you likely have understood the theory. It can be very helpful to ask others to explain it to you because they might have an easier method that can help you with your revision. 

It isn’t just the how you study that makes a difference; the ‘where’ you study can also make a huge impact: What Makes a Good Learning Environment for Children?