“Functional skills” is a phrase that you may see and hear quite a bit, but what does it mean? Put simply, functional skills in maths mean that instead of just learning how to do mathematical operations, you learn how to apply maths to real life situations. In newer textbooks, you may see some questions marked […]
Calculators and GCSE Maths – a subject that doesn’t seem to get much attention but is very important. If you’re not sure whether to buy a calculator or borrow one from school, I suggest you buy your own. If you have your own calculator, you can get used to where the keys are, and how […]
As a parent, what can you do to ensure your child performs to the best of their ability in school entrance exams, whether they are sitting Common Entrance, 11+ or other exams for selective entry schools? Some careful preparation can make all the difference. Here are a few pointers: § Obtain specimen papers or past […]
Awarding Organisations, previously known as Exam Boards. Below I have listed the main awarding organistaions, with links to their websites. These websites are a very useful source of information, giving details of all their available qualifications, syllabus information, exam timetables etc. Much of the information on the sites is probably available to you in school, […]
If you’re just starting your GCSE Maths course, you might be wondering what the difference is between the tiers and whether it matters to you. The simple answer is that if you take the Foundation Tier papers then the maximum grade you can get is a C, but with the Higher Tier papers the full […]
With the start of the new school year almost upon us, it’s time for many to start preparing for independent school entrance exams. Opinion is divided on whether children should be intensively coached to maximise their performance in entrance exams. There are those who believe that the selection process should be based on ‘natural ability’, […]