Mathematics Revision Booklet
Mathematics Revision Booklet
EdExcel Mathematics (1MA1)
Paper 1 Non Calculator:Thursday 24th May
Higher 1MA1/1H or Foundation 1MA1/1F
Weighting 33.33%
80 Marks 1 hour 30 minutes
Paper 2 Calculator: Thursday 7th June
Higher 1MA1/2H or Foundation 1MA1/2F
Weighting 33.33%
80 Marks 1 hour 30 minutes
Paper 3 Calculator: Tuesday 12th June
Higher 1MA1/3H or Foundation 1MA1/3F
Weighting 33.33%
80 Marks 1 hour 30 minutes
Grade Descriptors
Foundation: Grades 1 to 5
Higher: Grades 5 to 9
A good GCSE pass is considered a grade 4 or above
Grade 3
Algebra / 3 / Coordinates in four quadrants3 / Plotting straight line graphs
3 / Position to term rules
2 / Sequences and Rules
3 / Sequences of square, triangular and cube numbers
3 / Using Formulae
Geometry & Measures / 3 / 3-D Shapes
3 / Congruent and similar shapes
3 / Geometrical terminology and diagrams
3 / Measuring lines and angles
3 / Properties of quadrilaterals
3 / Properties of triangles
3 / Translations and vectors
3 / Using standard units
Number / 2 / Add and Subtract integers
3 / Decimals
2 / Dividing integers
3 / Listing outcomes
2 / Multiplying integers
2 / Ordering numbers
2 / Place value
3 / Prime numbers
3 / Using standard units
Probability / 3 / Frequency Trees
3 / Probability of equally likely outcomes
Ratio & Proportion / 3 / Convert standard units
3 / Express one quantity as a fraction of another
3 / Use ratio notation
3 / Use scale factors, diagrams and maps
Statistics / 3 / Charts and Diagrams
3 / Pie Charts
3 / Types of data
3 / Vertical Line Charts
Grade 4
Topic / Grade / Test TitleAlgebra / 4 / Changing the subject
4 / Collecting like terms
3 / Coordinates in four quadrants
4 / Expressions
4 / Factorise single bracket
4 / Finding the equation of a line
4 / Graphs of linear functions
4 / Graphs of quadratic functions
4 / Linear equations one unknown
4 / Multiplying single brackets
4 / Non-standard real life graphs
4 / nth term of a linear sequence
4 / Number machines
3 / Plotting straight line graphs
3 / Position to term rules
3 / Sequences of square, triangular and cube numbers
4 / Substitution
4 / Using "y = mx + c"
3 / Using Formulae
Geometry & Measures / 3 / 3-D Shapes
4 / Alternate and corresponding angles
4 / Area of a circle
4 / Areas of composite shapes
4 / Areas of triangles, trapezia and parallelograms
4 / Bearings
4 / Circle terminology
4 / Circumference of a circle
3 / Congruent and similar shapes
4 / Congruent triangles
4 / Enlargements and fractional SF
3 / Geometrical terminology and diagrams
3 / Measuring lines and angles
4 / Perimeter of 2D shapes
4 / Plans and elevations
4 / Polygons
3 / Properties of quadrilaterals
3 / Properties of triangles
4 / Solve geometrical problems
3 / Translations and vectors
3 / Using standard units
4 / Vector arithmetic
4 / Volume of prisms
Number / 4 / Adding and subtracting fractions
4 / Checking calculations
4 / Compound measures
4 / Converting metric units
3 / Decimals
4 / Estimation
4 / Fractions and percentages
4 / Fractions and ratio problems
4 / Interpret calculator displays
4 / LCM and HCF
3 / Listing outcomes
4 / Multiples and factors
4 / Multiplying fractions
4 / Operations
4 / Order of operations
4 / Powers
3 / Prime numbers
4 / Rounding
4 / Standard Form
4 / Terminating decimals and fractions
3 / Using standard units
Probability / 3 / Frequency Trees
4 / Mutually exclusive sum
3 / Probability of equally likely outcomes
4 / Relative Frequency
4 / Tables and Grids
4 / Theoretical Probability
4 / Unbiased Samples
4 / Venn Diagrams
Ratio and Proportion / 4 / Compare Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
4 / Compare lengths, area, volume
4 / Comparing quantities as a ratio
3 / Convert standard units
4 / Division of a quantity as a ratio
4 / Express one quantity as a % of another
3 / Express one quantity as a fraction of another
4 / Percentage change
4 / Problems involving ratio
4 / Proportion and ratio
4 / Ratio and fractions
4 / Ratio Sharing
3 / Use ratio notation
3 / Use scale factors, diagrams and maps
Statistics / 3 / Charts and Diagrams
4 / Comparing data using graphs
4 / Comparing Distributions
4 / Correlation
3 / Pie Charts
4 / Population
4 / Sampling
4 / Scatter Diagrams
4 / Time series
3 / Types of data
3 / Vertical Line Charts
Grade 5
Topic / Grade / Test TitleAlgebra / 5 / Algebraic argument
5 / Algebraic terminology
4 / Changing the subject
4 / Collecting like terms
5 / Cubic and Reciprocal graphs
5 / Deduce quadratic roots algebraically
5 / Derive an equation
5 / Equation of a line
5 / Expand the product of two binomials
4 / Expressions
4 / Factorise single bracket
5 / Factorising quadratic expressions
5 / Fibonacci, quadratic and simple geometric sequences
4 / Finding the equation of a line
5 / Graphical solution to equations
4 / Graphs of linear functions
4 / Graphs of quadratic functions
5 / Inequalities on number lines
5 / Linear equations
4 / Linear equations one unknown
4 / Multiplying single brackets
4 / Non-standard real life graphs
4 / nth term of a linear sequence
4 / Number machines
5 / Quadratic graphs
5 / Reciprocal real-life graphs
5 / Simplify indices
5 / Simplify surds
5 / Solve linear inequalities in one variable
4 / Substitution
4 / Using "y = mx + c"
5 / Writing formulae and expressions
Geometry & Measures / 4 / Alternate and corresponding angles
5 / Arc lengths and sectors
4 / Area of a circle
4 / Areas of composite shapes
4 / Areas of triangles, trapezia and parallelograms
4 / Bearings
4 / Circle terminology
4 / Circumference of a circle
4 / Congruent triangles
5 / Derive triangle results
4 / Enlargements and fractional SF
5 / Enlargements and negative SF
5 / Loci
4 / Perimeter of 2D shapes
4 / Plans and elevations
4 / Polygons
5 / Pythagoras
5 / Similarity and Congruence
4 / Solve geometrical problems
5 / Standard constructions
5 / Surface Area
5 / Trigonometric ratios
4 / Vector arithmetic
5 / Volume
4 / Volume of prisms
Number / 4 / Adding and subtracting fractions
5 / Calculating with fractions
4 / Checking calculations
4 / Compound measures
4 / Converting metric units
5 / Error intervals
4 / Estimation
4 / Fractions and percentages
4 / Fractions and ratio problems
5 / Index Laws
4 / Interpret calculator displays
4 / LCM and HCF
5 / Limits of accuracy
4 / Multiples and factors
4 / Multiplying fractions
4 / Operations
4 / Order of operations
4 / Powers
4 / Rounding
4 / Standard Form
4 / Terminating decimals and fractions
Probability / 4 / Mutually exclusive sum
5 / Probability of dependent events
5 / Probability of independent events
4 / Relative Frequency
4 / Tables and Grids
4 / Theoretical Probability
4 / Unbiased Samples
4 / Venn Diagrams
Ratio and Proportion / 4 / Compare Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
4 / Compare lengths, area, volume
4 / Comparing quantities as a ratio
5 / Compound Units
4 / Division of a quantity as a ratio
4 / Express one quantity as a % of another
5 / Gradient & the rate of change
5 / Growth and decay
5 / Interpret Proportion
5 / Percentage change
4 / Percentage change
4 / Problems involving ratio
5 / Problems with compound units
4 / Proportion and ratio
4 / Ratio and fractions
4 / Ratio Sharing
5 / Scale factors and similarity
5 / Simple Interest and Financial Maths
5 / Solve Proportion Problems
Statistics / 4 / Comparing data using graphs
4 / Comparing Distributions
4 / Correlation
5 / Histograms with equal class widths
4 / Population
4 / Sampling
4 / Scatter Diagrams
5 / Scatter graphs
4 / Time series
Grade 6
Topic / Grade / Test TitleAlgebra / 5 / Algebraic argument
6 / Algebraic fractions
5 / Algebraic terminology
5 / Cubic and Reciprocal graphs
5 / Deduce quadratic roots algebraically
5 / Derive an equation
5 / Equation of a line
5 / Expand the product of two binomials
5 / Factorising quadratic expressions
5 / Fibonacci, quadratic and simple geometric sequences
5 / Graphical solution to equations
6 / Identifying parallel lines
5 / Inequalities on number lines
6 / Inverse functions
5 / Linear equations
6 / Linear inequalities in two variables
6 / nth term of a quadratic sequence
6 / Quadratic equations (factorisation)
6 / Quadratic equations (graphical methods)
5 / Quadratic graphs
5 / Reciprocal real-life graphs
6 / Represent linear inequalities
5 / Simplify indices
5 / Simplify surds
6 / Simultaneous equations (linear)
5 / Solve linear inequalities in one variable
5 / Writing formulae and expressions
Geometry & Measures / 5 / Arc lengths and sectors
6 / Combined transformations
6 / Congruence and Similarity
5 / Derive triangle results
5 / Enlargements and negative SF
5 / Loci
5 / Pythagoras
5 / Similarity and Congruence
5 / Standard constructions
6 / Standard trigonometric ratios
5 / Surface Area
5 / Trigonometric ratios
5 / Volume
Number / 5 / Calculating with fractions
5 / Error intervals
6 / Finance 1
5 / Index Laws
5 / Limits of accuracy
6 / Powers and Roots
6 / Product of prime factors
6 / Using Pi
Probability / 5 / Probability of dependent events
5 / Probability of independent events
Ratio andProportion / 5 / Compound Units
6 / Direct and inverse proportion
5 / Gradient & the rate of change
5 / Growth and decay
5 / Interpret Proportion
5 / Percentage change
5 / Problems with compound units
5 / Scale factors and similarity
5 / Simple Interest and Financial Maths
5 / Solve Proportion Problems
Statistics / 6 / Boxplots
6 / Cumulative frequency
5 / Histograms with equal class widths
6 / Histograms with unequal class widths
6 / Quartiles and Interquartile Range
5 / Scatter graphs
Grade 7
Topic / Grade / Test TitleAlgebra / 6 / Algebraic fractions
7 / Composite functions
7 / Expand the product of two or more binomials
7 / Factorising difficult quadratic expressions
7 / Geometric Sequences
7 / Graphs of exponential functions
6 / Identifying parallel lines
6 / Inverse functions
6 / Linear inequalities in two variables
6 / nth term of a quadratic sequence
6 / Quadratic equations (factorisation)
6 / Quadratic equations (graphical methods)
7 / Quadratic equations (needing re-arrangement)
7 / Quadratic equations (quadratic formula)
7 / Real-life exponential graphs
6 / Represent linear inequalities
7 / Represent quadratic inequalities
6 / Simultaneous equations (linear)
7 / Simultaneous equations (non-linear)
7 / Solve quadratic inequalities
7 / Translations and reflections of a function
7 / Turning points & completing the square
Geometry & Measures / 7 / Area of a triangle
6 / Combined transformations
6 / Congruence and Similarity
7 / Cosine Rule
7 / Pythagoras and trig 2D and 3D
7 / Sine Rule
6 / Standard trigonometric ratios
Number / 6 / Finance 1
7 / Index Laws (negative and fractional)
6 / Powers and Roots
6 / Product of prime factors
7 / Product rule
7 / Recurring Decimals
7 / Upper and lower bounds
6 / Using Pi
Probability / 7 / Conditional Probability
Ratio and Proportion / 6 / Direct and inverse proportion
7 / General iterative processes
Statistics / 6 / Boxplots
6 / Cumulative frequency
6 / Histograms with unequal class widths
6 / Quartiles and Interquartile Range
Grade 8
Topic / Grade / Test TitleAlgebra / 8 / Algebra and Proof
7 / Composite functions
7 / Expand the product of two or more binomials
7 / Factorising difficult quadratic expressions
7 / Geometric Sequences
8 / Gradients and area under a graph
7 / Graphs of exponential functions
8 / Graphs of trigonometric functions
8 / Quadratic equations (completing the square)
7 / Quadratic equations (needing re-arrangement)
7 / Quadratic equations (quadratic formula)
7 / Real-life exponential graphs
7 / Represent quadratic inequalities
7 / Simultaneous equations (non-linear)
7 / Solve quadratic inequalities
7 / Translations and reflections of a function
7 / Turning points & completing the square
Geometry & Measures / 7 / Area of a triangle
8 / Circle theorems
7 / Cosine Rule
7 / Pythagoras and trig 2D and 3D
7 / Sine Rule
8 / Vector arguments and proof
Number / 7 / Index Laws (negative and fractional)
7 / Product rule
7 / Recurring Decimals
8 / Surds
7 / Upper and lower bounds
Probability / 7 / Conditional Probability
Ratio and Proportion / 7 / General iterative processes
Grade 9
Topic / Grade / Test TitleAlgebra / 8 / Algebra and Proof
9 / Approximate solutions to equations using iteration.
9 / Equation of a circle
9 / Equation of a tangent
8 / Gradients and area under a graph
8 / Graphs of trigonometric functions
8 / Quadratic equations (completing the square)
Geometry & Measures / 8 / Circle theorems
8 / Vector arguments and proof
Number / 8 / Surds
Ratio and Proportion / 9 / Gradients and the rate of change
The Language of Maths Exams: What does it all mean?
What they say / Example / What they meanComplete / Complete this sum... Complete the following table...Complete the sentence / Finish this off for me (Fill in the blanks)
Find / Find the sum of...Find the square root of... / Tell me what the sum of...Tell me the square root of...
Simplify / Simplify e + 7e / Write as simply as possible/ put this in its easiest form i.e. e +7e = 8e
Solve / Solve 9x = 45 / Tell me what..(x in this case)...equals i.e. x=5
Factorise / Factorise 8x + 12 / Find the highest common factor of both terms and rewrite the expression with a bracket.
Work Out / Work out 62 / Tell me what 62 is
You must show your working / If you don’t show your working you won’t get all the marks for this question!
Calculate / Calculate the average speed... / You will need to do a sum (with or/and without your calculator) to get the answer
Explain / Explain why this is wrong / Write down a reason why this is wrong/ tell me why this is wrong using a reason
Prove / Prove that the perimeter is
3x - 7 / Use information you are given and algebra methods you know to rewrite the expression in the form given.
Give the units of your answer / Make sure you put down what your answer is measured in i.e. cm, Km, mm, cm2 , mph, Km/h, cm3...(you’ll get a mark for this alone!!)
Describe fully / Describe fully the single transformation... / Write down a full description of what is happening
i.e. for Enlargement you need to give the scale factor and the centre of enlargement.
For a Rotation you need to give the centre of rotation, amount of degrees you are rotating and the direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise)
For a Reflection you need to give the equation of the line you are reflecting in
For a translation (move) you need to give the column vector (how much you are moving in the x-direction and y-direction)
NOT TO SCALE / Usually next to diagrams/drawings / You can’t measure the lines/angles on this shape as they are not drawn accurately!
Use ruler and compasses only in this question / You will only need to use your ruler and your compass – make sure you have one of each!!! If not, ask for one in the exam!
equidistant / Equal distance
Map (coordinates & transformations) / Will map point A onto point B / Will move point A to where point B is
Plot / Plot the graph on the axis / Mark each coordinate onto the set of axis and join up as appropriate.
Fill in the gaps / Anywhere there is a blank space (gap) you should put an answer
Arrange / Arrange the following... / Put in a certain order
ascending / From smallest to biggest
descending / From biggest to smallest
select / Select two of these numbers... / Choose from the given list and use them to answer the question!
equivalent / The same
Explain how to do it / Write down how you would work out the answer, but don’t actually work it out!
measure / Measure the line above... Measure the angle below... / Use your ruler or protractor to find the length of a line or the size of an angle
Draw and label / Draw and label an angle of 50o... Draw and label a line of 6cm / Draw the angle/line with your protractor/ruler and then write the length of the line/size of the angle on your drawing
Give a reason for your choice / Give the answer and then a reason for why it is the answer (you’ll get a 1 mark for the answer and 1 mark for the reason in a 2 mark question)
represents / shows
Give your answer in its simplest form / Put your answer as simple as possible. i.e. for fractions always put your fraction as simple/small as possible so 3/6 in its simplest form is 1/2
hence / Hence, solve this... / Using what you have just done, answer this question
Give a mathematical reason / Using your Maths knowledge give a reason for your answer
estimate / Estimate 4.7 x 6.2 / Don’t work out exactly but round up the numbers and then tell me the answer i.e. 5 x 6 = 30
Construct / Draw using a ruler and compasses.
This is a sketch of... / This is not drawn accurately so you can’t just measure the sides/angles to get the answer. Use the labels in the sketch to answer the question
Show that / Show that 13/50 is the same as 26% / Tell us why...
Show your working clearly / Write down every step of you working out your answer – you’ll get marks for your working out
Describe / Describe the correlation... / Tell me what the correlation is...Tell me...
Make one comment / Make one comment about... / tell me one thing you notice about...
Common Mistakes: Foundation and Higher
Common Mistakes: Higher Only
Exam preparation tips
Do not revise, but practice exam questions
The best way to attain your target grade is to practice as many exam style questions as you can; the more exam questions you do, the better you will do.
Do not practice until you get it right, practice until you cannot get it wrong
Often students think they know a topic, but the only way you know is by getting questions right every time. When you practice exam questions, always correct your mistakes and learn from them, then a little time later try the question again and see if you no longer make the same mistake.
To attain your target grade you must not lose marks on easier questions
If you are targetted a grade 5, you must make sure you do not lose marks on questions graded 1 to 4. Practice these easier questions and make sure you consistently answer them correctly every time. Once you have done this then look to get as many marks as you can at grade 5. Achieve this and you may even surprise yourself with a grade 6 on results day!
Know how to use your calculator
We recommend buying the Casio FX-83GT Plus because you can type it in exactly as you see it and it gives you answers exactly as you should write them. It is freely available at all supermarkets and major shops. It is essential the calculator is in the correct mode, be especially careful that it is set to degrees.
You can access a free course to get the best out of your calculator here:
Check to see you can get these answers on your calculator:
1) 232 = 529
2) 173 = 4913
3) 67 = 279936
4) 576 = 24
5) 46656 = 36
6) =2.429271474
7) = 1.347909665
8) = 150774.1935
9) = 1.437398936
10) sin35 = 0.573576436
11) cos-10.6 = 53.13010235
12) = 1.931851653
Key Number Skills
•Divide by ½ is the same as Multiply by 2
•Divide by 2 is the same as multiply by ½
•Divide by ¼ is the same as Multiply by 4
•Divide by 4 is the same as multiply by ¼
Dividing by a smaller number gives bigger answers!
•100 ÷ 10 = 10
•100 ÷ 1 = 100
•100 ÷ 0.1 = 1 000
•100 ÷ 0.01 = 10 000
Revision websites
There are many websites out there, but the best ones for revision are the following:
The PiXL Maths App
You can download this on your phone and practice questions on the move and you can check your progress. You will need a login, which we have signed you up for, if you do not have it yet then see your class teacher or Mr Russell.