A goal without a plan is a wish.— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
As a passionate learner, you have set your mind to score well for your STPM Maths as soon as you have entered Form Six this year.
After a few lessons in your school, you gradually find that the difficulty level of the sibject differs greatly from what you've used to learn in SPM.
Even the once upon time dreadful Additional Mathematics looks like a walk in the park to you now.
But take heart, everything is hard before it becomes easy. You can achieve your goal to ace your STPM Maths paper when you have the right strategies and studying techniques.
Let's explore how you can kickstart your learning journey by gathering some effective studying tools (the right texbooks, past year questions exercises) now!
What Are Some Reliable Publishers For STPM Maths Textbooks/Reference Books?
Following the introduction of the new system for Form Six curriculum which encompasses three terms since 2012, this also implies a newly revised Mathematics (T) and Mathematics (M) syllabus for the STPM examination.
Under the new syllabus, Form Six students are required to study 6 chapters per semester, where they will need to learn and master the topics in a series of three books (textbooks).
Do bear in mind that our following recommendations for textbooks/reference books are not in any particular ranking order and you are free to use them based on your personal preferences.
Here are 3 of the most common STPM Maths learning resources that you can purchase from your nearest physical/online bookstores.
1. (SASBADI) Actual and Repeat Past Year Papers For STPM Maths T
This is a must-have book if you want to have a well organized and exclusive past year paper collection while revising for your STPM Maths T.
Sasbadi has compiled all the past year papers from 2015 until 2021 from Semester 1 until Semester 3. You'll also find a thorough analysis of STPM questions according to chapters and topics for each semester.
Also, you get to take a look at the questions that are asked for Repeat Papers (especially in Semester 2). Full answers are provided for every paper and the questions are bilingual too!
Don't miss out on this opportunity to test your understanding of various topics and familiarize yourself with the latest marking scheme of the STPM Maths paper.
2. (PELANGI) Pre-U STPM Text Mathematics M & T For Term 1, 2 & 3 Textbooks
A bestseller among Form Six students, the Pelangi STPM Maths textbooks offers the readers a comprehensive outlook on the chapters that are listed in the syllabus.
The notes and exercises are based on the current examination format that is set by the Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia. Students will be equipped with the right strategies and skillset to ace this subject. The textbooks are available for both STPM Maths (M) and Maths (T).
Some of the key features of the books include:
- STPM Specimen Paper Term 1, Term 2, Term 3
- Revision Exercise with complete answers
- Chapters Summary
- Extracts of STPM past questions with suggested answers
- Billingual keywords
- Comprehensive notes and practices
3. (OXFORD FAJAR) Ace Ahead STPM Mathematics T For 1st to 3rd Term Textbooks
A household name in the local educational publishing industry, Oxford Fajar is certainly no stranger to parents and students. These textbooks' editions provide an in-depth understanding of the important principles and concepts in mathematics and feature illustrative diagrams.
Not only that, students and teachers can access the companion website of the respective textbooks to enjoy various resources. Some of them include:
- STPM Model Papers
- Online Assessments
- Fully worked solutions according to chapters
- E-practice sessions
- Animation for Learning
- PowerPoint Presentation for teachers
- Question Bank
Which Websites Can You Access Additional STPM Maths Sample Questions?
We have discussed the physical learning resources for notes, exercises and past year papers, now let's look at how we can optimize various online resources for state exam papers, sample questions or even trial exam papers for STPM Maths.
You may even gain some insights from the educators or former students who will share their experience and tips to answer the STPM Maths questions more effectively.
Here are 3 websites where you can start browsing the Internet.
Academia.edu
All you need to do is create a free account on Academia and start searching for various papers and resources that have been uploaded on the website.
Just type in "STPM Maths Past Year Questions" and you will see many PDF documents that you can download for free.
PdfCoffee.com
This is another student-friendly website where you can upload and download thousands of training manuals, articles and books in a wide variety of academic subjects, which includes STPM Mathematics.
KK Lee Mathematics
This blog is set up by a Maths educator, Mr KK Lee who specializes in teaching STPM Mathematics (T) & (M) and A level Mathematics & Further Mathematics.
Mr KK Lee regularly uploads STPM Maths questions of different topics alongside their step-by-step solutions on his blog. Occasionally, he would even discuss some of the questions listed in the coursework assessments every semester, so be sure not to miss them!
Why You Should Practice Doing Past Year Papers For Your STPM Maths Revision?
You've read earlier about where you can get past year papers for your revision. In fact, past year papers are considered the staple learning resources that both teachers and students swear on over the years.
Let's further discuss the significance of doing past year papers for major examinations.
a) Improve your time management for the real exam
If we're honest, exam anxiety is a real thing. One of the most common anxiety is we would have not enough time to answer the questions or we may stall on a single question for too long. That's why you should consistently practice doing actual past year papers within the given time frame (1 hour 30 minutes) so that you will know the right amount of time allocation for the two sections of the paper.
b) Acts as an indicator of your strengths and weaknesses (topics/questions)
The cliché is true. You truly don't know until you've tried. Well, the same goes for Mathematics.
Treat these past year questions exercises like a drill practice. You are serious at answering but at the same time, you get to reflect and examine where you truly stand. From there, you'll be able to improve on your weaker topics and minimize your mistakes during the real exam.
Photo by Armin Rimoldi from Pexels
c) Enables you to recognize similar patterns/ themes of questions
Essentially, what you're repeating here is the act of consistent reinforcement of the forms of questions that can be asked in your actual exam.
After all, the subject syllabus and chapters are fixed, so you can even analyse some of the most commonly asked questions throughout the years. For instance, if you refer to the SASBADI STPM Maths T past year paper collection as recommended earlier, you can see a table that indicates the frequency of different topics that are asked in actual/repeat papers.
For Semester 1, you'll notice that there's at least one question on vector geometry that have been asked in all papers starting from 2014 until 2020. This shows that you have to master questions in relation to this topic.
How To Remember And Apply Complex Maths Topics Correctly For Your STPM Maths Exams?
You can ask a true Maths lover and someone who is good at Maths about the reason why they love/are good at the subject. We can assure you that it is because they view the subject as something that they can understand instead of just blindly memorizing it.
We've summarized some tips that you can follow whenever you begin a new semester for your STPM Maths studies.
a) Simplify the concepts for comprehension instead of solely memorizing formulas
Once they have understood how the Maths concepts relate to one another, they would be able to recall them and directly apply them in questions and even real-life situations. Hence, make sure you truly understand the Maths topics of the chapter that you're learning before moving on swiftly to the next chapter.
Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations or algorithms: it's about understanding.
-William Paul Thurston
b) Don't start revising last minute (You'll be in a panic!)
This point is directly related to the first point. It's important to make sure you have a strong foundation and a good habit of practising various exercises (past year questions/sample questions) from the very beginning. You are encouraged to do the exercises at the end of every chapter of your STPM Maths textbooks or reference books.
c) Learn from a private Maths tutor for personalised learning according to your pace
Feeling dazed when there are so many things on your plate for your Form 6 studies?
What you need now is someone that is experienced and well versed with the STPM Maths syllabus who can guide you to progress consistently throughout the semesters. You don't have to worry about being left behind or lack of exercises/revision when it's near your actual exam every semester.
Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels
That's right, it's time to invest in a private Maths tutor. Not sure where to find one near you?
Head to the Superprof website and we'll help you to find your ideal Maths tutor in terms of:
- Subject specialisation (from primary to even undergraduate level Maths)
- Teaching/tutoring experience
- Tutoring qualification
- Affordable hourly rate
- Teaching methodology
- Physical classes/ online classes
With the right studying resources for past year questions, detailed chapter notes alongside a flexible private tutoring experience, you will certainly experience a balanced perspective to master your STPM Maths paper more effectively and confidently.
Now go and make your goal a reality!
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