As we all know, mathematics is a field of science that trains the mind to think logically and systematically in solving problems and making decisions. The nature of mathematics naturally encourages meaningful learning and challenges your thinking. For that reason, mathematics is one of the most important fields in any human development effort.
The process of teaching and learning mathematics gives priority to the mastery of knowledge and understanding to enable students to apply the concepts, principles and processes of mathematics.
Overall, there are 53 Mathematics topics from Form 1 to Form 5 that can appear in paper 1 and paper 2 of SPM Mathematics. This seems like a lot to take in right? Therefore, students from as early as Form 1 need to focus on each Mathematics topic and make sure to gain good understanding of the concepts as this will come in handy when you are preparing for SPM mathematics examinations.
Preparing for SPM mathematics exam can seem like a daunting experience. However, everyone can become proficient in math if they put in the effort and time. While revising and getting to know the syllabus is great, there are more effective ways to help you improve and score A+ for SPM mathematics. The main problem that students face is that they don’t really know how to approach this subject to get good results. With this in mind, we’ve listed the top 5 ways you can get better marks in math.
Time management
The most important thing to remember is that if you are unable to answer a particular question, leave it for later and move on to the next question. As time is of the essence during your SPM exam. Therefore, you need to manage your time wisely when answering questions.
First, take a few minutes to generally browse through all the questions. As you are browsing, take note of which headings and formulas are needed to answer the questions.
If you find a question challenging, skip it and move on to the next. Attempting difficult questions or KBAT questions during SPM usually requires more time than the more straightforward questions. This will help you save time instead of taking too much time to answer one question.
Then, once you've finished answering all the other questions, you can come back to answer the tricky questions. This method is a tried and true method that has helped many students in their exams, and it will help you too.
It's okay to leave a question or two unanswered if you really don't know the answer. You can make up for it by making sure you answer the questions you know how to answer well to get full marks for them!
Of course, the best option is for you to answer all questions if possible in order to avoid losing marks.
Read Questions Carefully
While mathematics can be challenging, there are many instances where students lose marks despite understanding the questions and knowing the correct workings to get the answer.
Why does this situation occur and how to avoid it? Students must read the question carefully and take note of the details in order to decipher clearly what is required. For example, let’s say the question is asking you to calculate the perimeter of a rectangle, you need to add up all four side lengths. Many students don’t pay attention to the details and misinterpret the questions and end up calculating the area of the rectangle instead.
Students should also make sure that they use the correct value as indicated in the question during the calculation process in order to get the correct answer. For example, if the value stated in the question is 79, but the student carelessly inputs 78 during the calculation process, the final answer will be incorrect.
Mistakes like these can be avoided if students read the questions carefully and pay attention to the details stated. Furthermore, it can cost you valuable marks which might determine whether you score an A or B grade.
You can check out All You Need to Know about the SPM Maths 2023 Marking Scheme to know more about how the marks are distributed and get a better understanding of the overall SPM grading system.
Memorise the Formulas
Some formulas are provided at the beginning of the question paper. However, it is not a comprehensive list that includes all mathematical formulas. It only includes the most basic formulas.
Memorise those that are not included in the question paper. If you can memorise all the formulas, then good for you. You are then able to save time by not needing to flip pages and refer to the formulas at the front. Rummaging through the papers to find the formulas can be time-consuming.
However, it is recommended that you double-check your formula. Sometimes we forget. For example, the power of 2, the small 2, that's what we usually forget.
One way to memorise all formulas is to continuously refer to the formulas when you are attempting practice questions. As you continuously refer to the formulas while answering the questions, you will eventually retain the information in your memory and this will save you time during the actual SPM examinations.
Attempt Mathematics Reference Papers
Mathematics is a subject that requires a lot of practice in order to master it. It is not a reading subject. Students must learn and understand the concepts involved and attempt plenty of practice questions to excel in this subject. In other words, the more practice you do, the more efficient you become.
One of the best ways to get sufficient practice is by attempting mathematics reference papers in the form of trial questions from various states and actual past-year SPM questions. Students not only get the opportunity to test their mathematical concepts but also familiarise themselves with the SPM mathematics exam format.
This is where you will get the chance to find out how many questions are in each paper and how much time is allotted. Try to do as many SPM past year questions as you can so that you know how to answer those questions in the actual exam. You will also be able to identify your weak areas and can work on improving them before the actual exam.
It is highly recommended that students allocate some time every week to attempt maths practice questions so that their mind will be sharp, and they will answer the exam questions easily. It also gives an overview of how a question is asked, and the number, distribution and frequency of each topic.
Study Together with Friends
Mathematics questions are often challenging and require an out-of-box thinking process. This is because mathematics is not only a subject that involves solving problems but is also a thinking subject.
In order to score well in SPM mathematics, it is good to have a good group of friends to study and attempt questions together. You can help each other. If you are able to solve a particular question that your other friends cannot, teaching them how to solve it will help you retain the information as well.
On the other hand, if you are unable to solve a mathematics question, having a good group of friends to help you work to your benefit as they can explain the concept to you. This is an extraordinary learning method to master the techniques of mathematics.
If all of you are unable to solve a particular problem or have trouble understanding a concept, approach a maths teacher who will be happy to help you.
Finding private tutors for SPM mathematics has now been made easy by Superprof. We have the best tutors in terms of experience and skill to help you score well in your SPM examinations. Hiring a private tutor will increase your confidence to ace the subject as you will get all the support you need to master it.
It doesn’t matter which state you are from, you can always locate highly qualified private tutors near you by using Superprof. You can find suitable tutors by heading to the Superprof Malaysia homepage and browsing through mathematics tutors’ profiles.
What are you looking for in a private tutor? Is it qualification or the hourly rates? Perhaps you want to see the past students’ reviews before deciding? All this information and more is available on the Superprof platform.
Don’t wait till the last minute to get help. Find the right private tutor for you to help you to score well in the SPM mathematics examination.
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