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Guide for Mathematics 4024
by Alia Naeem | 26 March 2023
Mathematics can be a complex and challenging subject, mostly because it requires a deep understanding of concepts, techniques, and problem-solving skills. Here are a few tips and strategies to help you study O Level Mathematics 4024.
Paper Pattern
The syllabus has 42 topics/chapters that you will need to cover, understand, and learn to attempt the paper. However, the first fifteen are comparatively short and easy for most students to learn.
The exam consists of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. The duration of Paper 1 is two hours, and the weighting of this paper is around 50 percent. It is worth eighty marks, and there are approximately 25 total questions in it. You should show your work if it’s more than a one-mark question to obtain full marks in the question. No calculators are allowed in this paper.
Paper 2 is a bit more complex. The duration of Paper 2 is two hours and thirty minutes, and the weighting is also 50 percent. All the 11 structured questions in this paper must be attempted, and all the work and the processes you did to obtain your answer should be shown. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get full marks. It is worth a hundred marks. An electronic calculator is allowed in this paper; without the calculator, it will be extremely difficult to attempt the paper. The calculators that are allowed are Casio fx models.
There are several things you need to bring for your paper. First of all, the general stationery: pens, pencil, eraser, a sharpener, a ruler, and a calculator ( for paper 2 ). There are other things you will need for the mathematics paper, which include a protractor ( also known as a D ), a compass ( not a real north/south compass, but the one you use to draw a circle ), and graphic paper ( though you should check with the invigilators or your school to ensure this one is allowed ).
Understand the Syllabus
This is important for all subjects, but especially so for a unique subject like Math. You should know what is included in the syllabus and what the syllabus expects you to know and learn, not just the general topics. You need to know the topics in it, the skills required, and the concepts that must be understood.
Fortunately, a syllabus by Cambridge is provided almost yearly that provides detailed coverage of what is expected from a candidate, and throughout the syllabus, pieces of notes and guidance are given, which can be quite helpful.
You can find the updated syllabus on Cambridge’s official website :
Practice, Practice, and PRACTICE!
You might have heard of it before, but math is a subject you need to practice again and again. It’s not something you’ll memorize, and it will stick with you. In fact, math is something that if you don’t practice regularly, you’re likely to forget it.
The syllabus is not overly complicated; apart from a few formulae, there’s nothing to memorize. So how should you efficiently prepare for your exams? By practicing, of course. You should do a bunch of question banks on similar topics until you can do them with your eyes closed. (metaphorically, of course).
Remember to reflect on your errors and not immediately move on. You can read our blog on
Do’s and Don’ts of general subjects for more detail on this.
Over Exerting
You might think that hours and hours of work will get you a for math, but the human brain usually can’t take that much constant load. You might be repeating the same mistake over and over again, but you don’t realize it because although you’re consciously doing your work, at the same time, you’re not 100 % there. Math is a subject that requires you to be fully active, so you won’t be doing anyone extra favors if you over-exert yourself and don’t even get anything out of it. So every few hours, remember to take a break, get some fresh air, drink a glass of water, and go scroll through Instagram ( guilty). Just something that will freshen your mind, and after a quick, short break, resume your work with a fresh mindset!
Visual Aids
It might be no surprise to you that math, especially the syllabus of Mathematics 4024, has a lot of topics and chapters that require abstract thinking and problem-solving. A big chunk of the syllabus contains chapters where you must understand these sorts of things. The main topics in the syllabus include :
Graphical Representation Of Inequalities
Graphs In Practical Situations
Graphs Of Functions
Coordinate Geometry
Geometrical Constructions
Similarity And Congruence
Mensuration
These are some of the major geometrical/graphic topics in the syllabus, and you probably have gotten the message: you need to have skills with graphs. But how? How can you foster and improve this, or start from scratch?
Because math is a visual subject, visual aids such as diagrams, graphs, and charts may be used. These visual tools clearly depict mathematical relationships and patterns, making the topic more approachable and less daunting. They also assist students in seeing the connections between various topics, which can improve their knowledge and confidence in tackling mathematical issues. Furthermore, visual aids can assist students to retain mathematical concepts by providing a visual depiction of what has been studied.
They can explain geometric concepts, demonstrate variable relationships, and organize data. To improve the effectiveness of visual aids in math, it is critical to select the appropriate type of visual aid for the concept being discussed and ensure that it is well-organized, accurately labeled, and clearly presents the information.
Topicals vs Yearlies
You might have read or heard that yearly past papers are critical for your exams, especially Cambridge exams. They help you understand the paper pattern, familiarise yourself with it, and increase your knowledge and concepts. But when it comes to math, are yearly past papers the best choice?
They are certainly useful, helping you with the timing of the exams and how long you should spend on a specific question. Students can also better understand the type of questions expected in the exams and the paper as a whole.
On the other hand, topical questions ( which, of course, are drawn out from yearly past papers) give you a more direct study approach. They help you eliminate your weak points, first by drawing them out, and then, as you go deeper into the topical questions of that particular topic, you eventually improve in them. They help you study more effectively as you can now prioritize topics on which you need to spend more time. Your time is spent productively, as you have more time for every single chapter. With topical questions, you can make a study schedule (read our blog on How to make a study schedule) for each topic.
At first glance, the syllabus can look complex and challenging, but as you dig deeper to understand it, you’ll find it’s not as difficult as long as you understand it, get some help and practice!
Acknowledgements
Author: Alia Naeem
Editor(s): Hasan Nawaz, Saif Ur Rahman
Proofreader(s): Hasan Nawaz, Saif Ur Rahman
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Published 26 March 2023
Last Updated: 5 July 2023
Written by Alia Naeem