GCSE Maths exam

[Will.]

So annoyed with it! The first few questions were decent but then it just got ridiculous, I messed up badly! Its so annoying as I got a C on mock which was last years paper, and I think I've got a D this time round! Dreading the calculator paper! Exdecel can burn in hell!

The answers got leaked for the paper which makes it unfair

This years papers have been messed up and weird! The RE paper had questions not on the syllabus so the school complained, and so did the Core Science Biology paper.

[Pete.]

I've seen the orange sweets or something like that question, did you do that paper lol

[Will.]

yeah that was the worst, the questions were nothing really like past papers, the first 8 out of 25 questions were ok.

[Pete.]

Bummer. Don't they move the grade boundaries around for harder papers?

[JoshBB]

I saw the #EdexcelMaths hashtag trending and it sounded horrible. Here's hoping there's low boundaries

[reece(:]

Best of luck.

[Will.]

Bummer. Don't they move the grade boundaries around for harder papers?

yeah, I sorted of counted what I think I got right and it was 25, I counted 38 but then I realised I messed up on a few, so I've taking about 11 marks off.

2013 grade was 23 for a C and I don't remember anything bad about that, so hopefully it will be 20 for a C.

[Will.]

Thanks! Its quite good as teachers have predicted what will be on calculator on Monday by looking at the one on Thursday, If I aim for about 30-33 on Mondays one and Calcuotor ones are easier then I should have secured a C.

Im defo not a B/A student with Maths

Hopefully I've got:
Eng Lang - A
Eng Lit - B/A
Maths - C
Science - B/C
Geog - C
Business - C
IT - C
RE - B

[Pete.]

yeah, I sorted of counted what I think I got right and it was 25, I counted 38 but then I realised I messed up on a few, so I've taking about 11 marks off.

2013 grade was 23 for a C and I don't remember anything bad about that, so hopefully it will be 20 for a C.
Good luck! Hopefully the other paper is good

[Will.]

Good luck! Hopefully the other paper is good

Thank you! Wish Maths exam was more general life maths like for example:

"You and you children are going on a train: You get a 60% discount and your 2 children get 1/3 off their fare, the prices are..."

That was a question last year, I like those sort of ones.

[RichardG]

In my year it was quite an easy paper and I got quite a low score overall like 110/200 or something yet I still got an A. :laugh: So if it's a harder paper then the grade boundaries could be even lower. I found in all exams I did much better in the real thing than mocks, the actual exam markers seem to be a lot kinder in giving marks for stuff like working out and basically just for trying... you might do better than you think. :fc:

[Jason.]

I know, I heard.

I'm a Math's teacher and exams co-coordinator, and I saw the paper on Thursday, after everyone finished the exam, and it looked messed up.
My class were complaining about it.

One thing I noticed is how quickly the questions got hard. I've always told my students questions 1 to 18 are really easy, and always aim to get 100% in the first 18 questions to secure a B grade. With this year's paper, the questions began to get hard at around question 11 to 12.

What was up with the constant 5 mark questions too? There were like four of them.

Not to mention, where the hell was the Simultaneous Equation question?
Bar the November 2014 paper, I've never seen a non-calculator paper without a question on it.

I think the grade boundaries will be lower. But it all depends on how difficult the Calculator Paper is.

With November 2014, the Non-Calculator was hard, but the Calculator was much easier, so the same pattern might occur with June 2015.

[reece(:]

Justice 4 the simultaneous equations</3 I loved doing those.

[Pete.]

I remember Simultaneous equations and they were like 6 marks, slay :love:

[Jason.]

Justice 4 the simultaneous equations</3 I loved doing those.

Same.
It's a pain teaching it, though. The thick ones never understand it, no matter how many times you explain.

[Jarrod]

This is why WJEC is the best exam board.

[JoshBB]

Simultaneous Equations I found difficult at first but are actually not that bad tbh

[Jason.]

Simultaneous Equations I found difficult at first but are actually not that bad tbh

Same. I remember when I was in Year 10, way back. And I used to look at them and think "Dafuq is this?".

They look harder than they are. When I got taught it, I understood it really well.

It's easy if you know which operation to use.

[reece(:]

Same.
It's a pain teaching it, though. The thick ones never understand it, no matter how many times you explain.
Do you teach the ...1 ...2 ...3 method?

[Daniel.]

The only exam I didn't get a C or above on

Always found it horrible

Good luck

[Jason.]

Do you teach the ...1 ...2 ...3 method?

The what method?

[RichardG]

I can't even remember what simultaneous equations were. :laugh: :worry:

[reece(:]

The what method?
Numbering them and taking one away from the other or muliplying the equations or what not to make them the same :laugh:

[Daniel.]

welp @ bb6 dragging people thick at maths (like me)

sack ha

[Jason.]

Numbering them and taking one away from the other or muliplying the equations or what not to make them the same :laugh:

Oh yeah, that's what I use. :laugh:

And sometimes I teach the Elimination method, if people don't get the first method.

[Pete.]

I remember having to do quadratic simultaneous equations :moorangu:

[Jason.]

welp @ bb6 dragging people thick at maths (like me)

sack ha

https://mathsteaching.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sim-eqns-class-questions.jpg

[Daniel.]

Reported

[Jason.]

:joker:

[reece(:]

x = 4 and y = 1

[reece(:]

Yas I can still do them

[Jason.]

I remember having to do quadratic simultaneous equations :moorangu:

Those are killers.

[Daniel.]

I retook last week

[reece(:]

I remember having to do quadratic simultaneous equations :moorangu:
I could never get the volumes of cones and weird 3d shapes

[Jason.]

x = 4 and y = 1

Correct. :)

[Jason.]

I could never get the volumes of cones and weird 3d shapes

I could never understand Transformations of Functions and lines.
They were those extremely hard questions at the end of each paper, usually the last question, With a graph and random curves all over the place.

They look like this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/b42c707753029e093b917d71e9caebe0e77dbbf4.gif

[Pete.]

I could never get the volumes of cones and weird 3d shapes
3D Trigonometry, Calculus, Circle Theorems still haunt me http://exhalecdn.breatheheavy.com/public/style_emoticons/default/shakemc.gif

[reece(:]

3D Trigonometry, Calculus, Circle Theorems still haunt me http://exhalecdn.breatheheavy.com/public/style_emoticons/default/shakemc.gif
I didn't mind trig but I've recently gone over calculus in one of my course units and it was awful D:

[reece(:]

I could never understand Transformations of Functions and lines.
They were those extremely hard questions at the end of each paper, usually the last question, With a graph and random curves all over the place.

They look like this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/b42c707753029e093b917d71e9caebe0e77dbbf4.gif
What even

[Jason.]

What even

Exactly what I said in that exam hall in 2005/2006.

[Macie Lightfoot]

simultaneous equations <3 (we call them system of equations in the US but w/e)
transformations <3
math <3

[Pete.]

Similar Shapes I stanned

[Will.]

Omg your a teacher BB6! That awesome! Some of the things I've said on here and your a teacher, woops! What do you predict the non calc grade boundaries to? Maybe 23 for a C like 2013 or lower? :)

I was all prepared for simultaneous equations, I love them! The exam papers for all the subjects this year are rather odd!

[Will.]

Bb6 could you tell me how to add/divide/subtract fractions, I've compeltely forgot! Apparently there on the calculator paper

[Daniel.]

not here for everyone stanning mathshttp://exhalecdn.breatheheavy.com/public/style_emoticons/default/shakemc.gif

[Headie]

Bb6 could you tell me how to add/divide/subtract fractions, I've compeltely forgot! Apparently there on the calculator paper

To add or subtract fractions, just make the denominator (bottom number) the same, then add/subtract the top numbers but keep the denominator the same. To multiply you just multiply the top numbers, then multiply the bottom numbers and to divide fractions you just flip one fraction around to be top heavy and then multiply as normal.

Oh and simplify where possible, and try not to leave a fraction top heavy unless it says so.

[Jay.]

i did my maths exam in year 10, it's been like 4, maybe 5 years now and i honestly cannot remember a thing

[Jason.]

Omg your a teacher BB6! That awesome! Some of the things I've said on here and your a teacher, woops! What do you predict the non calc grade boundaries to? Maybe 23 for a C like 2013 or lower? :)

I was all prepared for simultaneous equations, I love them! The exam papers for all the subjects this year are rather odd!

It's fine. Just cause I'm a teacher, it doesn't mean you have to behave around me or anything.

I think it depends on how easy the calculator paper is.
Judging by the first paper alone. I'd say around:

A* - 78/100
A - 61/100
B - 43/100
C - 24/100
D - 12/100

Here are the last two years to give you a rough idea and comparison:

June 2014 Grade Boundaries (Non Calculator):

A* - 82/100
A - 66/100
B - 47/100
C - 28/100
D - 14/100

June 2013 Grade Boundaries (Non-Calculator):

A* - 80/100
A - 63/100
B - 43/100
C - 24/100
D - 12/100

I agree. This years papers are tough.
I saw the Additional Science papers, and yesterdays Core Biology Paper and I felt bad for the people sitting the exams.
Additional Biology in particular looked like a killer.

AQA are making their exams harder.

[GLENN BILL BB7]

**** maths!!! No one even needs to use maths in life anyway just counting that's all you need really.

[Kizzy]

I could never understand Transformations of Functions and lines.
They were those extremely hard questions at the end of each paper, usually the last question, With a graph and random curves all over the place.

They look like this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/b42c707753029e093b917d71e9caebe0e77dbbf4.gif

Is this a ven diagram?

[Jason.]

Is this a ven diagram?

It's the McDonald's logo upside down.

[Kizzy]

vectors....... :eek:

[RichardG]

**** maths!!! No one even needs to use maths in life anyway just counting that's all you need really.

In general every day life, maths is pretty pointless. However, when I was looking to apply to Uni, I was shocked by just how many courses I couldn't apply for because I didn't take it to a level. D:

[Jack.]

I resat my maths for the fourth time and I can see it becoming five times

[Jason.]

I resat my maths for the fourth time and I can see it becoming five times

Use MathsWatch.

[Kizzy]

Is there a foundation and higher paper still?

[Jack.]

Is there a foundation and higher paper still?

Yeah :)

[Jack.]

Use MathsWatch.

Thanks I'll give it try if I fail this one Again :joker:

[Jason.]

Is there a foundation and higher paper still?

Yeah.
They scrapped Intermediate Tier, after 2007.

[Daniel-X]

My cousin was posting things on Facebook about the exam being ridiculously hard and stupid like 'Sarah has six sheets of paper explain n-90=120' and things like that.

It was one of the subjects I got a C in my results looked like this:

English Lit - A
English Lang - B
Maths - C
Science - C
R.E. - A*
Drama - A
Geography - C
French - A
Graphic Design - B

[jackc1806]

Maths is stupid, like me

[Kizzy]

sit the higher paper, you need 70% for a pass at foundation and 40% at higher.

[Will.]

Yeah the Biology was rather different, It didn't feel like Biology, more like general science or something, wasn't specific to the syllabus.

Dreading the Chemistry!!!

[Will.]

I quite liked the second paper, should have got about 35, which means I should have got a C

Grade boundaries (expected)

paper 1 - 23 (maybe a little lower even)
paper 2 - 27/28

So would need about 52 to get a C, and I think I've got about 55 at the least, the most would be 60 I think.

[Jason.]

Glad it went well.

I knew it would be easier than the first paper.
The students at my school were saying the same thing.

I had a quick glance at the 2nd paper, and thought it looked okay. Too many functional maths questions this year, though.
A lot of people were complaining about the revision class question with the 3 schools.

[Will.]

Glad it went well.

I knew it would be easier than the first paper.
The students at my school were saying the same thing.

I had a quick glance at the 2nd paper, and thought it looked okay. Too many functional maths questions this year, though.
A lot of people were complaining about the revision class question with the 3 schools.

Really! I find that quite easy! It's was 42, 21, and 14 as there were 77 Students I think? I struggled at first with that question but then it clicked , yeah there were a lot of similar questions

So glad trail and improvement came up, easy 4 marks

[Jason.]

Really! I find that quite easy! It's was 42, 21, and 14 as there were 77 Students I think? I struggled at first with that question but then it clicked , yeah there were a lot of similar questions

So glad trail and improvement came up, easy 4 marks

Yeah, that's what I said. You just had to divide it, to find the total number of students.

Trial and Improvement always comes up. Although, I was surprised it came up as the 2nd question. Usually it comes up about halfway through the paper. Could possibly indicate this paper was designed to be harder?

I was a bit annoyed there wasn't much about Similar Shapes, Pythagoras, and Trigonometry, as there's always a good few of those in the Calculator exams.

I feel proud because I taught my class Histograms, this morning, right before the exam, and there was a whole section dedicated to it in the exam, which was worth about 6 marks. :cheer2:

[Will.]

Yeah, that's what I said. You just had to divide it, to find the total number of students.

Trial and Improvement always comes up. Although, I was surprised it came up as the 2nd question. Usually it comes up about halfway through the paper. Could possibly indicate this paper was designed to be harder?

I was a bit annoyed there wasn't much about Similar Shapes, Pythagoras, and Trigonometry, as there's always a good few of those in the Calculator exams.

I feel proud because I taught my class Histograms, this morning, right before the exam, and there was a whole section dedicated to it in the exam, which was worth about 6 marks. :cheer2:

Well done! Yeah I looked over them last night! Which helped me get a lot more marks! Yes the paper seemed quite different, surprised that ratio was the first question then Trail and I'm... Defo designed to be harder, they launched into it straight away! Maybe it will have low grade boundaries like paper 1. Yeah there were to many similar topics.

[Jason.]

Well done! Yeah I looked over them last night! Which helped me get a lot more marks! Yes the paper seemed quite different, surprised that ratio was the first question then Trail and I'm... Defo designed to be harder, they launched into it straight away! Maybe it will have low grade boundaries like paper 1. Yeah there were to many similar topics.

I predict this years boundaries are something like this:

A* - 162/200
A - 130/200
B - 90/200
C - 52/200
D - 25/200

[Will.]

I predict this years boundaries are something like this:

A* - 162/200
A - 130/200
B - 90/200
C - 52/200
D - 25/200

omg I so hope so, then I should defo have a C

[T*]

I have another science one on Friday

[Jason.]

I have another science one on Friday

Good luck.

The Science GCSE's this year look harder than previous years. I hate AQA.

[Will.]

Good luck.

The Science GCSE's this year look harder than previous years. I hate AQA.

Thank you! Yeah don't like AQA, Biology was a little odd. Past papers were nothing like it!

[Glam diamond]

So annoyed with it! The first few questions were decent but then it just got ridiculous, I messed up badly! Its so annoying as I got a C on mock which was last years paper, and I think I've got a D this time round! Dreading the calculator paper! Exdecel can burn in hell!

The answers got leaked for the paper which makes it unfair

This years papers have been messed up and weird! The RE paper had questions not on the syllabus so the school complained, and so did the Core Science Biology paper.

Hello..I took this paper today too. I had no idea someone else on here did too!! The contrast between the first and second half was shocking. Complete opposite ends of the spectrum.
How did you find calculator? I thought it was much better although the vectors question was exceptionally hard and I have never seen a question like the coordinates one before. I didn't hear that the answers were leaked!!! Now the grade boundaries won't be low! Are you sure they were?

[Glam diamond]

I have another science one on Friday

Me too. Physics? I have chemistry tomorrow as well.

[Glam diamond]

I predict this years boundaries are something like this:

A* - 162/200
A - 130/200
B - 90/200
C - 52/200
D - 25/200

I hope that's the case but isn't the lowest an A* has ever been 164? Would they really drop the boundary even more?

[Jason.]

I hope that's the case but isn't the lowest an A* has ever been 164? Would they really drop the boundary even more?

Yh, that was my concern.
It may still be 164.

I'm pretty certain about the B/C/D grades though.
I think they may be like that.

[Will.]

The Chemistry was very hard!

[Pete.]

Science :yuk: