Tips, Tricks, and Online Maths Tools: Your Guide to Acing Your Exams
There's no longer a need to bury your head in a textbook to study for exams. Today, there are plenty of online resources, from reference materials to online calculators to learning platforms, and they all engage with you. Not only that, there’s plenty of revision techniques you can try and ways to beat the anxiety which can be just the boost you need.
Let's look below at some of these online resources that will help you ace your exams.
Why is Maths Important?
While its importance can come from the fact that it's part of the national curriculum, it is also essential for the success of many careers. Many domestic and international jobs require some type of maths skills. Not only that, but some require advanced maths skills, such as jobs in technology, engineering, science, and finance.
It's also vital in our daily lives to help calculate our finances and make informed decisions. It helps to let us know how much we can afford to spend, whether budgeting our weekly groceries or making a major purchase, such as a car or home. It also assists in refining our critical thinking skills. When we're taking our A-levels, we don't always realise how much thinking goes on, as well as how we're being logical at the same time. These are essential skills for any career and our lives in general.
Conquers Math
The first option we suggest is this superb online learning tool that can deal with all levels of maths through A-Levels. That means you can start early with this and have this platform become a part of your overall education. It comes with plenty of practice questions, papers, and revisions, and it's also built in a manageable way for students. It takes an iterative approach to learning, and most students only need to use it a few times a week to stay on track.
Not only that, it takes a holistic approach to learning and covers all three major learning styles: auditory, kinaesthetic, and auditory. This makes it a great option for every learner out there who needs an extra boost in their studying. One drawback is that this product isn't free. While there is a free trial to showcase the benefits to you, it can be quite a pricey option, depending on how long you use it.
StudyMaths
This is quite a plain website, but it has all the core necessary items for your studies. It has a complete library of all the maths-based formulae you may need. It also has all the concepts and revision notes readily available to use. It may appear like a simple website but don't judge a book by its cover. It offers plenty of worksheets and practice questions.
Additionally, a few maths games are provided to help with engagement and learning through gamification. On the downside, however, its extensive glossary needs to be broken down into specific sections better. The site is also a free resource, so it can be understandable if it seems less feature-rich than other online learning portals. It is also a one-person operation run by a Maths teacher, which explains the more narrow approach of the site. It is, however, updated consistently, so has relevant enough information for anyone's maths study needs.
Maths card
Another reference-only website that provides you with three different options to get flash cards. It's a free site that was developed through Loughborough University and is consistently updated. You can get what is known as "flash cards" through a mobile application, which is free of charge as well. You can also directly access the reference material online. A third option allows you to order a set of printed reference flash cards for you to use in your revisions. Conveniently, if you're a UK student (or UK Teacher), they will print and mail these cards for free.
Additionally, the layout is quite user-friendly, and there won't be any issues if you're looking for a specific section or subject within Maths. This is a great self-learning tool but doesn't offer any more features to help with learning. That means you'll need to be extremely motivated or pair it with an online learning platform or other learning method, such as the reference materials on this list.
Physicsandmathstutor.com
This is an excellent website for those looking for revision and past papers. It's neatly organised for you to use as material for your overall studying strategy, and an exam operator organises it. Keep in mind, tho, that it's hard to tell how updated everything is on the site, so proceed with caution. At the same time, it can provide access to qualified Maths tutors if you're looking for that extra help to push your score to as high as possible.
The tutor option redirects you to another site, which is quite advanced when pairing students online with tutors. You can then request tutors based on your schedule, and the payment methods are easy. This can provide flexibility that will make your studies much more feasible. However, determining pricing can be difficult, and the tutors set it, so the ranges can vary. The quality can also differ, so trying a few different tutors and seeing which one you are most aligned with to help with your studies may be a good idea.
Bitesize
The BBC itself actually operates this website. It has every single topic covered for the maths-based subject, and it's easy to find any section you may need. The material is easy to consume, and there are plenty of questions to examine. Each question and problem has an in-depth explanation to give you the most comprehensive answer.
The website even breaks down the subject for each testing group, so you can directly study for the group that is providing you with the exam. One of the primary benefits is that it covers all maths-based topics, including algebra, probability and statistics, to name a few. This is an excellent resource to always have throughout the exam process. One thing to remember is that it is just a resource, and it will be good to consider pairing this database of knowledge with other tools. This way, there's an additional level of engagement to entice learning.
Interactive Maths
For those who are looking for practice questions, this is a key site to use. Interactive Maths has numerous questions available, and they are randomly generated. It covers numerous topics, including key maths topics, and the best part is that it is completely free to use. It is, however, a smaller operation, meaning it can be difficult to note when the information is updated. It may not follow any standard curriculum either, but it will help with critical thinking nonetheless.
This site is full of resources for students and teachers alike. Students will have a more engaging way to study. This is an excellent resource for any level of maths and is well worth a try.
Brilliant.org
This site is all about using new learning methods to get you to understand complex subjects. It boasts being able to teach in snippets of 15 minutes per session, and it's meant for a global audience. So, while it will teach you STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths), it won't specifically prepare you for any GCSE examinations. Nevertheless, it can still be an excellent learning tool and help ensure that those difficult-to-learn concepts are a thing of the past. There is also a free trial available until a subscription is required.
Additionally, it has a robust mobile application for iOS and Android, and millions of users give positive accolades about the system. There's even a one-time payment you can make to get access for life, which could help those who want to learn more beyond Maths. It can be an excellent source of learning for every stage of your life, so it may be something to consider investing in.
Desmos
Desmos is a completely free online calculator that provides graphic functionality. It can also be utilised to explore mathematical expressions. The features are quite robust, and you won't find anything missing that you may need while you're studying for your maths examination.
What makes it so valuable is that it's user-friendly, with a minimalist interface. You can also input your information in the format you desire, helping you visualise your mathematical expressions. You won't be disappointed with the website when you visit it. There's a library of standard applications to use alongside the calculator to get you started. Without this, it may feel too sparse and challenging for some.
Malmath
Another calculator option is MalMath, which is a mobile application only. There is no website or desktop version available, but it's also completely free. With it being a mobile app, you'll always have something in your pocket to help with your studies, and you can learn on the go. It's quite a simple application to use and extremely user-friendly at the same time. There is a function to save and share solutions with others, which turns it into a mobile digital maths notebook as well.
Additionally, it helps solve maths problems and offers graphing features to visualise the equations when needed. It will cover common maths areas such as Algebra, Trigonometry, Derivatives, Limits, Vectors and Functions, to name a few. It can generate maths problems with a range of difficulty levels, therefore you can challenge yourself as much as you need to. In addition, it will always take an iterative approach to explaining the solution to the most challenging maths topics.
Math.com
Probably one of the oldest maths sites, this website is still going strong with regular updates. The site's design confirms that it is at least 20 years old, if not older. So, it may not be the most user-friendly website, but it has the core concepts and maths levels and can be used as another reference material for quick access. Some games are on there to help with engagement too, but they also appear to be pretty outdated.
That said, it could be worth a visit if you're looking for an answer to a problem you cannot find anywhere else. It has quite a large number of calculators that can be interesting to use, as well as a lot of test preparation catered more to the US market. It also comes with graphing tools as well as quick conversion tools. This can be nice to have instead of always having to find these simpler tools one by one.
Bytelearn
This covers sixth, seventh and eighth-grade maths. It is an interactive online learning tool where students can learn concepts and communicate with the system when they get stuck. It's built primarily for teachers, but it can also help you develop a self-studying plan that won't require additional classroom time. It may not have as advanced topics as needed, but it will help refine and solidify your maths-based foundation.
It's also quite a sophisticated online learning tool, so it shouldn't be overlooked as it suggests concepts that will help you get to the right answer. You can also see this from the perspective of the teacher as well, which can help provide unique insight and a fresh learning experience.
Wolfram Mathworld
When you enter this website, you'll notice quickly that it's not meant for frills or distractions but is instead an excellent resource. Consider this an online encyclopaedia for maths-based questions and practice problems. Every maths subject is here, including Algebra and higher forms of maths. As you enter each subject, it'll be broken down into a more detailed section, getting you the material that you need much faster.
This will help you when you need to reference the material and when you want to confirm you're properly learning the concepts as well. As mentioned with reference material-only sites, this is pure data and information. It's meant to give you accurate information but not actually support engaging learning. So, it's always a good idea to only use this material for reference and consider pairing it with a proper online learning platform. Also, this platform is managed by a single person, but there is a global community that contributes and helps ensure accuracy from time to time. This ensures it is the most reliable reference material it can be.
Quizlet
Those who want less of an overall view of maths and a more focused approach to GSCE Maths Revision should check this site out. There are maths papers and revisions that will help you with the test-taking aspect as well as the material for the exam.
It's also aligned with the curriculum and regularly updated, so when you learn online with this platform, you know that you have the most up-to-date information on the subject. It can also cater to the student on an individual basis. This avoids a one-size-fits-all attempt at learning and works to develop a learning experience that covers various learning tactics and strategies.
Another great part about this platform is you can select your exam specifications. This will help provide you with the right section to learn from to understand the maths subject and succeed with the test-taking. Often, platforms will not always provide those test-taking tips, and they can be crucial in obtaining the best score possible.
In the End
There are plenty of resources out there to help with your success when it comes to acing your exams. You just need to find the one that works best with your particular study habits and your budget. It's also only a matter of time before these platforms become a standard for learning in multiple subjects, not just maths. Once they come into play as a staple, it will make things so much easier. Students will be able to access the information anytime and anywhere. This allows them to create a study schedule that specifically works with them.