Is it hard to get a 9 in GCSE maths?
Are you a student currently taking GCSE maths? If you are, you might be wondering how possible it is to get a grade 9. As the highest grade you can get, it’s incredibly sought after. But how hard is it to get a grade 9 in maths? Read on for more information!
The average student
Usually, only a slim percentage of students receive a grade 9. This is because it can only be achieved by receiving top marks on the exam papers. Most students struggle with GCSE maths more than with any other subject. This is because of the complex content, the number of different topics, and the demand for the mathematical application. GCSE maths requires you to apply what you’ve learnt to different scenarios, and this is something that students struggle with. With this in mind, it’s usually difficult for the average student to get a grade 9 in GCSE maths.
The individual
Some individuals are just naturally more intelligent than others, giving them a bigger chance of receiving a grade 9. Furthermore, those students who are motivated to work harder than others also have a bigger chance. Therefore, the difficulty of receiving a 9 in maths can only be measured against an individual’s performance.
It’s not impossible
It certainly isn’t impossible to get a grade 9 in maths – or any other subject, for that matter. Students who know what the examiner wants to see can gain more marks on average and good gcse maths preparation is the key. To do this, students can practice as many past papers as they can and look at mark schemes for tips. Even scanning the course textbook will help with this. The textbook will show worked examples of exam questions, demonstrating how students should display their working out. Working out can often gain more marks than the actual answer in maths. Therefore, it’s important to know what the examiner wants to see. By looking at how many marks a question is worth can help you with this. If there are multiple marks on offer, you should know that some demonstration of working out is needed.
Furthermore, those students who ask for help are also more likely to get a grade 9 than those who don’t. Some clever students might feel embarrassed to admit they need help, but this could affect their final grade. Seeking help from a family member, teacher, or even an online GCSE Maths tutor from Exam.tips could work wonders in helping you understand the challenging specification. Explanations and understanding can prevent problems later on in the course and can help you tackle questions easier. Therefore, focusing on your weak areas in maths and facing up to them can help you get a grade 9. If you tend to shy away from challenges, you might be less likely to get a grade 9 in maths.
Therefore, whether or not it’s hard to get a grade 9 in maths GCSE is a hard question to answer. The majority of students will find this difficult, although there are certain steps you can take to increase your chances.
If you, or your parents would like to find out more, please just get in touch via email at info@exam.tips or call us on 0800 689 1272.