How the Exam steals your time

How the Exam Structure Steal your Time. (The First Paper)

Zimsec mathematics exams come in 2 papers, a structured and short questions that test more than 80% of the syllabus (Paper 1) and solid, long questions including a section with choices (Paper 2).

Paper 1 has about 25 - 27 structured short questions that carry a total of 100 marks. It is the most important paper as it has no options and the candidate is forced to attempt every question if he or she is to score higher marks.

The paper contributes 50% percent of the total score, which implies every percent is worth 2 marks. 

The most common comments after the exam is "I didn't finish the paper", "I wasted my time in the middle of the paper", "I don't think it's possible to attempt all the questions,they are just too many for 150 minutes( 1,5 minutes for every mark)", "I lost my concentration just after the easy questions " and so on.

In this post, I will briefly analyze how the paper steal your time and effort and eventually fail you.

MATHS is a tricky exam, without effective exam strategy you are bound to fail.

Let's first look at the structure of the paper:

- 25 up to 27 questions

- more than 35 concepts are tested 

- starts with low value questions (General Arithmetic) that are worth 1 mark

- high value questions are at the end of the paper

Marks Distribution Bias :(Refer June Paper 1, 2013)

- first question carries [3 marks]

- first 13 questions Carry [36 marks]

- from No. 17 up to No. 25 carry [49 marks]

- last three questions carry [20 marks]

- last question carries [8 marks]

Facts of the data:

* first half of the paper is worth 36%

* last third(last 9 questions) of the paper is half of the exam

* last question carries marks that are for three questions in the begin of the paper

The above analysis exhibits that the paper is structured in a way that makes you leave the valuable part of the paper, if you don't finish up. The first questions serves the purpose of tiring you before the real test. You will have to attempt the last part loaded with lots of marks tired, wasted and prone to making silly mistakes. Your motivation for the exam will have been wasted when you reach the last part.

What strategies can be employed to ensure highest score in the exam? Check out the next posts.

We will analyze the second paper in the next post

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Secret to Zimsec Exams (Part 2)

Secret to Zimsec Exams (Part 2) 

Who the Exam favors?

Jungle favors the brave and the tireless, so they say. Mathematics is a unique discipline that has its own approach and learning style. Break the rules, you will pay for it. Religiously follow them and it will handsomely reward you.

The only reason why the same schools continue to dominate Zimsec Rankings is their approaches to the subjects and how they prepare their students for the exam. Their organisational/school culture is cultivated and nurtured in a way that the system will never depend on teachers but on the school and students. 

On My first day at school where I did my A Level, I was surprised to know that 90% of our Math class had 'A's in Maths and majority were former students at the same school. Their first class had 33 students and scored 32 As. The school was under-staffed and they had gone for a full term without a Math Teacher. I learnt that it's only organisational culture backed by study strategies that guaranteed success for the pupils.

Some of the strategies that were employed by students included:

1. Through revision of past papers.

There is need to revise as many past exam papers as can be accessible. The questions may not  be similar but principles, nature and approach to the questions remain the same

2. Memorize what you have practiced 

One day after a Math exam, I overheard a conversation by some of our students saying "No. 4 is exactly No. 7 of paper 1, 1992". If you throughly practice past papers, it likely that you will come across  similar questions in the exam. 

3. Organize Past Papers' Questions in Topics

Those  who study A level Maths know how effective a revision book by "Teo" is. It's only past exam questions organized topically. By concentrating on bulk of questions for a particular topic, you will improve your memory, skills and creativity for the exam. You will easily answer any question for any given topic.

4. Use Red Spots of 1990s

Green_book can be effective in exam preparations but not more than the Cambridge Red Spot. We now know Zimsec derives its questions from Old Cambridge past papers. It's important you familiarize yourself with old Cambridge questions. Using both Greenbook and Redspot is advisable.f.b

5. Groupwork is vital

Different people comes with different strengths and weaknesses. By working in groups we compliment our skills, approaches and resources. Even if you are always busy, find a way to interact with other candidates. Given the wide use of social networks, it's now more easy to share questions, solutions, ebooks, past papers or solution methods.

6. Work with authentic answers and Exam Reports

Study along verified answers. Questions without solutions can be a snare. Ask your colleagues or teachers if answers are not yet available. Exam reports provide answers and common mistakes noticed.

These are some of the approaches that can best prepare you for the Exam. In the next part we will discuss about the secrets to arrangements of questions and how they can fail you.

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#Math_Tutor_Tips_Bank_2015

Common Elements in Zimsec Examination (Maths)

Zimsec Exam Toolkit 1

" Common Areas "

In the last series of "Secret to Zimsec Exam" posts, we exposed some of the hidden elements of the Exam including structure of the papers and Mark distribution bias. 

In this series of posts, we will concentrate on Specific Topic that will guarantee a pass and how one can effectively plan for the exams.

"Common" Exam Behavior

Most people from all walks of life perceive math as the most challenging of all and chose either to ignore the subject, or the other topics, or the other paper or other questions. They dedicate their time to what they view an effective strategy which does not yield any dividend most of the time. 

"Common" Ignorance

Many candidates and students of mathematics spend the major part of the time working out solutions for specific topics and mathematical problems. They eventually fail the subject or pass with the minimum marks. 

They are ignorant of the exam structure, question structure and value of particular questions. Many don't even have a clear strategy for the exam and spend part of the exam trying to figure out how they can score higher marks that can guarantee a pass.

"Common" Exam Structure

The standard exam structure for Paper 1 is 25-30 simple questions from more than 26 chapters. Many candidates don't attempt the last 5 - 8 questions of the first paper (surprisingly, they carry nearly 36 - 45 marks), which is almost half of the exam. 

The second paper has six compulsory questions in section A and  six questions in Section B where a candidate is required to chose only three. (Surprisingly, many candidates concentrate on section B options and lose most of the marks in section A, which is 64% of the exam)

"Common" Questions in Section A of Paper 2

- Algebraic Fractions and fractional equations

- Percentages, Ratio, Rate and Simple Interest

- Sets

- Circle Geometry

- matrices with vectors

- substitution and triangles involving algebra/similarities 

- locus

"Common" Questions in Section B of Paper 2

- mensuration 

- Vectors (properties of shapes)

- transformation 

- cubic function/ velocity-time curves / quadratic graphs

- linear programming 

- Triangle (sine rule)

Secret to Zimsec Exam Preparation (Maths)

Secret to Zimsec Exams (Part 2) 

Who the Exam favors?

Jungle favors the brave and the tireless, so they say. Mathematics is a unique discipline that has its own approach and learning style. Break the rules, you will pay for it. Religiously follow them and it will handsomely reward you.

The only reason why the same schools continue to dominate Zimsec Rankings is their approaches to the subjects and how they prepare their students for the exam. Their organisational/school culture is cultivated and nurtured in a way that the system will never depend on teachers but on the school and students. 

On My first day at school where I did my A Level, I was surprised to know that 90% of our Math class had 'A's in Maths and majority were former students at the same school. Their first class had 33 students and scored 32 As. The school was under-staffed and they had gone for a full term without a Math Teacher. I learnt that it's only organisational culture backed by study strategies that guaranteed success for the pupils.

Some of the strategies that were employed by students included:

1. Through revision of past papers.

There is need to revise as many past exam papers as can be accessible. The questions may not  be similar but principles, nature and approach to the questions remain the same

2. Memorize what you have practiced 

One day after a Math exam, I overheard a conversation by some of our students saying "No. 4 is exactly No. 7 of paper 1, 1992". If you throughly practice past papers, it likely that you will come across  similar questions in the exam. 

3. Organize Past Papers' Questions in Topics

Those  who study A level Maths know how effective a revision book by "Teo" is. It's only past exam questions organized topically. By concentrating on bulk of questions for a particular topic, you will improve your memory, skills and creativity for the exam. You will easily answer any question for any given topic.

4. Use Red Spots of 1990s

Green_book can be effective in exam preparations but not more than the Cambridge Red Spot. We now know Zimsec derives its questions from Old Cambridge past papers. It's important you familiarize yourself with old Cambridge questions. Using both Greenbook and Redspot is advisable.f.b

5. Groupwork is vital

Different people comes with different strengths and weaknesses. By working in groups we compliment our skills, approaches and resources. Even if you are always busy, find a way to interact with other candidates. Given the wide use of social networks, it's now more easy to share questions, solutions, ebooks, past papers or solution methods.

6. Work with authentic answers and Exam Reports

Study along verified answers. Questions without solutions can be a snare. Ask your colleagues or teachers if answers are not yet available. Exam reports provide answers and common mistakes noticed.

These are some of the approaches that can best prepare you for the Exam. In the next part we will discuss about the secrets to arrangements of questions and how they can fail you.

***don't  forget to click the share button to share this with your friends****

#Math_Tutor_Tips_Bank_2015