Exam TechniquesStudy TipsGCSE Maths Exam Techniques That Boost Marks in GCSE Maths Tried-and-tested exam techniques to help you stay calm, work efficiently and pick up every mark you've earned. KW Written by Katy Updated January 15, 2025 • 6 min read Knowing the content is only half the battle, how you approach the exam can make a big difference to your final grade. Many students lose marks, not because they don't understand the topic, but because of poor timing, missed instructions or avoidable errors. This guide covers tried-and-tested exam techniques to help you stay calm, work efficiently and pick up every mark you've earned. 1. Read the Whole Question (Then Read It Again) It sounds obvious, but rushing through questions is one of the top causes of lost marks. Many questions contain multiple steps or specific instructions and examiners won't award marks if you miss key details. Tip: Underline command words like "calculate", "estimate", or "justify". These tell you exactly what kind of answer is needed. 2. Use the Space, Show Full Working Even if you're confident with mental maths, always show your working. Most GCSE Maths questions award method marks, so even if your final answer is wrong, you can still get credit for the correct approach. Clearly label your steps Box your final answer Don't rub out anything unless it's completely wrong 3. Don't Get Stuck. Move On and Come Back Some questions will feel harder than others. If you're spending more than a few minutes stuck, move on and return to it later. You're more likely to solve it with a fresh perspective and you protect time for questions you can answer. You can use the margin to mark the ones you want to revisit. 4. Know How Marks Are Awarded Understanding the mark scheme helps you answer with precision: 1-mark questions usually need a fast fact or simple calculation 2–3-mark questions often reward method and accuracy 4+ mark questions may combine steps, so structure your working like a short story Practising with exam-style questions helps you build this instinct naturally. KSOL's GCSE Maths 7-9 Course features all question types featured in the exam. 5. Use the Calculator Wisely For calculator papers, let the calculator do the heavy lifting. Remember to write down anything done on a calculator. A common student error is not recording what they have entered into their calculator, which can risk not receiving any credit for the methodology if the final answer is incorrect. 6. Leave Time to Check If you finish early, use the time to: Re-read multi-step questions Double check tricky calculations Look over units and rounding Correcting one small error could mean the difference between grades. 7. Practise with Real Exam Conditions Mock-style practice builds stamina and confidence. KSOL's GCSE Maths 7–9 includes practice tests and exam-style questions designed to mirror the pressure and pacing of real exams, so nothing feels unfamiliar on the day. Looking for more support? Read next: How to Balance School, Homework, and GCSE Revision Without Burning Out Find out more here! Back to Blog