Q&A for How to Pass the IGCSE Exam

The best way to practice math in IGCSE is by doing past papers to try to to work out where your weaknesses and strengths lie. Do more on past papers, especially for math.

Start by eating well before the exam. Don't cram at the last minute--studies have shown this is not an effective way to succeed in test-taking. Prepare well in advance of the test, and review the night before. Being well-prepared will help ease any stress you feel during an exam.

You could research everything your not sure of, watch videos, strengthen your weaknesses, take notes and study them well.

In most countries, it's best if you sit for eight exams, but some countries require fewer and others more, so you should go by the college's needs or your country's requirements.

Tell yourself that you can do it, just set your mind to it and get on with it. Avoid going out and avoid friends because that might distract you, and put everything aside to just concentrate on the work before you. There is no time like the present and no substitute for hard work.

Do the past papers when you actually understand the subject. Study until you comprehend the topic and then do past papers afterward to test what you know.

You need to start as soon as possible and go through past papers, friends' notes and readings. Above all, do not panic and stay completely focused on what needs to be achieved.

There's no way to assure success in life. What's important is to try your best and work hard. Know the work inside out and do plenty of practice tests. Toss fear aside and replace it with effort.

It wasn't hard at all, you just need to study well and practice as much as you can before the exam.

Yes. Buckle down, study even harder and sit the exams again in November. You'll do better for the experience, plus you'll be older and wiser this time around. You can do it.

Have your book on the side with a notepad and write down every single formula you need to learn. Then answer some questions for one specific formula using your sheet. Flip the sheet and answer more questions related to that one specific formula. Repeat the process until all formulas are done.

Calm down! Breathe deeply for 60 seconds, and drink fresh water if you can. If you believe in lucky charms, then you can have your own which you can take to your exam.

Watch detailed videos on YouTube regarding the particular chapter, and read notes as well. You should also consult your textbook for practice problems and examples.

Absolutely not. Fear will cause you to lose confidence in yourself and you will feel more stressed out and unable to concentrate. All you can do is your best, there is no reason to be afraid.

Make sure to start the preparation process as early as possible to ensure that you have all the basic facts and definitions memorized. Remember, panicking is one of the worst things that you can do to yourself. Above all else, stay calm -- once you are confident in your abilities, you will be confident in the exam hall.

It depends on the exam, of course, and on your proficiency, but if you are talking about the final boards, start 3 months in advance.

Yes, when you give your mock exam, remember what difficulty you faced. Then work on the problem. After you get your mock papers, solve them again to make sure you strengthen your weaknesses.

Read thoroughly through the textbooks and practice by yourself with solving the past papers of each subject.

Try different techniques like writing shorts notes, watching videos, reading the textbook, rewriting notes etc. and see which one worked best for you. Whatever technique you use, don't forget to study according to the syllabus.

When you are well prepared, you'll be comfortable and confident, and you won't freak out. The best way to overcome your fear in an exam is to prepare yourself for the exam.

Let someone explain it to you. Maybe your friend or anyone else who is good at explaining.

You should try something new if what you've been doing isn't getting you the results you want. Put twice as much effort as you do to get straight A's. You might also consider trying different study strategies.

Practice your essay writing and comprehensive skills. Try and get someone to check your essays, and try doing old comprehensive papers while viewing marking scheme.

The best place to find them is your exam board's website, where you can download them free of charge. Ask your teacher for help if you're unsure how to find them.

Do all the easier and less wordy questions at the start of the exam to leave yourself with plenty of time to think word problems through. When you come across a word problem, read through it carefully several times so you get a good understanding of what the question is asking you to do. Extract and underline key pieces of information (for instance, measurements and prices of tiles if the problem asks you to work out the cost of paving a garden). It may also help to rewrite the problem in a less 'wordy' way once you have figured out the information you need and solve it from there.

Start revising now. You'll need to understand the material well if you want a shot at the top grades, so the earlier you put your mind to studying, the better. Make a study schedule for each week so you can balance out how much time you're spending on each subject and focus on the ones you're weakest at. It will also help to practice answering exam-style questions on the topics you study - you can find past exam papers on your exam board's website, and some study websites even compile exam questions for particular topics. Use these for any topic you really need to work on.

Think logically. Eliminate the options which you know/think are definitely wrong. If you really don't know the answer, guess because there is always a possibility that your answer is right. Never leave a question unanswered (unless you lose marks for wrong answers).

Study long and hard. Then study some more. You'll know you've studied enough when you can explain the subject so clearly that someone not familiar with it truly understands what you're saying.

Completely transparent so that you can clearly see what is inside. If you don't have a clear pencil case, a transparent Polly Pocket would work as well. They just need to see that you don't have any cheat sheets hidden away.

Flashcards are lifesavers when it comes to recalling definitions and processes in science courses. You can use them make quiz games to play with your classmates; on one side of each flashcard, write a question such as "What is the definition of diffusion?" and write what you learned from your textbook or in class on the back. Bulleted lists also help to break down scientific processes into individual stages that are easier to understand and remember than a huge paragraph. You could also make colourful posters featuring diagrams, definitions etc. and stick them on the walls in your home where you will see them every day. Apply your knowledge by doing past exam questions too!