GCSE Maths revision: foundation and higher tier

Topics that come up every year

• Number: Fractions, percentages, standard form, surds, bounds.
• Algebra: Solving equations, quadratics, simultaneous equations, sequences, graphs.
• Ratio & proportion: Direct/inverse proportion, recipes, best buy, compound measures.
• Geometry & measures: Pythagoras, trigonometry, circle theorems (Higher), volume, similar shapes.
• Probability & statistics: Tree diagrams, Venn diagrams, averages from tables, cumulative frequency.

The biggest marks-per-minute topics

Not all topics are equal. Targeting these gives you the fastest grade boost:

1. Solving equations and rearranging formulae.
2. Percentages (including reverse percentages and compound interest).
3. Pythagoras and trigonometry in right-angled triangles.
4. Ratio with sharing and recipe scaling.
5. Reading graphs and interpreting gradients.

How to revise GCSE Maths (a 6-week plan)

1. Week 1: Diagnostic — sit one full past paper. Flag every topic you got wrong.
2. Week 2: Drill the bottom three topics with retrieval quizzes (10 questions, 4 days a week).
3. Week 3: Mixed practice on number, algebra and ratio.
4. Week 4: Geometry, trigonometry and statistics drills.
5. Week 5: Two full past papers under timed conditions. Mark in red.
6. Week 6: Re-test the topics you originally failed in week 1.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the non-calculator paper in practice — it's a third of your grade.
• Not showing working. You can earn method marks even with the wrong answer.
• Misreading units (cm vs m, minutes vs hours).
• Forgetting to round to the required degree of accuracy.

Tools that help

LoftMath drills times tables, number facts and mental maths under a fun space theme — building the fluency that makes algebra and ratio click. LoftTest gives you topic-tagged retrieval quizzes with instant feedback, so revision is active rather than passive.