Above all: Keep calm and carry on! Good advice in all situations but especially with maths exams! We are all familiar with a fight or flight response. When faced with imminent danger, the amygdala area of the brain sends the signal to flood the body with adrenaline and cortisol and shuts down the pre-frontal cortex, which controls higher order thinking. Useful if confronted by a dangerous wild animal – there is only time to act, not to debate what to do. 

Very unhelpful when revising for a maths exam or taking a maths exam (or any other exam). Maths is a logical subject requiring chains of reasoning, some simple, others complex. A fight or flight response throttles our ability to do this. At TutorsValley, we understand how stress and anxiety can affect students during GCSE Maths revision and exams. There are simple methods to calm yourself down, such as a basic deep breathing routine. 

As the amygdala calms, the power of the pre-frontal cortex gets released.  

Another technique is to focus on a positive image or thought. Here’s a good one, and a true one, from my experience. Thinks of an amiable and personable young woman. Let’s call her Siobhan (why not? it was her name, after all.) Siobhan came to see me a couple of weeks before her Maths exams were due to start. 

 She was in a heightened state of fear and emotion. She had tears in her eyes and was catastrophising. She told me that she could not do or understand anything, that she would inevitably fail miserably and her parents would never speak to her ever again.  

None of this had any objective basis in fact, but it was, nevertheless, her truth and we had to deal with the reality as she perceived it. 

Step 1 was indeed to calm her down – I literally got her to take a deep breath, then I started the process of building her confidence by using simple examples to prove to her she knew a lot more than she thought she did. The next phase was basic triage, a system of battlefield medicine developed by Napoleon’s Chief Surgeon, Dominique Jean Larrey. Custom and practice had been to prioritise treatments by the rank of the soldier. It made little sense, however, to devote time and energy to plumping up the pillows of the General, with only flesh wound, at the cost of letting ten good infantrymen, with more serious injuries, die.  

The counterpart in maths (and other subjects) is to do a baseline assessment to ascertain which topics were causing the most serious problems and prioritising the gaps by a combination of marks that could be lost in the exam and the extent of the knowledge gap. A skilled GCSEs maths tutor can help students identify these weak areas quickly and create a focused revision plan. Better to fix a problem that could boost overall marks by 10 than to waste time on more marginal subjects. 

The Maths exam revision strategy equivalent is to target the most critical areas first, namely those which will gain the most marks and those where the student is weakest. Here is an example of a typical sub-set of topics: 

• Fractions, decimals, percentages 
• Ratio & proportion 
• Algebra basics (solving equations, expanding, factorising) 
• Probability 
• Area, perimeter, volume 

Why these? In part they are commonly-occurring topics and ones on which there are typically easy questions, ones where even the weakest student can readily pick up a lot of marks.  

Second, in several cases such as algebra, they are essential building blocks for other topics and so, at the very least can be a straightforward pathway to gaining at least part marks on a broader range of questions and more complicated questions. 

This leaves the question of how to revise? In Maths the mantra is practice, practice, practice. Rote learning does not work and repeated drilling on past papers is essential. An experienced online GCSE maths tutor can provide structured practice sessions, targeted feedback, and guidance on how to approach exam questions effectively. What is more, the attempts should be graded using an authentic grading scheme to build understanding of what the examiners are looking for and how to set out work in a clear and concise way. 

 It never ceases to amaze me how little understanding students can have of these fundamentals, causing needless sacrifice of marks, even on topics where the student is competent in every other respect. As with the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race. Small amounts of regular practice will beat crash revision every time – in every subject, not just Maths. 

What is the role of the tutor? First and foremost, it is to build confidence in the student that they can achieve their realistic goals. Maths is a subject that frightens people and patient encouragement and understanding from a tutor can dispel that fear, freeing the student to reach their potential. Tutors can also guide students on all t5he key pojnts mentioned above: diagnosis of weaknesses; setting priorities; organising an effective revision timetable; supplying and helping assess practice exam questions. This leaves the student much better placed to go into the exam tackle questions in an efficient and focussed way. 

How did all this work out for Siobhan? She aced a 9. Even if she hadn’t, she would still have remained the apple of her doting parents’ eyes. Don’t forget to reassure your kids about that. It will also help them perform to their best potential. 

Final Thoughts 

Falling behind in GCSE Maths can feel overwhelming, but with the right mindset and revision strategy, improvement is always possible. Staying calm, focusing on the most important topics, and practising regularly can make a significant difference in both confidence and performance. Small, consistent steps are often far more effective than last-minute panic revision. With support from experienced tutors, structured guidance, and targeted practice, students can overcome weaknesses, build stronger problem-solving skills, and approach their exams with greater confidence and clarity. 

For personalised GCSE Maths support and expert revision guidance, contact TutorsValley today and help your child build confidence before exam day. 

FAQs 

1. What is the best way to revise for GCSE Maths when running behind? 

The best approach is to stay calm, focus on the most important topics first, and revise little and often. Regular practice using past papers is far more effective than last-minute cramming. 

2. Which GCSE Maths topics should students prioritise? 

Students should begin with core topics such as fractions, percentages, ratio, algebra basics, probability, and area and volume. These topics appear frequently in exams and can help students gain valuable marks quickly. 

3. Why are past papers important in GCSE Maths revision? 

Past papers help students understand exam structure, improve timing, and learn how marks are awarded. They also build confidence through repeated practice and familiarise students with common question styles. 

4. How can a GCSE Maths tutor help struggling students? 

A tutor can identify weak areas, create a focused revision plan, provide practice questions, and build confidence through patient guidance and encouragement. 

5. How can students stay calm before a GCSE Maths exam? 

Simple techniques such as deep breathing, positive thinking, and organised revision can reduce stress. Confidence grows when students focus on steady progress and achievable goals rather than panic.