I have been asked this question so much recently that I think it will benefit more students by writing a post here.
“Should I Be Doing Ten Year Series or School Prelims Papers? “
My personal recommendation is that
- If you are generally good in a certain topic, then work on the school prelim papers (most schools pump students with piles and piles). By doing so, you are gaining exposure to more variety of questions.
- However, if you are still weak in certain topics, please go to your Ten Year Series to build up your foundation and master the basics first.
You know as well as I do that most school prelim papers are pitched at a standard which is higher than ‘O’ levels and this is the main reason for me suggesting prelim papers for exposure not fundamentals building.
Note: As 4016 (E-Math) & 4038 (A-Math) are relatively new (only available last year 2008), some topics in the Ten Years Series are lacking on questions. These are the newly introduced topics:
A-Math
- Inverse Matrix
- Sum & Product of Roots
- Partial Fractions
- Curves & Circles
- Plane Geometry (also known as Geometrical Proof)
- Further Trigonometric Identities (Addition, Double Angle, Factor & R – Formula)
- Integration involving partial fractions, trigonometry involving double angle
E-Math
- Matrix word problems and basic operations
- Set language and notation
- Statistics involving dot diagrams, stem and leaf, box and whisker, calculation of mean and standard deviation
- Applications of mathematics in practical situations (hire purchase, compound interest, money exchange, profit/loss, taxation)
I would suggest you use school prelim questions as a form of practice for the above topics.
I would love to hear from you on how you are preparing for the upcoming ‘O’ level Mathematics papers. Leave your comments below.
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Hi,
I'm Ai Ling. I enjoy coaching students who have challenges with
understanding and scoring in 'O' Level A-Maths and E-Maths. 
