The document provides exam preparation strategies for VCE/IB maths students, emphasizing the importance of proper structure, time management, and effective revision techniques. It outlines five essential steps for achieving excellent results, including understanding questions fully and practicing extensively with past exams. The author, Ricky Liu, highlights that a well-organized approach and correct mindset are crucial for success, backed by his extensive teaching experience.

1. Solve for following equation:
A) 20 B) 16 C) 15 D) 14 E) 13
Hope you won’t
have the SAME
FEELING once
you receive your
exam result
during DEC!!
Average Above
Average
Outstanding

2. VCE / IB Maths A+
exam Tips and
Strategies
By Ricky Liu

3. Who is Mr. Ricky Liu
10+ years of VCE / IB teaching experience in
Victorian day schools.
Experienced as a VCE Maths Method and Specialist
Maths examiner.
 CEO of R.L Tuition Center.
Director of a TAFE College.

4. What Are we going to cover today?
How to achieve EXCELLENT results in the exam.
It’s a long process
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5

5. WHY students struggle during the
exam:
Lack of preparation and time management skills.
Wrong Method “trying to memorise” questions from
textbook, note, past exam papers.
Every problem / question is different.(There are no patterns!
)
Trying to MEMORISE = FAIL .
Make sure you understand the meaning of the word
“UNDERSTAND”
**Poor “self-monitoring “ skill & “immature attitudes” .

6. How to get EXCELLENT results
5 Steps:
Use CORRECT structure when solving problems.
Use proper Revision Skill.
Time Management ( Before exam & During exam )
Only 4 months to go!
Practise , practise and practise!
 *Correct “Mind-Set” + “Self-monitoring”
92% of the pervious
RL students who
achieved 90+ ATAR
or 7 in IB have
followed these.

7. Steps 1: Correct structure for solving
problems:
Refer each question to a correct topic ( textbook / your note / RL
note)
Ask yourself, what have I learnt in that topic?
“Always have a plan about how to solve the question before you start.
Never use your feelings to solve problem.”
Try to explain to / guide yourself when solving each exam question.
Keep talking to yourself!
Break down a BIG question into small parts, and solve each step
separately.
Understand the definition of “HARD” question.
What is a HARD question?
You don’t understand what the question is asking?
You can’t interpret the information provided to you in the

8. Exam 1 (40
Marks)
22%
Exam 2 (80 Marks)
44%
10 - 11 Questions 1multiple-choice
questions
(22 Marks)
4 Extended
(58 Marks)
5 Easy
4 Modulate
2 “Hard”
10 Easy
8 Modulate
4 “Hard”
Sub – question:
a, b, c – Easy
last 2 sub – question “Hard”
Eg: VCE Maths Method Unit 3 & 4
3 SAC: Unit 3 : 17% Unit 4: 17%

9. example: you are revising for maths method
right now and you are up to the topic of
inverse function.
For Yr10 or below – Linear Equation
what ideas have jumped into your mind?
Step 2: Revision Skill
Look at the different names of each chapter on
the index and ask yourself:
“what have I learnt in this topic? “

10. INVERSE FUNCTIONS
How about the next two points:

11. Linear Equation:
•y = mx+c (m = gradient , c = y-int )

12. Step 3a: Time Management (During exam)
“I ran out of time!”….. Why?
Lack of practice.
Relay too much on calc or not familiar with your calc.
Not familiar with the index and concepts.
Can’t refer the question to “the specific topic”
Using wrong method e.g: over using quotient rule, not using the
information provided in the question.
Not using the “READING TIME” properly!

13. How to use your “15 mins” reading time
Exam 2
Use at least 10+ mins to read through the Extend Response
questions.
Read with a calm attitude. Understand all the story and information
provided in each question.
Familiarize yourself with the questions by linking them back to a
specific topic.
*After this 15mins you should have a rough idea which part of the
question you can handle and which sub-questions are “hard”
Well-managed reading time = prevents you from running out of time.
Keep your eyes on the clock, try to finish what you can do within the
first 100mins. ( 70mins for Application part, 30mins for 22 MC )

14. Skill to answer each question During the
Exam?
Make sure you know how many marks each question or
sub-question is worth!
Set up your solution structure by referring to the marks.
One mark question = answer mark only.
“Answers” are less important than “STEPS” and structures.
 Who is going to read / mark your exam?
Clear steps = better score and less careless mistakes!
For questions worth more than one mark, consequential
marks will be given for each correct step even with a
wrong answer.

15. Skill to answer each question During the
Exam? (continued….)
Dealing with easy or moderate level questions.
Think about the relevant topic(s).
Ask yourself: “what did I learn in that topic?”.
Avoid the careless mistakes!
Dealing with the “Hard” question.
Clear understanding of what is being asked and pick up the
information provided by the question.
Read the question again, again and again!
A quick check before the next question…..e.g:
Is the question asking for exact value or 2 decimal places?
Unit ? Correct unit i.e hrs or mins?
Did you fully answer the current question?

16. Lets Try it! 2 typical “hard” questions
A. -2 B. 2 C. - 3 D. 3 E. 0.5
What is being ask?
The information
provided by the
question are indirect

17. Step 3B: Time Management (Before exam)
Plan your own monthly / weekly / daily TIMELINE &
TIMETABLE from today until the day before the exam.
Try to follow it! At least you will know if you are behind.
Practise , practise and practise!
At least 20 exam papers (paper 1&2) for each subject.
Start doing past exam papers during term 2 break!
Start from year 2013, 2 – 3 exams per week
Finish the whole paper under exam conditions.
 Follow the reading time + the writing time.
If you are stuck on a “Hard” question, go over your notes
or RL notes, before seeking help or checking the solution.
***Create a “My Mistake Collection” booklet.
Copy down all the mistakes that you have made.
Revise all the mistakes your have made 1 week before
your exam.

18. Special Tips for you (Steps 4 and 5)
Understand yourself / your personality:
There is “No miracles”
Don’t lie to yourself!
After exam, people say “I don’t care!”
Study in Library! ( Purpose ? )
Lots of temptation during study!
*Set up an alarm, snooze every 15mins while studying.
Make yourself “motivated”:
You’ve studied 12 yrs for this upcoming exam.
High ATAR = A chance to choose your course and your
dream
4 more months of HARD work 3 months of CRAZY &
WILD holiday.
Set up a reward / bigger temptation, discuss with your
parent!
(Excuse for loser)

19. Good luck to all of you.
R.L Tuition
Level 1, 364 – 372
Lonsdale st,
Melbourne
(03) 9376 8980
www.rltuition.com
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“Work Hard,
Play Hard”
“No Pain,
No Gain”