Learning to Undertake Maths GCSE Coursework
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010Maths is one of the most dreaded subjects among students. Even before they have begun with the academic year, students begin worrying about undertaking a maths GCSE coursework. To do a coursework efficiently, it is first and foremost important to understand the mechanics of writing a coursework. Whether you are writing a GCSE Science coursework, a statistics coursework or a maths coursework, there are certain essential aspects that are to be taken into consideration when writing a coursework.
Students tend to carry out coursework writing like any other form of writing, without realizing the difference between academic writing and informal or personal writing. Also, writing for an exam is very different from writing a coursework. Here are a few essential aspects that makes coursework writing different from exam writing, in particular consideration to mathematics.
When writing a mathematics exam, you are required to solve the given mathematical problem without having to explain how you reached the solution. The focus here lies in the right solution. Whereas a writing a coursework may take different forms, it can be a representation of various methodologies to solve various mathematical problems from different topics like algebra, trigonometry etc. or it could be an analysis of mathematical solutions. In writing a maths coursework the problem solution has to be presented in the following steps-
a) Your understanding of the mathematical problem: When you are given a maths GCSE coursework assignment underlying the problem statement, you have to present it in your coursework assignment explaining your approach to it. You are free to explore varied methodologies to solve the problem, but you must first address it your readers. For example, if your problem statement requires you to find a variable, you may begin by stating a tentative value to your variable and then go on towards the solution. You may thus begin by stating ” Lets take the variable as 8″
b) Plan of Execution: The aim of a GCSE coursework is to make your understanding clear to the instructor. It therefore requires you to explain how will you execute your task of problem solution.
c) Methodology applied: A mathematical problem can be solved by various methodologies. If you have a flair for numbers, you can explore your creativity and skills, to bring out a new and innovative methodology to solve a given problem. Find out ways to make a task and calculation simpler. For example, Vedic mathematics and Abacus have proved to make mathematics simpler and easier. You may apply such tactics along with proper explanations.
d) Results: State your results at the end of the problem. Give a summary of your calculation. You may also offer alternative methods to solve the given problem.
e) Analysis: To make your maths GCSE coursework stand apart you can provide alternative problem solving methodologies and compare them. Such an analysis and comparison may show how how one problem solving methodology is different and efficient than the other and thus must be carries out.
