The Final Two Weeks Before IGCSE Maths
These two weeks are the last meaningful preparation window before the Cambridge exam. Done well, they consolidate 6–12 months of preparation into confident exam performance. Done poorly, they introduce anxiety without adding knowledge.
What to Do in the Final Two Weeks
Week 1: Full paper practice
Complete 2 full timed sittings this week — one Paper 2, one Paper 4 from 2022–2024 sessions. After each paper:
- Mark it immediately using the Cambridge mark scheme
- Categorise every mark lost (type A: topic gap, type B: careless, type C: presentation)
- Add new errors to your error log
Do not attempt more than 2 full papers this week. Quality of review matters more than volume of papers.
Week 2: Consolidation and confidence
In the final week, reduce past paper volume. The goal is sharpening what you know, not learning new things.
- Review your error log from the last 2 months
- Do 5–10 questions per topic on your most recent weaknesses only
- Check the Cambridge formula sheet — know which formulas are provided vs memorised
- Confirm your exam equipment (pencil, ruler, scientific calculator, compass, protractor)
- Check your exam timetable: date, time, venue, candidate number
What NOT to Do in the Final Two Weeks
Don’t attempt new topics. Two weeks before the exam is not the time to learn matrices for the first time. If a topic hasn’t been studied, skip it — focus time on topics where partial or full marks are already achievable.
Don’t do past papers without reviewing them. A paper done without mark scheme review produces no learning. 3 papers reviewed carefully outperforms 8 papers done without review.
Don’t sacrifice sleep. 7–8 hours of sleep per night is not optional during exam preparation. Sleep is when memory consolidation happens. A student who studies until 1am and gets 5 hours of sleep will perform worse in the exam than one who stopped at 10pm and slept 8 hours.
Don’t compare preparation with classmates. Everyone’s revision plan is different. Comparison produces anxiety, not marks.
The Day Before the Exam
No new past papers on the day before. Light review only — 20–30 minutes of looking at your strongest topics to build confidence.
Confirm your logistics one final time. Sleep early.
On Exam Day
- Eat a proper meal 1–2 hours before the exam
- Arrive 15–20 minutes early
- Bring all equipment
- In the exam: attempt every question, show all working, state geometry reasons, manage your time on Paper 4
Book a pre-exam session with Teacher Rig — final consolidation sessions available in the weeks before the May/June and Oct/Nov exam windows.
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