New Exampro worksheets: How to successfully transition from GCSE Maths to A-level Maths

By Dr Tom Bennison
Published 28 April 2023

Dr Tom Bennison is a Head of Sixth Form in an academy in Derbyshire, and a Member of our Expert Panel for Maths. As the Post-16 Lead for East Midlands West Maths Hub, Tom understands how difficult the transition from GCSE to A-level can be, especially for maths. Through Exampro, our exam preparation tool for teachers, Tom set about creating GCSE to A-level Maths transition worksheets to help this transition.

Here he tells you why this resource is so important, his thought process behind these worksheets and how Exampro is a fantastic tool in your armoury when teaching GCSE to A-level Maths.

I often tell my sixth form students that the jump from GCSE to A-level is much more challenging than the jump from A-level to university study – I believe this is a general truth, but it’s possibly even more true when looking at maths specifically.

Also, anecdotally at least, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made this transition to A-level Maths even more challenging for teachers and their students. For example, students typically have more gaps in knowledge (and not the same gaps as each other) and less confidence than they did pre-pandemic.

Anything that can help smooth this transition, or at least help teachers and students tackle the difficulties it presents head on, is invaluable.

GCSE to A-level Maths transition worksheets

Identifying and then rapidly addressing any gaps in students’ knowledge for topics that are key to success at A-level will quickly boost confidence. You can then ensure that new content is built upon strong foundations.

Using Exampro I’ve created worksheets for the following six topics that are fundamental to success on the A-level course:

• Algebraic Manipulation and Proof – download a free sample
• Straight Lines and Circles
• Functions
• Trigonometry
• Quadratics
• Indices and Surds

For each topic there are two worksheets and these could be used in multiple ways.

Version 1 of these worksheets should be used as topic audits for students to complete near the beginning of year 12. Each one shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes to complete. The data gathered from this can then inform whole class teaching of these topics or individualised intervention for certain students. Following teacher input, Version 2 can then be used as a further audit to demonstrate progress and highlight any remaining issues.

Because of this usage model, the two versions of the worksheets are intentionally similar, with a slight increase in difficulty in places for Version 2.

The worksheets could also be used independently by students as a revision tool for key GCSE topics. Alternatively, they could be set as transition work to be completed over the summer by students who are planning on taking A-level Maths the following year.

It’s important to note – and this should be made clear to students – that success with these worksheets won’t guarantee that they can complete questions involving these topics at an A-level standard. Knowledge and skills in these topics will be developed further during the A-level course. For example, disguised quadratics occur frequently in A-level standard questions but not at GCSE level.