IGCSE Mathematics High Yield Topics, Pitfalls, and Exam Tips
1) Number & Algebra
Must know basics
Indices & standard form: a^m * a^n = a^(m+n); negative/fractional indices; standard form a × 1
with 1 a < 10.
Ratios, rate, proportional division; percentage change; reverse percentages; compound interest
(growth/decay).
Conversions among fraction/decimal/percentage; significant figures and decimal places.
Algebraic manipulation: factorising, expanding, simplifying, rationalising surds.
Linear & quadratic equations/inequalities; completing the square; quadratic formula; number line
for solutions.
Sequences: arithmetic (u_n = a + (n 1)d) and simple geometric; nth term; sum of first n terms fo
arithmetic.
Key difficulties
Simultaneous equations (linear + linear; linear + quadratic) by elimination/substitution/graphing.
Inequality regions in the plane: shading, feasible region vertices, objective function
optimisation (mini linear programming ).
Surds: multi step simplification and rationalisation when surds appear in denominators and
coefficients.
Multi step percentage problems (reverse percentage, successive percentage changes).
Common pitfalls
Significant figures/decimal places: if not specified, follow the paper s default (often 3 s.f.).
Completing the square sign mistakes: (x + b/2)^2 (b/2)^2 + c.
Reverse percentage direction errors (mixing after discount/tax with before ).
Inequality flipping when multiplying by a negative; open vs closed dots on the number line.
Exam tips
Try factorising a quadratic first; if not factorable, use completing the square or the quadratic
formula; check discriminant b^2 4ac for the number of roots.
Translate word problems into equations via a known/unknown table before solving.
2) Geometry & Mensuration
Must know basics
Coordinate geometry: gradient (slope) m, intercepts; two point form; parallel/perpendicular
(perpendicular: m1 * m2 = 1).
Distance and midpoint: dist = sqrt((x1 x2)^2 + (y1 y2)^2), midpoint = ((x1 + x2)/2, (y1 +
y2)/2).
Perimeter/area/volume of standard shapes and solids (prisms, cylinders, cones, spheres); surface
area.
Similarity & scale: lengths k, areas k^2, volumes k^3.
Circle theorems: angle at centre is twice angle at circumference; angles in the same segment are
equal; tangent perpendicular to radius; chord/secant theorems.
Key difficulties
Sectors: arc length = (theta/360) * 2 * pi * r, sector area = (theta/360) * pi * r^2.
Triangle area with trigonometry: (1/2)ab sin(C), linked with sine/cosine rules.
3D views and cross sections; spatial Pythagoras for diagonals in solids.
Mixed similarity + algebra problems.
Common pitfalls
Unit conversion (cm^2 vs m^2; cm^3 vs m^3); rough pi handling when accuracy is specified.
Circle theorem angle positions mis identified; forgetting area/volume scale with k^2/k^3, not k.
Exam tips
Always draw a clean labelled diagram: mark angles, sides, given values; identify correspondence
before writing similarity ratios.
Project 3D problems to right angled triangles, then use Pythagoras or trig ratios.
3) Trigonometry & Vectors
Must know basics
Right triangle trig: sin = opposite/hypotenuse, cos = adjacent/hypotenuse, tan =
opposite/adjacent.
Any triangle: sine rule, cosine rule, and area = (1/2)ab sin(C).
Bearings: three digit angles measured clockwise from North.
Vectors: column form (x, y); addition/subtraction, scalar multiplication; magnitude |a| = sqrt(x^2
+ y^2); collinearity (proportionality).
Key difficulties
Ambiguous case (SSA) when using the sine rule (two solutions or none).
Vector proofs: parallel/collinear, midpoints and division points expressed with vectors.
Common pitfalls
Calculator in the wrong angle mode (Degrees vs Radians).
Bearings not written as three digits or measured from North.
Vector directions reversed; forgetting the square root in magnitudes.
Exam tips
Decide whether you have an included or a non included angle to choose cosine vs sine rule
appropriately.
Split paths in vector geometry; use the parallelogram or triangle law to structure reasoning.
4) Functions & Graphs
Must know basics
Basic graphs and transformations: linear, quadratic, exponential, reciprocal, absolute value; y =
f(x) + a, y = f(x + a), y = a f(x), y = f(a x).
Intersections via simultaneous equations; symmetry axis and vertex of a quadratic (from complet
the square).
Function notation; domain and range (within the given interval).
Key difficulties
Piecewise and absolute value functions: careful interval splitting for solving and sketching.
Reciprocal/rectangular hyperbola: locating asymptotes and understanding shape.
Reading parameters from graphs: slope, intercepts, vertex/axis of symmetry, approximate roots.
Common pitfalls
Transformation direction errors: f(x + a) means shift left by a units.
Misreading scales or non uniform axes on printed graphs.
Exam tips
For y = ax^2 + bx + c, note the opening (a), axis x = b/(2a), and compute vertex value by
substitution; find intercepts via simultaneous equations with y = 0 or with a line.
5) Statistics & Probability
Must know basics
Charts: bar/pie, frequency polygons, stem and leaf, cumulative frequency curves, and
box and whisker (read quartiles and IQR).
Grouped data & histograms (unequal class widths): frequency density = frequency / class width;
area represents frequency.
Set notation and Venn diagrams: union, intersection, complement, n(A).
Probability trees; conditional probability P(A|B) = P(A B) / P(B).
Key difficulties
Histograms with unequal widths: compute frequency density correctly.
Reading median and quartiles from cumulative frequency; compare medians and IQRs with box pl
Without replacement: dependent probabilities on trees; conditional probability with Venn/trees.
Common pitfalls
Confusing frequency with frequency density in histograms.
On box plots: ends are min/max, not the range endpoints; mixing up quartiles.
Wrong denominator in conditional probability; double counting or missing overlaps in Venn
diagrams.
Exam tips
When comparing distributions, write about centre (median/mean) then spread (IQR/variance; IQR
common on IGCSE).
On probability trees: each level sums to 1; terminal branch probabilities add to totals. Write
event paths before algebra.
6) High yield integrated question types
Linear programming style region problems: graph inequalities, find feasible vertices, substitute
into an objective for maxima/minima.
Geometry + algebra: similarity ratios with unknowns; coordinate geometry proofs using
slopes/midpoints/distances.
Trig packs: multi step plane/3D problems; draw helper lines; apply cosine/sine rules
appropriately.
Functions: piecewise/absolute value equations and number of solutions discussions via graphs.
Statistics set: histogram + cumulative frequency + box plot reading and comparison in one proble
Conditional probability: without replacement trees and Venn diagrams with conditional
statements.
7) Top 10 pitfalls pre exam checklist
Not following required accuracy (e.g., 3 s.f.) or missing units.
Forgetting to flip inequality signs after multiplying by a negative; wrong open/closed point on
number lines.
Reverse percentage direction errors when moving from after to before .
Sign mistakes in factorising/completing the square steps.
Circle theorem angle positions misread; using k instead of k^2/k^3 for area/volume scaling.
Calculator in the wrong angle mode (Degrees).
Vector directions reversed; magnitude missing the square root.
Confusing frequency vs frequency density; reading median/IQR incorrectly from cumulative curve
Incomplete interval splitting for absolute value/piecewise problems.
Omitting method steps: losing valuable working marks even when final answers are wrong.
8) Exam strategy Calculator vs Non calculator
Non calculator: prioritise exact manipulation (fractions/surds); use Pythagorean triples and neat
trig ratios; round only at the end.
Calculator: write the model/equation first, then compute; keep more digits mid way and round at
the end; for stats, tabulate before formulas.
General: always show key steps (define variables, set up equations/ratios, substitute, conclude)
to secure working marks.
9) Two week sprint plan
Daily timed mixed practice (full or sectioned).
Target each item in High yield integrated types with 2 3 extra problems.
Build a one page personal error log: problem ID, topic, error type, fix, and a link/reference to a
similar practice.
Re check accuracy/units rules and your formula sheet (trig, sectors, similarity, quadratics,
stats/probability).
