DSE 2023: Tips for tackling the Maths exam, straight from a top Hong Kong tutor

“Firstly, mastering the three main topics within Section B – coordinate geometry, 3D trigonometry and Arithmetic Sequence and Geometric Sequence – is crucial for success,” he said.

Time management is critical. Hui recommended that students complete Section A1 within 15-20 minutes to save time for the more complex questions. And for those questions that do not include figures, Hui added that students should sketch the figure as accurately as possible, which will help them identify the necessary relationships to solve the problem.

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For those who aim for a passing grade:
Alternatively, those aiming for a passing grade should spend more time on Section A, work to score over 30 marks in A1 and complete all Part A questions in Sections A2 and B.

Regarding topics, the tutor emphasised that students should familiarise themselves with statistics since it carries a significant number of marks in Paper 1 and is relatively easier to handle.

“Students should be familiar with data adjustment problems and box-and-whisker diagram problems. Coordinate geometry is another important topic in Paper 1 that students should not overlook,” he said.

Top tips:
“As for this year’s exam, there will be many questions without figures, so sketching out the figures before attempting the questions is important,” he said.

Hui explained that about five to seven questions on the exam would require candidates to provide explanations. For example, students may be asked to explain why a water bottle will overflow. Rather than explaining their answer through words, students should focus on using calculations, such as determining the volume of the water.

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Common mistakes:
Hui stressed that excelling on the maths exams comes down to paying attention to small details and reading the questions carefully to ensure no critical information is overlooked.

For example, some questions require two sets of answers, such as “Which of the above values will change? Find their new value”.

“When solving problems that require proof, it’s important to provide reasons, which account for at least one-third of the marks on the question,” he said, adding that when writing about angle relationships, students should use symbols such as “Angle ABC = Angle FGH” rather than just giving numbers.

Tips for those who aim high:
The tutor said there would be about five questions that would require more time to finish. So students should prioritise completing the remaining questions before tackling the more challenging ones.

“When solving geometry problems, do not limit yourself to the theorems in the topic. Sometimes skills from other topics, such as trigonometry, may be needed,” Hui said.

He advised candidates to cross-check their answers after finishing the paper to ensure accuracy, saying students should leave at least 15 minutes for a final check.

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For those who aim for a passing grade:
Hui encouraged students to complete all the questions that were familiar first.

“It’s OK to skip even up to 20 questions in the first round,” he said, adding that students can attempt unfamiliar questions while checking their answers. Still, they should prioritise relatively easier topics like probability and statistics.

Common mistakes:
Hui cautioned that students could easily fall into traps and miss crucial details in exam questions if they rush through the paper.

“Sometimes, when students get an answer that matches [one of] the choices, they answer too quickly. However, the question may be asking for something else. So make sure to read the last words in the question again before selecting the answer,” he said.

When solving inequalities, Hui said it is crucial to change the sign whenever multiplying or dividing by negative values. However, students should pay attention to negative values in the question to avoid errors in their answers. To prevent mistakes, Hui suggested underlining key details in the question to ensure they are properly incorporated into the final answer.

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Last-minute strategies:
Problems that require cross-topic skills typically tend to be more challenging. For instance, a geometry problem may require the application of similar or congruent triangles or even trigonometry skills.

Besides eliminating answers that are certainly incorrect, it can be helpful to try substituting values, using programmes, or even drawing figures to scale as a last resort for any unfamiliar or difficult questions.