Today we’ll focus on 4 key strategies that will help you succeed
Get out your test paper and a different coloured pen
Draw this in your book:
| Strategy | 🔴 I need this | 🟡 Might help | 🟢 I got this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show working | |||
| Question hunt | |||
| Parts & wholes | |||
| Working backwards |
Your working = Your safety net
Even if you make a mistake, you can still get marks!
Example 1 - Question 7:
“Express 66 minutes as a percentage of 2 hours”
What many wrote (risky):
55%
Safer (writing your working):
Step 1: 2 hours = 120 min
Step 2: \(\frac{66}{120}\)
Step 3: = 0.55
Step 4: = 55%
Question 9:
“Jay gained 93% of 600 marks. How many more marks would he need to gain 96%?”
Risky
18 marks
Clear steps (much safer):
93% of 600 = 558 marks
96% of 600 = 576 marks
Difference = 576 - 558 = 18 marks
Mark your Learning Tracker for “Show working”
Find ONE question where you didn’t show working. Fix it now.
Find what they’re ACTUALLY asking for!
Example 1 - Question 8:
“Example 1: A TV marked at $860 is discounted by 5%. Find the sale price.”
❌ Common mistake:
5% of $860 = $43
(This is the discount, not the price!)
✓ What they wanted:
5% of $860 = $43
Sale price = $860 - $43 = $817
Question 5 (Percentages):
“Order from smallest to largest: 0.7, 3/4, 72%, 4/5”
❌ Common mistake:
4/5, 3/4, 72%, 0.7
(This is largest to smallest!)
✓ Read carefully:
0.7, 72%, 3/4, 4/5
(Smallest → Largest)
Find a question where you misread what they wanted
Question: “Joey and Chandler share lollies in the ratio 2:1. If there were 42 lollies, how many did Chandler get?”
The ratio 2:1 means:
Joey gets 2 parts
Chandler gets 1 part
Total = 3 parts
So:
3 parts = 42 lollies
1 part = \(\dfrac{42}{3}\) = 14 lollies
Chandler = 14 lollies
Question: “A phone costs $900 including 10% GST. Find the pre-GST cost.”
Key insight: “Including 10% GST” means the $900 is 110% of the original
$900 = 110% of original price
Original = $900 ÷ 1.1
= $818.18
Choose ONE to fix:
Show your working!
Start with the answer and work back!
Example - Question 6b:
“Shloom earns $35/hour. How long to earn $262.50?”
Think: What number × $35 = $262.50?
Write it out:
hours × $35/h = $262.50
hours = $262.50 ÷ $35
hours = 7.5
Check it:
7.5 × $35 = $262.50 ✓
Mark your Learning Tracker for “Working backwards”
Fix ONE of these using working backwards:
Use the template and CHECK your answer!
Look at your Learning Tracker. Pick ONE red strategy.
Your mission: