The 5 Maths Topics That Trip Up Every Student (And How Your Child Can Master Them)
“I literally don’t understand anything about surds. Are they even real numbers?”
If your child has said something like this, you’re not alone. Every year, the same topics destroy GCSE Maths grades. With Paper 1 on 5th November, Paper 2 on 7th November, and Paper 3 on 10th November, your child needs to tackle these demons now.
After 15 years of tutoring, I can predict exactly which questions your child will leave blank. Here are the famous five – and how to help them conquer each one.
1. Surds: Those Scary Square Roots
Why your child struggles: They look weird (√2, 3√5) and seem impossibly complex.
What you need to know: Surds are just numbers that can’t be simplified to whole numbers. They follow simple rules, but schools often rush through them.
How to support: Don’t worry if you don’t understand them yourself! Just encourage your child to practise the three basic rules. In our Grade Boosters Live sessions, we make surds feel normal. One student told their parent: “Oh, they’re just posh fractions!”
2. Vectors: Those Arrow Things
Why your child struggles: The notation looks like coordinates but works differently.
What you need to know: Vectors are just instructions for movement. When your child sees (3/2), it means “go 3 right, 2 up.”
How to support: Ask your child to explain vectors using directions around your house. “From the kitchen to your bedroom is vector…” This makes abstract concepts concrete.
3. Reverse Percentages: Working Backwards
Why your child struggles: They instinctively work forwards, not backwards.
What you need to know: If something costs £40 after a 20% discount, your child needs to find the original price. They should divide by 0.8, not take 20% of £40.
How to support: Use real shopping examples. “This jumper is £30 in the sale, reduced by 25%. What did it cost originally?” Real-world context helps.
Last November, Sarah’s mum brought her to our session specifically for this topic. “Why didn’t anyone explain it like that before?” Sarah asked. Three hours in our group of 4 made the difference between failing and passing.
4. Trigonometry: Beyond SOH CAH TOA
Why your child struggles: They memorise SOH CAH TOA but don’t know when to use which one.
What you need to know: It’s about choosing the right tool. Your child needs to label triangles clearly and check their calculator is in degrees mode!
How to support: Remind them to draw diagrams for every question. You can’t help with the maths, but you can check they’re not rushing straight to calculations. They memorise SOH CAH TOA but don’t know when to use which one.
5. Algebraic Fractions: When Letters Meet Fractions
Why your child struggles: They forget basic fraction rules when letters appear.
What you need to know: The rules are identical to number fractions, but fear makes students forget everything they know.
How to support: Encourage them to substitute simple numbers to check their answers make sense.
The Power of Small Groups for Your Child
These topics need personal attention. In classes of 30, your child might nod along while secretly drowning.
They’re too embarrassed to say “I don’t understand” when everyone else seems to get it.
Tom’s dad told me: “He was too embarrassed to admit he didn’t understand vectors at school.” In our small group of 4, Tom discovered everyone was confused. Three hours later, they were teaching each other vector proofs.
Your 5-Day Action Plan as a Parent
With Maths Paper 1 on Wednesday 5th November:
- Tonight: Ask your child which of these five worries them most
- Tomorrow: Help them find a YouTube video on that topic
- Thursday 29th or Friday 30th: Book Grade Boosters Live for intensive practice
- Weekend: Encourage practice with past papers (even if you can’t help with the maths)
- Monday: Ensure they do light review only – no cramming!
Our Grade Boosters Live sessions tackle exactly these problem topics. In 3 hours with just 4 students, we transform your child’s confusion into confidence. At £80 for current families (GCSE), it’s your investment in their success.
Book by 25th October – spaces are limited to 4 per group, and these topics need per
Every parent wants to see their child succeed, but knowing how to help can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
In just 20 minutes, I can help you understand exactly what your child needs to thrive academically and give you a clear action plan to make it happen.
Book your free 20-minute consultation with me:
tidycal.com/m2p4dd3/20-minute-meeting
With warm wishes,
Claire Meadows-Smith
Founder & Head Tutor
The Community Schools
Your Trusted Tutoring Partner
