Giles Meehan
@gmeehan.bsky.social
Maths teacher (GCSE, A Level),
M.E advocate,
Musician (piano, bass, songwriter)
M.E advocate,
Musician (piano, bass, songwriter)
Very wise words, thank you for writing and sharing
September 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Very wise words, thank you for writing and sharing
Examiners' reports do often say explicitly that sinx^4 as incorrect notation loses marks
August 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Examiners' reports do often say explicitly that sinx^4 as incorrect notation loses marks
The ones I find a bit painful are the "show that A = kB" when you're told A and B are directly proportional, but you have to write 3 or 4 or 5 separate things to get 1 or 2 marks!
August 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The ones I find a bit painful are the "show that A = kB" when you're told A and B are directly proportional, but you have to write 3 or 4 or 5 separate things to get 1 or 2 marks!
That seems harsh, although depending on the context, all A level & similar maths exams (nowadays??) are very demanding about conclusions; candidates must state clearly exactly what they've found or proved.
August 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
That seems harsh, although depending on the context, all A level & similar maths exams (nowadays??) are very demanding about conclusions; candidates must state clearly exactly what they've found or proved.
If the full examiners' mark scheme is any good, it shouldn't leave anyone in any doubt as to exactly what is and isn't worthy of the mark, down to every single word, for a transformation question. And presumably should be the same every year.
August 19, 2025 at 7:25 PM
If the full examiners' mark scheme is any good, it shouldn't leave anyone in any doubt as to exactly what is and isn't worthy of the mark, down to every single word, for a transformation question. And presumably should be the same every year.
I would've had the horizontal axis at about 5'2" and included Kylie being upside down!
August 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I would've had the horizontal axis at about 5'2" and included Kylie being upside down!
I wonder if "translation by 4 units in the positive x direction" would've got the marks, and if so, how is it different? I always insist that students write translations as vectors, as it is (I think) the guaranteed notation to get marks in every syllabus (even if not always the preferred).
August 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I wonder if "translation by 4 units in the positive x direction" would've got the marks, and if so, how is it different? I always insist that students write translations as vectors, as it is (I think) the guaranteed notation to get marks in every syllabus (even if not always the preferred).
Thank you, looks like a very likely distribution of topics!
May 21, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Thank you, looks like a very likely distribution of topics!
A tiny fraction of a league per eon?
May 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A tiny fraction of a league per eon?
If only their app as an option weren't so terrible (according to the reviews)
May 15, 2025 at 11:39 AM
If only their app as an option weren't so terrible (according to the reviews)
Thank you - saw that, and others' replies, and all makes sense! I shouldn't try to do maths before 9am, the number of times I also tell my students not to get bogged down in the algebra if they've not looked at a simple diagram and seen if there's a "simple" geometric explanation!!
April 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Thank you - saw that, and others' replies, and all makes sense! I shouldn't try to do maths before 9am, the number of times I also tell my students not to get bogged down in the algebra if they've not looked at a simple diagram and seen if there's a "simple" geometric explanation!!
Sorry running out of time this morning, and also got stuck so far, nice numbers so 30⁰ and (1, 1, 2)? And 4a+3b+5c=0? But the other one should be solveable but feel like I'm missing something crucial while brain not woken up yet!
April 2, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Sorry running out of time this morning, and also got stuck so far, nice numbers so 30⁰ and (1, 1, 2)? And 4a+3b+5c=0? But the other one should be solveable but feel like I'm missing something crucial while brain not woken up yet!
So dot product of L2's direction vector with normal to plane is 0, and dot product with L1's direction uses the angle given - feels like it should be possible? Will have to get pen and paper out over breakfast now!
April 2, 2025 at 7:03 AM
So dot product of L2's direction vector with normal to plane is 0, and dot product with L1's direction uses the angle given - feels like it should be possible? Will have to get pen and paper out over breakfast now!
Ah sorry, and the number of times I complain to my students that they haven't read the question!! I'll try again!
April 2, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Ah sorry, and the number of times I complain to my students that they haven't read the question!! I'll try again!
All Students Try Cast diagrams and get them wrong...?!
April 2, 2025 at 6:56 AM
All Students Try Cast diagrams and get them wrong...?!
Yes, it's asking for the reflection of the original line in the plane, without saying it in those words!!
April 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Yes, it's asking for the reflection of the original line in the plane, without saying it in those words!!
Thank you very much, all booked now and looking forward to it!
January 7, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Thank you very much, all booked now and looking forward to it!
Yes that's what I got yesterday! 🤨
January 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Yes that's what I got yesterday! 🤨
Can't believe I've done 851 of these!!
September 4, 2024 at 8:16 PM
Can't believe I've done 851 of these!!
Any chips that aren't fried in with gluten-containing breadcrumbs or batter are a win for me, to be honest!
August 19, 2024 at 3:53 PM
Any chips that aren't fried in with gluten-containing breadcrumbs or batter are a win for me, to be honest!
I like the idea that you might have submitted 19 of the scripts a minute before the July cut-off, and just one a minute later! Still, it's halfway towards buying a Costa!
August 19, 2024 at 3:50 PM
I like the idea that you might have submitted 19 of the scripts a minute before the July cut-off, and just one a minute later! Still, it's halfway towards buying a Costa!
That's wonderful! Not seen that before!
August 17, 2024 at 12:58 PM
That's wonderful! Not seen that before!