This exam tips covers Exam Tips within BIDMAS for GCSE Mathematics. Revise BIDMAS in Number for GCSE Mathematics with 14 exam-style questions and 22 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 7 of 9 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Exam Tips
- Show your working: Write each step clearly to avoid mistakes and gain partial marks
- Use brackets for clarity: (3 × 4) + 2 is clearer than 3 × 4 + 2
- Check equal priority operations: For ÷ and ×, or + and -, always work left to right
- Double-check indices: 2³ = 8, not 6. Powers are multiplication, not addition
- Nested brackets: Work from inside out: 2 × (3 + (4 × 5)) = 2 × (3 + 20) = 2 × 23 = 46
Practice questions for BIDMAS
What does the letter 'I' stand for in BIDMAS?
Explain what BIDMAS tells us about calculations and why it is needed.
Quick recall flashcards
Calculate: 10 - 2²
**Step 1:** Indices first (BIDMAS)
2² = 4
**Step 2:** Then subtraction
10 - 4 = **6**
*(Not 10 - 2 = 8, then 8² = 64)*
Calculate: 2 + 3 × 4
**Step 1:** Multiplication first (BIDMAS)
3 × 4 = 12
**Step 2:** Then addition
2 + 12 = **14**
*(Not 2 + 3 = 5, then 5 × 4 = 20)*