- 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
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.
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)*