1. Always review daily. Math is a cumulative subject so it is essential that you keep up with the material and seek help as soon as you realize you need it.
2. Take responsibility for studying, recognizing what you do and don't know, and knowing how to get your instructor to help you with what you don't know. In class sit somewhere where you will not be distracted.
3. Attend class every day and take complete notes. Instructors formulate test questions based on material and examples covered in class as well as on those in the text.
4. Be an active participant in the classroom. Ask questions! There are usually other students wanting to know the answers to the same questions you have. Any question is better than no question at all. But a good question will allow your helper (teacher, tutor, peer...etc.) to quickly identify exactly what you don't understand.
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Not too helpful comment: "I don't understand this section." The best you can expect in reply to such a remark is a brief review of the section, and this will likely overlook the particular thing(s) which you don't understand. |
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Good comment: "I don't understand why f(x + h) doesn't equal f(x) + f(h)." This is a very specific remark that will get a very specific response and hopefully clear up your difficulty. |
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Good question: "How can you tell the difference between the equation of a circle and the equation of a line?" |
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Okay question: "How do you do #17?" |
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Better question: "Can you show me how to set up #17?" (your instructor can let you try to finish the problem on your own), or "This is how I tried to do #17. What went wrong?" The focus of attention is on your thought process. |
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Right after you get help with a problem, work another similar problem by yourself. |
5. Go to extra help and ask questions. The instructor will be pleased to see that you are interested, and you will be actively helping yourself.
6. Preview the material that is about to be covered in class. By reading the next section before class, the lecture will be reinforcing what you have read rather than be the first time you are hearing.
7. Rework the examples done in class on a daily basis to reinforce the concepts.
8. Math is learned by doing problems. Do the homework. The problems help you learn the formulas and techniques you do need to know, as well as improve your problem-solving skills.
1. Check in advance the format of the exam. Find out how many questions there will be and the time allotment.
2. Determine the scope of the exam and construct a list of topics to review and specific problems for each topic. Design sample exams and take several practice exams. Time yourself to see if you can finish in the allotted time.
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Do not expect to be able to work out very difficult problems on a test if you have not practiced working out these kinds of problems ahead of time. |
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Work out lots and lots of difficult problems dealing with each topic you will be tested on. Do one topic at a time. |
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Learn how to recognize problems or terminology you have learned in random order, i.e. not in the order you learned them or your textbook presented them. |
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Give yourself difficult practice exams with new problems you never saw before. Make sure the correct answers are available for checking your results. If you can get 100% on your own difficult tests, you are more likely to do well on the exam. |
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Do an error analysis of your typical errors. Look over your previous exams and practice exams and note what you usually get wrong; areas of weakness you need to restudy and your typical careless or "silly" errors. Make a mental check list of these careless errors ,such as simple addition errors, copying numbers incorrectly, leaving the decimal point out, reversing signs, etc. so you can use it to proofread your next exam. |
3. Find a study buddy. Helpers should be coaches, not crutches. They should encourage you, give you hints as you need them, and sometimes show you how to do problems. But they should not, nor be expected to, actually do the work you need to do. They are there to help you figure out how to learn math for yourself.
4. Try to explain out loud, in your own words, how each solution strategy is used (e.g. how to solve a quadratic equation). If you get confused during a test, you can mentally return to your verbal "capsule instructions". Check your verbal explanations with a friend during a study session (it's more fun than talking to yourself!).
5. Get enough sleep. A good night sleep is essential. Some researchers believe that studying is the last thing you should do before going to bed as the last thing on your mind will stay with you through your sleep cycle.
6. Practice relaxation exercises along with positively visualizing the exam going well for you. A simple relaxation technique is to sit or lie quietly and begin by focusing on your breathing. Breathe slowly and regularly and say "relax" with every exhalation. Do this for at least five minutes and as long as 20 minutes. Once you achieve a state of deep relaxation, say positive self-statements, such as: I am a good student; I am relaxed, calm, alert and confident on exams; I see myself accomplishing my goals; I am capable; I have confidence in myself. Then, while still in this deeply relaxed state, picture yourself taking your upcoming exam. See yourself calm, relaxed, alert, clear and confident on the exam. See yourself correctly answering all the questions and the exam going well for you. Visualize yourself succeeding. Do this relaxation and visualization exercise each day in the days before the exam and during the half hour or so before the exam.
7. Eat low fat protein (such as low fat yogurt or cottage cheese, broiled chicken or fish, or part skim milk, mozzarella cheese) an hour or two before the exam. This will keep you alert without giving you the rebound effect that is felt with caffeine or sugar.
8. On the exam day, avoid talking to classmates who are nervous or anxious.
9. Be hermit before the exam. Arrive to class on time and do not discuss the exam with anyone. Do not allow yourself to get sucked into the “crammer’s” conversations.
1. Throughout the exam focus on remaining calm, relaxed, and positive. Check your breathing often. Keep it regular and slow. Make sure your breathing is deep and avoid rapid, shallow breathing which tends to increase anxiety levels. Check your neck and shoulder muscles and loosen any tight areas. Also, say positive self statements to yourself and push away any disturbing or distracting thoughts. Say things like: I am a good student; I am very capable; I am learning more each day; My memory is improving each day; My mind is clear and alert; I see myself accomplishing my goals; I have confidence in myself; I am an intelligent, talented person; I am relaxed, calm and confident on my exam; I am eliminating any distracting or disturbing thoughts.
2. When you get your exam, write out all of your formulas on the top corner of the sheet. This becomes your "cheat sheet' and you can refer to it any time during the exam. Be sure to put down even the easiest formulas so you will not blank on them later, as some students have.
3. Read instructions carefully. Circle or underline significant words in the question. Read carefully to avoid misinterpreting what is being asked.
4. Do not spend too much time on any one question. Time is of the essence - work as quickly and continuously as you can while still writing legibly and showing all your work. Skip the harder ones and then go back to them later as your confidence builds. Many students do well by starting with the easiest questions first and working their way on to the more difficult ones as their confidence level increases. It is like a sifting process; they do the easiest question first, then the next easiest and so on. Before they know it, every question is answered.
5. When working out a problem, write done whatever you know. It might help you to figure the problem out and some teachers even give partial credit in recognition for what you know. Be sure to show all your work!
6. Never waste time erasing! Just draw a line through the work you want ignored and move on. Not only does erasing waste precious time, but you may discover later that you erased something useful (and/or maybe worth partial credit if you cannot complete the problem). You are (usually) not required to fit your answer in the space provided - you can put your answer on another sheet to avoid needing to erase.
7. Don't give up on a several-part problem just because you can't do the first part. Attempt the other part(s) - if the actual solution depends on the first part, at least explain how you would do it.
8. Take advantage of calculators. Learn how to use them well ahead of time. They can be very useful for checking your answers.
9. After finishing the test, verify your answers using checking techniques:
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Check for reasonableness. Does the answer make sense? |
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Check the specifics of the problem or question. If you are unsure of your answer, do it again! |
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Remember that on multiple choice exams your first response is often your best response. Unless you have a good reason, do not change your answer. Many students change their answers to incorrect ones. |
10. Proofread your exam. Check for omissions and check to see if you have made any of the typical errors or pattern of error you were able to identify previously.
11. Allow yourself the whole test period to finish the exam. Do not allow those who finish early to bother you. Remain clear, calm, confident and positive. Maintain an alert mind and a cheerful attitude throughout the exam.
1. LEAVE AND REWARD YOURSELF FOR A JOB WELL DONE!
2. When the test is returned don't just file it away. Check over the problems you missed, after all it is possible the instructor made an error in grading! Make sure you understand what you did wrong. Make corrections right on your test in a different color or on a separate piece of paper.
3. If you don't get the grade you wanted, remember that the most learning often comes from making mistakes. Success or lack of it on one test does not predict the success on the next test. You still have time to learn and do well next time.
Ten Ways To Reduce Math Anxiety
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3. Consider math
a foreign language -- it must be practiced.
4. Don't rely on
memorization to study mathematics.
5. READ your
math text.
6. Study math
according to
YOUR LEARNING STYLE.
7. Get help the
same day you don't understand.
8. Be relaxed
and comfortable while studying math.
9. "TALK"
mathematics. 10. Develop responsibility for your own successes and failures. |