math study tips
Math is a common struggle for students, but it doesn’t have to be (I swear it’s actually fun!). Many students understand it at a young age, but as the material becomes less concrete, they struggle to succeed. Others find it difficult from the get-go and have no idea what this “fun in math” thing is. What we’ve noticed with many students is that they don’t know how to effectively study math. They have a strong work ethic but don’t know how to apply it efficiently.
Since high math grades are extremely important for getting into university, especially for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focused programs, I came up with some tips below. With over seven years of teaching students Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics from elementary and high school to a university level (including Advanced Placement-AP and International Baccalaureate-IB), these are the tactics I always suggest. I hope they help!
SOME PRACTICAL MATH STUDY TIPS
FIND A STUDY SPACE THAT WORKS FOR YOU
The first key to studying all subjects is having a good study space for you. This can be different for everyone and it takes some experimenting. While some need a completely clean space, others need all their books in front of them. You might do better in a public location (e.g. library, coffee shop, etc.), in your bedroom, a common space in your home, or even the beach. There are countless places where you could do work. Take a look at some of our blog posts on best places to study in Vancouver for inspiration: Yaletown, Olympic Village, Fairview, Kerrisdale, UBC, Downtown, Kitsilano, and more.
For me personally, I need a public location with medium amounts of sound to do my best work. When I was studying at UBC, I would do all my work on campus before I went home. I spent some crazy hours at school, but it was where I was the most productive. I had friends who did their best work in their rooms, so it can be different for everyone.
2. START WITH THE EXAMPLES FROM CLASS
The first thing you should do when studying math (or really any STEM course, especially Physics and Chemistry) is go through the examples from class again. It’s important to go through a problem you have seen before, focusing on why you took each step, not just what you did, before moving on to new problems. You build up your confidence, and it feels like small successful steps in your studying.
If you can’t solve a problem you have already seen, you’re not going to be able to solve a new one.
3. Look for New Examples when You’re Stuck
Everyone finds math problems they struggle with. Before giving up or looking at the answer, try to find a similar example. Your textbook has many examples at the beginning of each chapter that teachers don’t have time to go through. Commonly, what I would do in university for Math and Physics is find a similar example with a solution and work through it. Once I understood each step clearly, I would go back to my original problem and usually find it easier to solve.
This can be a great tactic if you don’t have solutions to double-check your answers. Perfect your strategy with a similar problem with an answer, then go back to your original homework problem and solve it. You’re getting twice the practice and doing all the learning yourself!
4. Don’t Spend all your Time on Easy Problems
I’ve had too many students show me the problems they were studying, only to see they avoided all the hard ones. If you are still struggling with the easier problems, then you do have to stay with this level until they’re easier. Do NOT stay at the easy level when you’re ready to move on! A great test will be 80-90% things you’ve already seen, with the remainder being a harder problem you’ve never seen before. Your teachers are giving you a chance to apply your knowledge, and the best way to prepare is to try difficult problems beforehand.
A common tip I tell my students when they are in a time crunch is, “Don’t do every problem, be able to do every problem.” Study a range of difficulties so you are fully prepared.
5. Study Frequently, Not in Infrequent Chunks
The difficult part of Math is that it builds on itself. It really is a pyramid where if the level below isn’t built properly, the whole pyramid will topple over (be the pyramid that stood the test of time!).
If a student doesn’t study Math or Calculus on Monday night, they will have a difficult time in class on Tuesday. If this continues, by the time they reach Thursday, they are completely lost. The best thing to do is study math for at least 20 minutes each night (even if you don’t have assigned homework - there are always more questions you can do!) before a math class. This way, all the previous knowledge is fresh in your brain for class. You’ll feel confident in class and will find the homework much easier.
6. …and of course - Get a Tutor!
Getting a tutor can be a great way to get immediate feedback on the parts you struggle with and identify where you excel. Our tutors show you the fun in math and the logic behind each step. We don’t want you memorizing what to do, but understanding why you took each step along the way. This is the best way to study math so you can truly excel with all new problems.
I hope this helped! There are many more tips and strategies for studying math, but if you’re feeling lost, this is a great place to start. Whether you’re a student studying math, or a parent/guardian trying to help your teenager prepare, these are some great tips. If you have any questions about our services, check out our web pages for in-person tutoring, online tutoring, or all our services. If you have any thoughts on this blog, I’d love to hear them! You can reach me at info@largetutoring.com.
Have fun studying!
