Most students know how to study for English, history and science tests, but a lot of confusion surrounds how to study for math tests. Are you a math-studying master or could you use a few pointers?
Think about how you prepared for your last math test. Students often suffer from test anxiety, which leads them to believe that no matter how much they study, they won't do well on the test. Let's debunk some common myths about studying for math tests and come up with a solid plan to show your next math test who's boss!
While there are definite formulas all math students need to know - like the area of a rectangle, triangle and circle - math is really a matter of problem solving. Students who are most challenged by mathematics have not developed the reasoning, logic or understanding they need to find the solution path. Every math student should ask these questions when reading a problem:
While re-doing some homework problems helps to review the section covered, it is not the most effective way to study for a test. Top math students work out every single problem in each section. Additionally, they seek help from their teacher or tutor for any problems they cannot solve.
This common belief among students is what causes them to crash and burn when they take their tests. Unlike other subjects, math knowledge is cumulative. Sections that are not understood - or are missed due to absences from class - create gaps in the student's math level. These holes may not manifest themselves until later, when another concept is introduced that builds on the previously introduced math concept. Such gaps lead to confusion and more problems keeping up in class.
A student who only knows one way to come up with a solution will run into trouble when the teacher changes the parameters or “reverses” the problem to be solved. Reversing a problem requires an experience base that includes practice in reverse thinking. For example, most of us can answer the question, “What is 3% of 200?” A reverse question would be “3% of what is 6?” The concept also applies to a student memorizing a formula in algebra. Fully understanding how and mastering when to use a mathematical formula require a lot of practice with similar problems, which in turn results in arithmetic fluency. Fluency in mathematics is similar to fluency with a language, when a student learns to speak beyond phrases and begins to construct his or her own sentences.
Many mistakes are caused by human error rather than a lack of comprehension. It is important to carefully work out each problem to minimize errors, and it never hurts to recheck calculations. Careless mistakes often occur when the calculations become so mechanical that the student's mind wanders and he or she loses concentration. Sometimes a simple arithmetic operation or sign error leads to an incorrect answer. Organizing work on paper in a step-by-step sequence helps a student trace back to find any possible mistakes.
Preparing for tests and quizzes requires a systematic method for reviewing the concepts, solving homework problems, memorizing key concepts and formulas and taking practice tests. In addition, success for excelling in math demands that a student attends class regularly, takes detailed notes from the teacher's explanations, does all of the assigned homework every day, asks for help if needed and regularly reviews previous math concepts.