AO

Tips for Studying Math

1) Math is not a spectator sport. You need to work out problems yourself to learn

and understand the material.

2) Have a Math notebook. As you read the textbook, work out the example

problems yourself.

3) Do your homework right after reading/studying the textbook, while it’s still fresh in

your mind.

4) Practice, practice, practice. Mathematics is a skill, it takes exercise and time to

learn, so practice as often as you can (every day or every other day). Don’t

expect to cram right before taking the exam/quiz.

5) Mistakes make your brain grow! That’s just part of the process. Keep trying.

6) Math is sequential, the concepts build on one another. So don’t gloss-over

concepts you don’t understand. Take the time to figure it out or ask a classmate

or your professor.

7) Take breaks. For every 50 minutes of studying, take a 10-minute break.

8) Avoid distractions. Find a quiet place to work, and don’t try to multi-task. Math

requires your full attention.

9) Mix it up. Study an hour of math, then an hour for another class (if you’re taking

more than one), rather than long sessions on one topic.

10) Focus on understanding. Memorizing a solution won’t help you solve the next

problem.

11) Create a “cheat sheet” of all the important formulas and concepts before taking a

quiz or exam. Maybe include an example or two of worked problems. The act of

writing it down, and deciding what’s important to write down, will help you learn

the material. And it will be a great resource while you’re taking the quiz/exam.