How to Effectively Study for a Math Test
Do you struggle with math? If you’re like many students, maybe you have been wondering how you can effectively study for a math test to improve your grades. Math is that subject that many wish they would do away with. Complex concepts and brain-racking equations and formulas have created a perception that the subject is difficult.
However, mastering math is an essential skill that can help boost not just your academic performance but your career excellence later in life. As part of a popular acronym in today’s business and education settings – STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) math is an important subject that helps hone a student’s learning and critical thinking skills.
Perhaps, the secret to acing math tests requires a little twist – changing the verb study to practice. Excelling in math requires continuous practice to master the concepts and solve the problems more proficiently. If you’re eager to hone your math test prep skills and turn around your grades, consider the tips below.
Tips for Studying for a Math Test
Studying for a math test doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you do it regularly instead of waiting until the last minute, you can gradually improve your grasp of the concepts and be ready for the test when the day comes.
Below are the tips to get you started.
Begin Early
The earlier you begin preparing, the more your readiness during the exam. Though it might sound strange, the truth is that the test starts during your class lessons.
Ideally, a test is meant to assess your understanding of what you learn in class. Hence, to ace your tests, you should be an active learner (e.g., purpose not to miss classes and be more attentive during your lectures). This way, if you don’t understand a concept, you can ask for clarification from the lecturer or research immediately while the details are still fresh in your mind.
At the same time, you should take good notes that you can refer to for a quick refresh. Also, being proactive (reading a chapter ahead of the lecturer) is a proven learning strategy that can help enhance your understanding of the topic during the lesson.
Study Daily
Studying daily allows your brain to absorb the information better, enhancing your recall ability. Over time, consistent study hones your mastery of the concepts, giving you a better understanding of the subject.
In addition to your notes, textbook, and past papers, you may want to look for more resources online. For example, some websites have numerous math practice materials (lecture notes, online tests, etc.). You may also check YouTube for tutorials, especially on topics you struggle with.
Finally, there are online games designed to help hone basic math facts. Check them out and practice often.
Do Your Homework
Doing your homework plays a huge role in preparing you for the test. Ideally, an assignment is like a study guide that helps you better grasp the topics learnt. Mastering the homework makes it easier to solve similar problems during the test. It’s as simple as that.
Tip: When doing your homework, ensure you demonstrate the steps clearly, as shown in class, since you’re expected to solve the test questions in the same manner.
Familiarize Yourself with the Formulas
Learning the formulas is a vital part when studying for a test. While some students tend to cram the formulas shortly before the test, it’s not the best way to prepare. When you cram information, the brain stores it in short-term memory, meaning you forget it much more quickly.
The best approach is to try and comprehend each formula as you come across them during your classes. If understanding the derivative proves difficult, you could ask your lecturer to explain it or search for tutorials online.
We recommend that you keep a booklet with all the formulas applicable and update it with new ones as you learn them. This way, you can review them easily from time to time, ensuring you’re prepared when the test comes.
Take Practice Tests
Take timed practice tests as often as possible. The tests allow you to assess your understanding of the concepts you have learned. In addition, you hone your time management skills, which eventually enables you to complete the actual tests on time.
At the same time, you should pay special attention to past papers. What has been tested in previous tests is likely to be tested again. So reviewing previous questions gives you an upper hand, especially if similar questions come up again. But most importantly, it helps you understand what the examiners look for when testing specific topics.
On that note, when revising past papers, you may want to leverage your time by tackling the questions, chapter by chapter. This way, you have a thorough grasp of a particular topic or concept before moving to the next.
Join a Study Group
Your friend may understand a topic that you don’t and vice versa. By forming a study group, you can all benefit from one another. Moreover, when you explain a concept to others, your retention of knowledge increases.
Even if circumstances do not allow you to form a group, you can benefit just by helping a student who asks you to explain a particular topic.
Memorize Information
Memorizing information is a smart learning strategy. It broadens your knowledge base and ensures you recall the information better. Train your brain to memorize formulas, concepts, vocabulary, and other vital mathematical facts. For instance, memorizing the multiplication table allows you to quickly work through problems without reaching for a calculator.
You can also use flashcards to enable you to recall formulas and techniques. Generally, you should leverage any learning tools designed to help with memorization and information recall.
Schedule Intensive Revision
Studying for a math test effectively requires proper planning. If you do not have a strict study timetable, you can easily lose focus due to procrastination. Especially, the period leading to the test requires intensive study to ensure you cover all the areas and be ready when you finally sit for the test.
The first thing to do is to evaluate the amount of coursework you need to cover versus the time available. This way, you can determine the number of sessions you require to complete your revision and set the time per session.
For intensive revision, begin at least a week before the test. Whether studying in your dorm room, library, or home, keep off distractions such as phones, television, etc. Then learn in chunks (e.g., one hour each), taking short breaks in between.
In addition, you could follow the 3-2-1 rule as the test nears, i.e.,
- Three days before the test – Do practice problems from all your homework and study vocabulary (60 minutes). Remember to review the answers you got wrong in the assignment.
- Two days before the test – Do 10-15 practice tests from your homework and review the vocabulary (45 minutes).
- One day before the test – Do one practice test from each homework and review the vocabulary (30 minutes).
As you implement the above tips, remember to have enough rest each night. According to studies, the brain consolidates memories during the deep stages of sleep. Without forgetting, sleep is essential as lack of it can affect your concentration and slow your response.
Finally, once you sit for your test and get grades, ensure you review your mistakes and look for answers to understand what was required.
Habits to Avoid Before and During a Math Test
While there are no carved-on-stone rules for studying for a test, there are some habits that you should avoid lest they compromise your overall academic performance. Some of these include;
Bad Habit 1: Procrastinating Studying Until the Night Before the Test
Unless you are taking your test tomorrow and have not had time to prepare, then you should plan to start studying early. Waiting until the last day leaves you with no time to understand all the concepts and do enough practice tests to hone your test-answering skills.
Nonetheless, if you find yourself in this scenario, all is not lost. Here are tips to get you through;
Remain Calm
Having not prepared adequately, it’s easy to panic. However, this is not good for you as it can ruin your focus and concentration. Try as much as possible to remain calm, as your productivity depends on it.
Keep Off Distractions
When anxiety sets in, your mind will likely tune out and focus on comforting situations. As a result, you might find yourself taking short breaks too often or turning to your phone or the television. Keep off distractions so you can focus on learning as much as possible within the short time you have.
Gather Your Materials
Not having your materials together can also lead to distractions and hinder you from achieving your study objectives. Before you settle to study, gather all the materials you need so you can focus better.
Review Your Homework and Don’t Try to Learn Anything New
Focus on the few areas you have covered on your homework or those topics you can remember from lectures and polish them up. Otherwise, if you concentrate on new topics or concepts, you might not have enough time to understand them.
Get Enough Sleep
As earlier mentioned, sleep allows the brain to consolidate memories, so getting enough of it is vital after your marathon study. But above all, it ensures you’re well rested, enabling you to concentrate and focus during the test.
Consume a Healthy Diet and Drink Enough Water
Ideally, a healthy diet ensures your brain is working optimally, and this is crucial, especially as you prep and take the test. Have a balanced meal and drink lots of water to refresh your brain.
Consider a Brain Dump
Once you enter the exam room, you might be unsure of yourself. Do not panic. Instead, quickly go through each question and do a brain dump, jotting down as much information as you can remember about each problem (formula, techniques, etc.)
Bad Habit 2: Cramming
Cramming is a short-term fix when preparing for a test. The brain only stores crammed information temporarily, which can be detrimental to your overall course performance.
Instead, aim to study in bits daily, as discussed earlier, to allow your brain to process the information in a way you can recall it in the long term. Besides, studying in advance enables you to identify your weak areas so you can work on them before the test.
Bad Habit 3: Listening to Music
Listening to music during the study is a common practice among some students. Unfortunately, contrary to the idea that music helps you concentrate better, it might be a hindrance, especially when learning something new. This is because processing lyrics in the songs occupy the brain space that’s supposed to help you understand what you’re learning.
Bad Habit 4: Ignoring Directions
As much as you want to rush into the test and tackle all the problems you can remember, you should not skip the directions. Otherwise, you may end up making mistakes and mess up your grade.
Bad Habit 5: Untidy Handwriting
Bad handwriting can ruin a good grade. It’s vital to have neat handwriting, so the examiner does not misinterpret the numbers. You want to ensure that they don’t struggle to comprehend your workings.
Benefits of Studying for Your Math Test Early
As mentioned earlier, studying for your math test begins during class lessons. You then cultivate a habit of practising daily, culminating in an intensive revision period at least a week before the test.
Some benefits of preparing for your math test early include;
- Better grasp and application of concepts
- Identifying weak areas and improving on them before the test
- Helps you balance your study time among all subjects
- Less anxiety as you feel more prepared and confident to take the test
- Better information retention as you have time to experiment with different revision techniques
- Enough time to practice and hone test techniques
We can go on and on, enumerating the merits of commencing your study early. They’re numerous, but they all culminate into one main benefit – better grades. We hope the tips we have shared will give you a head start as you prepare for your math test and ultimately enable you to enjoy the above benefits.
