Math Study Skills
Be actively involved in managing the learning process:
- Take responsibility for studying, recognizing what you do and don't know
- Attend class every day and take complete notes.
- Be an active participant in the classroom. Get ahead in the book; try to work some of the problems before they are covered in class.
- Ask questions in class!
- Go to office hours and ask questions.
Studying Math is Different from Studying Other Subjects
- Math is learned by doing problems. Do the homework.
- A word of warning: Each class builds on the previous ones. Falling a day behind puts you at a disadvantage. Falling a week behind puts you in deep trouble.
Study Time
- Take as much time as you need to do all the homework and to get complete understanding of the material.
- Form a study group.
Studying for a Math Test
Everyday Study is a Big Part of Test Preparation
Good study habits throughout the semester make it easier to study for tests.
- Do the homework when it is assigned. You cannot hope to cram 2 or 3 weeks worth of learning into a couple of days of study.
- Ask your Instructor questions as they arise; don't wait until the day or two before a test. The questions you ask right before a test should be to clear up minor details.
Studying for a Test
Start by going over each section, reviewing your notes and checking that you can still do the homework problems (actually work the problems again). Use the worked examples in the text and notes - cover up the solutions and work the problems yourself. Check your work against the solutions given.
You're not ready yet!
- Step back and ask yourself what kind of problems you have learned how to solve, what techniques of solution you have learned, and how to tell which techniques go with which problems.
- Try to explain out loud, in your own words, how each solution strategy is used (e.g. how to solve a quadratic equation). Check your verbal explanations with a friend during a study session (it's more fun than talking to yourself!).
- Put yourself in a test-like situation: work problems from review sections at the end of chapters. It's important to keep working problems the whole time you're studying.
Also:
- Start studying early. Several days to a week before the test (longer for the final), begin to allot time in your schedule to reviewing for the test.
- Get lots of sleep the night before the test. Math tests are easier when you are mentally sharp.
Getting Assistance
When
Get help as soon as you need it. Don't wait until a test is near. The new material builds on the previous sections, so anything you don't understand now will make future material difficult to understand.
Use the Resources You Have Available
- Ask questions in class. You get help and stay actively involved in the class.
- Visit the Instructor's Office Hours. Instructors like to see students who want to help themselves.
- Ask friends, members of your study group, or anyone else who can help. The classmate who explains something to you learns just as much as you do, for he/she must think carefully about how to explain the particular concept or solution in a clear way. So don't be reluctant to ask a classmate.
- All students need help at some point, so be sure to get the help you need.
Asking Questions
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Any question is better than no question at all (at least your Instructor/tutor will know you are confused). But a good question will allow your helper to quickly identify exactly what you don't understand.
- 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.
- Good comment: "I don't understand why x + x doesn't equal x2.” This is a very specific remark that will get a very specific response.
- Okay question: "How do you do #17?"
- Better question: "Can you show me how to set up #17?” (the 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.
- Right after you get help with a problem, work another similar problem by yourself.
You Control the Help You Get
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.
- When you ask for help, have a specific list of questions prepared in advance.
- Do not allow yourself to become dependent on a helper. The helper cannot take the exams for you. You must take care to be the one in control of tutoring sessions.
- You must recognize that sometimes you do need some coaching to help you through, and it is up to you to seek out that coaching.