Conquer Math with These 10 Game-Changing Tips

If you’re reading this article, you may be struggling with Mathematics and desire to
be one of those who consistently score an A. Drawing from my experience as a high-
scoring Math student and my two decades of teaching, I want to share ten math tips to
help you turn your Math grade from a fail to an A.

1. Banish All Negative Self-Talk About Math

Are you guilty of saying things like, “I cannot do Math,” “I’m lousy at Math,” or “Math
is too hard for me”? If so, stop saying them. Negative self-talk is counterproductive
and serves as an excuse to keep struggling with Math.

Math skills and ability aren’t fixed—you can improve if you put in the effort. Positive
self-talk is a key to success. Think of times when you became good at something
simply because you believed you could.

As a child, I started believing in my Math skills because my father told me, “Math is
the only subject where one can score full marks.” I took that to mean that Math is
achievable and high scores are within reach.

Find your own motto or tagline that will change your self-talk about Math. Tell others,
“Math is manageable” and “I am good at Math,” and keep saying it until it becomes
True.

2. Revision Is as Important as Practice

Let’s get down to the essentials. I often cringe when people say, “Math is all about
practise.” I disagree. You need to revise your notes, too. Revision is 50%; practising
is 50%.

A sure way to fail a Math exam is to only practise a few questions from each topic
and then sit for the exam. Many struggling students explain their preparation like this:
“I just practised a few questions before the exam.” If that’s you, ask yourself if your
revision is thorough. Do you understand the concepts? What if you practised three
types of questions, but the exam is on a fourth type?

To prepare well, you need to thoroughly review your notes on each topic. Internalize
what was covered in class. Make sure you understand everything you’re reviewing in
your notes, and clarify any doubts with your teacher.

Test yourself—if you can’t explain a concept to yourself, go back over it. Once math
revision is complete, then move on to practising.

You don’t always need to find new questions. Most of us can’t remember what we
ate yesterday, so we likely won’t remember questions we did months ago. Redo past
homework, test questions, and any challenging questions you previously struggled
with. When practising, don’t just look at model solutions; ensure you’re able to reach
the correct solution on your own.

Also read: Why Additional Mathematics is Important?

3. Train in Math Like You Train in the Gym

When we see a very muscular person, we know they’ve spent a lot of time training.
Muscles don’t appear on their own. Likewise, the top Math scorer in your school
doesn’t succeed just by wishing for high scores—they put in years of groundwork.

If you want to do well in Math, you must be willing to put in the hours. Many
struggling students avoid Math, minimizing the time they spend on it. If you skip Math
homework, make excuses, or copy from friends, the only person you’re deceiving is
yourself. Avoiding Math weakens your “Math muscles.”

They say it takes three weeks to build a habit. Start doing Math daily for at least an
hour, and these 60 minutes can be broken into 15-minute blocks throughout the day.
Don’t underestimate the cumulative effect of these small efforts—after a few months,
you’ll be amazed by your progress.

4. Don’t Give Up on a Question Too Easily

Many students have the bad habit of giving up too quickly when they’re stuck. Treat
your practice as a rehearsal for the real thing. When you’re stuck on a question,
push yourself to think through it. Refer to your notes or similar solutions if needed,
but try to complete the solution yourself before looking at the model answer.

For explanation-type questions, challenge yourself to write a coherent answer, and
gradually train yourself to only check the solution after you’ve attempted the entire
problem.

5. A Careless Mistake Is Still a Mistake

You often hear students say, “I would have done well on this exam if it weren’t for
careless mistakes.” This is a thinly-veiled excuse to downplay their poor
performance. Let’s be clear: a careless mistake is still a mistake. Carelessness is an
attitude you can work on. We should have higher standards for ourselves. Imagine a
carpenter who builds a table with four uneven legs—they wouldn’t last long in their
Job.

Make it a point to be meticulous. First, stay 100% focused. Next, use different
methods to check your work. Look for transfer errors, verify your answer by
substituting it back into the given equation, solve the question with a different
method, or use your calculator to check for numerical accuracy. Be thorough.

6. Know Why You Made a Mistake

Don’t leave a mistake without understanding why it happened. A common scenario is
when students see their teacher’s solution, copy it down, and move on without
addressing their error. If this sounds like you, make sure you know exactly where
your mistake is and correct it thoroughly. This is important because you could carry
misconceptions for years unless they’re identified and corrected.

7. Speed Is Important Too

Accuracy is essential in Math, but so is speed. Exams have time limits, so you need
to work quickly to leave time for checking your answers. The solution? Train for it.
Every time you practise Math, work with a sense of urgency, training your mind to
think fast and your hands to write quickly.

8. Teach Your Friends Math

When I was a JC student, I vividly remember explaining differentiation to a group of
classmates. Surprisingly, I retained everything I taught them and didn’t need to
revise much on the topic before exams. Teaching others forces you to verbalize
concepts clearly and defend your understanding, reinforcing it in your mind. Of
course, arrange to help your friends outside of class time, so you don’t miss your
teacher’s instruction during lessons.

Also read:Ten Things You Should Know About H2 Math

9. Have a Humble Heart as a Learner

People who dedicate themselves to Math are often the nicest around. With each
concept having its own depth and complexity, Math people tend to adopt a humble
attitude, eager to learn and grow from one another’s insights.

To succeed in Math, keep a humble attitude and avoid arrogance. Don’t dismiss
topics or practice papers as too easy. And don’t hesitate to ask questions. Admitting
mistakes and learning from them will only make you stronger in Math.

10. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Evaluate your current understanding and identify areas where you need support. If
you need more resources or practice questions, seek them out online. For specific
questions, schedule a time for consultation with your school teacher. And if you find it
challenging to understand your Math lessons in school, consider joining a group
Math tuition class for extra support.

By following these ten strategies, you’re setting yourself up for success and moving closer to your goal of excelling in Math.