5 Ways to improve your math scores

​1.  Write out your work. 

This may seem simple, but writing out your work in Mathematics and showing your steps is an integral part of doing well in math. It helps you to take a complicated problem, and break it down into smaller pieces. This not only allows you to check step by step where you may have made an error, but also will cut down on the time taken to complete a question. All of this leads to better grades. When you break a problem down into steps, you will increase your understanding of the concepts behind the question.

2.  focus on what you don't understand.

Focusing on a question you don't understand, believe it or not, may end up giving you the greatest benefit. When you get a question wrong, circle it or highlight it. Then you can come back to it and review it. Focus on your topics and questions where you are the least confident and spend a little extra time at home or on the weekends on these areas. This could include checking out videos on the math topic on YouTube for a clearer understanding or checking out Math Forums or other Blogs online. There are literally thousands of videos and websites that are out there that can clarify any topic you are struggling with. You can pause and play a video to ensure understanding when you are stuck on a particular topic. Start to learn from your challenges and failures. Embrace the struggle and try problems outside your comfort zone. This is how we learn best! 

3.  practice, practice, practice

The old saying of "practice makes perfect" often pertains to mathematics. After learning a given topic, it is wise to practice several in order to ensure you have gotten the concept down. As you do homework and get a problem correct, have your index cards nearby and make up a new question that is similar by changing numbers, and see if you can solve that one, too. Past papers of examination questions are also helpful in going over skills and concepts for practice. 

4.  be patient

Make sure that you don not rush through a Math problem. Take your time as you go through each step in order to ensure a correct answer at the end. Rushing through Math problems just to get them done so that you can watch television, get on your phone or login to a social media account can often lead to silly mistakes. Set aside a specific amount of time when you set out to do your Math assignments (at least an hour) so that you know the time allocated to completing your problems. This way you won't set out to rush them through.

5.  ask for help or try helping someone else.

There are many people you have access to that would be glad to lend assistance. Teachers (including the ones that don't teach you) during lunch, breaktime and after school are always willing to lend assistance. Friends in your class or social group may understand a topic you don't. Instead of wasting time socializing or doing nothing, spend some lunchtimes going over some questions you have difficulty with.

Also, often, the best form of learning is teaching. It is often said that f you want to really understand something, try teaching it to someone else. Always questioning along the way will also help. These questions can be ‘Why did you do that?’ and ‘How did you know this?’ will often cause you to question your understanding of a concept in Math and in turn add depth to your understanding. It will also help you to develop the extremely important skill of articulating your thoughts on complex or confusing issues.