Maths Study Tips

Four PRACtical steps for studying Mathematics

(although these 4 steps were originally designed for studying Mathematics at the HSC level, they work for all year levels and other subjects)

1) Practice your Maths

· Do your homework

· Learning Maths is about mastering a collection of skills

· You become successful at Maths by doing it more, through regular practice and learning

· Aim to achieve a high level of understanding

2) Rewrite your Maths

· Homework and study are not the same. Study is your private ‘revision’ work for strengthening your understanding of a subject

· Before you begin any question, make sure you have a thorough understanding of the topic

· Take ownership of your Maths. Rewrite the theory and examples in your own words

· Summarise each topic to see the ‘whole’ picture and know it all.

3) Attack your Maths

· All Maths knowledge is interconnected. If you don’t understand one topic fully, then you may have trouble learning another topic.

· Mathematics is not a subject you can learn ‘by halves’ – you have to know it all

· Identify your areas of weakness and work on them

· Spend most of your time on the topics you find difficult

4) Check your Maths

· Test your understanding with revision exercises, practice papers and past papers.

· Develop your exam technique

· Continue to go back to steps 1,2 and 3 to improve your study habits