Study Skills for Maths

Based on advice given in “Study Skills in Mathematics” by Stephen Siklos (Cambridge University).

The best way to learn Maths is to do Maths: here’s how…

1)Lessons

  • Always try to follow the explanations and solutions in class.
  • Do ask questions of your teacher when you don’t follow something, rather than letting something slip by.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask what you think may be a silly question (but do think before you ask!)
  • Do try and understand the material. You may find it helpful to summarise what the teacher has said rather than try and write down everything verbatim as this will help you to process the information.

2)Homework

  • Do go through the work/homework before the following lesson. Maths is linear and each lesson builds on the one before. Homework is designed to consolidate understanding of the work covered in the lesson or get you thinking about what you will meet next, and will help prepare you for the next stage of the topic in the following lessons.
  • Do hand your work in on time so that it can be marked thoroughly and so that the teacher can see where additional explanation is required.
  • Do use the answers in the back of the book/mark schemes sensibly, making a note in the margin where there is something you are unsure of. If you can identify the exact point that is causing a problem this will help. Use these to identify areas that need further study; ask your teacher if you are unsure about how to get a particular solution.

3)Writing mathematics

  • Do be precise. Maths is a very accurate language and you need to use it precisely.
  • Do make sure your working is clear and straightforward for someone to follow.
  • Do be tidy. Untidy work leads to misreads and mistakes
  • Do make sure you include every step so that your working leaves nothing to the imagination



4)Solving problems

Real Maths is about solving extended problems where the next step might not necessarily be clearimmediately. So, if you are struggling to get into a problem:

  • Do reread the question to check you understand what is being asked.
  • Do look for clues in the question.
  • Do simplify the problem by writing out the sums and information explicitly.
  • Do look for help on techniques and formulae you are unsure of.
  • Look for similar problems in your notes or textbooks.
  • Try to make a start – often once you get going you start to see a route through.
  • Move on to the next question and go back to the one you got stuck on later.
  • Take a short break if you are tired.
  • Ask a friend or your teacher.
  • If you get stuck, go back and check for errors. Sometimes a careless mistake can turn a soluble problem into an impossible one!

If you are not stuck then

  • Write out the solution fully.
  • Look back over what you have done and check your arguments are correct.

5)Examinations

  • For revision, work through examples while reading the relevant section of your notes or textbook.

JUST READING NOTES OR COPYING OUT EXAMPLES WILL NOT WORK

  • For last minute preparation, look through your homework and classwork exercises to remind yourself how to do questions; particularly the harder ones.
  • Make sure you start by revising the topics you are shakiest at, not the ones you feel the most confident about.
  • In the examination, stay cool and don’t let yourself get flustered.
  • Don’t rush into a question – read the whole question carefully and make sure you are clear about what you are being asked to do.
  • Remember that different parts of longer questions are often linked.
  • Set out your answers legibly and logically.
  • If you get stuck on one question, move on to another. Remember that separate questions are not related, so not being able to do question 6 does not mean that you are going to get stuck on question 7. Don’t get psyched out!

