Math Help: Math Test Study Tips

Oct 2, 2019 | Cave Creek

Anxiety about upcoming math tests is one of the main reasons students come to Mathnasium. Here's a handful of our best study tips to help you tackle every test while performing at your personal best, whether in math or any other subject!

Remember, preparing for a math test (or any test) is a marathon, not a sprint. Cramming at the last minute does not work. Stay on top of your school work and what's being covered in math class. Homework is your friend. Treat it like that, and you'll find it much easier to manage! Tackle the small assignments head on is the best way to get the essential ongoing practice and exposure to understand the material well. It's also a great way to be real with yourself - it shows you what you truly know and what you don't. It's the main reason we ask our students at Mathnasium to check out their homework before coming to the center. We want them to have time with the instructors to tackle the problems they don't understand first.

Finding out you don't have a solid understanding of your math homework or what's been covered in class is OK. That's what the homework is there to find out! It is completely and totally FIXABLE! It doesn't happen overnight, but with commitment and dedicated effort, over time you can strengthen those foundational math skills and number sense so that you have the knowledge and mental flexability to master what's being taught in your class.

Most importantly: if you need help with math, ask for it. Stop by the center!

Once a math test is scheduled/announced:

Make sure you know what material is being covered! This is so crucial and amazingly so many students are guessing about which lessons they're supposed to study. Today's? Last week's? All of them? Knowing what's being covered helps you create the most efficient study plan possible.
What does your home study space look like? Create a space that help you be productive and focus.
Organize yourself. Schedule as many regular study sessions as you need for that test without neglecting your other classes. Give yourself time to really get into the material without getting distracted.

As you prepare:

Review old homework assignments and quizzes. That's what they're there for! Chances are, you're going to see some very, very similar questions and formats once the test comes around.
But also be prepared to see those concepts presented in different ways. Example: "parts of a whole" can be questioned in terms of decimals, fractions, or percents! Ask yourself how else that question might be asked, or what else that question could have asked.
Do regular practice math tests or different math problems to flex your math brain muscles. Have you noticed you're more mentally ready to work at different times of the day? Totally normal. Try doing problems at the same time of the day that your test is scheduled for so you can train your brain! This is also very important for standardized tests, like the PSAT, SAT, and ACT, and beyond!
Form a study group! If you're the type that can be productive when studying with peers, of course. A small and manageable group of classmates can help with brainstorming. Make sure you come to the study group with questions you don't understand. Another person's explanation might be the trick to triggering that "aha!" moment when something finally makes sense. (This is the idea behind the Mathnasium Method Team Teaching approach that our Instructors use!) And the best way to learn and reinforce your knowledge is to teach it! Explain the reasoning to help out a friend, and you'll benefit, too!
Solo studier? That's ok, but don't be afraid to reach out for help from teachers, classmates, family, or even Mathnasium!
Give yourself time for fun. Burnout is no good and leads to needless frustration. Keep your spirits high and your attitude positive!

The day before your test:

Cramming doesn't work. Studying consistently leading up to the test does help. Give your notes a quick-through if you need to, then chill out. Do what makes you feel happy and relaxed.
Double check your backpack. Do you have your calculator and extra batteries (if required)? Snacks for your break? Make sure everything is working and ready so you're not looking for school supplies in the morning and stressing yourself out. Bring a watch if you need one to help manage your time.
Sleep. And get enough of it.

The day of your test:

Eat a balanced breakfast to jump start your day and brain! Protein will give you energy to get you through the morning. Sugary breakfasts will make you crash and drain your energy throughout the day. Drink and eat what you normally do and bring some healthy snacks with you if you need a energy boost.
Go to the restroom BEFORE going in for the test.

Once you have the test in front of you:

Breathe. Relax. Think positively. You got this.
Write your name ON the test paper. Not just on the scratch paper. Amazingly, so many people forget this. It's anxiety. Nervousness. They probably forgot to breathe.
Read the test. Check it out from beginning to end so you know what to expect and can manage your time. If there are a lot of word problems, read them carefully so you catch those "trick" questions.
Follow the instructions. "Show your work." "Reduce to lowest terms." "Leave your answer in terms of pi." I once had a math quiz that started out with 1. Read every problem but do not solve. Many of the problems on the paper involved having to say things out loud, walk around the classroom, and a lot of annoying math problems. The last problem said "Do not do any of the problems." There were a lot of students working away, walking around, reading out the first 30 digits of pi, and wondering why some people were just sitting and watching them...
Manage your time. Set priorities. Give yourself time to do the harder questions and be mindful that some questions are worth more points than others. Stay focused and on task.
If you finish early, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ANSWERS. So many students get errors on their test only to review them and find that they made a careless mistake or misread a question they knew how to solve!
Write neatly. If your "6" looks more like an "8," it won't matter. It'll be wrong.
Don't panic if you're running out of time. Do your best to answer all of the questions. Partial credit may be possibility! Losing points for incorrect answers is the only exception to not answer all the questions! Use your best judgment.