How to Study for a Math Exam

Preparing for the Test

Look over your class notes. After school, look over the notes you took in class that day for 15 to 20 minutes. As a test approaches, review your notes for the entire unit or chapter more thoroughly. Pay special attention to the example problems the teacher provided in class, since these will help break down how a given procedure or formula works. If you don't have any class notes, ask your classmate for notes. Take some time to highlight all the key vocabulary and topics you go over in your notes.

Do problems similar to those that were assigned for homework. Suppose you were assigned odd numbers for homework because the even numbers’ answers are in the back of the book. Work on those even-numbered problems, then check your answers to see where your strengths and weaknesses are. Ask your teacher if your math book has an online website. Sometimes online textbooks can help by providing quizzes and additional instructional material. EXPERT TIP Grace Imson, MA Grace Imson, MA Math Instructor, City College of San Francisco Grace Imson is a math teacher with over 40 years of teaching experience. Grace is currently a math instructor at the City College of San Francisco and was previously in the Math Department at Saint Louis University. She has taught math at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels. She has an MA in Education, specializing in Administration and Supervision from Saint Louis University. Grace Imson, MA Grace Imson, MA Math Instructor, City College of San Francisco Try solving for different parts of the equation. It's very important to learn to apply what you're learning to different cases. For instance, if you're studying the Pythagorean theorem, don't just solve it for one side—after you finish, solve it again for the other side, then for the hypotenuse.

Join a study group. Different people see concepts in different ways. Something that you have difficulty understanding may come easily to a study partner. If everyone in the group is confused about something, ask the teacher for help. You could meet once or twice a week in person, talk over the phone, or chat online.

Have someone make up practice problems for you. If you’re in a study group, you can create and exchange practice tests for each other. Ask a family member or someone in your class to work on practice examples together. If your textbook has a website, see if you can download practice exams. Give yourself a time limit when taking a practice test to simulate the real thing.

Reward yourself for studying hard. You deserve a break after a few hours of intense studying! Figure out some way to treat yourself after studying hard to help motivate yourself. For example, you could have a candy bar, go on a bike ride, play a game for 20 minutes, or do another low-key activity you enjoy.

Rest and eat well just before the exam. Try not to be stressed as the exam approaches. Get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam. Have a full breakfast that morning and, if the test is later in the day, a good lunch. Eat plenty of nutritious foods rather than fast, processed ones. Try having a light, healthy snack, like almonds. This will help give your brain a little more fuel before the test.

Going to Your Classes

Attend class every day. Being there regularly is essential for learning well.

Pay close attention. Showing up to class is half the battle, so listen and pay attention to the material. Seeing your teacher break down a problem on the board is key, since math is typically more visual than other subjects due to the equations and problem solving. If you have trouble focusing, ask your teacher if you can sit in the front row. Take good notes. Jot down any example problems from the session/class. When you review your notes later on, you will have a better feel for the specific lesson that was taught, rather than relying on your textbook.

Ask your teacher any questions you have before the exam. The teacher might not tell you specifically what is going to be on the exam, but they might give you helpful guidance if you don't understand. Asking questions about material that confuses you will also show the teacher you care about doing well in the class. Each night after school, look over your notes. Highlight any questions you have and take them to your teacher for further explanation. If you're in college, visit your math professor during their office hours.

Read the textbook. Make sure you read all of the assigned text and not just the examples. Textbooks often include proofs of the formulas that will help you understand the lesson much more thoroughly. Further, if you do the assigned reading, you'll be better prepared for each class, so you'll be able to actively participate. Actively participating, or raising your hand to respond to and ask questions, will help your grade in the long run.

Studying Every Day

Start studying as early as possible. Start preparing for the test on day one of the unit. Each night after class, look over your notes from that session. Cramming the night before will just overwhelm you. If you give yourself time to study gradually, you’ll have a better shot at mastering the material. In addition, you’ll be able to identify weak spots and, if necessary, get extra help.

Do your homework problems. Most classes have assigned, or at least suggested, problems that the teacher feels are most useful. Exam problems are often similar to homework problems, so doing your daily homework is like taking a little practice test each day. If your textbook provides answers in the back of the book, use them only to check your work. If you choose to use them, try not to peek until after you've finished the assignment! Do all the work for each equation, and keep your homework papers. Use them to study as the test approaches. Never just copy someone else’s homework.

Get to know how a formula works. It’s typically more useful to understand how a formula is derived than simply memorizing it. Memorization is a good first step, but getting a feel for why a formula works by doing plenty of practice problems will increase your shot at passing with flying colors. For example, you could simply memorize the sum of a triangle's interior angles, which always add up to 180 degrees. However, if you really get a feel for that formula, you could use it to solve other problems, like figuring out an unknown angle in a hexagon.