STEM
EDUCATION
" You need to master math in order to progress up the academic ladder.
perhaps an additional step to solve. Once
points on math exams are simple errors
Be strategic in the order of your studies.
you’ve now practiced and mastered the
caused by a student’s haste on problems
You also want to make sure you
more straightforward questions, move on
that they have seen before and normally
don’t study math (https://bit.ly/2OJjFog)
to the tougher ones. When you have seen
can solve easily.It is very frustrating when
when it's midnight. The end of the night
and solved many practice problems, the
you lose points on the problems you have
when you just want to sleep is not the
actual exam will feel like a piece of cake.
correctly answered a hundred times before.
time your mind is ready to focus on your
most challenging coursework. But
Jot Them Down
Study Somewhere Quiet
many people put off their worst subject
With some problems, especially word
Math is very demanding in terms of
until last. If possible, study first thing
problems (https://bit.ly/3buW3x8), you may
concentration and focus, so you should
in the morning or whatever time of day
be tempted to solve them in your head
study someplace where it's quiet and
is your peak productivity.
rather than writing them down. Do
peaceful. Some people tend to study with
not depend on mental math, especially for
music playing or have the TV in the
Some students have an almost instant
exams, as it is just too easy to make a minor
background. This is often a mistake for any
attachment to and passion for math,
mistake. Instead, make sure you write down
subject, but especially risky in math, which
which makes them eager students. For
all the parts of the problem carefully and
requires your complete concentration.
most people, math is one of their harder
clearly on a piece of paper. Look at and
subjects. What students should
double check all the numbers and the
If you're one of those people that might
remember is that no matter their
equations you need to solve this problem
read a problem 4-5 times before you feel
aptitude, there are lots of simple
before start working on it. By doing this, you
you understand it, distractions increase
strategies that can improve their
are allowing your mind to break down the
the time needed to solve problems while
performance. Hopefully these quick tips
problem logically into simple steps. You are
also dramatically increasing the risk
can help put you on that path to
not only less apt to make a simple
of simple errors.
greater confidence and higher grades.
calculation error, but also avoid missing or misinterpreting the instructions. This is particularly common issue with word problems where phrasing might be tricky. One of the most frequent ways students lose
STEM Magazine
Winter 2020
www.nextstepu.com
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