5 Easy Steps to Crushing Your Math Exam
Math finals are always tough. A whole semester’s worth of math concepts being tested in a span of 3 hours, and they are worth 40-60% of your final grade?
Yikes!
Fortunately, Wize has you covered with 5 easy steps so you absolutely crush your next math exam.
If you are already in the midst of exam season and don't have the whole semester to prepare for your exams then here are two solid resources to make sure you ace your math exam:
- Wize Live Prep Courses - if you are at a Canadian university you'll love these live review sessions that cover concepts exam-like questions for customized especially for your course.
- Wize Study Pass - prepare at your own pace with these carefully curated video theory lessons, with hundreds of examples & practice problems with full solutions. You can also ask our Wize Profs questions if you need to!
Whether you're taking statistics, calculus, or linear algebra courses the steps below with help you study for all types of math exams.
1. Write questions, not notes
Trying to write down everything your professor says is simply not practical. Even if you do manage to write down everything, you will likely still end up lost and confused.
This is because all of your time and energy is spent writing instead of comprehending.
To avoid this scenario only write down questions or the beginning examples. These can be posed by your professor or ones that come to mind when you are listening. When class is over, see how many of these you can answer.
Work on eventually filling out the answers to all of them, even if you have to look them up, or ask your professor for help later.
2. Broaden your sources
Your professor may be the number one expert in their field, but they might not be the best at explaining it. (The same goes for that expensive textbook you had to buy!) To help with this, you should start looking out for even more sources.
Specifically, check out the campus library to find other books on the subject. Also look up videos on YouTube, Khan Academy, or Wize. This will give you many new approaches and examples to draw from. In short, you’ll solidify topics by having more to draw from. It will also help to quickly stamp out misconceptions.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Math is a tricky subject, so don’t be shy when asking for help! Professors and teaching assistants are there to help you learn. This means, take advantage of their office hours.
During this time they can help with questions you wrote down or certain concepts you want to be clarified. To break the ice, set a goal of visiting all of your professors and teaching assistants during the first week of classes.
Want to be part of a study community? Join our Discord and learn with other students and ask our Wize Profs to clarify any questions you might have.
4. Practice is Key
You should aim to complete all of the questions assigned throughout the semester. Once they are done, then practice on a few more out of the book. Focus on completing these with as little help as possible.
This will give you an idea of your weaker areas and shine light on specific aspects to improve on. Additionally, it may help to redo all the midterm questions. The level of difficulty on the midterm will most likely be reflected on the final exam as well.
5. Put Yourself in an Exam-Like Scenario
After countless hours of studying, you are now ready to attempt a practice exam. A practice exam is a great resource to gauge your understanding of the material, while also giving you a comprehensive idea of what to expect. To make the most of this practice exam, treat it like a real one!
Find a quiet environment to work and clear off your desk. Start a timer when you begin, and of course, don’t forget to use the bathroom so there will be no interruptions. When you're done, reflect on the problems that were difficult or you did not get to. Make a plan for these so they don’t stump you again.
Looking for more support for math courses in college? Check out these courses:
Get really nervous before math exams? Try these techniques that Prof Jess teaches her students.
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