Ok, so if there is one subject that in fairly decent at, this would have to be it. So I decided to create a masterpost about it. I hope this ends up being able to help someone and let me know what you think!
1 - Do NOT Memorise
Maths is a unique subject. Sure there’s a lot of theory and numbers and a lot of lines and dots on the page, but when it comes to testing and exams, you only need to be able to understand principles of it and be able to put them into practice. In short, most questions that come are application type questions. Maths is not a subject you can memorise.
I repeat: maths is not a subject in which you can hope to swallow your textbook the night before and come out of the exam unscathed. Ok so sure, there are basic formulas you need to know such as the integration rules, but you need to understand them and be able to put them into practice.
The quadratic formula is a perfect example. Instead of trying to cram your head with coefficients and fractions and square roots, try to derive the formula yourself. Try to use completing the square and other nifty bits of algebra you learnt in early high school years and find it yourself. It’s what make the distinction between average students and the very best. Don’t just memorise a formula given to you by your teachers. Find out its uses, how it was found and perhaps other problems the formula in question has helped to solve. If you do this, you’ll be able to understand the formula and all of its applications, especially in complex worded problems which may cost others precious time to figure out.
2 - Exposure is Key
So exposure is key. What do I mean by that? Just practice. The best way to succeed in maths is to be exposed to the various ways examiners can throw a question out at you. There are lots of nasty stings examiners can get and usually they are unfortunately not found in the textbook. Instead, the easiest way to gain exposure in maths is to do past exam papers. Keep bugging your teacher for exam papers or you can contact companies directly for the company exam papers (These are pretty expensive though, so maybe try buying them online?
Here in Australia, if you go on gumtree, there’s a whole market out for past exam/sac/company papers and I’d imagine it’s the same everywhere). Don’t be lazy, and go on your phone half way through the paper. Do it like an actual exam, without distractions and with time limits in place.
3 - Past tests and exams
Whenever you get something back, don’t hide it in shame (though I have to admit I do this heaps). Go through all the questions by yourself and see if you can understand what went wrong. Write cute little comments next to your tests, annotating them with the type of mistake it is. Usually for maths the main types of errors are either problems with understanding or silly mistakes. The latter is probably the harder to improve upon, because it’s all due to concentration.
4 - Summaries
Something for maths which I personally find super helpful, is making little chapter summaries for flashcards. Try working out something for you that works. It’s different for anyone, but you shouldn’t just read off the textbook and rely on it to provide you with all of the information. It’s pretty hard to flick through the pages because a lot of it just exercises and repetition. Find a system that works for you, in which you can just look at a page and find everything you need easily.
5 - Tests
In tests, please please please please check everything over and over. Don’t be coy and look smart by handing it in early. Take the time to check through every single question. If you’re like me and make the most stupid mistakes (once I wrote 3/1 = 1 so like….) try using the back of the sheets or cover up the answer. Then, do the whole question again from scratch. Later check to make sure the answers match. Do this, and it’s like you’ve got kind of a double assurance with your tests.
Also, something to keep in mind, always check how many marks a question is worth. Then make sure you’ve got enough down to count for all of the marks. Showing your working out is also really important, because sometimes you’ll get method marks even if you don’t end up with the right answer.
This is also important if you’re running out of time. Multiple Choice Questions are the slowest marks you can get. One question is only worth one mark. Sometimes, in the short answer or extended response questions, multiple marks can be given to one question. So, basically the message is, if you are running out of time, try to questions that will give you the most marks in the least amount of time.
I really hope this helped someone out there! I’m happy to help anyone else who feels they need help with their maths in terms of advice so feel free to message me!