Penn State York - The Learning Center

Math Study Skills

- Be actively involved studying.
- Be responsible for you own learning.
- Attend class every day and take complete notes.
- Be an active participant in the classroom.
- Work ahead in the book.
- Ask questions in class!
- Go to office hours and ask questions.
- Develop good study habits early on in the semester.
- Do the homework. Math is learned by doing problems.
- Learn key concepts. (Understand the problem.)

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. "Success in Mathematics."
Saint Louis University <online 6/11/1997>.

Tips on Problem Solving

- Figure out what the problem is asking you to find.
- Identify which skills you have learned that can be used to solve the problem.
- Solve the problem using these skills.
- Check your answer: Does is make sense?

Solving a Word Problem

- Convert the problem into mathematics.
- Draw a picture of what the words describe.
- Label it with all the quantities mentioned in the problem.
- Determine what you are looking for.
- Solve the math problem you have generated.
- Convert the answer of your math problem back into words.

For Further Reading:
George Polya, "How to Solve It," Princeton University Press, Princeton (1945)

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. "Success in Mathematics."
Saint Louis University <online 6/11/1997>.

Studying for a Math test

Everyday Study is a Big Part of Test Preparation.
Good study habits throughout the semester make it easier to study for tests. - Do the homework when it is assigned.
- Make lists of formulas and techniques to use later when you study for tests.
- Ask your Instructor questions as they arise.
- Go over each section of the chapter.
- Work the problems again.
- Explain out loud, in your own words, how to solve the problem.
- Work problems from review sections at the end of chapters, as well as old tests.
- Start studying early.
- Start reviewing a week before the test.
- Get lots of sleep the night before the test.

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. "Success in Mathematics." Saint Louis University <online 6/11/1997>.

Taking a Math Test

Test-Taking Strategy Matters

Just as it is important to think about how you spend your study time (in addition to actually studying), it is important to think about what strategies you will use when you take a test (in addition to actually doing the problems on the test). Good test-taking strategies can make a big difference in how well you do and the grade you receive.
- First look over the entire test. Identify those problems you definitely know how to do right away.
- Start with the problems that you know for sure you can do.
- Work as quickly and continuously as you can: if you get stuck on a problem, move on to another one.
- Show all your work (don't skip steps).
- Never waste time erasing! Just draw a line and start again.
- In a complex problem outline the steps before actually working the problem.
- Read the questions carefully, and do all parts of each problem.
- Verify your answers - does each answer make sense given the context of the problem?
- If time permits, check every problem.

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. "Success in Mathematics." Saint Louis University <online 6/11/1997>.

Homework - Key to Success

Follow these steps to get the most from your homework:

- Start your assignment right after class.
- Copy each problem down carefully.
- Think of the steps you will use and the rules you will follow.
- Check your notes and examples.
- Try every problem. Take a chance! You might be right.
- Do not skip steps at first!
- Write each step below the previous one. Be neat!
- Check your work before looking at the answer key.
- Arithmetic errors? Brush up on the basics.
- "plug in" your answer, or do the problem a different way.
- Incorrect? Check your notes and book.
- Still wrong? Ask the instructor, a tutor, classmate, or a friend.
- Do the problem from scratch until you get it right.
- Do an extra set - practice pays off!