Worried about your next test? What makes you anxious? For me, it was always Math.
Math is tough – there is absolutely no doubt about it. There are many kids (and adults) who struggle with the subject and to find the infamous “x”. Formulas, derivations, diagrams, Math can sometimes get daunting and give us nightmares. But, hey you are not alone.
Most of us can get lost in the world of Algebra, Arithmetic, and Geometry. However, it doesn’t have to be all that overwhelming.
Want to ace Math in your next test? Do not fret
Math is not everyone’s cup of tea, or so we think. It is one subject that will stay with us till we grow old. From physics and chemistry, to medicine, math has a role to play everywhere.
If you or one of your friends find your Math problems greater than your life problems, you are at the right place.
Here are 5 ways you can improve your Math skills
- Play Math games:
Everything doesn’t have to be gloom and doom with Math. The first step towards acing the subject is to have fun with it. Look for online games that match your education level. Try to jump up ladder to beat the highest score. This will not only improve your Math skill but also enhance your concentration power.
Few games that come to mind are:
- DragonBox 5+ lets you gradually build your algebra skills until you’re able to master more advanced equations.
- Prodigy, integrates math practice into a role-playing game that allows players to use math to make their way through an appealing fantasy world.
- Polyup, a for more advanced high school and college students.
- Four in a row, lets you connect four chips to beat your opponent
- Making math a part of your daily life
If you really want to hit the target score in Math, you will have to make it a part of your life. For example, if you go shopping and find a 30% OFF on a sweater, you should be able to quickly calculate the discounted price. Same applies to everything that you do in your day, including the time taken to travel a certain distance, the price of groceries, etc. This will not only help you with Math, but also make you fast and efficient.
- Practice, practice, practice!
There is no shortcut to excel at Math if you are not reviewing the concepts daily. Simple additions and subtractions can be learned with a little effort, but calculus or geometry will require you to dedicate your time to learn and master the concepts.
- Visualization to the rescue
Oftentimes, picturing a problem can be a challenge, especially a difficult one. Don’t worry, we have all bee there and done that! The best way to break the loop is to draw the problem on a piece of paper. No, you don’t have to be an artist; it’s okay if the flower you have drawn looks like a ball. The idea is to break it down with the help of diagrams and solve it.
For example, if you have to count the number of apples in two bowls, you can just draw them and count.
- Jack of all trades, master of none
This applies to Math as well. It is important to not try all the concepts at a time. Dedicate one or two hours of your day to master one concept each day or week, depending on your priorities. Learning everything together will only make your task cumbersome.
Keep practicing!
Smita in words 