Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Practicing math
• Part 2 of 3: Ask for help and advice
• Part 3 of 3: Cultivating the right mindset
• Tips

Many people feel that they are naturally bad at math and unable to make any improvement in that area. That is simply not correct. Studies show that being good at math is more a matter of hard work than innate talent (if not more). You can get good at math just through dedication. Take time every day to practice math until you begin to understand the concepts. If you need help, find it. A tutor, teacher, or even someone just plain good at math can help you perfect your skills. You should also work on developing a healthy attitude to math. A lot of people have a defeatist attitude on the subject and are quick to think, "I'm not good at math right now, so I never will be." Understand that this is not the case. Most people can get better at math just from a little extra work.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Practicing math

1. Study in an environment free from distractions. If you are not good at math, make sure you can study in an environment where you can concentrate. Before you sit down to practice, find a place without stimuli to distract you.
   • Find a place where there is not much noise or where it is restless. A quiet coffee shop may be suitable, or at a desk in your bedroom.
   • Minimize distractions. Get off the internet and put your phone away.
   • If you enjoy listening to music while studying, choose instrumental music. Music with lyrics or very loud music can be distracting when you are studying.
2. Make time to practice every day. There is no real secret to getting good at math. It all comes down to dedication. If you want a higher grade in math, hard work is key. You have to practice every day until you start to understand the underlying concepts behind math.
   • Stick to a schedule. See where you can fit some study time into each day. Maybe you usually have some time in the early evening. You can plan to study from 6 to 7 every night after dinner.
   • Prefer not to study for hours on end. This can lead to stress. Study for about an hour every night.
3. Learn the logic and procedures involved in solving a math problem. Math is sequential. Many people feel that they have to memorize concepts and formulas, or visualize the answer in their head, before they can begin it. This is not productive. Instead, you should try to understand the concepts behind math. Knowing how and why an equation works will make it easier for you to remember in an instant.
   • A lot of mathematical theory may seem complicated, but with a little work you can discover it for yourself. Don't hesitate to ask questions during math class. Why does the Pythagorean theorem work? What is the logic behind a square equation?
   • Understanding the underlying concepts is much more productive than simply memorizing them all. If you understand something well, it will be easier to work with. You are better equipped to check your answer if you understand why an equation makes sense.
4. Work out a problem step by step. If you are doing math, you want to see how you can find out the answer. Instead of planning in advance how to get the answer, just work out the equation step by step. Don't think ahead, take it slowly so you can watch the answer unfold.
   • If you have to share first, just focus on sharing. If you need to add after that, keep your focus on adding.
   • Once you have solved the problem, you can go through the entire process and watch it. Try to understand why and how the process works.
5. Review incorrect answers carefully. You can learn a lot from your mistakes in math. When you discover that you have given an incorrect answer, check what you have done. Where and how did it go wrong? Try to calculate the problem again and figure out how to get the correct answer.
   • It is essential that you write down the steps you take in solving math problems. Write down with a pen, line by line, the steps you took to work out a problem. This way, when you make a mistake, you can check your work and find out where you often make mistakes.
6. Check your answers. View the calculation after completing an equation. Check carefully that you have calculated everything correctly and used the correct method. If you check afterwards if you got the answer right, it is more likely that you passed if you checked your answers carefully. This will also help you get in the habit of checking your answers, which can greatly improve your grades for tests.
   • Checking your answers can also help you better understand the underlying mathematical theories.

Part 2 of 3: Ask for help and advice

1. Have another person check your work. If you know someone who is good at math, ask that person to check your work when you are done. You can ask a parent for help, a tutor you've hired, or a friend or family member who is good at math.
   • If you find it all very confusing, find someone with a lot of patience who can explain well. Your cousin may be great at math, but he may be impatient and critical. Maybe he'll be rude to you if you don't understand something. Instead, ask your sister, who usually stays calm.
   • Don't be shy to ask for help. It can take a long time to improve your math skills, and anyone could use a little help with that.
2. Register for an online course. If you're trying to improve your math skills outside of school, you can also try an online course. Universities such as Kaplan offer a range of online courses, and many universities have lectures online for students to take from a distance.
   • Some schools offer certain parts of a course, such as PowerPoint presentations and recorded lectures, online for free.
   • You can also find out if there are lectures at a university that you can attend. If money is an issue then attending a lecture (as an auditor) might get you knowledge at no cost.
3. Go to your school's resource center, if there is one. If you are still a student, your school or university may have a resource center for mathematics. Many campuses have a center where students can go for one-on-one math tutoring. Check to see if there is a math center in your school. If so, make use of it.
   • If your school does not have a help center, it may have a more general help center, where you can get help on a variety of topics.
   • you can check whether your teacher gives sessions during which subject matter is repeated. If you don't understand a particular topic well, a teacher evaluation session can help you understand that topic better.
4. Try to help someone else. Sometimes explaining a concept to another person can help them understand it better themselves. When you finally start taking math classes and a friend is struggling with parts of it, you can offer to help him or her. You can also form a study group. If someone doesn't understand something, you can offer to help.
   • When you help someone, explain the subject matter as clearly as possible. In addition to the process, explain why it works.
   • If you start to feel particularly confident about your math skills, you can start working as a private tutor for people at a lower level. Explaining math to others can help improve your math skills.
5. Ask your teacher for help. Most teachers would like to encourage students. If you want to get better at math, don't hesitate to ask your teacher for help. He or she may be able to give you personal attention and review exercises with you after class.
   • Don't feel less for asking for help. Many people find math difficult, and your teacher has probably dealt with students who are struggling with it before. Your teacher wants you to pass.
   • Be clear when asking for help and explain the problem clearly. Don't say, "I don't get it." Instead say, "I understand everything until chapter three, but polynomials are really confusing to me."
6. Hire a tutor. If you feel like you need a lot of personal attention, consider hiring a tutor. A tutor can go through assignments with you several times a week. A good tutor can help you with math so you can better understand the subject as a whole.
   • If you have a learning disability that affects your math skills, such as dyslexia, see if you can find a tutor who works specifically with students with disabilities. National organizations related to your disability may know of a tutor near you. Your doctor may also be able to appoint a suitable tutor for you.

Part 3 of 3: Cultivating the right mindset

1. Have a positive attitude towards math. Many people sabotage their own math skills by convincing themselves they can't. If you have trouble with math in high school, college, or at any other point in your education, you may think you're no good at math and just can't do it. A positive attitude can help you stay motivated and enthusiastic as you try to improve your math skills.
   • If you have a bad attitude, it is easy to get frustrated. If you assume that you are bad at math, you will soon start to view a mistake as confirmation of this assumption. You may think to yourself, "I knew I wasn't good at this. What's the point?"
   • Start with the right attitude. If you're struggling with math right now, don't think, "I'm bad at math." Instead, you think to yourself, "I haven't taken enough time to practice math, so I'm still learning. With some hard work, I know I can improve my skills."
2. Reject the idea that you would be naturally bad at math. Many people convince themselves that they have no talent for math. This can make a person less motivated to do the work necessary to improve themselves. Understand it is a myth that humans have a natural aptitude for math. Studies show anyone can learn math with a little effort.
   • Some people have an innate talent for math. This can help them build a head start early on, and they may learn it a little faster in elementary school. However, most studies indicate that hard work can improve your math skills just as much as predisposition. In fact, hard work can pay off more in the long run than innate talent.
   • There are learning disabilities, such as dyscalculia, that can affect your ability to do math. But even with a learning disability, you can improve your math skills with practice and proper treatment. Don't get discouraged. You're not bad at math. You just need to practice.
3. Take math seriously. Another reason people struggle with math is that they don't take it seriously. They feel like it's okay to be bad at math, or are joking about it. While you shouldn't feel bad because you have trouble with math, you should take it seriously as a subject.
   • Math can help with your cognitive skills, and mental arithmetic can make your daily life less stressful.
   • Instead of putting it aside, embrace math. Being good at math can bring you a lot.
4. Stay motivated. Practice is really the only way to improve your math skills in the long run. There really is no magic trick that will just improve your skills. You just need to stay motivated. Continue your studies and ask for help if needed. With a little time and dedication, you too can become a math expert.

Tips

• Don't be shy about asking questions when you don't understand something. Everyone asks questions.
• Don't wait until the last minute to study for a test. Study a little bit every day.
• Take your time. It may take you some time to solve a difficult problem.