A lot of people think math is a very tricky thing. In fact, it is true. Learning math is like learning another language, so hard at first, but getting progressively easier. There are so many concepts that are related and have to be remembered in mathematics, and they can also get easily confused, but the important thing is not to give up. Math will give you a hard time at the beginning; it’s ok because it wouldn’t last long. I would like to share some easy ways that I followed to get better when I got started: don’t be afraid to ask, work on math every day, and review it. I’m sure these steps can help you get better at math.
Math is quite a different subject from the others. It not just something you need to remember; there are lots of thinking. The most sticking difference is when you work it out; congratulations, you get full marks, but if not, you get none. The point is you should never be afraid to ask. When you get stuck, it takes so much more time to figure it out by your own, and the results are the same. Never just leave it behind when you can’t figure it out; you will never know the solution until it comes to you again, and that time will be on the test, so why not take a few minutes to ask someone instead of regretting it after the test. I suggest try to find a tutor because they love to help you out and are so much better than your classmates.
Create a learning time, working on math every day. As I said, math is not just something to remember; it’s something to understand. Let’s take an example here, one math question. There is only one solution, what if the teacher set up a different question and you can only solve it with the same solution. Will you suddenly see the light and work it out? All I’m trying to say is to be familiar with all kind of questions. It is kind of hard, but I believe that if you spend 20 minutes on math exercises of what we learn every day, math will be a piece of cake for you.
Actually review is important for all kinds of subjects. Why I mention it here because it’s more important in math. There is a big different between if you did you review or not. After you review math, you know much more than you thought you should know. That’s the difference between math and other subjects. Sometimes during the test, there is a question that you can work it out, but it is so familiar and you are sure you saw it before. I have been there several times, and that feels not good; it makes me want to kill myself. That’s the difference whether you review or not, full scores or zero. Also there are so many concepts and facts in math that sometimes you may mix up, so taking a review will definitively help a lot.
To sum up, math is not easy, but it is not hard either. Don’t feel bad when it turns you down. Work harder, and you will find it much more interesting than you ever thought. Trusting yourself is important as well. When you have doubts with something sometimes, go your own way; whether you are right or wrong all help you.
Biao Huang
