5 Tips To Help Students Master Maths Quickly

It's common for people to struggle in subjects like maths. If you feel like you want to grasp a concept or method but can't seem to figure it out, you're not the only one. Many people want to achieve good grades in maths and have an easier time while they’re at it.

Here's the good news. To master maths or any specific subject, it's all about how you set yourself up to learn.  There are certain things to include in your approach that will help you succeed. These things are like educational shortcuts that once you know can be life-changing.  Here are the top tips to help you learn maths with quick and easy ways to achieve higher grades.

There are a lot of things that hold high school students back when it comes to learning maths. A major problem for students is that it’s not fun to get it wrong, and it’s not fun to struggle over and over on the subject. To reach your highest potential, the joy needs to come back into the process of learning maths. Fewer pressure tactics and more practical tactics are better.

We know, when it comes to learning and achieving excellence in maths it’s not about being the fastest. It's not about clocking the most study hours either. What it is about is your approach to learning.  With the right tools and the opportunity to use them in practical ways, you excel farther and faster.

It doesn’t matter what situation you find yourself in, or how much you’re struggling in maths now. We’re going to share with you ideas you can start using today to learn maths fast and with more ease. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Get ready to re-think your approach to learning maths!

Best Ways To Learn Maths Quickly and Efficiently

A big misunderstanding about maths is that you must be fast at it, and you must have everything memorized. Speed tests, memorization, and other rigid approaches work backward for students. When trying to build up maths skills, there’s a better way.

Removing the fear of learning maths is a first step. Research explains that students learn best when they enjoy what they’re doing. So, the pressure of being the fastest and acing timed tests can step aside. Let’s take a look at some better ways to learn maths.

It All Starts With Foundations

Your maths teacher may sound like a broken record at times. They want you to understand the foundations. This is because maths foundations all work together. We start out by learning basics like adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplying. We build up this knowledge as we expand through algebra, geometry and calculus.

Before you move on to harder subjects, you'll want to understand maths foundations. You'll use the foundation skills as you learn trigonometry, algebra and calculus.

Imagine building a house. The framing for the walls would not stand without the foundation. Maths foundations give you a solid footing for all the other skills you’ll learn. When you focus on foundations first you set yourself up for success as you continue to build. If you’re wondering where to start, this is it.

Set Up For Success

Have you ever looked around at your study space to wonder what kind of paper explosion happened? Or, when you’re working on a computer and you realize you’ve got dozens of tabs open and can't find the one you need? With a messy desktop, it's hard to focus. Notifications popping up every five minutes adds to your troubles. This kind of scenario may sound bleak, but it's quite common.

Maths is a subject that needs your complete attention. Don’t think about multi-tasking or studying in a noisy setting like a busy cafe. When you create the space and set it up for success you’re ready for success.

There are a lot of tools available to help you with your studies, like online tutors and apps that help you. You get the most out of any of your learning supports when you’re focused and dedicated to your study time. Plus it’s more fun when you see how far your commitment to learning maths takes you.

Use Number Sense

When it comes to learning maths using Number Sense is common sense. An example is to think of numbers you’re familiar with. You know that 27 is close to 25. When you think of numbers that end in 0, like 10, 20, 30, or 40 it helps you understand how numbers relate to each other. The term may sound fancy but number sense comes down to using what you already know.

Number sense is your ability to make sense of what numbers mean and perform math in your mind. You use this in real-world situations and make comparisons. It’s something you’re using all the time and often without even realizing it. Honing in on your Number Sense helps you improve your maths skills.

Developing your number sense helps you build your foundation and understanding of maths. It helps you compute and work through the kind of complex problems you’re presented with in high school. Number sense is something we learn in the early years, but even as you get older it helps to practice your skills. Here are a few ways to do this:

• Visualize numbers and groups of numbers.
• Take numbers apart and put them together in other ways (ex. 5, 5+0, 4+1, 3+2)
• Make a shopping list and estimate the costs.
• Practice rounding up and down. (ex. 49 rounds up to the nearest even number 50)

You'll have fun and deepen your enjoyment of maths when you take the time to use your number sense.

Math Mastery

Setting up for success and getting into the right frame of mind helps. Once you do this you can focus on different ways of learning. Maths has a wide range of topics but some of the general tricks that will get you learning are:

General

Practice

When you dedicate time to learning and developing your maths skills you get better over time. It’s like learning to play the guitar. You wouldn’t expect to pick it up once and be a master. A commitment to practicing will make you proficient.

If you want to learn maths quickly with more ease, practice, practice, practice.

Don’t Take Mistakes Personal

Mistakes are what you make of them. If you let every mistake you make hold you up on your road to becoming a master at maths you won’t get very far. Because accurate work matters in maths, looking at mistakes as a learning opportunity is best.

The more mistakes you make, the more you learn.

Ask For Help

Asking and accepting help in maths takes you far. You may learn a new way to think about a problem or have help to clarify a question. You’ll go far with a willingness to ask for help. You can also easily access help from the palm of your hand. With the benefits of online tutoring, there are apps for your smartphone

Math Specific Tips

Use Rounding

Sometimes adding two numbers can be difficult to do in your head. A trick is to round numbers first before adding, this way you can add faster. For example let’s say you’re adding 516 and 418. First round each number up so you get 520 and 420. Combined they make 1040 then you just need to subtract the difference in the rounded numbers 520-516 (4) and 420-418 (2), 4+2 =6.

1040-6=1034

With practice this tip will have you solving problems faster.

Multiplying to Make Sense

• Multiply by 5’s

Remember this when it comes to multiplying any number by 5.

Multiply your number by 10 instead. Then halve your answer.

Here’s an example: 82 x 5

1.) Multiply 82 x 10 = 820

2.) Halve your answer above, 820/2 = 410

How fun and fast!

• Multiplying numbers ending in 0

If the numbers you’re multiplying end in 0 you can focus on the digits not the 0’s. Then you add the total number of 0s back at the end.

Here’s an example: 2,000 x 6,000

1.) Multiply 2x6 = 12

2.) In this example there are 6 0s total in the original numbers you multiplied. Tag on the 0’s at the end of the answer above. It would look like 12,000 000

Apply Math in the Real World

Don’t shy away from maths that are all around you. In the real world there are opportunities to play and explore your maths skills. The more you practice, the more you learn. The easier it will be for you. These are the skills you can bring to the classroom setting and use for any exams you’re getting ready to take.

Even if it is common to struggle in maths, it doesn't mean you have to. It’s also common for students to apply themselves, ask for help, and focus on improving their skills. You've got to be willing to take risks in learning new ways to study for the high payout. It's a bit of a no-brainer these days when you can tap into the style of learning that works for you. Like when an online tutoring app helps to empower you to develop your thinking. You take your maths skills to new high scores.

You’ll be ready for class and you’ll understand how to prepare for important A-Level exams. It’s never been easier to learn maths quickly and easily, explore what all the buzz is about here.