How to Revise Maths Effectively
Over the last few weeks we’ve been looking at revising, it’s importance in all year groups and how it can be used to ensure that every subject is strong with reinforced foundations.
Today, I give you tips on how to revise maths effectively.
Find ways to improve on weaknesses
Before doing anything else you need to identify the weaknesses of your young person. The best way to do this is to work through the different topics and use a tick-list. You could use revision guides, or websites. I have produced some guides to websites, which you might find helpful to decide what to use.
My 12 week Year 11 Fill The Gaps Package does this with assessments and RAG (red, amber, green) rating each topic.
Work through your weaknesses with videos, books, or tutoring dependent on your learning styles.
Practice makes perfect
With maths the best consolidation of knowledge takes place with practice, practice, practice!
You want to include a mix of straight forward questions (AO1 and AO2 in exam board language) and worded problems to solve (AO3). You can then mix it up with questions that involve a variety of topics.
Work back to front
A lot of revision for exams is done with exam papers. Rather than working through exam questions from the beginning, start at the end and work backwards. The last questions are tougher and spending time on them means that your young person will be confident to give them a go.
Learn the Language of Maths
Maths is full of many words that you need to be familiar with. Treat maths as a language with vocabulary to learn. That way your young person will be confident with understanding the question. Use flashcards and meanings, keep a vocab list and practice using the correct mathematical language.
Learn the Formulae
There are a whole host of Formulae (the plural of formula!) that have to be memorised within maths. My hint for learning them is to use song. For example, the quadratic formula can be sung to ‘pop goes the weasel’.
If learning by rote works for your young person then get them to write it out over and over too. It’s also important that your young person practices using them as this will embed them in their memory. Remember that forgetting curve!
To conclude…
Effective maths revision takes time and requires your young person to be resilient and tackle the things that they may find challenging. Use lots of rewards and encouragement and you will see progress.
You can get my top revision tips, which teach your child how to revise maths effectively, in a handy e-book for FREE when you join my mailing list. Read it together for optimum success!