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Are you going to start Maths GCSEs or A-Levels soon? Nervous? Don’t worry - the best of us would be.
And so we’ve put together this article to give you a few simple tricks that can save you a lot of time and maths induced headaches! 😄
These ideas are easy to add to your daily routine, and after a few weeks or months of practice, you are sure to see a great improvement in your maths skills. 
1. Refresh the basics 🌊
Struggling with simple multiplication equations and expecting to understand algebra is like trying to build a house on a wobbly foundation.
If you're trying to multiply and divide fractions but don’t know your time's tables, you're probably going to struggle. Maths is a subject in which topics build on top of each other, and you need to build a strong foundation.
It is a good idea to take some time out to revise your basics before you start struggling in class. However, if you yet find yourself struggling, it might be a good idea to book a maths session with GoStudent. Our world-class tutors can help you build a strong foundation.
If there’s one rule to live by while learning maths: practice makes perfect. 😄
2. Practice mental maths 🤔
Mental maths is something that many students(like yourself!) take for granted. However, it’s always worth revising your mental maths because if you can do some basic maths in your head, you are already two steps ahead of your friends.
Here are some simple mental maths suggestions:
- Learn how to divide a number by two.
- Practice all your times tables and start using them as a base for division.
- Learn some simple tricks for large multiplication sums.
Simple mental maths can help you with your daily life as well. Imagine being in a shop 🛍️ and trying to calculate how much three dresses would cost you altogether. Sure, you may argue that the phone has a calculator for a reason; however, if you are good at mental maths doing the addition in your head may just be quicker. And after all, time is money, isn’t it?
3. Apply maths to real-life 🏡
Maths is virtually present in most real-life situations. Calculating your daily budget? Calculating how much dinner will cost? Trying to figure out university acceptance criteria? These are just a few of the many real-life applications of maths.
Here are some important maths topics. If you can master these maths topics, maths will soon come to you so easily that you won’t even realise you’re doing it! 😂
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Multiplication
- Division
4. Don’t always rely on a calculator 🧮
As annoying as it can be, try to avoid using a calculator. Using a calculator doesn’t let you practice your mental maths skills, and it may make you too reliant on additional help.
Besides, just stating a final answer after using a calculator doesn’t let your teacher understand your mistakes or help you rectify errors. If you did the same sum on a piece of paper, a good tutor can identify your mistake and ensure you don’t repeat it again.
Calculators are a convenience you probably don’t want to give up but really should. 🤭
5. Write out your work ✍️
Writing your working is a great way to understand maths better. According to David Pugalee, author of Writing To Develop Mathematical Understanding, writing supports maths reasoning, and problem-solving, and helps you internalise the characteristics of good communication.
So there you have it! Hopefully, these maths tips will help you score well in your exams and succeed in your educational journey.
If you have any difficulty along the way, we highly recommend trying out maths tuition with GoStudent. We have some amazing tutors who are always ready to help!
