How to Get Good Grades In Math

Are you a STEM student about to embark on another semester of math? If so, this post is meant for you!

First things first.  Have you ever said “I just can’t do math”?  If so, you need to change that thinking!  One of the main issues I see in new engineering students is this belief that math courses are just so hard that there’s no way they’ll do well.  How will you ever do well if you start off with a negative mindset?

Studies have even shown that students who have these thoughts intentionally put less effort into classes they know they’ll struggle in.  This way they don’t feel as bad when they get a bad grade.  Don’t be like these students!  There are things you can do to boost your learning and understanding of math.

Here are some ways to work through your struggles with math and succeed…

See Math as a Challenge, Not a Chore

Math is one of the fundamentals of engineering.  You can’t build, design, or invent without it.  And to be honest, once you dive deep into math you’ll find that it’s quite amazing!

So view the study of math as a challenge.  A challenge to learn something many others will never know or appreciate.

Once you change your mindset, homework and exams will become less stressful.  You’ll no longer go into assignments knowing you’ll fail.  Instead, you’ll be on a mission to learn a challenging, new topic.

Work All the Easy Problems First

This one should be obvious, but I’ve found that students don’t always do this.  A lot of students jump around or start at the harder problems because they think they’ll take longer.

You always want to start learning math concepts by working the easy problems first.  Why?

Well, getting the easy problems right will boost your confidence to go on and tackle the harder problems.  You’ll get a solid knowledge of the basic concept which will help you work through higher level ones.  Then the tougher problems will become easier and take less time to solve.

Work Extra Problems

Now, many students only work assigned problems.  This is something to avoid.  You want to work as many problems as you can so work the unassigned problems too.  Most math books group problems based on difficulty levels.  This makes it easy to pick out problems that are similar to the assigned problems.

The benefit of this is that you’ll get extra practice and you may get to apply a concept in new ways you wouldn’t have thought of.  This also helps to prevent those surprise exam questions.  You know, the ones that look nothing like the homework.  We’ve all had that annoying experience.  If you work more problems though you’ll reduce the risk of getting hit with something unfamiliar.

Be in a Study Group

Study groups can be helpful or a huge time sink.  Pick a study group that actually studies!  You don’t want to waste your time on groups that just sit around watching YouTube videos or talking the whole time.  Now that we have that out of the way, let’s cover why these are great if you struggle in math.

First, you’ll be held accountable by a group of peers.  If the group makes the rule that assigned problems need to be worked on before the meeting, then it’s more likely that you’ll get that task done.  You wouldn’t want to be the slacker of the group that shows up with nothing to show or say.

Second, other students are the best tutors.  Professors have been teaching for years and years.  This makes it hard for some of them to understand what you don’t understand.  Other students don’t have that issue though.  They can relate to what you struggle with and can help explain it in a way a professor can’t.

Third, you get the chance to teach others.  Teaching really is the best way to learn something new.  Explaining concepts to others makes you have to look at things from many different aspects.  This helps you get a much better idea of what’s going on.

Go See the Prof

I’m not going to lie.  I never, ever went to see any of my math profs.  Some of them were so nutty that I couldn’t imagine having a one on one conversation with them.

Don’t be like me though!  Thinking back, I should’ve gone to office hours.  Visiting office hours will let the instructor put a name to a face.  This can only be helpful to you as long as you follow the general rules of office hours.

Going in for a one on one discussion shows that you’re trying and that you’re interested in learning the material.  Math profs (or any prof for that matter) love this!  So, go ask your questions.  You might just find a great source of help or a mentor if you do.  You won’t know until you try though!

Change the Mindset, Change the Grade

Math really is an amazing subject once you figure out how to master it.  Don’t give up before you even start.  If you follow these tips the classes will be less daunting.  You may even start to like them!  Give it a try and let me know how it goes.  I can’t wait to hear the success stories!