The Key To Mathematical Success

I sat my very first maths exam in the Summer of 2011. I remember the frighteningly stressful thought of a whole real life exam which actually affected the rest of my real whole life forever and ever. It was truly daunting.

However, with maths it was much easier for me. A neutral would argue that, somebody studying Mathematics at undergraduate level and having gained the best possible grades at both GCSE and A Level would find it much easier than an average Joe. Personally, I would refute this claim. The only compromise I could offer is that I do enjoy maths, hugely, and I`m sure that does play a part exam success. The whirring and clicking of clogs inside my head as I work with numbers is extraordinarily fascinating and perhaps a little too enjoyable for somebody who also enjoys sports and music to a sociable, normal degree. But nonetheless I would wholeheartedly challenge the notion that a natural gift is what progresses some whilst inhibiting others from being high achievers. Instead I would say that, especially with Maths, it is practice which is the key to success. No matter who you are or what you are being told about your ability. In everyone of my last 4 or 5 exam seasons I can remember being reprimanded by somebody, whether it be Mother, girlfriend, brothers or even interfering friends, for simply paying Maths too much attention. Even in the most uninspired, demotivated of moods could I sit and do a maths paper to my heart`s content, knowing that every question I answered, every calculation I did or every formula I learnt was a little way closer to getting a good grade. It is this principle which I would advise to any young person wanting to succeed at GCSE or A level, or in SATs, or at School entrance exam. Any of the above... Practice, Practice, Practice. And when you`re done practicing, practice a little more.

That is not to say that a student can have no teaching whatsoever and succeed with a sizable stack of past papers. Absolutely there is a value for teaching, without the essential building blocks of teaching, a student has no way in which he or she could ever realistically put pen to paper and have the first idea of what they were garbling on about, for any subject. A good teacher can make a huge amount of difference, but great teachers have always been to me the people to say, "there`s only so much I can do, you still have to get yourself over the finish line".

So if you want your child to succeed, or you are the child truly wanting to succeed for yourself (in which case very good on you because that is remarkably impressive in a "child" - no offence)... There are just 3 words you need to know:

`Practice, Practice, Practice!`