Mathematics Success!

Many students find the transition from GCSE to A Level or IB Mathematics challenging. I believe that there are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, Mathematics is a subject which builds upon previous knowledge you need to have strong foundations if you are going to expand your knowledge. At A level, all the GCSE mathematics skills are assumed. Some topics are briefly recapped, but very quickly the difficulty level increases. I find that some students may have only encountered certain topics, such as surds, a few times in preparing for GCSE exams and may encounter difficulties when this topic appears again early in their A level course. The Core 3 and 4 modules present another step increase in difficulty, requiring fluent algebra, manipulation of trig identities and calculus.

Recent research looking at how we learn shows that practice is key to completing a task efficiently and effectively. Essentially, the brain builds pathways as we learn. The more often we complete a particular type of task, the stronger and faster the pathway. After repeated practice, our ability becomes almost `automatic`, and the effort required to do that activity is much reduced. For example, brain scans have shown that professional musicians use far less of their brain to make the movements required for fingering, for example, than students learning to play an instrument. Similarly, London taxi drivers develop a bigger hippocampus since they exercise their spatial memory in learning routes. The same effect happens with mathematics, the more you do, the easier it becomes, so repeated practice is key.

Neural connections become stronger when we use different ways of learning a topic. A new explanation can provide that "Aha, now I understand!" moment, which is why going through a topic again with a study group or a tutor can be really helpful. Your level of attention also matters. If while you are practising maths, you are also posting on Facebook and/or texting, then your attention is split. It will take you longer to complete a paper, and you are less likely to make high-level generalisations that will help you when you see a problem of the same type in a magazine. So try to find a quiet place, free of distractions, to work. My son goes to the local library when he wants to make the most of his study time.

I find that successful Maths students make sure that they complete as many exam papers as possible so that they get used to the style and variety of questions that can come up. One technique that works well with a topic that you are finding difficult is to pick out a number of questions on that topic, and do them one after another. For example, do five or six log questions from C2 papers in one session and both your skill and confidence will improve.

The reason that I enjoy maths is because it`s all about solving problems, and you need to ensure that you develop your problem-solving skills. You should be alert to spot `clues` in questions, and understand how to check if your answer is reasonable.