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Previewing: Before
class briefly preview the material that will be covered the next day in
class.
Note-taking: When taking notes in class, listen actively!
1. Write down your teacher's explanations of the problem.
* Note how you get from one step of the problem to the next.
* Note any particular conditions of the problem.
* Note why the approach to the problem is taken.
2. Write down any concepts, rules, techniques, and problems that your
teacher emphasizes in class.
3. Ask questions in class about any unclear concept or procedure.
4. When you get home add to your notes information showing relationships to
previous material. Write down key similarities and differences between
concepts in the new material and concepts in previously learned material.
Using Your Textbook:
1. Know what every word and symbol means.
2. Translate abstract formulas to verbal explanations.
3. Analyze the example problems and ask yourself:
* What concepts, rules, formulas were applied?
* What methods were used to solve the problem? Why?
* What was the first step? Have any steps been combined?
4. For practice, write down example problems from your book, close your
book, and try to work through the problems.
5. Check to see how the material relates to what you have already learned.
6. Review material you have already covered in class if the new "'W"~
material builds on it.
Problem Solving:
1. Read through the problem at a moderate speed to get an overview.
2. Read the problem, again and be able to state in your own words what the
problem is asking for.
3. If appropriate, draw a diagram and label the givens.
4. Devise a plan for solving the problem using one of more of these tactics:
* Form relationships among all the facts given. Write an equation that
includes your unknown.
* Think of every formula & definition that might relate to the problem.
* Work backwards & ask yourself what you need to know in order to get
the answer.
* Relate the problem to an example from your books or notes.
* Break the problem into simpler problems.
* If you are making no progress take a break and return to the problem
later.
5. If your plan didn't work, try another one.
6. Check your solution.
* Check to see if the answer is in proper form
* Insert your answer back into the problem
* Make sure your answer is reasonable
Problem Analysis: After you have worked a problem, analyze it. This can
help sharpen your understanding of a problem, as well as aid you when
working future problems.
1. Focus on the process and not the answer and ask yourself:
* What concepts, rules, and formulas did I apply?
* What methods did I use?
* How did I begin?
* How does the solution compare with examples from the book & my notes?
* Can I do this problem another way?
Test Preparation: If you followed the suggestions in this
handout, studying for a test or exam should not be difficult.
1. Quickly review your notes to determine what topics & problems have been
emphasized.
2. Look over your book & notes. Make a concept list in which you write down
all major concepts and formulas that will be covered.
3. Review and rework homework problems, note why the procedures are being
applied.
4. Note similarities & differences among problems in the chapter(s) the test
will cover.
5. Locate additional problems and use them to take a practice test. Also try
and predict test questions; make up your own problems and practice working
them.
Test Taking:
1. Glance over the whole test quickly, assessing questions as to their
level of difficulty and point value.
2. Get a sense of how much time to spend on each question. Leave time at the
end of the test to check your work.
3. Begin to work on the problems that seem easiest to you. Also give
priority to the problems worth the most points.
4. Maximize partial credit by showing all of your work.
5. If you have a lapse of memory on a certain problem, skip the problem and
return to it later.
6. Don't spend too much time on one problem. Instead of getting discouraged
with it, skip it and go back to it at the end of the test
Test Analysis: Analyzing returned tests can aid your studying for
future tests. Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Did most of the test come from the homework problems in the book or the
notes from class?
2. How were the problems different from those in my notes and my book?
3. Where was my greatest source of error:
* Careless errors
* Lack of time
* Lack of understanding of material
* Uncertainty over which method to choose
* Lack of prerequisite information
* Test anxiety
4. How can I change my study habits to adjust for the errors that I am
making?
Important: The
knowledge of most math/science courses is cumulative. Many concepts build on
previous ones. Therefore, a poor understanding of one concept will likely
lead to a poor understanding of future concepts. Seek help early if
you are having difficulty!!!!
Helpful Web Sites:
These site provide students with free tutorials, practice problems, math
forums, and more.
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