How to Get Better at Math in High School

Improving math skills in high school is important for a couple reasons. High school equips you with a basic education that will prepare you for life after school, whether you immediately join the workforce or pursue further education. Increasing your knowledge now will help you in the future.

Many students think they won’t use math after they graduate. You may not work in a job that requires formal math education, but the subject itself helps you develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, which you will use in virtually any job. 

You can develop a strong foundation in math now by practicing math problems and asking questions when you need help. Teachers and tutors are an excellent resource if you are struggling with mathematical concepts, and there are many great resources available for free online to help you.

Remember, math is a cumulative subject. Everything you learn builds on things you’ve learned in the past. Another way to ensure you have a strong foundation is to review past concepts and ensure they are second nature to you before adding on to them. 

Effective study habits are crucial for math success. Unlike other subjects, math requires an understanding of how something works in order to be successful. While you do need to do some memorization (e.g., times tables, formulas, theorems, etc.), it’s most important to understand the logic behind solving a problem, which requires time and practice. Building consistent, effective study habits will help you be more successful in math. 

Effective Study Habits for High School Math

Studying for math is a little different than studying for a course like history, English, or a foreign language. There is less memorization and more hands-on practice required. 

We loved these tips from BrainMatters on how to study for high school math. Check these out: 

• Create a math glossary — Earlier, we mentioned that math is a cumulative subject. Put together a resource for yourself that includes definitions, formulas, and theorems. Reviewing it regularly will help you strengthen your foundational knowledge and make learning new concepts easier. 
  
  
• Build a study schedule — Set aside time each day (or a few times a week) to study for math. This has proven to be more effective than cramming the night before a quiz or test. 
  
  
• Practice as much as you can — Homework helps with this, but you can also find problems to solve online or refer back to past assessments. 
  
  
• Review your mistakes — Look through your homework and assessments to see what you got wrong. See if you can identify any patterns and work on solving problems you missed. 

You can incorporate these tips into your daily routine by setting aside a few minutes each day for studying. You could make a deal with yourself — If you want to play video games, you have to do three practice problems before you get online. 

Consistency is key with math. Because you’re strengthening a skill and not memorizing facts, you need to do it over and over again. It’s like building muscle, and the more you do it, the more you’ll be able to lift (or in this case, solve!). 

Using Math Resources and Tools

There are a ton of great math tools and resources available online for high school students. A quick Google search will introduce you to the most popular options, but you can also ask your teacher for more resources. Here are just a few that you can use for free:

• Khan Academy — This is a reputable site that provides mathematics resources for grades K-12. It has tools for everything from basic arithmetic to calculus. 
  
  
• IXL — This platform includes games and tools to help you improve math skills for free! It gets really granular with topics, so you can likely find information about the exact mathematical concept you’re struggling with.
   
• Wolfram MathWorld — It’s like Wikipedia… but for math. Anything you can think of regarding mathematics, you can find help with here. 
  
  
• Math Goodies — Find free lessons, worksheets, and quizzes on this site. 

Tools like the ones above can help enhance your learning experience by giving you a range of tools. Some of these sites provide practice quizzes. Others offer lessons that could explain how to solve a problem in a way you hadn’t thought of previously. 

It’s important to select the right resources to help in your learning journey. There are a ton of websites out there targeted at primary school-aged students. Make sure you utilize sites aimed at high schoolers that cover your subject area, whether it’s algebra, geometry, statistics, or calculus, so you get the most out of your study time. 

Why Studying in Groups is a Good Thing

We’ve talked about some strategies for studying on your own, but there are also good reasons to study with others. According to Oxford Learning, study groups benefit students because:

• Discussing concepts with others tests comprehension — Being able to discuss a topic with someone else and teach it to them is a sign that you have a grasp on the concept. Group study sessions are a great place to talk with other students about what you’re learning and put your knowledge to the test. 
  
  
• They help clarify questions — Someone else’s perspective may be just the thing you need to understand something. In the same way, you may be able to help another student in your study group who is struggling with something. 
  
  
• They motivate students to study — Group study sessions come with a certain level of energy that’s hard to replicate in solo study sessions. Just be careful to stay focused on the topic and hand!

You don’t have to meet with a lot of people to benefit from group study. In fact, it’s recommended to limit the gathering to 3-5 people. Map out what you plan to do ahead of time so you can make the most effective use of your time together. You could teach each other how to solve problems, take quizzes and discuss your results together, or play games. 

Finding the Right Math Tutor

Tutoring is another option to help you get better at math in high school. When you’re selecting a tutor, be sure to look for someone who has a proven track record, if possible. Are they a professional tutor, or are they someone who has tutored students in the past? 

Other things to look for include a degree in math or a math-adjacent field. Teachers, including retired teachers, are also a great option. You also want to make sure they are a good communicator and can communicate with you in a way that makes sense to you. 

A tutor can help improve your math grades by working with you one-on-one to help you understand the things you’re struggling with. They also may be able to tailor your time to your learning style, which can help you retain concepts. 

There are a lot of different places to find tutors. Here are just a few options:
 

• Check with your school to see if they have any tutoring programs available. 
  
  
• See if you can find any peer tutoring opportunities — Do you have an older sibling or a friend who is a grade ahead of you who could tutor you? 
  
  
• Search for tutoring opportunities in your community. 
  
  
• Look for tutoring opportunities online. 

While some of these options may cost money, school-sponsored tutoring and peer tutoring may be available for free. For example, students who are earning their high school diploma online through The American Academy have access to 24/7 virtual tutoring included with their tuition.

Preparing for Math Exams

When preparing for a math exam, it’s really important to get started early. If you’re good at memorizing things, you may think you’ll be able to cram the night before the test, but this doesn’t work well with math. 

Mathematics, as we established earlier, requires understanding and critical thinking skills, which is why practice is the most effective way to study for an exam. Do practice problems for several days leading up to the assessment. This will give you time to work through the process of solving problems and iron out any issues ahead of test day.

You can go through problems from past quizzes and homework, and use some of the resources we shared above to find additional practice problems. This is also a great time to review the math glossary we mentioned at the beginning of the post. 

Overcoming Math Anxiety

Math anxiety can be caused by a variety of things, from a fear of mathematics to anxiety surrounding timed tests or even public embarrassment. 

Students can overcome their anxiety surrounding math by building their confidence and working on lowering their anxiety levels in general. Here are some ideas for how to do that from Medical News Today: 

• Do some deep breathing exercises
  
  
• Write or journal about your feelings
  
  
• Get some extra support (tutoring and resources!)
  
  
• Practice in a low-stress setting

Talking with your teachers and parents is also a great way to help mitigate stress surrounding math. They may be able to offer additional encouragement and support to help you build confidence and be your best!

Math Classes at The American Academy

If you’re looking for courses to help improve your math skills in high school, The American Academy offers a variety of online high school math courses, including algebra, geometry, statistics, and calculus. 

Whether you’re looking for a place to earn your high school diploma online or just want to take individual courses, The American Academy has you covered. We work with students to help them catch up, get ahead, or earn their diploma from start to finish.

Sources

How to Study for High School Math: A Comprehensive Guide | Brainmatterslearning.com

Studying In Groups Vs. Studying Alone: Which Is Better? | Oxfordlearning.com

Math anxiety: What it is and how to overcome it | Medicalnewstoday.com