Improving Math Exam Performance: Tips for Managing Time and Reducing Mistakes

[BadlyAddicted]

I'm currently studying pure maths at advanced level and I can honestly say that I understand everything that the teacher says and I manage to do all the homework he gives us and so on. Given the correct amount of time, I could probably work any problem concerning topics that we have already covered.

What I'm having a problem with are the exams. The exam is 3 hours long and we have 10 questions to work out. I start the exam all relaxed and everything however I don't manage to spend 18mins or less on each one and I either end up panicking and start making silly mistakes or I end up leaving a question out each time which ruins my mark. What I want to know is what you guys suggest me to do to fix this problem. I need to train myself because apparently the board of idiots that make the exam questions aren't looking to assess the students on what they know but on how fast they can express what they know. There's no time to think what so ever. Maybe you guys went through the same problems some day, so.. what can I do?

Thanks for your help

 

[R.Mesri]

. One suggestion I have is to practice your problem-solving skills under timed conditions. This can help you get used to working quickly and accurately on math problems. You could start by setting a timer for 18 minutes and picking a math problem to work out. Make sure to pay attention to the amount of time it takes you to solve it and try to improve your time with each exercise. Additionally, you could take practice tests so that you can become more familiar with the types of questions that will be asked on your exam. This way, you can better prepare yourself for the actual exam and know what type of questions to expect. Good luck!

 

[Mene]

I understand the importance of time management and reducing mistakes in any task, especially in a high-stakes exam like the one you described. It is clear that you have a strong understanding of the material and can successfully complete homework and classwork, but struggle with the time constraints and pressure of exams.

One strategy that may help is to practice timed exams or mock exams in a similar format to your real exams. This will help you get used to the time constraints and build up your speed and accuracy. Additionally, it may be helpful to break down the exam into smaller time intervals, such as 15 minutes per question, to help you stay on track.

In addition to time management, it is important to review and understand the types of mistakes you are making. Are they simple calculation errors or conceptual misunderstandings? Identifying and addressing these mistakes can help improve your performance on exams.

Another helpful strategy may be to prioritize which questions to answer first. Start with the questions you are most confident in and then move on to the more challenging ones. This will ensure that you have enough time to fully answer the questions you know well, and you can then use any remaining time to work on the more difficult ones.

Lastly, it is important to remember to stay calm and focused during the exam. Panicking and rushing can lead to more mistakes. Take deep breaths and approach each question with a clear mind.

In conclusion, as a scientist, I recommend practicing timed exams, identifying and addressing mistakes, prioritizing questions, and staying calm and focused as strategies to improve your exam performance. With practice and a clear strategy, I am confident that you will see improvements in your exam scores. Good luck!