Preparing For and Taking Math Exams, By Sarah Carothers

"Studying" CC Image courtesy of  Steven S. on Flickr

Preparation:

• Begin preparing early

  Pay attention during class: every minute you daydream in class is many more minutes of studying later.
  Do assigned homework problems: math is a building process, and in order to understand the next step, you need to comprehend the present and previous ones

• Simulate test conditions

  After you have studied and think you know the material, practice it under test conditions. Solve unassigned homework problems and see if you can finish them in the allotted time for the exam

• Know your professor

  Study a copy of the exam of a previous class if available;
  Talk with someone who has taken the professor before, preferably someone who has succeeded in the same class

• Form a study group of 3-4 dedicated students

  Not only will other students be able to help you with problems, but by helping others, you will better learn the material. If you are unable teach another student a topic you believe you know, chances are you don't know that topic very well after all. If you can't teach it, you don't know it!

Testing:

• Read through the exam

  Reading through the whole exam you can
1. know what is expected of you
2. prioritize items on the test
3. pace yourself.

• Carefully read the instructions

  Make sure you are answering the question that is being asked!
  Often students know how to solve a problem, but they misread or misinterpret the question itself

• Check that you have correctly rewritten the problem

  If you use a scratch piece of paper, make sure that you correctly rewrite the problem.
  Don't skip steps. Start from the beginning;

• Clearly write each step of the solution

  Be neat and don't rush writing numbers down.
  Keep checking your solution as you are working.
  Neatness makes it easier to recheck your work;

• Double check your math, especially your calculator entries

  Double check your calculator work immediately.
  The chances of hitting a wrong number are high, but the chances of hitting the same wrong number are not;

• Don't Dilly Dally

  If you get stuck on a problem move on and come back to it later.
  When you are finished, recheck all your work.