001; in lecture
write down any key terms, facts, and formulas.
if you can write while listening, copy down one or two examples if your teacher does any. if you can’t do those at once, watch the steps instead of writing it down. it’ll help you more to understand how the problem is done than it will to see the solution in your notes.
002; after class
if your teacher assigns homework problems, do them the day you learn the material. it’ll help reinforce your memory and the content will be fresher in your mind.
if you aren’t assigned problems, do some anyway. you can find some online easily - just Google “<insert your topic here> practice problems”
start memorizing those key terms and formulas. you often memorize formulas through repeated use, so keep practicing!
003; troubleshooting
need help? ask your teacher if you can.
you can go on Khan Academy or some other online resource (I have a resource master post here)
you can also ask friends or parents, if you can be sure they’re knowledgeable enough with the subject matter to help you.
004; before exams
start reviewing weeks in advance! during the semester you should make a master list of the topics that have been covered.
your textbook most likely has practice questions for the end of a section, or you can find those questions for your topic online. pick a couple of random ones from each topic and print them out as a practice test. set up everything in test condition - nothing on your desk but a pencil and eraser, a silent room, and a timer set for however long your exam period is.
then grade it with a red pen if you have an answer key. for anything you got wrong - check your work. did you make a silly mistake? promise to be more careful. if you’re rusty or forgot something, refer to the previous homework, notes, and examples you have organized somewhere. (you do right?) if you just don’t understand, refer to troubleshooting.
if you don’t have an answer key, just note which concepts you’re rusty with or don’t understand.
005; during exam
i have an exam advice post here
if it’s multiple choice use that to your advantage. there are many many ways, for example you can guess and check eliminate implausible solutions until you have just 1 left, etc. just use the multiple choice format well.
check your answers! check check check check check
check everything, even every little bit of arithmetic because small errors are usually what throw you off. you can also check by doing the problem in reverse, for example substitute your solution back in after solving an equation.
