CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" /> <title>Math Study Tips :: math.ucdavis.edu</title> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="description" content="Some tips and tricks for how to approach studying math: how to start, methods to try, and dealing with exams."/> <meta name="generator" content="concrete5 - 8.5.4"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/math-study-tips"> <script type="text/javascript"> var CCM_DISPATCHER_FILENAME = "/index.php"; var CCM_CID = 542; var CCM_EDIT_MODE = false; var CCM_ARRANGE_MODE = false; var CCM_IMAGE_PATH = "/concrete/images"; var CCM_TOOLS_PATH = "/index.php/tools/required"; var CCM_APPLICATION_URL = "https://www.math.ucdavis.edu"; var CCM_REL = ""; var CCM_ACTIVE_LOCALE = "en_US"; </script> <link href="/concrete/css/font-awesome.css?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all"> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/jquery.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script>   <link href="/concrete/css/redactor.css?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all"> <link href="/concrete/css/app.css?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all"> <link href="/concrete/css/jquery-ui.css?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all"> <link href="/concrete/css/file-manager.css?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all"> <link href="/concrete/css/selectize.css?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" type="text/css" href="/packages/ucdv5/themes/ucdv5/css/print.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/packages/ucdv5/themes/ucdv5/css/ucd1.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/packages/ucdv5/themes/ucdv5/css/ucd2.css"> <script src="/packages/ucdv5/themes/ucdv5/js/ucd1.js"></script> </head> <body class="path-node page-node-type-sf-page l-header--fixed"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable skip-link"> Skip to main content </a> <div class="ccm-page ccm-page-id-542 page-type-page page-template-right-sidebar"> <div class="layout-container"> <header class="l-header header" role="banner"> <div class="header__bar "> <a href="#nav" class="nav-toggle js-nav-toggle"> <span class="nav-toggle__icon nav-toggle__icon--menu">Menu</span> </a> <div class="header__fixed-site-name"><a href="/" title="Home" rel="home">math.ucdavis.edu</a></div> <div class="l-container"> <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/"><img src="/packages/ucdv5/themes/ucdv5/images/uc-logo-white.svg" class="ucd-logo ucd-logo--right" alt="UC Davis Logo" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="region region-header"> <div id="block-sitefarm-one-branding" class="block block-system block-system-branding-block"> <div class="header__branding"> <div class="l-container o-media">  <div class="o-media__body"> <p><a href="/" style="border:none"><picture><img src="/application/files/6116/0271/6967/math_logo-front_page.png" alt="math_logo-front_page.png"></picture></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="l-navbar navbar menu--closed"> <div class="l-container--navigation off-canvas off-canvas--left"> <div class="off-canvas__container"> <div class="region region-navigation"> <div class="search-block-form l-search-popup" data-drupal-selector="search-block-form" id="block-sitefarm-one-search" role="search"> <button class="search-popup__open js-search-popup__open">Open</button> <div class="search-popup"> <button class="search-popup__close"><span class="search-popup__close-icon">Close</span></button> <div class="search-popup__container">  <form action="/search" method="get" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <div class="js-form-item form-item js-form-type-search form-type-search js-form-item-keys form-item-keys form-no-label"> <label for="edit-keys" class="visually-hidden">Search the site:</label>  <input title="Enter the terms you wish to search for." data-drupal-selector="edit-keys" placeholder="Search" required class="search-popup__input form-search" type="search"id="_search_input" name="q" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" /> </div> <div data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" class="form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"> <input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" class="search-popup__submit js-form-submit form-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" value="Search" /> <input name="search_paths[]" value="" type="hidden"> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_form" />  <INPUT type=hidden name="cx" value="018149662233696839720%3Ao61ai7f-hp8"> <INPUT type=hidden name="cof" value="FORID%3A11"> <INPUT type=hidden name="sa" value="Search"> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-sitefarm-one-main-menu-menu" id="block-sitefarm-one-main-menu" class="primary-nav primary-nav--superfish block block-menu navigation menu--main"> <h2 class="panel__title visually-hidden" id="block-sitefarm-one-main-menu-menu">Main navigation (extended config)</h2> <ul class="menu" ><li class="menu-item"><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about" target="_self" class="">About<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about/directions" target="_self" class="">Directions to Math</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about/donation" target="_self" class="">Give to Math!</a></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about/employment" target="_self" class="">Employment<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about/employment/faculty" target="_self" class="">Faculty Positions</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about/employment/kap" target="_self" class="">Krener Positions</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about/employment/lecturer" target="_self" class="">Lecturer Positions</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about/student_employment" target="_self" class="">Student Employment</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/about/building-maps" target="_self" class="">Building Maps</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/people" target="_self" class="">People<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty" target="_self" class="">Faculty</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/people/acad_assoc" target="_self" class="">Academic Associates</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/people/grads" target="_self" class="">Graduate Students</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/people/grad_wall" target="_self" class="">Grad Photo Wall</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/people/staff" target="_self" class="">Staff</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/people/text_listing" target="_self" class="">Text Listing</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research" target="_self" class="">Research<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/seminars" target="_self" class="">Seminars</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/thurston_lectures" target="_self" class="">Thurston Lectures</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="/people" target="_self" class="">Faculty Profiles</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/pubs" target="_self" class="">Publications</a></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/news" target="_self" class="">News<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/news/archive" target="_self" class="">Newsletter Archive</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/news/feature_page" target="_self" class="">Featured News</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/news/alumni" target="_self" class="">Alumni</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/research/honors" target="_self" class="">Honors & Awards</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="/undergrad/majors_minor/research" target="_self" class="">Undergrad Research</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/courses" target="_self" class="">Courses<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="/courses" target="_self" class="">Course List</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/courses/academic-schedule" target="_self" class="">Academic Schedule</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/courses/class-accounts" target="_self" class="">Class Accounts</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/courses/pta-policy" target="_self" class="">PTA Policy</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/courses/syllabi" target="_self" class="">Syllabi</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/courses/summer" target="_self" class="">Summer Courses</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/undergrad" target="_self" class="">Undergraduate</a></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad" target="_self" class="">Graduate<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/apply" target="_self" class="">Apply</a></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/gpc" target="_self" class="">Grad Program in Math<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="/research/" target="_self" class="">List of Faculty</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/gpc/degree_req" target="_self" class="">Degree Requirements</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="http://appliedmath.ucdavis.edu/" target="_self" class="">Grad Group in Applied Math</a></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/financial" target="_self" class="">Financial Information<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/financial/award_schol" target="_self" class="">Awards & Scholarships</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/financial/conference_travel" target="_self" class="">Conference Travel</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/exam-prep" target="_self" class="">Prelim Exam Prep</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/grad-student-handbook" target="_self" class="">Grad Student Handbook</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/galois" target="_self" class="">Galois Group</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://grad.ucdavis.edu/sites/default/files/upload/files/grad-council/mentoring.pdf" target="_self" class="">Mentoring Guidelines (PDF)</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/thesis_adviser" target="_self" class="">Advanced Graduate Research</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/degrees_award" target="_self" class="">Degree Recipients</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/grad/welcome" target="_self" class="">Newly Admitted Grad Students</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources" target="_self" class="">Resources<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/comp" target="_self" class="">Computing Support<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/comp/comp-faq" target="_self" class="">Computing FAQ</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/comp/status" target="_self" class="">Status</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/comp/change-password" target="_self" class="">Change Password</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/comp/guide-mailmigration" target="_self" class="">Mail Migration Guide</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning" target="_self" class="">Help with Math<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/online-textbooks" target="_self" class="">Online Textbooks</a></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/tutors" target="_self" class="">Math Tutors<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/tutors/tutor_app" target="_self" class="">Tutor App</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/sample-exams" target="_self" class="">Undergrad Sample Exams</a></li><li class="menu-item--active-trail menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/math-study-tips" target="_self" class="">Math Study Tips</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/calc_room" target="_self" class="">Calculus Room</a></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/forms" target="_self" class="">Travel Forms<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/forms/expense_travel" target="_self" class="">Expense Travel</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li class="menu-item--expanded menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/outreach" target="_self" class="">Outreach<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span></a><ul class="menu"><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/outreach/women-math" target="_self" class="">Women in Math (AWM)</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/outreach/math-project" target="_self" class="">UC Davis Math Project</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/outreach/m-pact" target="_self" class="">M-PACT</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="/undergrad/majors_minor/activities/stem-activities" target="_self" class="">Undergraduate Opportunities</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://studyabroad.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk221/files/inline-files/study-abroad_mags_physical-math_psm_2018.pdf" target="_blank" class="">UC Davis Study Abroad</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/outreach/siam-student-chapter" target="_self" class="">SIAM Student Chapter</a></li><li class="menu-item"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/outreach/spectra" target="_self" class="">Spectra</a></li></ul></li></ul> </nav> </div> <div class="l-quick-links"> <h2> <a href="#" class="quick-links__title" aria-controls="quick-links" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle Quick Links Menu"> Quick Links<span class="submenu-toggle"><span class="submenu-toggle__icon">+</span></span> </a> </h2> <nav id="quick-links" class="quick-links quick-links--home-site quick-links--two-columns" aria-label="Quick Links Menu" style="display: none;"> <ul class="menu"> <li class="first leaf"> <a href="/login" title="">Sign In</a> </li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about" title="">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/donation" title="">Make a Gift</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/employment" title="">Employment</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <main class="l-main" role="main"> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div class="region region-page-title"> <div class="region region-page-title"> <div id="block-sitefarm-one-page-title" class="block block-core block-page-title-block"> <div class="page-title page-title--banner"> <div class="page-title__title--nested"> <h1 class="page-title__title category-brand__text--knock-out">Math Study Tips</h1> </div> <picture><img src="/application/files/9716/1496/6782/redwood_studying-banner-20130508.jpg" alt="Student studying under redwood trees." class="ccm-image-block img-responsive bID-4589" title="Math Study Tips"></picture></div></div></div> </div> <div class="l-container l-davis-flipped u-space-top--large"> <div class="region region-pre-content"> <div id="block-sf1subtheme-breadcrumbs" class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <header id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</header> <ol class="breadcrumbs"><li><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/" >Mathematics Home</a></li><li><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources" >Resources</a></li><li><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning" >Help with Math</a></li><li> Math Study Tips</li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <aside role="complementary"> </aside> <div class="l-content"> <div> </div> <div class="region region-content"> <div id="block-sitefarm-one-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block panel o-box o-box--large"> <article role="article"> <h2>How Do I Study Math Effectively?</h2> <p>This document is meant to give you some tips and tricks for how to study math effectively. There will be too many things on here for you to do all of it; we encourage you to try some of these techniques and see what works for you. Everyone’s brain works differently, and so while most of these study techniques have been drawn from psychological research on how to learn and remember things, each of you will find that certain things work better than others.</p> <h3>What Should I Study?</h3> <p>Before we even get to the how part of studying and learning, you first have to decide what to study. The good news: you can use your class structure! Look through class notes, homework problems, and discussion problems. Look at the corresponding textbook chapter(s). While you are doing this, you will find some things that are uncomfortable or make you hope they aren’t on the exam. These topics are a great starting point. Remember: your instructor has made conscious choices about what material to cover in lecture and put on homework, and exams are meant to measure how well you’ve learned the course material.</p> <h3>How to Study.</h3> <p>The following techniques are in no particular order. We tried to include what each technique is, why it works, and how to apply it to math. Note that these techniques come from the book <em>Make It Stick</em>, by Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel. We encourage you to read if you get the chance; doing so will help you become a better, more efficient learner all around.</p> </article> </div> </div> <div> <div class="category-brand--golden-lupine collapse block block-block-content panel"> <h2 class="collapse__title category-brand__background collapse__title--closed"> Retrieval Practice </h2> <div class="collapse__content" style="display:none;"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>Practice retrieving relevant concepts from your memory, without looking at your notes. The process of trying to recall something strengthens your memory of it. Check your notes afterwards, and know that remembering an incorrect answer will not set you back as long as you check your notes and correct yourself.</p><p>What does this mean in practice? Quiz yourself! Flashcards work well for definitions. If you get to a class early and have an extra 5 minutes, try to remember a definition, a theorem statement, or a proof idea. Then check your notes to see if you were right.</p><p>If the course has a practice exam or review questions, first attempt them without notes. If you’re stuck, spend at least 5 minutes trying to work through a problem before you look at your notes for a hint. Learning takes effort, and struggling on practice problems without notes helps your brain learn the material. Failure is also a natural part of the learning process–in fact, you will remember something better if you try and fail than if you get it right the first time!</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="category-brand--california-poppy collapse block block-block-content panel"> <h2 class="collapse__title category-brand__background collapse__title--closed"> Interleaved Studying </h2> <div class="collapse__content" style="display:none;"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>If there are different topics you are studying, mix it up! Doing one problem from each section/topic then rotating often feels less effective than ‘blocking’ your practice, but that is because block practice strengthens short term memory without actually sticking well in your long term memory.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="category-brand--sky-blue collapse block block-block-content panel"> <h2 class="collapse__title category-brand__background collapse__title--closed"> Space Out Your Practice </h2> <div class="collapse__content" style="display:none;"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>Studying a little bit each day is more effective than cramming the day before an exam. This is because spacing out your practice means it takes more effort to remember things, which <em>strengthens your recall of the material</em>. It <em>should</em> feel more difficult to challenge your memory in this way than to do the tenth practice problem in a row.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="category-brand--sunny-grass collapse block block-block-content panel"> <h2 class="collapse__title category-brand__background collapse__title--closed"> Reflect </h2> <div class="collapse__content" style="display:none;"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>At the end of a study session, think about what you accomplished. Do you feel more comfortable with key definitions or theorem statements? Do you understand a practice problem fully? Do you understand why a practice problem is really hard? Reflecting on what you did to study helps the studying stick in your memory.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="category-brand--admin-blue collapse block block-block-content panel"> <h2 class="collapse__title category-brand__background collapse__title--closed"> Elaborate </h2> <div class="collapse__content" style="display:none;"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>Make connections to what you already know and understand. When you read a theorem, find an example that fits the theorem and see why it works. Then find a non-example (something that doesn’t meet the assumptions to apply the theorem, and shows that the theorem doesn’t hold if you don’t have all the assumptions). What terms are being used in a theorem? Define them. Making these connections to things you already know or understand makes it easier to trace that path in your memory and ultimately remember it.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="category-brand--wine-grape collapse block block-block-content panel"> <h2 class="collapse__title category-brand__background collapse__title--closed"> Study Intentionally </h2> <div class="collapse__content" style="display:none;"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"> <p>It’s easy to get stressed, anxious, or distracted. If you find this happening, close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Your worth is not dependent on your performance on an exam or quiz. Stand up and stretch. Go get a glass of water. Take a walk. Time is nonlinear: 30 minutes of intentional, focused studying and 30 minutes of doing something to de-stress is often more effective for your learning than an hour of distracted, stressed studying.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div id="block-sitefarm-one-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block panel o-box o-box--large"><h3>Mindset.</h3> <p>Remember, math is hard! Learning takes effort, and failure/setbacks are a part of the learning process. Neurologically, the process of making new connections in your brain to remember new material takes time, energy, and effort. If you aren’t putting effort into a class and/or you aren’t failing at least some of the time, you aren’t learning the material very well. (And something that often isn’t shared until too late: people who get paid to do math–like your professors–fail A LOT. All it takes is one good idea to write a research paper! No one sees the many ideas that didn’t work.)</p> <p>As much as you can, focus on learning the material instead of a grade. While you study, remember to pause and celebrate what you have accomplished and reflect on what you have internalized through your hard work.</p> <h3>During an Exam.</h3> <p>You’ve studied (or not) and now it’s time to take the exam. A few parting words for you: take a deep breath. You are a wonderful human, regardless of how any exam goes.</p> <p>Frame the exam as a way to show what you’ve learned! Most likely, you wouldn’t have been able to understand what the questions were asking before starting this class. Just understanding all the questions proves that you’ve learned something already.</p> <p>If you’re feeling stuck, write down what you know. You can write down definitions or theorems you remember related to the question. If asked to prove something abstract, find an example. Even showing that what you are asked to prove works for your specific example demonstrates an understanding of the material (and more often than not, you’ll get an idea of how to prove the general case). You can also write down why/where you are stuck. If you can prove the problem assuming some extra little lemma or fact, then do so (but be clear about what else you are assuming).</p> <p>You got this!</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Math Study Tips, by Alexander Simons and Ally Nagasawa-Hinck, UC Davis graduate students, 2023.</em></p> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> <aside class="l-sidebar-second" role="complementary"> <div class="region region-sidebar-first"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-ourapps-menu" id="block-ourapps" class="sub-nav panel block block-menu navigation menu--our-apps"><h2 class='sub-nav__title panel__title' id='block-ourapps-menu'><a href='/resources'>Resources</a></h2> <ul class="nav"><li class=""><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/comp" target="_self" class="">Computing Support</a></li><li class="nav-path-selected"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning" target="_self" class="nav-path-selected">Help with Math</a><ul><li class=""><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/online-textbooks" target="_self" class="">Online Textbooks</a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/tutors" target="_self" class="">Math Tutors</a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/sample-exams" target="_self" class="">Undergrad Sample Exams</a></li><li class="nav-selected nav-path-selected"><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/learning/math-study-tips" target="_self" class="nav-selected nav-path-selected">Math Study Tips</a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/calc_room" target="_self" class="">Calculus Room</a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/resources/forms" target="_self" class="">Travel Forms</a></li></ul></nav> </div> </aside> </div> </main> <footer class="l-footer footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="l-container"> <div class="region region-footer flex-footer"> <div class="flex-footer__item"> <div id="block-sitecredits" class="site-credits block block-site-credits block-site-credits-block"> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="flex-footer__item"> <div id="block-socialmedialinks-2" class="block-social-media-links panel--transparent panel--auxilary block block-social-media-links-block"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-spacer"> <hr class="footer-spacer__hr hr-invert"> <div class="footer-spacer__logo"> <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/"><img src="/packages/ucdv5/themes/ucdv5/images/uc-logo-white.svg" class="ucd-logo" alt="UC Davis Logo" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="region region-footer-credits"> <div id="block-sitefarm-one-uccredits" class="uc-footer block block-uc-credits block-uc-credits-block"> <p><a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/" target="_new">University of California, Davis</a>, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616</p> <ul class="list--pipe"> <li><a href="/contact">Contact & Directions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/" target="_new">University of California</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap">Sitemap</a></li> <li>Last update: December 14, 2023</li> </ul> <p>Copyright © The Regents of the University of California, Davis campus. All rights reserved.</p> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/picturefill.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/redactor.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/ccm/assets/localization/redactor/js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/dropzone.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/events.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/asset-loader.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/bootstrap/tooltip.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/underscore.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/backbone.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/jquery-ui.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/ccm/assets/localization/jquery/ui/js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/selectize.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/ccm/assets/localization/core/js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/ccm/assets/localization/dropzone/js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/app.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/jquery-fileupload.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/tree.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/file-uploader.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/concrete/js/file-manager.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/packages/ucdv5/blocks/accordion_row_ucd/js/hover.js?ccm_nocache=d846f33d9148b37e63b22ff9a7339155be77a7f9"></script> <script src="/packages/ucdv5/themes/ucdv5/js/ucd2.js"></script> </body> </html>