A math exam can be quite harrowing for students. On top of the conceptual challenges, students also find it difficult if they’ve got a fixed time limit. All too often, students who can perform well in the classroom struggle to score in math exams.

Math anxiety can be quite a problem for our youngsters. Helping them see timed tests as a healthy challenge is crucial. The first part of overcoming that is to teach them how to plan their time. Enrolling your child in primary mathematics tuition can help them discover what the subject is all about.

Start with the known

It’s quite simple - teach your children to play to their strengths first. If it’s multiplication facts, teach them to find them first and get them done. If they’re confident with fractions, go straight to the fractions section. A confidence boost right at the start of the exam is crucial for them to speed through the rest of the test. 

Move on when stuck

We all remember that big question that took way too long to get the answer. Sometimes, students tend to get stuck when they don’t quite remember the next step. Teaching them to let go and move to the next question can help improve their speed significantly. This way, they spend their time wisely on questions that they can solve.

Visible Thinking Routines

When we come to word problems, students often stumble while reading and comprehending what the question is asking them to do. Thinking Routines help break down their step-wise process and structure their thinking, so they don’t get lost if a question has too much text. These routines start with something as simple as underlining important numbers given in the question, making a rough sketch to understand, and identifying the operation required to be performed. 

Practice beforehand

If it is something that they do often for practice, the real assessment won’t be such a source of pressure on the day of the exam. Even at home, you can help your child practice short-timed tests in a quiet environment to get them used to the act of writing a test. It doesn’t have to be explicit - let them sit in a test-like environment even for homework and they’ll get used to working quietly by themselves.

A good tutor can easily help your child overcome these obstacles and become a math whiz. Check out your options on 88tuitions.com to find both online and in-person tutors. Find the best match for you and your child!