How to Learn Math: Effective Tips for Students of All Levels
Boost your math knowledge and ace your next test with these key study techniques
Author
Tess Loucka
Published:
June 2025
Key takeaways
- • Many people struggle with math, but the right approach to studying can make math easier for anyone.
- • Make sure you’re taking clear and organized notes during class! You can use them for studying later.
- • Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Math doesn’t come naturally for everyone. While some people have “math brains” and find working with numbers to be second nature, others struggle to retain simple concepts, feeling frustrated every time they have to look at an equation.
Whether you’re a math whiz or an “I only do math if I have to” kind of person, there are things you can do to maximize your study sessions, boost your learning, and improve your grades.
The same tips and tricks won’t work for everyone, but if you’re wondering how to learn math and are interested in making math easier, more fun, or simply more fulfilling, there are a few techniques you can try.
10 Tips on the most effective strategies for learning math
There are dozens (if not hundreds) of math tips, but we’ve created our own top ten list.
If you’re wondering, “How do I learn math?”, then read through the tips below and, if any of them stand out to you, incorporate them into your next study session to learn math fast!
Tip 1: Review your notes regularly
You can’t efficiently build up your math knowledge without having a strong understanding of everything you’ve already learned. That’s like building a house on a crooked foundation. The house might look sturdy, but the moment someone tries moving in, it’s going to fall over.
Being comfortable with everything you’ve already learned, and having that necessary context, makes learning something new so much easier.
So, first of all, take notes in class! Keep them clear and organized so you can easily review them later.
Then, find time every day to look over your notes and review what you’ve already learned.
Tip 2: Don’t memorize—understand!
In math class, you’re told to memorize formulas all the time. However, this strategy doesn’t work for a lot of students. Just memorizing a formula is not the same thing as learning that formula.
If you want to really learn math, start by understanding how formulas and other math concepts work. For example, don’t just memorize how to do long division—understand why long division works. Going forward, you’ll find anything having to do with division to be much easier to understand.
Yes, memorizing can help cram for your next test, but really understanding how math works will set you up for success now and far in the future.
Tip 3: Ask for help!
When students struggle to learn math, they often choose to accept defeat rather than ask for help. Yet, asking for help is one of the best ways to improve your math skills and make math easier to learn.
If you’re struggling to learn basic math or complex topics, ask your teacher for more guidance. They’ll likely be happy to help. If not, a math tutor could be the answer. Private tutors can be expensive, but some schools offer free math help.
In addition to those tools, online math programs and math apps can also be helpful. With online tools, you can learn at your own pace, making learning more convenient for busy students.
Tip 4: Do practice problems
Completing practice problems may be the absolute best way to learn math. Homework from school often contains practice problems, but you can find more with a quick search online.
You can also find affordable workbooks at your local bookstore (or online) for most topics in math.
The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be during your next exam!
Tip 5: Set realistic goals
One of the biggest mistakes students make when they try to learn math is setting unrealistic goals for themself. Goals that involve cramming before a test, getting only 100s on all your assignments, or understanding a complex topic after a single study session only set you up for failure.
So, set realistic goals. Aim to do better on your next exam rather than perfectly. Aim to study for a test over a few days, not one night. And most importantly, be patient with yourself—you’re not going to master anything if you rush.
Tip 6: Think about real-world applications
For many students, math can feel too abstract. Not understanding how it applies to the real world can make it hard to understand and even uninteresting, preventing students from feeling motivated to learn.
So, always try to apply what you’re learning to real life! Research what different topics in math are used for and imagine those uses in your mind when studying. This will not only make math more fun, but it will also improve your understanding of the world around you.
Tip 7: Have a study buddy
If it’s hard to motivate yourself to study, try studying with a partner or group. Doing anything alone can get boring and leave you feeling like you’re missing out on something. However, if you have a study buddy or study group, studying can be fun!
Besides that, if you get stuck on a problem, you can immediately ask for help.
Just remember to stay focused! More people means more distractions.
Tip 8: Break down complex problems
If coming across certain math problems makes you never want to do math again, you may want to try breaking up complex problems into smaller, simpler parts.
For equations, just remember the order of operations and take things one step at a time. For word problems, work out each sentence individually, then put everything together.
Just take your time, break problems down, and solve!
Tip 9: Play math games
Math games are an amazing way to learn math fast while having fun. Ask your teacher if they recommend any, or just do a simple search online.
There are great online math programs and games that can improve your math skills while also making learning fun and exciting.
Tip 10: Learn from your mistakes
No matter how good you are at math, you’re going to make mistakes. It’s inevitable!
But, instead of just ignoring them—or letting mistakes demotivate you—use them to your advantage!
Mistakes can reveal exactly what topics you need more practice in, which can help you plan your next study session so it is the most effective.
Ask any mathematician how to learn math and they’ll give you different tips for learning math. There are countless ways to master math topics and excel, but these are our top ten.
Happy studying!
FAQs about learning math
You can teach yourself math in many ways, including playing math games, trying practice questions, studying with a partner or group, and never being afraid to ask for help.
You can make learning math easier by breaking down tough questions, reviewing your notes regularly, applying math questions to real-world situations, and, of course, getting professional study help.
Math is hard for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. Maximize your study sessions and stay motivated! It will get easier.
Study! Focus on understanding the concepts that will be on your exam rather than simply memorizing formulas. Work on practice questions too, and learn from your mistakes.
