How to get better at math?

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I am now entering my sophomore year of college and am still terrible at math. I am a straight A student and naturally excel at everything besides math. I am taking chemistry this fall and am slightly terrified to do so without improving my math skills this summer. Are there any recommendations to get better at math? Namely algebra and precalculus.

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[Saloni Tiwari]

1) Math is Not a Spectator Sport, Get Active!
Unlike some subjects, math is something that won't let you be a passive learner. Math is the subject that will often put you out of the comfort zone, don't worry as this is normal and part of the learning process. Try to make connections in math, many of the concepts in math are related and connected. The more connections you can make, the greater the understanding will be. Math concepts flow through levels of difficulty, start from where you are and move forward to the more difficult levels only when understanding is in place. The internet has a wealth of interactive math sites that let you engage, be sure use them.

2) Practice, Practice, Practice
Do as many problems as is required to ensure you understand the concept. Some of us require more practice and some of us require less practice. You will want to practice a concept until it makes sense and until you are fluent at finding solutions to various problems within the concept readily. Strive for those 'A Ha!' moments. When you can get 7 varied questions in a row right, you're probably to the point of understanding. Even more so if you re-visit the questions a few months later and are still capable of solving them. This too is key to understanding. Be sure to check out the online worksheets for lots of practice examples.

3) Additional Exercises
This is similar to practice. Think of math the way one thinks about a musical instrument. Most of us don't just sit down and play an instrument. We take lessons, practice, practice some more and although we move on, we still take time to review. Go beyond what is asked for. Your instructor tells you to do questions 1-20, even numbers only. Well, that may work for some, but others may need to do each of the questions to reach the point of fluency with the concept. Doing the extra practice questions only helps you to grasp the concept more readily. And, as always, be sure to re-visit a few months later, do some practice questions to ensure that you still have a grasp of it.

4)Buddy Up!
Some people like to work alone. However, when it comes to solving problems, it often helps to have a work buddy. You know the saying: two heads are better than one. Sometimes a work buddy can help clarify a concept for you by looking at it in a different way. Organize a study group or work in pairs or triads! In real life we often work through problems with others. Math is no different. A work buddy also provides you with the opportunity to discuss how you solved the math problem. And as you'll see in this list of tips, conversing about math leads too permanent understanding and you know that understanding is key.

5) Explain and Question
Try to explain to somebody else how you solve math concepts. Teach a friend. Or, keep a journal. It's often important to state either in writing or orally how you solved your math problems/exercises. Question problems, ask yourself, What would happen if.......I solved it this way because.....
Remember William Glasser's findings: 10% of what we READ
20% of what we HEAR
30% of what we SEE
50% of what we SEE and HEAR
70% of what is DISCUSSED with OTHERS
80% of what is EXPERIENCED PERSONALLY
95% of what we TEACH TO SOMEONE ELSE

6) Phone a Friend......or Tutor!
Seek help when it's appropriate. Don't let yourself get stuck and frustrated. Seek extra clarification when needed, be your own advocate! Whether you have a friend or need to hire a tutor, recognize the point at which you need help - then get it! Most of us need help some of the time, if you let it go too long, you'll discover that the math will only become more frustrating for you. Here's a handy

7) When you study and do homework, try to find a quiet place to do it. I was the worst offender of this while in school. I used to listen to music all of the time while trying to do homework. I'd also listen to the TV as 'background noise" while studying. Over time I realized that if I had a quiet place without the background noise, I could focus much better. What I found is that when reading, for example...I would have to read something perhaps 3 or 4 times if I was listening to something else but only once if I had some quiet. People love to listen to music while studying, but I am convinced that it is much more effective if you don't. Try to find a quiet spot in your home or in the Library to get your schoolwork done and you will get your work done much more quickly because you'll be able to focus and absorb more.

8) If the problem lends itself to it, draw a picture of the problem. This is most applicable for Trigonometry, Calculus, and Physics Students, but also applies to any word problem in basic math or algebra. Please do yourself a favor and draw a picture of what the problem is describing, even if your picture is simple. We are visual beings...the process of drawing the situation causes us to internalize what the problem is really asking for. It helps figure out how to proceed. If you are in Physics, you should draw a picture for every single problem that you work out. If you are in Calculus, definitely draw pictures for all related rate problems. If you are in Calculus 2 or Calculus 3, definitely draw a picture of all of your 3-dimensional problems (3d integrals). If you are in basic math and Jenny gives Bob 2 pencils and Bob gives 1 pencil away, draw that situation. It will really help you figure out how to proceed.
Remember, there is no silver bullet in learning Math. It comes with taking things one step at a time and with practice. The tips above will help you along in your math studies, and give you confidence. And confidence is 100% the name of the game in learning any level of Math.
Hope it helps!

[Harvard]

Understand the basic concepts and then practice it with examples to get good in mathematics.If you are at O/A level then practicing from past papers will be a best option.