Many students have never learned to study effectively and just get by on native smarts. Before a test they review their notes, the book, and their homework. It feels like they really know it and are ready, but often they are confusing recognition with recall. In most classes their verbal skills let them pad out essays, but on math/science tests they find out they can’t recall enough to solve many problems. Unfortunately once they get to college this cursory study approach won’t work even in subjects where it was enough back in HS, since the expectations will be higher and the questions on tests more challenging.
There is a recent book out that you should read this summer to understand how to learn effectively, titled “Make it Stick”. It will discuss techniques you need to use such as distributed practice and self-testing.
Two links you can read now are http://calnewport.com/blog/2011/04/28/on-becoming-a-math-whiz-my-advice-to-a-new-mit-student/ and http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/11/14/how-to-ace-calculus-the-art-of-doing-well-in-technical-courses/ Read thru the story athttp://bentilly.blogspot.com/2009/09/teaching-linear-algebra.html and see how that prof forced students to rehearse material with great results