Normally I am pretty good at math. For all the years I’ve had math, I’ve always had the highest classes, and had the highest scores in them, despite bad teachers, or the material. It always came easily to me. This year, as a freshmen in my Algebra 2/ Trig Honors class, I’m doing so poorly. I do extremely well on the quizzes, but on the tests, I normally get scores ranging from C-'s and B-'s. I even got a D on the final. I ended the semester with a B-, but the new semester is starting again, and on my test I got a 72, even if I studied with no distractions, and I got a 95 on the quiz.
Are you doing poorly on the tests because you don’t understand the material or is it other problems like computation errors, not reading carefully, anxiety, etc?
What are the main differences between tests and quizzes in your class? Are quizzes just one single unit, easier material, open note, or maybe you can get partial credit on quizzes but not on tests?
Reducing silly/computational errors in math:
Get in the habit of checking constantly, almost obsessively. I check everything a ton, and I get a lot of high marks on my math tests. Admittedly, I’m not enrolled in an Algebra 2 class, but I’ve already taught the majority of it to myself.
This may sound odd to someone currently struggling with algebra, but one of the best ways to learn a topic is to try to teach/explain it to someone else (who, presumably, has little or no knowledge about the topic). As an example, would you be able to derive the quadratic formula or prove the rational root theorem to someone else?
This method might feel intimidating at first, but the advantages of this method include the fact that it forces you to have a solid understanding of the topic, as well as improved communication skills (which is not often covered well in the standard HS math curriculum).
Algebra II & Trig can be a difficult course! It’s one of those courses where it’s pretty much necessary to teach a topic a day if you’re to have any hope of finishing the syllabus…a snow day (or 2 or 3) can kill you.
You mention a 95 on the quiz. OK, that’s a great sign; it means you can do the material. But dropping 23 points on the test tells me that one of a few things happened:
you didn’t understand which directions meant what (for example, you found the actual roots instead of the nature of the roots)
you rushed, either because time was a legitimate issue or because you were afraid it was
you made careless mistakes.
I suspect it’s a combination of those factors, but my money is on the first. Does your textbook have a chapter review section? If not, can you find a textbook that roughly correlates to yours that does? Start using that chapter review; it will mix up the questions the way a test does.
Don’t get discouraged! I was the same way. Personally, the beginning of Alg II is a review, which is easy. Once you get more into quadrics, matrices, etc. then it can get tricky and harder. Practice and go to tutoring if you can. I think all of the above commenters are spot on with their replies. They gave you great advice and resources. Khan Academy is a great resource it helped me during Alg I.
The problem with the course, aside from the timing, is that it builds and builds and builds. Make sure your foundations are good-- that you’re good with negative numbers and fractions, that you can factor, that you understand the basics of Trig-- reference angles, how the trig functions interrelate, special triangles, and so on. Without that basic knowledge, you’re one of those people who assume that pushing some keys on an expensive calculator means they know math. That assumption has killed many an Algebra II & Trig grade.
Thanks everyone for the advice! @bjkmom careless mistakes definitely played a role. My teacher gave us a test where no one finished, she likes giving extremely difficult tests. The quizzes are definitely a lot easier, because it is only on a few sections, while the tests are insanely difficult, and are worth more points. I understand the material, I honestly do. The homework is easy, and the material itself is pretty easy, and for the first quiz, I missed points only because I forgot to write g(x)! However, for the tests, I know how to start the problem, but I never figure out how to finish them…what’s wrong with me?? I haven’t done well on any of my teacher’s tests, and I want to so badly.
@southernbelle16 thanks for your advice! For the tutoring, I have gone to tutoring, which helped my quiz grades go from 90’s to 100’s, but my test average stayed at around an 75-85 range. How do I improve? I feel like I understand the material, but I do so badly on the tests? Tutoring never really prepares me for the tests, so I feel extremely lost at the moment what do I do?
@hermionepotter99 Practice, practice, practice. For things like Math, practice is the only thing that will help. Search for videos on YouTube, try Khan Academy, etc. I used Geometry for Dummies and it was really good. I believe they make one for Algebra II, so check that out.
@DogsAndMath23 the quizzes are similar to the tests, but are on fewer sections, so it is ultimately easier to study for. Unfortunately, my teacher gives tests that take an enormous amount of time to finish, and there is no time for checking for computation errors! I understand the material, but I get test anxiety and I blank out. On the very first test of the year, I got a 96, somehow, someway, and now everything has been going downhill. On the last test, which I got a 72, I was sure I mastered the material. What do I do about my test anxiety? Should I just drop the class, since I’m struggling so much?
Have you gone to extra help?? it’s a huge help. It lets your teacher know that you care, that you’re trying. And it lets her know what your real problem is, so that she can help you.
@bjkmom she knows I’m trying extremely hard, and she has a small amount of hope I’ll end the semester with a B+, but I can’t seem to solve my problem! She says I need to just get over my test anxiety, but I don’t really know how to.
@hermionepotter99 On test day, take deep breaths beforehand. More importantly, * stay organized*. You will be more prone to computation errors if your work is messy or difficult to follow through.
Next test, give up on the idea of getting a perfect score. Instead, go in with the mindset that you’ll maximize partial credit. Tackle the problems you know you can get through quickly first. Next, the ones you know you can start. When you get stuck on those problems, don’t sweat the finish. Instead, write a narrative. (“I know I should factor this, then set each factor equal to zero, and eliminate any negative roots, but I’m getting stuck on the factoring.”) Once you’ve explained your way through each problem, leaving no blanks, go back and really tackle the ones you’re stuck on.
For some kids, simply letting go of the idea that they should finish every problem is the key. They relax and show just what they do know.
Maybe run that whole strategy by your teacher ahead of time, just to see whether she would give any partial credit for a narrative. I know I would, and have.
If she says no, then here’s what you do: totally fake the parts you’re stuck on, and finish the problem. Let’s say you can’t remember quadratic formula. You write it as best you can, get some sort of an answer, and FINISH the problem. Yep, you’ll lose points for missing the formula. But you’ll get those points at the end of the problem.
I’m a freshman in Algebra 2 and I’m doing absolutely terrible I have a 79 right now so I know theirs no way I’m getting an A. I’m shooting for a high B so I can get an A as my average since i already have 5 A’s. I know how to do all the things in the class but than I do terrible on the test because of anxiety. Is their anyway I can do well on the test without getting anxiety. Also I took a quiz this Friday and I think I did terrible because my mechanical pencil ran out of led so I had to use a midget pencil on the quiz and it was hard to write. Rip 4.0.
I actually faced the exact problem as you throughout all four years of HS math! Geometry, Alg 2/Trig (no honors lel), PCH, and then AP Calc BC. I psychoanalyzed myself and my own habits as to why my quiz average was super fire but my test grades were basically garbage. Here’s what I found:
Quizzes:
less work, bursts of energy and you just spit rapid fire answers onto a sheet of paper
either very general/very specific, so you basically know what to study either way.
MUCH MORE straightforward than any test. don’t try to trick you, just asks a question.
for some reason I actually stress less over quizzes
Tests:
lots of arduous work, very tippy toe trying not to screw yourself over
all about time management
don’t know what the degree of specification is, and there’s more material to cover (and with so little problems, you don’t know what will be covered)
involve application type problems that you have to think through (wasting your time, etc, increases your stress you get it)
My advice to you is: keep doing what you’re doing on quizzes, but adjust your study habits for tests. I’ve found doing practice tests, sleeping more, reviewing HW, and GOING OVER OLD TESTS really helps! When I was in A2T/PCH, I used to review the corresponding quizzes before my chapter test (since the quizzes covered half the material of the chapter any way). I’d then identify my weaknesses on my quiz, while also studying the latter half of the chapter, and go from there. Also, rest and food are both very important! In the days leading up to a test, try to get more sleep than usual, even 30 minutes a night helps. If you’re still having problems, identify what’s wrong. Are you making stupid mistakes from rushing/not finishing the test at all? Work on time management, don’t get stuck, and leave enough time to check. Are you for some reason just very stressed out during the test? Talk to your teacher to see if you can take the test earlier/later so you can take it in a stress free environment without your peers around you. But above all else, just go talk to your teacher. They know what you’ve been doing wrong, and if you work with them, then you’re bound to improve.
what do I do?