Studying Maths

Peasblossom

I failed Maths GCE twice.

I did fail higher the second time?

Me too…had to have a tutor finally as I needed o level maths to go with my a levels for university entrance, I passed !

Remember those trains leaving stations and baths filling etc “problems”? I didn’t realise until I had a one to one tutor that there was a formula….. I think I sort of guessed before then.
I’m still not a numbers person

Lacana

Isn’t it strange, I was no good at Maths, but anything to do with English I loved. I enjoy writing letters, and essay writing was one of my favourite subjects at school.

To me, many people are divided up into either English or Maths.

Lacana

I like studying maths, it's my favorite subject for many years. However, I am really bad at writing. Every time it's a challenge for me to write an essay so I just apply to Cheap Essay Writing Service and get a perfect essay. By the way, what to do to improve writing skills except for reading?

Learn a foreign language and start analysing how your own language works from a different perspective.

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(Count to 3)

Looking at finished blankets I realise I can't always count to 3, Peasblossom!

Oh Quadratic equations, not quadrilateral.

That’s a shape isn’t it?

No wonder I failed - and failed again?

varian I remember helping one DD with her maths homework, using methods I'd learned and we did it together.
At open evening her maths teacher smiled and said "all correct, well done, but wrong method Mrs C"


I've learnt a lot from YouTube ; how to crochet for a start.
(Count to 3)

I enjoyed maths and passed O level then dropped it.
I used to go round to my friend's house and we did homework and revision together.
We liked algebra best.

Peaseblossom said that she'd never needed to solve quadratic equations at any time in her career and I'm sure that applies to most folk.

I am not a teacher or retired teacher but I've always loved maths and so I have done a bit of home schooling with grandchildren recently. online. I was surprised that there are an amazing number of YouTube videos showing the different methods of solving quadratic equations. Who knew?

Perhaps if our generation had access to these YouTube videos far more would have given up on maths.

Peasblossom

I did try again at evening classes when I was in my twenties.

The same brain fog descended.

The trouble is I can’t see the point of most of it. What’s it for? I’m never going to need to work out a quadrilateral equation.

In case you think I am totally without hope, I did in my working life (successfully) manage a million pound budget.

??‍♀️

I failed GCE maths, abysmally.

Tried again 20 odd years later at evening classes.

Knew at first lesson it was a mistake, but kept going. Can remember crying, begging my 16 year old son to help me with my homework, real role reversal!

Failed again, not quite so badly.

Worked in a bank my whole working life, no problem.

thus negating any benefits

Apologies, the adverts are covering the message box again.

Which Maths though?
Pure Maths, Applied Maths? Or both?

DN did both but did better at Pure Maths because she liked it.
DS disliked Pure Maths but took Applied Maths and uses it every day in his career.

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I think forcing all students to take Maths to 'A' level might increase anxiety, sleeplessness and increase blood pressure in those who do not have an aptitude for the subject and who wished to take other 'A' levels or pursue another course, thus negating any

The findings are significant because pupils in the UK are allowed to drop maths at 16, unlike those in much of the rest of the world.

I think much wider research would need to be carried out including students who took other subjects, students from around the world where Maths is compulsory post GCE level etc but does that mean that the subject is taught to as high a level in other countries?

It's certainly interesting.
Should I do some Sudoko before going to sleep rather than read a book?
GABA capsules are available from health food shops for those who hate Maths.

I think maths is a subject where you suddenly hit a ceiling. I had no problem with O'level, did humanities A levels and then after university I started to study statistics. This required me to get to A level standard. I struggled and had to resit the exam, but when I got past it, I simply couldn't grasp it. DH was endlessly patient helping me, but I simply did not understand the concepts.

DH did several Alevels in maths and got nearly full marks, but refused to buckle to school pressure to read the subject at ubiversity, because he did not think he would be able to do it. However he was more than capable of doing the maths required to become an engineer.

All of us have a sticking point somewhere, some struggle even to get to GCSE. and others of us hit ceilings at various levels after that.

I wonder if revising maths I did know and learning maths that I didn’t learn at school whilst helping GC (primary and secondary) during lockdown will have added the missing plasticity to my brain.

I suppose the secret is to find our strengths and weaknesses.

Yes it is. Build on your strengths.

Peasblossom

It was me that was a past master at avoiding Maths.

Bet Callistemon is a Professor ?

Not in Maths!

But, funnily enough, DH and I were discussing Maths this morning. I reckoned the Maths we did for GCE was far in advance of what I needed to pass the exam. The exam was a doddle.

Of course, much has changed since then, well, the methods if not the answers!

Eldest daughter tried O level maths twice and still failed. But eventually got a Phd in biochemistry.
She also failed cookery, and she's quite a good cook.
I suppose the secret is to find our strengths and weaknesses.

I did try again at evening classes when I was in my twenties.

The same brain fog descended.

The trouble is I can’t see the point of most of it. What’s it for? I’m never going to need to work out a quadrilateral equation.

In case you think I am totally without hope, I did in my working life (successfully) manage a million pound budget.

??‍♀️

Sorry Callistemon for thinking it was you who avoided maths.

Peaseblossom, have you considered sitting it again? Now might be a good time. It could be third time lucky. What an achievement that would be!

I failed Maths GCE twice.

I did fail higher the second time?

It was me that was a past master at avoiding Maths.

Bet Callistemon is a Professor ?

varian

I might be wrong Callistemon but I'd guess that if you spent these years avoiding maths when it was compulsory, you were unlikely to have volunteered to study more maths when it was optional.

I do agree that this study seems a bit perfunctory and I hope they will extend it to address some of the questions raised here.

I didn't avoid maths, varian - what on earth makes you think that?

Do you not realise that if something is in italics it is quoting someone else's words? I was quoting Peasblossom, I thought it was funny.

Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to take GCSE maths.
That's because I'm too old but I did get a good mark at GCE but decided to take languages at 'A' level instead.

My brain can't have much plasticity then, although I did use maths (and science) in a later career.

It all sounds like intellectual snobbery to me.

my maths tells me 130 students 14 to 18 isn't many
only 26 in each year.

I might be wrong Callistemon but I'd guess that if you spent these years avoiding maths when it was compulsory, you were unlikely to have volunteered to study more maths when it was optional.

I do agree that this study seems a bit perfunctory and I hope they will extend it to address some of the questions raised here.

Not to mention that being taught something is not the same as learning it. I spent several years at Secondary school avoiding studying Maths. In spite of being present in the classroom

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