How can I start my Math Preparation for a competitive exam?

Math is an important part of our lives. Mathematics is a subject that can be extremely difficult to master. It can be so complex that many students find it hard to even grasp the basics of mathematics. Quantitative Aptitude is perhaps known to be the most challenging segment of government competitive exams. The questions in this section are intended to test the skill of proper utilization of numbers, computational speed and analytical abilities of the candidates. It is used for various purposes like making budgets, calculating taxes, etc., Knowing mathematics is different from understanding mathematics. To succeed at any competitive exam you must practice and be able to answer questions quickly and correctly. If you do not study and practice daily, you are most likely to fail. The good news is that there are some pointers from rice academy , sharing tried and tested secret tricks and habits that you can learn to make your life easier when it comes to math, keeping in mind that “The key to success is perseverance”

In this article, we will discuss some simple math preparation tricks that students can use to score good marks in competitive exams like SSC, RRB, IBPS PO and Clerk. The following tips from the mentors at rice education will help you to start your math preparation for a competitive exam:

1. Improvement in your calculation skills: In order for you to get better at solving mathematical problems, start solving problems without using any calculator or computer program. One should practice solving as many problems as possible with mental calculations. This will allow you to become more familiar with different types of questions and provide an opportunity for improvement in your calculation skills.
2. Go through old question papers: Try to solve the yester years papers once you complete a topic with an expert’s eye. As per our rice preparation technique we encourage our students to practice and solve questions on a daily basis so that it becomes second nature to you. It will help you learn more about the types of questions asked and how to approach them when it appears in the exam paper.
3. Divide all Questions in Quant section into two categories: At Rice India we segregate the question paper while solving into a) Easy and Scoring Questions b) Time-Consuming Questions
   1. Easy and Scoring Questions: Starting your quantitative section with easy to solve, less time consuming questions would help achieve high accuracy.
   2. Time-Consuming Questions: Questions in this category are a bit tricky and may require more time to solve. Attempt them after solving first category questions. Accuracy in this section will depend on the amount of practice done during preparation days.
4. Try enrolling in a foundation building course: If you're trying to improve your math skills you can try taking an online/offline course. Universities like RICE provide an array of online as well as offline courses, and have capacity building courses, designed to strengthen the foundation in the subject. You can also look into the demo of the courses at rice education online classes. The classes are available in a local language as well. If money is an issue, auditing a course will allow you to gain knowledge at no cost. However the rice education course fees is nominal and wont pinch your pocket for what it is worth.
5. Practice one approach multiple times: It is better to practice one method multiple times to solve a particular question than to learn multiple methods and put yourself in a confused state of mind. Learning multiple methods for a single question creates confusion at times and leads to losing marks in the exam.
6. Do problems similar to that assigned for homework: Work on the same type of problems taught at rice coaching classes, and evaluate yourself before considering a topic to be complete to judge better as to what are your areas of strengths and weaknesses for a particular topic.
7. Look over your class notes: Pay special attention to the problems and examples sited by the teacher in classroom, since these will help break down how a given procedure or formula works. Take some time to highlight and learn all the key vocabulary and topics as you go over your notes.

Congratulations!! You can begin your preparation by developing these basic habits for better preparation of mathematics. We hope that you would now be able to apply the basics while solving complex problems subsequently. This will eventually enhance your performance at competitive examinations. Happy Studying!
The quantitative aptitude tips given above will definitely help candidates prepare themselves for the various upcoming competitive exams and help them score better in this section in particular.

If you are worried about how you will rank in a competitive exam that requires Mathematics as a subject, then do not play your exams blindly. Develop the habits that enhance performance at the subject and study tips that'd help you crack Government competitive exams like bank PO, SSC, IBPS and other competitive examinations.

The mathematics preparation for competitive exams starts from your attitude and action taking mindset. Click here to Enquire about basic Maths foundation courses from RICE EDUCATION

The information we have provided above is for you to self-evaluate your current learning methods, and look for areas where you can improve. So don't forget to revisit this article at www.ricesmart.in as many times as necessary until you do achieve a better understanding of mathematics.