Preparing for math Olympiad examinations can be stressful especially when you’re in grade 6. Mathematics is a challenging subject for most students and generally causes anxiety while studying for special exams like an Olympiad. It is usually because most students do not know how to prepare for class 6 math Olympiad and end up losing scores on the test.
Reasons to score low on the test
There are multiple reasons why you might be scoring low in math Olympiads. It is crucial to identify your mistakes and stop making them. Here are a few common mistakes students make while preparing for class 6 Olympiad and end up scoring low.
- Did not solve past question papers or mock tests.
- Attempting exams with a mind full of unsolved doubts.
- Unable to study due to extreme anxiety and stress about the exam.
- Lack of group study or studying with a partner, at least.
- Lack of schedule.
- Lack of practice.
- Unhealthy eating habits during exams.
- Lack of an 8-hour sleep in the night.
- Burdened with pending work that adds up to the stress.
- Don’t know the correct way to prepare for the Olympiad.
- Did not explore and read helpful math books, study material, or resources.
- Bad and unclear handwriting in answer papers.
- Unaware of mathematical terminologies and vocabulary.
And the list goes on. You too might be making at least two or three mistakes from the list above. Make sure to make it a point to avoid mistakes that you can control, like unhealthy sleeping and eating patterns, solving past papers, getting your doubts cleared, and the like.
8 tips to study for a math Olympiad
If you are someone who wants to score higher on your class 6 math Olympiad and but doesn’t know how to prepare for it, then you’re at the right place. Here are some easy ways that will reduce stress and help you score higher on your test.
The early bird catches the worm!
Start early! The sooner you start preparing, the higher the chances of you scoring high on the test. When you start early, you get time to learn comfortably at your own pace and helps you understand and solve the different types of problems that are likely to come.
Another benefit? You have the time to clear your doubts with logical reasoning problems or brain games with your teacher.
Set a timetable, be organized
Success comes with discipline. Set a study time to practice for the Olympiad. Solve logical reasoning problems, explore math books, watch online tutorials, solve mock papers in this study time. Make sure to get enough sleep at night and try to study early in the morning. The brain’s ability to process and retain information is the highest early in the morning.
That way, you can streamline all your daily activities and study for the test systematically.
Solve higher class books
As a 6th grader, you should consider preparing for the math Olympiad by studying from higher class math books. Refer to class 7, 8, and 9 or higher-grade math books to be able to solve most of the difficult questions on the test.
Utilize the internet
When preparing for a math Olympiad, make sure to practice math problems online. You can visit popular platforms like Khan Academy, Study.com, and everyone’s favourite- YouTube. These platforms also provide crucial study material and resources for your tests along with mock tests. That way, you can discover your weaknesses and strengths in the Olympiad.
Know the curriculum/syllabus
It is vital to know the syllabus of the math Olympiad as it will help you understand the range of topics that will come on the test. You can allot your time appropriately to study each topic based on their difficulty levels and importance.
Solve past question papers
Make it a habit to solve question papers of the previous years’ Olympiad and mock tests from different sources. Practice makes anyone perfect. Transit from easy to harder test papers until you’re able to solve even the hardest Olympiad paper-like Class 6 Olympiad Papers With Answers without fear. Try to achieve your expected score by solving different types of papers.
Get all doubts cleared
If you have any doubts and you are unable to find a solution for it anywhere, get it cleared with your teacher before it’s too late. Unquestionably, teachers are the best source to get your impossible doubts cleared.
Have all your doubts regarding the test cleared and perfected a week before the exam day so that you get ample time to practice with a fresh mind. Take notes and refer whenever you get the same doubt again.
Improve sleeping and eating patterns
Avoid waking up late in the night trying to cover most of the syllabus in less time. It will only make you forget what you learned in stress. Start early to avoid stress and make sure to get a sound 8-hour sleep in the night.
Also, avoid eating too much oily and spicy foods during exams as they increase mental stress tremendously. Eat healthy fruits, homemade, nutritious food, and dry fruits for better brain activity.
Stay calm and composed
Do not stress yourself while you’re preparing for your exams or on exam day. Overthinking will only block your retention and judgment. Practice yoga and deep breathing regularly to clear all the stressful thoughts from the mind and ease the learning process. When you create your timetable, allow at least 30 minutes for deep breathing and meditation.
You can even set rewards for yourself to avoid stress. Set a recreation time to do leisure activities like playing a game, going outside for a walk or to play, watching TV, and the like. But make sure you stay within 1 hour of the time frame and do not waste your time in the name of recreation.
Bottom Line
This article was a detailed step-by-step guide to helping you reduce stress and prepare for your class 6 Math Olympiad more smartly and score higher.
