Class 9 Maths can be a difficult stage for many students. Students are often confused about the best way to handle Class 9 Maths since they know that this will later decide how easy or hard they will find Class 10 Maths. Studying Maths the right way is important, as skimping on this subject can create obstacles in the student’s desired academic as well as career path. It is recommended that students follow certain guidelines when it comes to studying Maths at higher levels such as Class 9.
Do attend classes regularly
In order to understand a mathematical concept fully, students need to be present in the class every day when it is being explained. Missing out on even one day of Maths class can leave students feeling entirely out of the loop, and unable to understand anything that is being taught in the class the next day. As a result, students who are in the habit of missing classes frequently often suffer tremendously in Maths. Such students have to make up for missing classes by putting in a lot of extra work and effort in their free time in order to catch up with what they missed, or they end up performing poorly on tests and in exams.
Don’t skip over concepts
On a similar note, students should remember that Maths is studied best in a sequential manner. For example, if a student is revising a Maths chapter at home, they might come across a concept they are unable to understand. In such a scenario, the student has two options- leave that concept for later and directly move along to the next one, or look for other resources right there and then, and get the concept clarified before moving on to something else. Here, students should always choose the second option as it will provide them with a more complete and cohesive understanding of the subject.
Do ask for help
Students who are shy or lack confidence when it comes to Maths often struggle with it because of these exact traits. Many students are worried about approaching teachers with their doubts, as they are afraid the teacher might find this irritating. As a result, they keep their queries to themselves, which results in an incomplete understanding of the subject. Students must remember that teachers are usually happy to help out students who are genuinely making efforts to better themselves, and students will be able to study in a much more organized manner if they are willing to ask for help whenever they require it.
Don’t overwhelm yourself
While it might be tempting for students to rush ahead with the Class 9 Maths syllabus, in order to get a head start on Class 10 Maths, this strategy is not one that everyone can implement. While students who genuinely enjoy Maths can pull off something like this, students who find Maths confusing or frustrating should pace themselves, and not be in a hurry to get to the complex concepts. If such students try to speed ahead, they might bite off more than they can chew, and end up even more confused, stressed, and panicked. Instead, it is recommended that they simply follow the pace their Maths teacher sets, and learn with the rest of the class.
Do practice solving problems
As Class 9 students are bound to know, they can only be good at Maths if they are willing to put in the time and effort to practice solving problems. However, some students fail to realize that they cannot just solve the question bank right before exams and expect to score excellent marks. Instead, students should aim for consistency and solve a few problems each and every day. While there are many practice resources available online, the best method is to solve problems chapter-by-chapter, as this will allow students to ensure that they are covering the entire syllabus. For example, RS Aggarwal Solutions Class 9 Maths Chapter 9 can be used to solve problems based on Congruence and Inequalities of Triangles. This resource also provides students with solutions to each of the problems, which they can refer to in case they are unable to solve a particular problem, or simply as a way of checking their own answers. Students should try to solve around 50 problems per week, in order to make Class 9 Maths seem like a piece of cake
Don’t use calculators
Using a calculator, especially at home, is extremely tempting for almost all Maths students. Many students argue that with technology at their fingertips, they will never actually need to mentally work out a Maths problem. However, students need to keep in mind that calculators are forbidden while appearing for board exams. Using a calculator at home to quickly finish off Maths assignments might be convenient for the moment, but it will harm the student’s capabilities and will make it difficult for them to actually solve the Maths exam paper. Completing the assigned work without a calculator will gradually enhance the student’s mathematical skills, and the student will not experience any inadequacy during exams. Therefore students must ditch the calculator in Class 9 itself, as it can be a difficult habit to get rid of later.
Do plan group study sessions
Students may find that they can learn handy tips and tricks for understanding mathematical concepts as well as solving problems, from their peer group. Pooling together knowledge and exchanging information is a very effective method of studying, and students can often explain difficult concepts in simple terms to each other. Therefore, there is no harm in getting together with a group of friends every once in a while for a study session, as there is a chance that all the students involved will benefit from it. This is best done in Class 9 since activities like these are not always possible in Class 10.
Don’t just memorize the formulae
Formulae are considered to be the one thing that requires memorization in Maths. For students who find memorization difficult, and end up jumbling up the formulae, understanding how each formula is developed can help. Understanding how a formula works, how it is applied in real-world concepts, etc. can help students retain that information for longer periods of time.