Back when I was a college math instructor, I’ve seen more than 50% of my math classes struggle in math. Oftentimes, I only find around 10% of the class who are comfortable with the subject. I found it alarming, and I am referring to college-level classes and not just basic math. I’ve always wondered what went wrong, and why do students struggle in math?
Here are the top reasons that I found why students are struggling in math:
Unawareness of math’s power and potential
Math is as old as mankind and is a cumulative subject. It is the product of 6000+ years of human history. Math was extensively used to build civilizations and to understand the world. For those who wish to advance in any area of life and learning, math is an indispensable tool.
Unfortunately, many students fail to appreciate the power of mathematics and its potential applications in everyday life, thus they find it uninteresting and struggle with it. Most even think that they no longer need math because there’s technology that can do all the maths for us.
- Calculator? You need to learn what the math symbols stand for and what they are for you to make sense of. Tangent of 45 degrees? So what if you know how to get tan 45 in your calculator but do not know what it means?
- Graphing calculator? It can generate awesome graphs! But what about it if you don’t know what x and y-intercepts are? And yes, interpreting graphs, say for regression analysis, highly sought after in business data analytics, is necessary to get a meaningful visualization and interpretation using tons of data.
- AI? Even with the advent of AI and machine learning, math is still an integral part. To build an AI program, mathematics is necessary to formulate algorithms. Yeah, your Cartesian plane in geometry is needed to write commands for a robot to move in a certain direction.
Lack of understanding of foundational concepts
Math concepts are built upon previous ones. Therefore, if students do not grasp the basics, it will be difficult to move on to the next topic. Students don’t just learn about solving equations and graphing functions but also need to master the basics such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Moreover, there are many misconceptions in mathematics that students bring with them from previous classes or learned from others. These misconceptions further impede the learning process and make them struggle in math.
Using math shortcuts without understanding
Can you believe it if I told you that taking shortcuts when doing math can actually be harmful? Many students, when faced with difficulties in solving math problems, resort to using shortcuts such as simply plugging numbers into a calculator rather than using proper mathematical reasoning. The result is that they don’t understand the concepts behind the problems and cannot solve them without help.
Shortcuts are only useful for those who already understand math concepts. For those who don’t, they can be detrimental to the learning process and lead to an even deeper understanding gap.
Inability to make connections and apply mathematics
Math is all about connecting ideas, concepts, and rules. Students must be able to see the big picture and connect the dots to solve problems. This is especially true for higher-level math topics, such as calculus and linear algebra.
Poor study habits or lack of motivation
Sadly, there’s just a lack of external motivation to learn math. Math isn’t usually seen as a fun subject, and many students find it tedious and boring. As a result, they often don’t put in enough effort or practice to really understand the concepts and solve problems on their own. Absenteeism, lack of focus, and not asking for help when needed are other factors that prevent students from mastering math (Chand et al., 2021). This results in students not getting as much out of their math classes as they could.
So my biggest advice for students learning math, if you want one, is to learn how to motivate yourself and study math effectively.
Fortunately, it’s never too late to learn and excel in mathematics. With the right tools, resources, and guidance, students can overcome their struggles in math and become successful. It’s just a matter of taking the first step and having the courage to keep going. So don’t give up on math just yet, and keep learning! You won’t regret it. 🙂
Limited language proficiency for English language learners
In places where English is not the native language, language can be a barrier for students when it comes to math (Henry et al., 2014). Higher math is taught in English, except in places with mono-lingual language policies like China and Japan. Even Youtube videos and math books are often in English. And if a student is not proficient in the language, it will be difficult to understand the concepts and instructions.
So learning math can be a double challenge for English language learners. Not only must they learn the math concepts, but they also need to understand the instructions written in English. It’s wise to get help from teachers or tutors to overcome this hurdle.
Poor teaching or lack of engagement in the classroom
Even if there’s a lot of buzz about the failure of the educational system, blaming teachers or the educational system is NEVER the answer. It’s important to remember that both the student and teacher have an active role in the learning process.
However, it is true that teachers may not always have the best teaching skills or presentation styles to engage students in the classroom. It is also possible that a teacher’s explanation of a math concept may be too complex for a student to understand (Ayebale et al., 2020).
In these cases, students need to ask questions and seek help if they are having difficulty understanding a concept. This way, the teacher or a tutor can provide better guidance and support to help them understand the material better.
Learning disability
Finally, it’s important to recognize that some students may struggle with math due to a learning disability or mental health issue. In these cases, it’s recommended to get help from a mental health professional or an educational specialist who can provide the necessary support.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the challenges, all students have the potential to excel in math. With patience and the right help, anyone can learn and master mathematics! So don’t be afraid to take the plunge and start learning. You’ll be glad you did! Good luck! 🙂
References
Ayebale, L., Habaasa, G., and Tweheyo, S.. (2020). Factors affecting students’ achievement in mathematics in secondary schools in developing countries: A Rapid Systematic Review’. Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 36(1), 73 – 76. DOI: 10.3233/SJI-200713
Chand, S., Chaudhary, K., Prasad, A., & Chand, V. (2021). Perceived causes of students’ poor performance in mathematics: A Case Study at Ba and Tavua Secondary Schools. Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fams.2021.614408
Henry, D.L., Nistor, N., Blates, B. (2014). Examining the relationship between math scores and English language proficiency. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 4(1), 11-19. DOI: 10.5590/JERAP.2014.04.1.02
