Stop Watching, Start Doing

Watching YouTube videos won't make you good at maths. Just like watching someone play tennis won't make you win Wimbledon.

Many students believe that watching lessons is enough. It's not. You need to actively engage with the material to improve.

Common Excuses & Why They Don't Work

Many students say things like:

"I understand it when I watch the video, so I don't need to practise. I'll do questions later, I just need to watch more first."

These excuses may feel valid, but they hold you back.

Understanding while watching is not the same as being able to solve problems on your own.

Without practice, the knowledge fades quickly, and you struggle when faced with new variations of the same topic.

Maths is a skill, and like any skill, improvement only comes with active practice.

Even if you get stuck, the struggle helps your brain learn.

The Active Learning Approach

Here's what you should do instead:

• Watch a video or read a solution, then cover it up and try it yourself.
• For every example you see, attempt a similar one on your own.
• Check your answers and learn from mistakes.

To truly learn maths, you need to test yourself

Retrieval practice is a great way to do this - cover your notes and try to recall key steps from memory.

If you struggle, that's a sign you need more practice.

Another powerful method is explaining to a friend (or even an imaginary student).

Teaching forces you to organise your thoughts and spot gaps in your understanding.

Finally, try timed drills - set a timer and push yourself to answer questions quickly.

This builds confidence and prepares you for real exam conditions.

Doing is learning. The more you practise, the better you'll get.

By Giuliano Grasso