How to Study Mathematical Methods Effectively During the Holidays?
The holidays are a great time to relax and finally slow down after a drastic drop into a life as a VCE Student. But if you’re like many students hoping for quick shortcuts and cheats that allows you to almost instantly improve in this subject, especially Mathematical Methods, you might be thinking, “How do I use this time now to level up?”
Good news: Here are some tips that allow you to quickly improve your study habits + knowledge in this subjects. Tips and Tricks that doesn’t require you to work harder but rather smarter instead.
1. How to Review Your Notes Better
Let’s face it, flipping through your notes doesn’t do much. You’ll just spend forever staring at random signs and formulas you can’t process. Instead, try this:
- Rework problems from scratch.
- Explain concepts out loud as if you’re teaching someone.
- Try retrieval practice — close your books and write down everything you remember about a topic. Then, check what you missed.
This approach builds real understanding, not just short-term memory. It helps you fully understand the problem and allows you to process the step by step ways to solve an equation.
2. Do You Really Understand the Logic?
It’s easy to memorise a formulas in Methods. Although it does get harder the more you memorise, it is still much easier than other subjects when it comes to the amount of content required to remember. However, as much as it is possible to memorise every formula and recall them instantly, it is useless if you have no idea where or how to apply them.
- Spend time exploring the logic behind formulas.
- Use a concept map to connect large topics like functions, calculus, and circular functions.
- Look for patterns — like how certain integrals relate to derivatives, or how algebraic techniques simplify calculus problems.
When you understand the “why,” you’re way more likely to remember the “how.”
3. Practice Does Not Guarantee Improvement
More hours doesn’t always mean more progress. What works better?
- Mix up your practice. Don’t just do 10 similar problems — try a mix of topics.
- Use timed sessions like the Pomodoro Technique (25 min study, 5 min break).
- Work under mild time pressure occasionally to mimic exam conditions.
Pro Tip – Keep it challenging, not mind-numbing.
4. Visualize Everything
Mathematical Methods is full of things you can see — from graphs to transformations to areas under curves.
- Use tools like Desmos or GeoGebra to explore graphs.
- Draw diagrams and sketches — the act of drawing helps cement ideas in your brain.
- Watch animations of math concepts (YouTube has a goldmine of visual explainers).
Seeing the math makes it stick.
5. Use Technology Wisely
There are some amazing tools and apps out there, but remember technology is there to support you, not replace you. A few worth checking out:
- Desmos – Graphing Tool
- GeoGebra – Graphing Tool
- Anki – For flashcard-based spaced repetition.
- Symbolab or Wolfram Alpha – Great for checking answers and understanding steps.
- YouTube channels – Try 3Blue1Brown or Eddie Woo for beautiful, clear explanations.
6. Make a Reasonable + Doable Plan
You don’t need to study for hours every day. Don’t plan a journey that you will stop half way at. You don’t want a study plan that will burn you out just by looking at it, here is an example:
- 1 hour a day, 4–5 days a week.
- Break it into:
- 15 min notes review
- 30 min focused problem solving
- 15 min reflection (write down what you struggled with)
That’s just enough to stay sharp without sacrificing your break.
7. Try Making a Study Group
Learning alone can get dull and hard, especially for subjects such as math. It can sometimes help to create a group of friends or classmates that you can study with to not only focus better but allow you to ask questions you aren’t sure of.
- Get in contact with friends and form a study group
- If unavailable, hop on calls and facetime to study
- Ask questions, explain answers — teaching others is one of the best ways to learn.
8. Track Your Mistakes and Save Them
One of the most powerful habits: keep a “math mistake journal”. Every time you mess up a problem, write:
- What the mistake was
- Why it happened
- How to avoid it next time
Soon, you’ll spot patterns — and break bad habits before they cost you marks.
9. Practice Topics on Rotation
Avoid the temptation to binge one topic at a time. Mathematical methods is a broad subjectInstead:
- Rotate between algebra, calculus, functions, and statistics.
- Review older content weekly — spaced repetition helps lock it in.
A little variety keeps your brain on its toes. VCE is a marathon not a sprint
10. Balance Is Key
Finally — this is your holiday. Don’t study every single day.
- Take full days off to rest and recharge.
- Spend mornings on math if you’re freshest then, and keep afternoons for yourself.
- Enjoy the process — learning at your own pace can actually be fun (yep, even math).
Final Note
The holidays are the perfect time to quietly get ahead without pressure. Use these weeks to build confidence, fill in gaps, and walk back into school feeling prepared.
