The math study tip they are NOT telling you - Math Olympian

Melvin Fung
26 Oct 202307:41

TLDRMath Olympian Melvin F shares his secrets to math success, emphasizing the importance of strong fundamentals, a growth mindset, and strategic practice with past papers. He offers his course, Scholars Pack, for shortcut methods and resources to achieve top grades. Melvin also suggests setting goals, asking questions in class, and maintaining a math notebook for review. His final tip? Prioritize sleep and, if short on time, focus on concepts and past papers or strategically guess test questions.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ˜ƒ Fundamentals are paramount in math. Build a strong foundation to tackle complex problems effortlessly.
  • ๐Ÿง  Change the limiting mindset that math is only for the smart. Success in math comes from practice and hard work, not innate talent.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Practice a variety of questions to optimize the chances of encountering similar problems on tests.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Utilize past school tests, past papers, and extracted past paper unit questions for effective practice.
  • ๐Ÿค” Seek guidance from experienced mentors to avoid trial and error and to achieve high scores efficiently.
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Treat your grades like a game, set targets, and strive to outperform them to stay motivated.
  • ๐Ÿ† Use personal challenges and competition as motivation to excel in math.
  • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Never leave the classroom without having all your questions answered, no matter how simple they may seem.
  • ๐Ÿ““ Create a math notebook to document concepts and challenging example questions for quick review.
  • ๐Ÿ’ค Prioritize sleep before a test to ensure clear thinking and avoid careless mistakes.
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Develop a never-give-up mindset and strategically approach questions based on their point value during tests.
  • ๐Ÿ“˜ If short on time, focus on reviewing concepts and practicing past paper questions or strategically guess and study for potential test questions.

Q & A

  • What is the main message Melvin F conveys about the misconception of being bad at math?

    -Melvin F emphasizes that being bad at math is not due to a lack of talent or gift, but rather it can be improved through hard work and the right approach to learning.

  • Why is it important to build strong fundamentals in math according to Melvin F?

    -Strong fundamentals are crucial because they allow students to tackle complex problems without having to think about the basics, making problem-solving more efficient.

  • What does Melvin F suggest as a method to change one's mindset towards math?

    -Melvin F suggests that students should change their limiting mindset by recognizing that anyone can excel in math through practice and hard work, rather than relying on innate talent.

  • How does Melvin F propose students practice to improve their math skills?

    -He recommends practicing a variety of questions, particularly past school tests, past papers, and extracted past paper unit questions, to optimize the chances of encountering similar questions on actual tests.

  • What is the significance of treating grades like playing a game according to Melvin F?

    -Treating grades like a game with targets helps to motivate students to improve and reach higher scores by setting achievable goals and competing against peers.

  • How did Melvin F overcome the challenge of being an underdog in math HL?

    -Melvin F took the doubt from his math tutor as a challenge, fired him, and made it his mission to beat a high-achieving peer named Sam, which motivated him to work hard and excel.

  • What is Melvin F's advice on asking questions in class?

    -He advises students to never leave the classroom with unanswered questions, regardless of how simple they may seem, to avoid regretting not asking during the test.

  • Why does Melvin F recommend creating a math notebook?

    -A math notebook serves as a quick reference for reviewing concepts and challenging example questions, making the study process more efficient and targeted.

  • What is the importance of sleep according to Melvin F's study tips?

    -Adequate sleep is crucial for clear thinking and preventing careless mistakes during tests, so Melvin F advises maximizing sleep before a test.

  • How does Melvin F suggest students can achieve full marks without extensive studying?

    -He suggests a combination of sleep, reviewing the notebook, and focusing on past papers or strategically guessing and studying for specific types of questions.

  • What is Scholars Pack and how can it help students according to Melvin F?

    -Scholars Pack is a course offered by Melvin F that provides shortcut methods, live feedback, group live calls, and resources to help students achieve high scores in their tests.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ“š Mastering Math Through Fundamentals and Mindset

Melvin F, an IB graduate with a perfect score, shares his secrets to succeeding in math. He emphasizes the importance of strong fundamentals, dispels the myth that math ability is solely a matter of talent, and encourages viewers to adopt a growth mindset. He suggests using textbooks to solidify basic concepts and changing the perception that math is only for the smart. Melvin also highlights the necessity of practicing a wide range of problems, especially past papers and extracted questions, to familiarize oneself with the types of questions that may appear on tests. He offers his course, Scholars Pack, as a resource for those seeking guidance and materials to improve their math skills.

05:01

๐Ÿ“ˆ Strategies for Academic Excellence in Math

In the second paragraph, Melvin continues to outline strategies for excelling in math. He advises treating grades like a game, setting targets to surpass, and maintaining a 'never give up' attitude during tests. He also stresses the importance of asking questions in class to avoid regrets on tests and suggests creating a math notebook to document concepts and challenging questions for easy review. Melvin shares his personal experience of quickly completing tests due to preparation and motivation. He concludes with advice on maximizing sleep before tests to ensure clear thinking and avoid careless mistakes, and he hints at a secret to achieving full marks with minimal study time, promising to reveal it in the continuation of the video.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กFundamentals

Fundamentals refer to the basic principles or concepts that form the foundation of a subject. In the context of the video, Melvin emphasizes the importance of having a strong grasp of the basic mathematical concepts to tackle more complex problems efficiently. He suggests using a textbook to work through fundamental questions, which is a strategy that supports the video's theme of mastering math through a solid foundation.

๐Ÿ’กLimiting Mindset

A limiting mindset is a mental barrier that restricts a person's potential by believing they are incapable of achieving something. Melvin discusses the common misconception that only 'gifted' individuals can excel in math. He argues against this by stating that anyone can do well in math with practice, which is a central message of the video, encouraging viewers to change their mindset and embrace the possibility of success through effort.

๐Ÿ’กPractice

Practice is the act of repeatedly performing an activity to improve one's skill. Melvin explains that the key to success in math is not innate talent but consistent practice with a variety of questions. He uses the phrase 'practice makes perfect' to illustrate the correlation between the time spent practicing and the improvement in math scores, which is a crucial point in his argument for mastering math.

๐Ÿ’กPast Papers

Past papers are previous exam papers that can be used for practice. Melvin recommends using past school tests, past papers, and extracted unit questions from past papers to prepare for exams. This strategy is highlighted as a way to familiarize oneself with the types of questions that may appear on the actual test, thereby increasing the chances of success.

๐Ÿ’กScholars Pack

Scholars Pack is a course offered by Melvin that provides shortcut methods, live feedback, and resources to help students achieve high scores in their tests. It is mentioned in the video as a resource for those who want guidance and mentorship in their math studies, aligning with the video's theme of offering strategies for success in math.

๐Ÿ’กMotivation

Motivation is the drive or desire to achieve a goal. Melvin shares a personal story about how he used the challenge of beating a classmate named Sam as a source of motivation to excel in math. This narrative illustrates the importance of having a goal and the motivational impact it can have on one's study habits and performance.

๐Ÿ’กMath Notebook

A math notebook is a tool for recording and reviewing mathematical concepts and problems. Melvin suggests creating a math notebook to write down concepts and challenging example questions after every class. This practice is presented as a way to streamline the review process before tests and to ensure that one is well-prepared.

๐Ÿ’กNever Give Up

The phrase 'never give up' encapsulates the attitude of perseverance and determination. Melvin advises viewers to approach every question on a test with this mindset, trying their hardest and only skipping low-point questions that are time-consuming if necessary. This concept is integral to the video's overall message of resilience and strategic effort in math.

๐Ÿ’กMaximize Sleep

Maximizing sleep refers to getting an adequate amount of rest before an important event, such as a test. Melvin stresses the importance of sleep for clear thinking and avoiding careless mistakes during exams. He provides a personal anecdote about how insufficient sleep affected his performance, reinforcing the video's theme of optimal preparation for academic success.

๐Ÿ’กStrategic Guessing

Strategic guessing is a technique used when time is limited, where one makes educated guesses about what questions will appear on a test and focuses on studying those areas. Melvin mentions this as a last resort for those who do not have time for extensive preparation, suggesting a targeted approach to studying based on predictions.

Highlights

Melvin F, a Math Olympian, shares his secrets to succeed in math.

Fundamentals in math are paramount for solving complex problems.

The misconception that only the gifted can excel in math is debunked.

Building a strong foundation through textbooks like the 'Haste' textbook.

Changing the limiting mindset that math is only for the smart.

The importance of practicing a variety of questions to see similar ones on tests.

The correlation between time studied and marks gained in math.

Practicing with past school tests and extracted past paper unit questions.

Finding resources for extracted past paper questions.

Introduction to Melvin's course 'Scholars pack' for shortcut methods and resources.

Treating grades like a game to motivate and set targets for improvement.

Melvin's personal story of overcoming the underdog status in math.

The philosophy of asking questions in class to avoid regrets on tests.

Creating a math notebook for quick review and understanding of concepts.

Writing down challenging example questions in the notebook for future reference.

The strategy of skipping low-point questions on tests to maximize efficiency.

The importance of maximizing sleep before a test for clear thinking.

Melvin's secret to getting full marks with minimal studying: sleep, review, and past papers.

Encouragement to subscribe and turn on notifications for more study tips.