How to practise Mathematics before an exam

Maths is learned by doing. How to practise problems, check your working and fix recurring mistakes.

For: Learners · Written by the Entle Squared team. General study advice, not official CAPS guidance — check your school's exam scope.

Do problems, don't just read them

Reading a worked example feels like understanding, but you only know you can do it when you solve a similar problem on your own.

Writing each step helps you find mistakes and earns method marks even if the final answer is wrong.

Write down each type of mistake you make — sign errors, unit conversions, misreading the question — and check for those in your next practice.

Exams mix topics, so once each topic is comfortable, practise mixed papers where you must decide which method to use.