Like other types of performance anxiety, such as stage fright, math tests can lead to panic and cause the mind to go blank. Students overcome by math anxiety may feel a disabling frustration that can lead to full-fledged panic. Math anxiety is real, but can be brought under control with understanding and practice.

Prevent math fright by gaining perspective:

• Think of math as a foreign language that requires daily practice to master.
• Spend time working on math. Don’t just memorize or follow examples blindly.
• Be stubborn and tenacious about solving math “puzzles” correctly.
• Stay positive about your ability. Avoid negative self-talk. You can do math.
• Math is cumulative, so make sure you’re in the right level class for your experience.

Reduce math anxiety by improving your study habits:

• Don’t rush through math homework. Slow down and work at your own pace.
• When you get stuck, read your math textbook and refer to example problems.
• Ask for help from a teacher or tutor as soon as you need it.
• Practice math every day, even if no homework is assigned.
• Check each answer and try again if you make mistakes.
• Math is cumulative, so don’t avoid the work or fall behind.

Don’t fall for these age-old math myths. See how they are soundly debunked in this Platonic Realms MiniText.

Myth #1: Aptitude for math is inborn.
Myth #2: To be good at math you have to be good at calculating.
Myth #3: Math requires logic, not creativity.
Myth #4: In math, what’s important is getting the right answer.
Myth #5: Men are naturally better than women at mathematical thinking.

Mastering math is not about having a natural gift. Instead, learning math takes time and effort along with trial and error. As your knowledge and ability increase, so too will your confidence and test performance.