Tips and guidance on effective study - simply choose the links that interest you!
The Skills Check is a short survey which should take you no more than 3 minutes to complete. Once you have completed the Skills Check we provide you with a personal learning plan targeted to your personal study needs and goals.
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- Core skills
- Reading and writing maths
- More advanced help with maths
More advanced help with maths
If you are studying at level 2 or 3, you might struggle with the level of skill assumed by your module material. The 'Maths for Science and Technology' booklet covers some of the most common areas of difficulty, namely indices, solving equations, scientific notation, units, significant figures, basic trigonometry and logarithms. It follows on from the 'Sciences Good Study Guide' (which is available from the OU WorldWide online shop) and assumes that you have read this.
Spend about 20 minutes working on the area that gives you most trouble, making sure to complete the activities to check your understanding.
The OU booklet 'Maths for Science and Technology' gives you further information on this subject.
Sign in to read this bookletOU websites
- Use Skill Math for links to mathematics study skills resources.
- Mathematical study skills - guidance for Level 2 and 3 students on reading and writing maths, plus strategies for tackling problems.
Finally, just for a spot of fun, if you need reassurance about how easy and straightforward maths can be, get some tips from American comedian and mathematician, Tom Lehrer on 'New Math' on YouTube.