What can parents do to help?

Students need to believe that they can succeed in Maths, especially at Ordinary Level. The Leaving Cert is an arduous and stress-filled year; the encouragement you give your son or daughter will help alleviate some of the pressure.

Ask questions

Remind your child about the importance of asking questions. Students shouldn’t suffer in silence if they don’t fully understand a topic. It is easier to ask a question in class than come up against a topic you don’t understand on the day of the exam. There are no silly questions when you’re trying to understand something.

Practice

Reiterate the importance of practice in Maths. It is a practical subject that needs to be understood, not learnt off by heart. Study plan

Students should have a study plan in place from now until June. There should be goals set each week and praise should be given when goals have been reached. The Leaving Cert is an academic marathon; every student out there needs people in the stands cheering them on.

Don’t use negative language to describe Maths because it perpetuates the image that it is an ‘impossible subject’. Most of Maths is like following the steps of a simple recipe. It is definitely not impossible. Keeping an open mind makes achieving in Maths an easier task.

Sometimes students choose Ordinary Level for strategic reasons and decide to focus their time on other subjects. Remind your son or daughter not to neglect Maths and that they have to pass the subject. A minimum pass grade in Maths is a requirement for a large number of third level courses.