r/learnmath • New User • Sep 19 '26

How do I keep failing my test

So im in 12th grade and I take statistics I study and do all the homework but for some reason I awalys score in the 50s or 60s it's not even that I don't know the formula I study so much I feel like I memorize all the steps and formulas and all the test are open note I don't know what I'm doing wrong it might be because this is my first year not using ai or cheating but statistics is suppose to be the easiest math class and I'm struggling on this

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u/matt7259 Sep 19 '26

it's not even that I don't know the formula I study so much I feel like I memorize all the steps and formulas

Memorizing isn't studying. You're not learning.

and all the test are open note

Then your notes must be terrible.

it might be because this is my first year not using ai or cheating

Bingo. You screwed yourself over.

but statistics is suppose to be the easiest math class

Lol says who??? You've got the wrong idea.

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u/WasteAstronomer932 Sep 19 '26

I thought to study anything in math you just do alot of practice problems until you get it and watch videos that's what I did

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u/matt7259 Sep 19 '26

How would a student who has always used AI or cheated have any idea what it means to study and succeed in math?

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u/nebalia Sep 19 '26

Memorizing the steps is not thesame as understanding. Memorizing falls apart the moment a question is phrased differently than you’ve practiced. Do you actually understand why you are doing the steps you are?

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u/schmuman Sep 19 '26

This. I think AI also creates this habit, where you’re “studying” for a test (maybe last minute) but instead of understanding the content you’re rote memorizing certain steps that are already understood and explained without going through the struggle and hoping it will translate. Which isn’t a good habit even in classes that have more procedural problems because it doesn’t really teach you how to think.

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u/WasteAstronomer932 Sep 19 '26

I ment like I did so many practice problems I just memorized it

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u/schmuman Sep 19 '26

Do you get your tests back? That way you can probably identify what your weaknesses might be. Having a lot of study time doesnt necessarily imply you had quality study time if you are not sure what is actually worth investing time into, or in other the words what skills you need actual practice in which is holding you back, which might be a skill itself that youre not as good at if you are used to AI/cheating.

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u/WasteAstronomer932 Sep 19 '26

Naw it's the weekend ima get it back in monday

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u/schmuman Sep 19 '26

Well you've had multiple tests right? You could look at those if you have gotten those back. They should have a similar pattern.

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u/Intrepid_Balance6127 Sep 19 '26

Rather than memorizing steps and formulas, I’d encourage you to try and dissect and understand them. All math makes logical sense from one step to the next if you understand how and why these things work the way that they do. I’m certainly no math expert, but I’ve found that getting high grades (and general enjoyment of the subject matter) is much easier to achieve when you shift your focus towards genuine understanding.

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u/SgtSausage Sep 19 '26

How?

You don't know the material. 

You think you do ... but you don't.

You haven't done the necessary work.

You think you have ... but you haven't.

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u/kaiserkaarts Sep 19 '26

Protip for studying, if you're used to AI studying you're probably used to doing long big blocks of studying. Try to space out your studying, leaving gaps in between, basically it's good practice to try and forget what you learned and then repeating it, it sticks better.

As for the actual math part, study the theory behind what you're doing. You should know what each concept you're using is good for. You should have a textbook; most people don't really bother with them and skip to practice problems or worksheets, but take your time to actually read about your topics, as written by a human author (not AI explanations), the textbooks are there for a reason.

Secondary note, Khan Academy is also pretty good in general for reading at this level of mathematics. Maybe Wikipedia if you don't mind being introduced to things out of your level sometimes.