Question 1

Students understand the teacher’s explanations in class, so why can't they achieve ideal results in exams?

Accepted Answer

Learning mathematics requires mastering basic theories first, followed by practicing calculation techniques; however, many students tend to neglect the latter. Therefore, Mathetactics Education advises that when learning each module, students must apply theories from multiple perspectives and engage in progressive problem-solving exercises to truly integrate concepts with calculation skills.

Furthermore, some secondary schools slightly increase the difficulty level during exams. Students need to attempt various types of questions for each module—especially advanced-level problems—so they can perform at their best during examinations.

Question 2

A student handles other subjects with ease, yet Mathematics causes immense frustration. How can they overcome these learning barriers?

Accepted Answer

When mathematics results consistently fail to reach ideal levels, many students begin to doubt their own abilities, leading to a loss of interest and confidence.
In reality, Mathematics is not as daunting as it seems. Mathetactics Education reminds students who wish to break through these barriers to note the following:
 • First: When faced with difficult concepts, never resort to rote memorization. Students should seek guidance from teachers who can explain concepts in simple, accessible terms. Additionally, never leave problems unresolved, as they will become the "seeds of trouble" for future learning.
 • Second: Avoid constant comparison of abilities among peers. Students must understand their own uniqueness; some possess better logical flair, while others require more time to learn. In fact, as long as one maintains the correct learning attitude and methodology, every student can achieve excellent results.

Question 3

Does completing extra exercises at home truly help a student?

Accepted Answer

Mathematics is a subject that trains logic and thinking; the more time invested, the more significant the progress. While self-motivated practice is highly encouraged, Mathetactics Education believes there are points to consider:
 • First: Students must choose supplementary exercises carefully. As different schools adopt varying curriculum schedules, the chosen exercises must align with the internal school progress.
 • Second: After completing exercises, students checking against standard answers can easily overlook fallacies in calculation steps and mathematical communication skills. The best approach is to submit the work to Mathetactics Education teachers for grading to correct errors promptly.

Question 4

The HKDSE Core and Extended Modules differ from the old CE/AL syllabi (Math, Add Math, Pure Math, and ASMS). Should students still practice old past papers?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Increasing practice to adapt to exam formats and question types will naturally lead to achieving more with less effort.

However, be mindful that curriculum differences may cause candidates to spend extra time filtering suitable questions from vast past papers, which is inefficient. Therefore, one should select appropriate reference books—such as the Mathetactics Education series—which curate public exam questions tailored to the current syllabus.

At the same time, students should choose mock exam papers designed for the latest NSS curriculum. For instance, in Extended Module 2 (M2), "Divisibility Proofs" in Mathematical Induction and the "Shell Method" in Integration have been removed from the syllabus. Students must stay vigilant regarding these curriculum updates.

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