I keep making careless math mistakes?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm pretty sure that I did really badly on my latest math test but I really knew the material. I'm in honors algebra 2 and I have never had this problem since 8th grade. I did fine in Algebra 1 and Geometry. In this test i freaked out at the end and screwed up the goddam two easiest questions because in my freaked out state I switched the dependent and independent variable even though I knew where they were suppose to go. I'm getting really mad at myself. How do I stop making these careless errors?</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1553431-how-stop-making-careless-mistakes-math.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1553431-how-stop-making-careless-mistakes-math.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Same problem with me. I’m also in Algebra II H, and I keep making careless mistakes. From what I’ve gathered from this thread/talking w/ people, you should:</p>

<ol>
<li>Slow down. No matter how little time you think you have, just don’t rush. Go as slow as you can while still finishing.</li>
<li>Don’t just repeat the problems when checking your work. Plug it into the original equation to check it.</li>
<li>Wear a watch to manage your time.</li>
<li>Keep calm. Whatever you got on previous tests/quizzes DOES NOT AFFECT your performance on THIS ONE.</li>
<li>Show your work neatly.</li>
<li>Always assume the worst grade you can get.</li>
</ol>

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<p>[Stop</a> Making Stupid Mistakes](<a href=“http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Resources/articles.php?page=mistakes]Stop”>Stop Making Silly Mistakes)</p>

4

<p>I’m the slowest test taker in my math class. It’s not a bad thing, because I usually end up getting the highest grade (except not this last time but that’s a different story…) Do everything out and check your work. You’re still allowed to use calculators in Algebra 2 so reenter everything to make sure you didn’t enter anything wrong.</p>

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<p>I have a similar problem — I grasp higher concepts really easily but screw up my arithmetic that’s needed for solving these higher problems (like on my first test this year I wrote that 6^2 was 12, derp)… if that’s an issue for you, I found that redoing each problem on a separate when I completed the test, without looking at my original answer, helped me catch dumb mistakes before passing the test in. (Got a 93 on my last one up from a 77 because of careless mistakes.)
This page also helped as far as time-saver checking tips. There’s a part 2 also. [The</a> Math Dude : How to Check Your Arithmetic, Part 1 :: Quick and Dirty Tips ?](<a href=“http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/math/how-check-your-arithmetic-part-1]The”>The Math Dude - Quick and Dirty Tips)</p>