Mathematics is one subject in school that most students find difficult and in most cases fail the subject in both internal and external examination as a result of some underlying attitude towards the subject. Mathematics unlike other subjects in school demands daily and consistent studying and practice. Now, contrary to what a lot of students are aware of, mathematics is very much unlike most other subjects and cannot be mastered or even learnt by just attending class, sitting down and watching the teacher solve problems on the board. While it might appear that a concept has been grasped, a lot of students discover that they know little or nothing about a certain topic in mathematics when they decide to solve one on their own. Unfortunately, a lot of students never attempt to solve math problems outside the classroom. Those that do so most times do not solve enough problems to help them with mastery. The average student only realizes how little they know a subject when they are on the hot seat. However, the primary cause of math difficulties is an inability to create a gestalt image for the concepts underlying math processes. Individuals often attempt to memorize facts instead of being able to think, reason, and problem solve with numbers.
Mathematics is one subject that is relevant especially in solving problems in the society and it relevance cannot be overemphasized. Irrespective of the relevance of mathematics in the society, it appears to be difficult to students of all ages and at all levels as seen that many of them struggle with understanding and comprehending mathematical concepts and formulae’s. However this difficulty in understanding mathematics does not end in the four walls of a classroom. It precedes the classroom and extends into the examination hall and leads to failure in tests and exams be it internal or external.
For decades, lots of people and even the ministry of education in countries have tried to put an end to this massive failure in mathematics at all levels but have failed. This failure to put an end to poor performances in math exams can be attributed to a lack of understanding of the causes of these mass failures. Below are some underlying reasons why students fail mathematics.

Why Do Students Fail Mathematics?

a) Matter of interest
It is common knowledge that a negative attitude is a major hindrance to any form of achievement and growth. While this is quite obvious in other areas of life, it also applies to mathematics. A negative attitude could either be towards the mathematics teacher or the subject itself. Whatever you do not have interest in or give attention to will die a natural death. Mastery of any skill which includes mathematics demands consistency and full interest.

b) Teachers experience and exposure

That lots of students fail mathematics might not be because of lack of interest towards the subject but could be because of the teachers’ level of experience and exposure. Some mathematics teachers lack teaching experience because mathematics is not like any other subject that can just be read, it needs daily practice and solving of different mathematical questions. So therefore, if the teachers are not experienced they will lack the skill of impartation and teaching students to understand easily and mastery of mathematical formulas. The cause of schools bringing in inexperience teachers could be as a result of the financial capacity of the schools. The effect of inexperience teachers is seen students performance in external examinations like WAEC, NECO, and JAMB etc. Students who are writing their undergraduate projects work are also experiencing this issue. There is need for school administration and management to look into this issue.

c) Lack of instructional materials

Mathematics cannot be taught without instructional materials. The absence of instructional materials makes it more difficult to teach and comprehend mathematics. Instructional materials are mathematical text books etc.

d) Lack of conducive environment for learning

Mathematics is a subject that requires a lot of attention both on the part of the student as well as on the part of the teachers. This implies that if the classroom is situated in a place where people can easily be distracted, in the long run, it will lead to a lack of understanding of the subject. Occurrences such as this which will definitely lead to failure in mathematics exams.

How To Improve

a) Get a mathematics coach

As a student who finds fails mathematics and sees it as a difficult subject to pass can get a mathematics coach to enhance his/her learning of mathematics. After been taught in school, your coach will help you understand it better and will even pay more attention to you unlike the classroom with any students to be attended to plus the distraction that comes with it.

b) Form group reading

Group reading have been known to greatly improve on the academic performance of students. When you study in group it increases your knowledge on the subject matter. Group reading is highly recommended for students because it includes both the intelligent and dull ones the intelligent ones will help the dull ones on the subject under discussion and for mathematics subject it is advisable and encouraged to study in groups.

c) Establish a close relationship with your teachers

It is said that whatever you love you give attention to and start becoming it. In the case of solving the failure of mathematics, it is advised to establish a close relationship with your mathematics teachers.

Conclusion

Conclusively, students should understand that mathematics is not as difficult as they see it. They need to keep practicing daily and solving lots of mathematical questions as well as ask their teachers questions if they don’t understand any topic.

O di kwa nma

Word problem for maths no be small wahala.... You go decipher English tire...

Maths is a very wrong subject

Mathematics is a subject that requires practice.
This makes an individual familiar with the steps or methods in solving questions under a particular Math topic.
Practice they say makes perfect. Practice with 2020 MATH WAEC Practice - with 2019 MATH WASSCE objective questions solved from questions 1- 50 on https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCfg-13cHHBG-TJTt9gE2bug?sub_confirmation=1

This can be of help to boost your confidence and to complement personal study for the WAEC exam.