Be Prepared: How the Right Mindset and Equipment Help You Succeed in Maths

Starting a new term often comes with a mix of excitement and a little anxiety, especially when you think about tougher subjects like mathematics. While effort and focus are key, you might be surprised how much your preparedness — specifically having the right equipment and the right mindset (Boaler, 2016) — can make the difference between struggling and succeeding.

The Science of Learning: Why Preparedness Works

It might seem like a small thing, but walking into a classroom fully equipped taps into key principles of cognitive science and helps your brain learn more efficiently.

1. Reducing cognitive load
Your brain has limited processing power; this is called cognitive load. When you are frantically searching your locker, asking to borrow a pen, or worrying that you have forgotten your calculator, your brain is using valuable energy on these distracting tasks (Sweller et al., 2020). By being prepared, you reduce cognitive load and free up your working memory so it can focus on understanding the lesson.

2. Anchoring the routine
Routines create pathways in the brain. The simple act of putting your notebook in the right place and having your gear laid out acts as a learning anchor. This signals to your brain that it is time to switch into focus mode, improving concentration and information retention (Wood & Neal, 2007).

3. Reducing stress and improving recall
When you are prepared, you feel less stressed. High levels of stress (cortisol) can inhibit the prefrontal cortex, the brain area responsible for problem-solving, planning and memory recall (Arnsten, 2009). A confident, calm student is a student whose brain is operating at its peak.

Why equipment matters (it’s more than just a pen)

This is especially true for maths classes. Maths builds on prior learning, and often the tools you use are critical for performing calculations efficiently, accurately and for visualising concepts (Muchnick, 2011; Ellington, 2003).

• Efficiency: Spending class time looking for a spare pencil or trying to borrow a ruler or calculator is lost learning time. When everything is at hand, you can focus immediately on the teacher and the lesson.

• Accuracy: Trying to draw a straight line or calculate an answer without the proper tools leads to sloppy work and mistakes that have nothing to do with your mathematical understanding. A ruler or calculator ensures your diagrams and calculations are precise.

• Confidence: Walking into a test knowing you have every piece of equipment you might need helps lower stress and allows you to use mental energy on the actual problems. Preparedness equals confidence.

Your must-have maths kit: the calculator conundrum

The single most important piece of maths equipment is often the calculator. However, not just any calculator will do.

At St John Paul II College we recommend the use of a Casio 82Au Plus II or Casio 8200. These handle basic functions, square roots, exponents, trigonometry (sin, cos, tan) and scientific notation.

A note on phones and laptops: While your smartphone has a calculator app, it is never an acceptable substitute for a physical calculator in class or in an exam and is against school rules. Similarly, using the calculator on your laptop is not a substitute and cannot be used in an exam. The Maths Department has strict rules against electronic devices that can access the internet or store notes. Always bring the approved, physical calculator.

Essential stationery

Beyond the calculator, make sure you have the basics:

• Pens: Maths is done in pen. Pencils are used for graphs and drawings only. Teachers need to see your working so they can help you learn from mistakes. Do not use whiteout.

• Notebook/binder: Keep notes and homework organised. A dedicated maths book helps when revising for assessments. Grid books are preferred.

• Ruler: For clear, accurate graphs, number lines and geometric figures.

A simple checklist for success

Make a habit of checking your backpack the night before. A quick five-minute check can save you hours of stress and prime your brain for learning.

1. Textbook/workbook? ✓

2. Notebook/paper? ✓

3. Pencils/pens/eraser? ✓

4. Ruler/protractor? ✓

5. Appropriate calculator? ✓

Being fully prepared with the right equipment is an easy, powerful step towards academic success. Don’t let a missing pencil or the wrong calculator be the reason you struggle. Equip your mind and your backpack for excellence. Avoid repercussions for not having your equipment, such as lunchtime detentions.

References (as provided)

• Arnsten (2009). Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

• Boaler, J. (2016). Mathematical Mindsets. Jossey-Bass.

• Ellington, A. J. (2003). A meta-analysis of the effects of calculators on students’ achievement and attitude levels in pre-college mathematics classes. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 34(5), 433–463.

• Muchnick, C. C. (2011). The Everything Guide to Study Skills. Adams Media.

• Sweller et al. (2020). Cognitive-load theory: methods to manage working memory load in the classroom. Current Directions in Psychological Science.

• Wood, W., & Neal, D. (2007). Review on habits and the habit–goal interface.