Math is a subject that remains relevant across genders, nationalities, and ages. It is one of the most highly emphasized subjects in school because many exciting careers, such as engineering, science, software development, astronomy, and even marketing, require a solid foundation in mathematics.
Having said that, learning math doesn’t have to stop once you leave school in Canada. As an adult, you may have different reasons for revisiting the subject or studying specialized topics for work. At first, it can feel intimidating due to time constraints or self-doubt, but mastering math as an adult can lead to both personal and professional growth.
😰Overcoming Math Anxiety
Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m just not good at math, and I never will be,” or “I really hope I don’t have to use math at work”? If this sounds familiar, you might have math anxiety.
Once you develop doubt in your math ability and experience pressure to perform well in the subject, you'll begin to develop a negative attitude towards the subject. As a result, you might avoid attempting the questions and give up on learning complex math subjects altogether. 1
While no one can become a maths genius overnight, here are some strategies to manage math anxiety and develop interest and proficiency in different math concepts:
Have positive reinforcement
- Replace negative self-talk with positive statements to cultivate confidence
- Eg: "I can improve with practice."
Gradual and strategic exposure
- Start with simpler topics to build comprehension and familiarity
- Slowly increase the difficulty level once you have fully understood the topic
Set realistic expectations
- Emphasize progress and consistency instead of perfection and speed
- Getting 5/10 questions correct in the first round is good
🔍Assessing Your Current Math Level
A good way to start is to know your strengths and weaknesses, at your current level, so that you can adjust your learning strategies or even materials to cater to your learning goals.
Let's look at how we can implement the right steps to kickstart your learning journey.
Use Assessment Tools
- Utilize online quizzes and diagnostic tests to identify strengths and weaknesses
- Try to solve real-life related math problems in your current industry (healthcare, engineering, education)
- Summarise and list down which topics you find easy vs topics you find confusing/challenging
Set Learning Objectives
- Match specific learning goals to specific math requirements (Eg: Calculate sales tax (GST/HST) confidently)
- Break your learning goals into small steps and a consistent timeline (One topic per week)
- Adjust and track your progress by practicing and testing, for learning gaps and improvement
✅ Building a Strong Foundation
The real work starts now, as you have to start studying new math topics or relearn old topics. The three main basics are:
Basic operations individually & collectively
Can branch out to decimals, percentages, ratios
Introduces variables and simple equations
Strengthening these fundamentals makes advanced topics much easier to grasp later.
Recommended Math-Learning Resources
Relearning maths demands dedicating your time and plenty of willpower. But you can still learn mathematics while enjoying the process if you know how to make the best of both worlds with the right learning resources and strategies.
💻YouTube Tutorials: Refresh understanding of mathematical topics
YouTube is certainly one of the most flexible and easily accessible platforms to get better at math as an adult.
Many math educators upload bite-sized tutorials covering topics of different difficulty levels and scopes with easy-to-follow instructions. As you watch, you can pause or rewind whenever you want to take notes or listen to the explanation again until you completely get it, without any pressure.
🗂️Revision Flashcards: Memory reinforcement of formulas and concepts
If you prefer a more tactile and visual-based learning resource, you can explore relearning maths through revision flashcards. 2
This learning method allows you to understand the content of your math course at your own pace. It will also help you remember essential formulae, theorems, math facts, and specific math vocabulary.
Flashcards let you consolidate your knowledge by moving away from the conventional textbook browsing.
It enables you to put things into your own words, draw diagrams, and create your color-coded system.
For example, you can have a set of math revision cards for each topic (such as Pythagorean theorem, trigonometry, differential equations, polynomial functions) or each level of your learning plan.
This method is great for self-learning, allowing you to personalize your definitions and create a systematic learning structure.
🙌Effective Learning Strategies
Now, let's look at how to maximize your math learning resources with the right learning strategies.
Spend about 15-20 minutes each evening to solve a few problems, whether it's via a physical workbook or an online course, to build memory and confidence
Improve your retention of the math concepts/formulas when you use them in everyday life, like budgeting, shopping, or transportation. Eg: Calculating 5% GST in Alberta
Join an online forum or a local community among peers to exchange ideas on different ways to solve math problems and stay motivated through accountability
🌐Approaching Math Question With Technology and Digital Tools
Digital learning is a great way to make math learning for adults more immersive, accessible and convenient. 3
Many adults fall into the trap of relying on apps for answers instead of learning how to solve the problem step by step. It's important to solve the problem yourself and use the app to check your final answer.
Learning can take place anywhere and anytime as long as you have a stable Internet connection. Two key examples of online learning tools for math learning include:
Educational Apps
- Photomath includes a math syllabus from elementary up to college, with step-by-step instructions and custom visual aids (premium package)
- Mathspace helps learners to develop new insights through hints and video walkthroughs when they're stuck with a math question
Online Courses
- Khan Academy is used by many learners to master foundational math modules through practice exercises
- Coursera is designed with a clear course structure and a career focus, where adult learners can obtain a certificate of completion to show their proficiency
Here is an overview of the comparison of these online tools for math learning:
| Online Tool | Khan Academy | Coursera | Mathspace | Photomath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free courses + paid certificates | Subscription-based | Free + optional premium |
| Learning Style | Self-paced lessons + videos | Structured, university-style | Interactive problem solving | Instant scan + step-by-step explanations |
| Best For | Building strong foundations | Career advancement & certifications | Practice with guidance | Quick help & understanding steps |
| Certification | No | Yes (paid) | No | No |
| Difficulty Levels | Beginner → Intermediate | Beginner → Advanced | Beginner → Intermediate | Beginner → Intermediate |
| Feedback Style | Instant feedback on exercises | Assignments, quizzes, peer grading | Guided hints and corrections | Step-by-step breakdown of solutions |
| Offline Use | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes (basic features) |
| Canadian Relevance | Widely used in schools & upgrading programs | Used for professional development in Canada | Used in some schools | Common among students & adult learners for quick help |
| Ideal Use Case | Daily structured learning | Formal learning goals (e.g., career switch) | Practicing tricky math problems | Checking homework or understanding mistakes |
Meanwhile, discover other math game apps that you can access via your mobile devices.
📱Learning Maths With Online Puzzles
Mathematical puzzles and brainteasers have both recreational and educational benefits as they combine reasoning and creativity with numbers, calculations, and figures. 4
Some of the benefits of doing math online puzzles include:
- Strengthen the neural connections associated with memory
- Reduce the risk of chronic mental illnesses such as dementia
- Sharpen your problem-solving skills
- Promote flexibility and agility in your thinking processes
- Improve your ability to focus on tasks for longer periods
👩🏫Seeking Professional help with a Math Tutor
Math can be challenging if you haven't practiced in a long time, but there are tips to make it easier to learn. Of course, having good problem-solving skills helps. However, two heads think better than one: Get in touch with someone qualified to teach maths! But where to start?
- Look for classes at local schools, colleges, and universities: Many educational institutions offer math courses in the evenings, so it's worth checking what's available near you.
- Go to an adult education organization: These organizations address adults who want to improve their knowledge in a particular area, for example, maths, computer science, and digital marketing.
- Get a private maths tutor: A private tutor will be invaluable when setting goals since they know what key points you should work on and how to adapt teaching to your learning style. With private math tutoring, you can go at your own pace and not worry about asking questions.
There are many ways to find one-to-one tutoring; however, on platforms such as Superprof, you will find the best math teachers near you.
🔢Superprof: The Best Math Teachers For Adults
Superprof, a leading platform for tutors and students to connect and form working partnerships, offers a user-friendly website on which you can instantly locate maths tutoring services in your area or remote online tuition. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:
Step 1
Choose the perfect math tutor based on your needs (prices, qualifications, reviews, home or online lessons)
Step 2
Connect with your desired tutor to schedule your lessons and finalize the payment methods
Step 3
Make progress in your learning journey while utilizing the Student Pass to give you unlimited access to all tutors, coaches, and masterclasses.
Thousands of math tutors listed online can help you with all your maths concerns. Visit all our tutors' profiles and take advantage of the first lesson for free to find your ideal private teacher.
One of the pleasures of looking at the world through mathematical eyes is that you can see certain patterns that would otherwise be hidden.
Steven Strogatz, American mathematician and author
📊Staying Motivated and Tracking Progress
One of the biggest challenges of learning math as an adult is staying motivated and consistent over time. With various responsibilities and commitments around work and family, it's easy to feel discouraged or distracted, especially when there are low-energy days.
Here are two ways to make this learning process sustainable and enjoyable in the long run, so that you can continue to press on when the going gets tough.
🎯 Setting Meaningful Milestones
- Set specific goals and break them down into meaningful steps
- Goal: Understand fractions for a trades program
- Step: Come up with a three-week schedule to study the necessary fraction concepts
🎉Celebrating Small Wins
- Track and focus on your progress over time
- Win: Understanding a fraction concept that used to confuse you
- Reward: Treat yourself to your favourite ice cream
Remind yourself that math literacy is something that you can continue to explore and expand as an adult. With consistent learning and support, you can develop stronger numerical skills to make better decisions at work and in your everyday life.
According to the Survey of Adult Skills 2023, Canada is above the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) average in numeracy, which is an increase from 2012, when Canada was below the OECD average
. Canada’s average score of 271 places it above the OECD average of 262, alongside countries such as England, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. 5
🤝Final Tips For Learning Math for Adults
Here are some key takeaways learning or relearning a subject that is such an essential part of day-to-day and professional life:
- Take your time and make sure you don't miss any details
- Develop a pragmatic and logical mindset
- Practice exercises until they become second nature
- Ask your tutor for further updated online resources to study math
Lastly, optimizing your workspace for learning and overcoming the fear of math would be best. Give yourself the best chance of success in maths by creating the right learning environment. Set aside a space that you can dedicate to learning and get rid of as many distractions as you can.
All the best!
What is your main challenge in learning math?
References
- Administrator. (2021, November 22). Math Anxiety: What is it and how to overcome it? - Raffles American School. Raffles American School. https://old.raffles-american-school.edu.my/math-anxiety-what-is-it-and-how-to-overcome-it/
- Study23. (2023). The Effectiveness of Flash Cards for Exam Revision. Study23.Io. https://www.study23.io/blog/the-effectiveness-of-flash-cards-for-exam-revision/
- Tannenbaum, D. (2024, April 25). Using Tech Tools to Energize Young Students’ Math Learning. Edutopia; George Lucas Educational Foundation. https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-technology-math-learning/
- Recreational and Educational Value of Math Puzzles. (n.d.). Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/recreational-educational-value-math-puzzles-deepak-kulkarni
- Do Adults Have the Skills They Need to Thrive in a Changing World? (2024). OECD. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/do-adults-have-the-skills-they-need-to-thrive-in-a-changing-world_b263dc5d-en.html
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it was nice to get knowledge about things i never knew about and id like to read more so i can further my understanding