Here’s an answer for you to think about tomorrow, after the exam.

It sounds like you’ve got a pretty straightforward problem: you have a test to take and the material is hard for you. You might not do as well as you’d like to do on it.

This is a problem, but it can be addressed. After the test is over, you can ask for extra help in learning the material, schedule regular study sessions, review homework on a weekly basis, start studying for the next test ten days ahead of time, or whatever. (You should talk to your teacher & get her suggestions on how you can improve your grades in this course.)

But none of this means that you are stupid or lack common sense. If you’re taking an algebra test, you’re probably a lot younger than me–decades younger! Everyone faces all kinds of problems throughout life, and this would be a great time to learn how to solve a problem without letting it make you miserable, or even letting it make you doubt yourself.

If you can start to learn this lesson now, you will be miles and miles ahead of most people your age–even the ones who are brilliant at algebra. (Seriously!)

Good luck on the test. Be good to yourself.

When I was in the ninth grade, I had a lot of problems in my math class at the beginning of the school year. I usually am good in school but, for the life of me, I just couldn’t understand any of the logic problems that she was teaching us. One day, she went out sick and did not come back for a month or two because of pneumonia. This new teacher came to teach the class and there was something about the way he explained it that made the ideas click in my mind.

I know that I was very frustrated until this teacher came along. Maybe you can find a tutor to help you. You could even ask one of the students in your class to help you out. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help.

Good luck.