Is Math Really that Hard? 5 Reasons You’re Stuck and How to Improve

You’re sitting at your desk, staring at the same math problem for the third time. You’ve reviewed your notes, rewatched the lesson, and even searched for explanations online, but it still doesn’t make sense. The equation looks unsolvable, and the more you try, the more frustrated you become.

If this sounds all too familiar to you, you are definitely not alone. The truth is that math is a technical skill that begins with a solid conceptual understanding, followed by consistent and intentional practice. Many students find it difficult because they skip the first step, understanding the why, and jump straight into solving problems without fully grasping the concepts.

So, here we’ll explore the most common reasons students struggle with math and show you how to overcome these challenges using clear, effective strategies that actually work.

‍

5 Common Reasons You May Feel Stuck

Reason 1: Weak Foundations Build Bigger Problems in the Future

Many high school and university students who struggle with math are carrying knowledge gaps from earlier courses. Math is a cumulative subject, where every new concept builds directly on what was learned before. If you did not fully grasp topics like algebra in Grade 10 or 11, subjects like advanced functions or calculus in Grade 12 and beyond will naturally feel much harder. These advanced topics are not stand-alone; they rely on a solid understanding of earlier material. Without that foundation, each new lesson feels more confusing, frustration builds, and over time, many students start to lose confidence. This is a major reason why students eventually drop math-heavy programs or avoid math-based career paths, even if they were once interested.

Math is not just about memorizing formulas or steps. True learning happens when you slow down, examine each part of an equation, and understand what each number, variable, or symbol actually means. You need to ask yourself: What does this part of the equation do? How will changing this value affect the outcome? This kind of conceptual thinking takes time, but like mastering any real skill, it requires patience, consistent effort, and the willingness to work through challenges step by step.

Reason 2: Gaps Between Math Courses Lead to Forgetting

In high school, math is taught in a single semester, meaning students may go months without practicing what was learned in class. This long gap leads to Math Loss, especially if the last course was already challenging. When students return to math after a long break, they feel lost. This isn't a lack of ability, it's simply a lack of continuity and basic memory loss. Like any skill, math fades away without regular practice. Students can always counteract the Math Loss effect by consistently practicing math at home, especially the concepts learned in pervious courses and needed for any upcoming courses. Imagine learning how to factor quadratic equations in Grade 10 during the fall semester. If you don’t actively review or practice those skills, you’ll likely forget most of what you learned by the time Grade 11 begins. Review sessions for important topics like factoring or trigonometry can be only 10 minutes up to 30 minutes if done frequently.

Reason 3: The Myth of the “Smart Math Student”

Many students believe that being good at math is something you're either born with or not. They assume that top-performing students or tutors have a natural gift or secret shortcut that makes math easier for them. This belief is not only false but also harmful to your progress. In reality, students who succeed in math are not relying on talent. They have simply put in more time doing what works: building a strong conceptual understanding and then following it up with consistent, focused practice. They follow the right order, first understand the “why,” then apply it through problem-solving. What often happens is that students skip the first step entirely. They jump into solving questions without truly understanding what the equation or method means. As a result, they get stuck, lose confidence, and start to believe they are not “math people.” Believing in the myth of the "smart math student" creates a fixed mindset.

If you think others are succeeding because they are naturally gifted, you may assume that your own struggle means you are not capable. But struggling is a normal and necessary part of learning, especially in a subject like math that builds layer by layer. Tim Notke once said, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” In math, success is not about shortcuts or special ability. It is about showing up, doing the work in the right order, and staying consistent. Understanding must come first. Practice must follow. Skipping either step leads to frustration. But when done properly, math becomes a skill anyone can improve — and even enjoy.

Reason 4: Watching Math is Easy, Doing it is Harder

Many students believe they understand math simply because it looks easy when someone else is doing it. They follow along as a teacher solves a problem on the board or as a tutor explains a solution, and it all seems to make sense in the moment. But when they sit down to try a similar question on their own, they get stuck. The steps they just watched suddenly feel unfamiliar, and confusion sets in. This happens because watching someone else solve a problem is a passive activity, and passive learning does not build real mastery. Just because something looks clear doesn’t mean you’ve internalized it or know how to reproduce it. True understanding comes from doing the work yourself. It involves taking a problem, trying to solve it, making mistakes, identifying where you went wrong, and trying again. That struggle, the effort you put into processing and correcting errors, is what actually strengthens your understanding and builds the problem-solving pathways in your brain.

If you're only watching others do the work and not testing your own ability to redo similar questions, you're only engaging with the surface level of the material. To actually get better at math, you have to take an active role in your learning. That means solving problems by hand, checking your thinking, and pushing through confusion until it makes sense. In math, confidence is built not by watching, but by doing.

Reason 5: Math Feels Harder Because It’s Different

Math is not a subject you can cram for the night before a test. Unlike subjects that rely mainly on memorization, such as history or biology, math demands logical thinking, step-by-step problem-solving, and the ability to apply concepts in new situations. You cannot simply memorize formulas and expect to succeed. You need to understand how and why those formulas work and know when and how to apply them. Math is considered a technical hard skill. It is similar to learning to code, mastering a musical instrument, or training in a sport. Improvement comes not from passive exposure or rushed last-minute study sessions but from steady, repeated practice over time. Just like a muscle, your math skills grow stronger the more you actively challenge and use them.

Math rewards deliberate and focused practice. Each time you wrestle with a tough question, even if you struggle or fail at first, you are building the mental strength and enhancing the neural connectivity in your brain that will help you tackle future challenges with more ease. Over time, these consistent efforts turn frustration into understanding and confusion into confidence.

Four Practical Steps to Improve in Math

Step 1: Try the 30-Minute/day Rule
Set a timer for 30-minutes a day, five days a week, to understand and practice math. This habit builds skill and confidence more effectively than long, inconsistent study sessions.

Step 2: Ask Questions Immediately
If you’re confused by something in class, write it down and get help as soon as possible. Whether from a teacher, friend, tutor, or an online resource, don’t wait. Small problems grow quickly when left unaddressed.

Step 3: Watch a Preview Video Before Class
Look up the topic you’re about to learn in class on YouTube. Knowing about the concepts you will be studying in your classroom beforehand gives you context and improves in-class comprehension. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just familiar.

For example: let’s imagine you upcoming lesson will be about completing the square:

1. go on YouTube

2. type solving quadratic equations by completing the square in the search bar

3. watch a couple of videos/shorts explaining it and solving questions

4. BONUS: write down some notes about what you think is happening in the video

Step 4: Use Visual Tools Like Desmos
For visual learners, abstract concepts can be hard to grasp. Use Desmos to graph your work and visualize how equations behave. It's especially useful for functions, transformations, and trigonometry. Desmos allows you to learn what each number and variable in your equation do and what happens when you change it.

Conclusion

Hopefully, these insights will help you feel a little more confident and less overwhelmed as you tackle math this year. Remember, these strategies are meant to guide you, not to serve as a strict checklist, because everyone learns and improves at their own pace and in their own way.

Now that you have a clearer understanding of why math can feel challenging and what practical steps you can take to strengthen your skills, what’s next? Well, it’s a great time to explore some extra resources and start applying what you learned.