I don't know elementary math and I am going back to college

I hope the title captured your attention
I'll explain..

Growing up I was never properly taught math and instead of seeking help I was so afraid of it that I hid my struggle. I even diagnosed myself with "Dsycalculia". The older I got the more ashamed I became of admitting that, "hey, I don't know my multiplication tables and I'm in high school". I don't even know how I passed high school math to be honest.

So, now 23 years old and I am going back to college I have a few earned credits from my prior college. I am very behind in my studies because of moving around so much, but now that I am stable I am ready to go back at it. I am in time to start classes for a late Spring 7 week session term, but I was told in order for me to register for these classes I must take a math placement test.

I have two chances to take this test.

The test is based on arithmetic, elementary algebra and some college math.

Tuition for the late Spring term is due by Tuesday 24,2015. So that means I have to take the math test by Monday or Tuesday morning. I am so overwhelmed. My husband told me I shouldn't jump trying to learn college math if I don't even know my multiplication table by memory.

So for the past days I've been studying multiplication but then when I see the study guide of the test they jump from computation with integers and fractions to multiplying decimals, to alegbra ahhh it's driving me crazy! I don't know any of this, I don't know where to start. I'm trying to find the rules for basic math and every site states something different. I can't go to a tutor right now, so I am stuck by myself with my computer and studying on my own..which I know all the answers are online, problem is there is so much to catch up on that I don't know what to do.

I know I am not ready, and I won't be ready from here to Monday but should I study a bit more take the test on Monday (knowing I may fail) in order to at least study for the Spring term and catch up on my studies and then re-take the test another time when I am more prepared (sometime like in August). Or should I take another month to study and just register for Summer term (but then I'll be a little more behind).

P.s. If I fail the math test two times then I will be placed in remedial math which will be a $$ cost class but it will not be accredited towards my major. Until I don't pass remedial math they won't put me in college math. So, that will really push me behind.

i am so bad in math, my college degree i didn't recieve because i can't do math and needed 2 math classes to graduate. its been years now without my bachelors because of it. i suggest you pay the more money anyway and wait until you're ready to take the exam, i mean studying on your own and maybe getting a turor.

avlady Thanks, I know how difficult this can be..I fear that I won't be able to graduate because of it as well.

I know that perhaps my best bet would be, study some more take the test before Summer term as it gives me at least another two weeks or less to study..try to get an okay score at least on the elementary alegebra/arithmetic section and really study math deeply and re-take the test by the end of this year hoping to get a high score.

It just sucks that I have to take the test in order to register for classes, ssure I have two chances but that means if I do terrible in one (which is more than likely) I will only have one last chance.

I just wish I knew where to start.. the accuplacer test I bought online shows so many different things

and it's not like I can say.. "I don't know algebra". I truly don't know math, like..at all. I will have to start studying it every single day.

Not sure about your semester choices, but I recommend settling on a reputable place to catch up, such as Khan Academy. There are a lot of well-meaning people out there who are just going to make it worse with too many different explanations with too many problems. If you're not moving fast enough, a tutor might be in order.

I know the feeling, though. I hated math until I started self-study after high school. My teachers never taught it to me as an approach to problems and a way of understanding things in the world, so I never appreciated it and saw it as some strange, unexplainable set of procedures that was always explained in very confusing ways. Wikipedia articles on math theory and history did more for my love of the subject than a dozen years of schooling...

It's one of the fairest things in the world, though. Five plus five is never going to equal oranges, and you can count on there being an answer with a logical path towards it. I found it helped to think of it as just a big, man-made system of explaining the world around us and recreating results.

Take remedial math. It's worth the money. You need a good foundation for every level of math you do, and it's unlikely you will get that in a short period of time. Also, pc has a learning disorder forum. Might be good to get ideas from people with dyscalculia and math anxiety.

You may be able to trade maths for something like logic or computer programming.

You may be able to get a disability special thing to do this.

Otherwise... Sounds like the remedial class is precisely for people in a similar position to you.

I tried to get into a similar class here last year, but the one here was also designed for people with no formal qualifications and I had formal qualifications in things that didn't involve maths.

Don't freak out about the test... It is diagnostic... And you already know that you won't do so well on it. Khan academy might be helpful for you... But feeling like you have to get through it all on your own... Would probably be overwhelming.

I hope you get good teachers. They can make a huge difference.

I've always struggled with math myself. I homeschooled two of my kids, and I had to have other people teach them math. And I still did okay in college!

I understand your math dilemma. I got lost in math in elementary school and never did catch up. I took remedial math in my first year of college and it laid the foundation for my later studies. Math still isn't my strength but I don't have the phobia about it that I used to.

I agree with tradika ... taking remedial math is likely in your best interest. Best wishes.

Thank you all for replying!
I decided not to take the math placement test just yet, especially because I won't even be able to start studying in the advanced Spring term because I had to register by Feb 10 (just found this out).. on the bright side, I am able to study some more and start studying in the Summer term.

I am going to brush up on my math and at least try to learn the basics on my own for now.

I took remedial math in my previous college but it wasn't much help because for some reason all the students knew what the teacher was explaining and I was too afraid of letting the teacher know that I still didn't understand (I don't even know why those students were in remedial math.. I guess they needed a reminder) Me on the other hand, I still need to be taught it. Perhaps, based on the score I will end up in a remedial class either way..just hope it's a good class if I do end up taking remedial math.

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Since I have more time to study, I'll just take the test perhaps by the end of April before the Summer term and just study from here on .. I will look into a tutor as well soon but I know it's hard because I am afraid of admitting it to others and I don't know if I will be able to find someone who has the patience to deal with a 23 year old that is still studying their times table. Math just doesn't click in my head, but that is all a matter of practice

Oh I wish you lived close by i would help you to catch up! Good luck. Most people don't know math because they were not properly taught (unless one has a disability)

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Khan Academy. You can press the 'pause' to think and 'rewind' to hear it again to your little hearts content.

Divine1966, I wish so too! And yes you are def right.. just imagine someone who wasn't properly taught math and kept moving forward from arithmetic to geometry to algebra and yet not understanding nothing. I look back and I honestly just have no idea how I passed all those classes.

Kim and everyone else who recommended Khan Academy, thank you so much!! I am currently checking it out, I didn't know it was an online thing thought it was an actual academy in person..it looks like a very helpful site.and it's free!! Wow, thank you so much!

I'd take the test and just pay for/take the remedial math course(s), that way you will know you will be taught all you need for the future math courses you will have to take. Otherwise, if you wanted to do it on your own I'd wait until the Fall semester to start school and I'd go to the student bookstore now and buy the remedial math book they use for the course, work my way through that if I could.

Oh, just know this, you are not alone. I tutored math for a couple of years here at university. So many students in the same boat as you.

I strongly suggest that you take the remedial math courses. And check with the college, all of them now offer free tutoring for math and science beginning classes.

If you work hard you will do fine. There are many many other students I tutored who hardly even knew basic math. They worked hard and succeeded as you will too.