Tip1: Practice, practice, practice. You'll get the hang of solving problems and see patterns while solving.
Tip2: Never move to the next lesson, until you understand the gist of the lessons. Tricks and techniques used in the current lessons would be used in the next lessons.So be sure to understand the basics and you'll get the mark you want. :D
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no matter what you think of Algebra or how much you hate (not as much as I do)
you need practice!!
part of your studying is gaining experience
the harder you practice the faster you can solve!!

I got 4 on the AP (bc calc) exam
but it took 2 months of preparation

and the number 1 rule:
NEVER ever give up!!

thats the way i manged to get this far with

this far -- full mark Algebra 1 & 2
full mark calculs 1 & 2
C+ in calculs 3 (-_-") family issues

hope that helps :)
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As a math tutor of 9 years, I notice a huge problem in students abilities to master the techniques of factoring, which is a foundation of algebra. So I would practice all the methods of factoring (reverse FOIL, completing the square, quadratic formula) Not sure exactly which topics your math teacher covered but most likely there are things on logarithms, exponential equations and negative exponents as well. Remember some of the basic rules.. when mutliplying variables, add exponents... ex.. x^4 * x^3 = x^7.. When taking an exponent raised to another exponent, multiply the exponents ... ex.. (x^4)^3 = x^12.. When dealing with negative exponents take the recipricol and change the negative exponent to positive.. ex... x^(-2) = 1/x^2... Also concentrate on being able to simplify square roots and cube roots...

Work out as many problems as you can. Usually there is an answer key at the back of the textbook for odd or even numbered problems. If you get some wrong, try some examples in the book which give step by step explanation of the solution, so you can see where your mistakes are.
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