18 Maths Anxiety
Maths anxiety is one of the biggest challenges surrounding the subject. The Maths Anxiety Trust defines maths anxiety as: “A negative emotional reaction to mathematics, leading to varying degrees of helplessness, panic and mental disorganisation that arise among some people when faced with a mathematical problem” (Dai 2024). For many learners, this can cause intense apprehension to approaching the subject, leading to hindered performance and a long-term aversion to mathematical learning. Maths anxiety is not confined to just a classroom, but could also be present amongst adults, though often manifesting early in school (Gabriel et al. 2025).
According to the Control-Value Theory of Achievement Emotions, anxiety within education (eg. maths anxiety) arises when learners place value on a subject, but perceive a lack of confidence or control over their performance in it (Gabriel et al. 2025).
A barrier to the may thus be maths anxiety, where the learner has a preconceived aversion to mathematics. Several things can be done to combat this, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of (Dai 2024).
Creating a Supportive Environment
Whether it be a supportive classroom environment or just a welcoming atmosphere, by cultivating a positive, engaging attitude, learners may feel more at ease and happy to learn. Praising participation and hard work could also encourage a ‘growth mindset’.
Avoid ‘cold calling’ and allow for thinking time
Learners may feel pressured if constantly questioned or pressured to answer. If they are given time to think through their answers or encouraged to volunteer, this will allow them to gain self-confidence.
Think carefully about how new concepts are introduced
A common impact of mathematical anxiety is reduced capacity for processing information, so learners may quickly find a new concept overwhelming because of increased .
- Starting from the basics by properly introducing vocabulary definitions ensures a good foundation for all learners and supports .
- Breaking down concepts and topics into smaller chunks can provide , enabling students to experience small wins along the learning journey.
- Taking the time to link new concepts to real-life applications allows seemingly abstract mathematical ideas to be connected to something more tangible and easier to grasp, supporting .