To learn from a solved math exercise, identify the decisions that structure the solution. Copying the lines shows that you can follow reasoning; solving a different exercise again shows more clearly what you can actually use. So work in three stages: understand, reconstruct, transfer.
Read the solution by looking for the choices
At each step, ask what makes the operation valid and why it is useful. Identify the data in the statement, the conditions for a property, and the result you are aiming for.
Teaching example: before using a formula, note what lets you recognize the situation. Then explain why another method would be useless or unsuitable here.
The solution then becomes a sequence of decisions. If one step is still unclear, go back to the lesson or ask the teacher a precise question before continuing.
Hide part of the worked solution
After a first reading, cover the next line and try to recover it. Then compare your choice with the solution. A different approach can still be correct if it follows the rules and answers the question.
If you get stuck, note what is missing: knowledge, a transformation, or the direction of the reasoning. This distinction helps you avoid rereading the whole correction without solving the problem.
The synthesis by Dunlosky and colleagues examines self-explanation and testing in particular. Our method is a practical adaptation, not a recipe validated for every exercise.
Redo the statement on a blank sheet
Close the worked solution. Start again from the data and write down each justification. Do not just try to recover the final result.
Check units, signs, the domain, and whether the answer makes sense. A calculation error can hide a good method; a correct value can also come from incorrect reasoning.
Keep a method sheet with the conditions for use and a final check. Avoid copying the whole exercise onto it.
Move on to a variant
Choose an exercise from the same family with a different presentation. Start without any method hint. If you do not recognize the problem, compare the useful data in the two statements.
The official Éduscol past papers can provide topics, to be selected according to your syllabus. An old topic is not automatically suited to your exam session.
You can prepare course questions in EduFiche for the properties; problem solving should also be practised on real exercises.
Save what helped you get unstuck
Write one sentence: “In this situation, I start by… because…”. Pair it with the mistake that made you hesitate. That will be more useful than another copy of the worked solution.
Put a variant into your revision schedule after a delay. The timing depends on how difficult it was and on your deadlines.
Take your latest solved exercise. Hide one step and explain what allows you to reconstruct it. If you cannot, you have found the next question to work on.