I'm a 24-year-old computer science student in the UK starting my second year, and I've been trying to improve my math skills from scratch using Khan Academy, starting with very basic concepts. Sometimes I wonder if I'm wasting my time with this approach. I want to become a well-rounded software developer, aiming to learn up to high school or A-Level math to enhance my problem-solving skills, which I believe are important in programming. Is this a good idea or should I be focusing my efforts differently?
1 Answer
It's definitely worthwhile! I suggest you use Khan Academy's placement quizzes to quickly find any gaps in your knowledge. For computer science, the most beneficial math topics are algebra, functions, and discrete math principles like sets, counting, and probability. You’ll want just enough calculus to understand limits and derivatives. Daily practice is key, so try to solve a few problems and apply the concepts in small programming tasks. If you're looking for a structured approach, focus on filling gaps from GCSE before moving onto A-Level content with resources like Khan and 3Blue1Brown. Think of this time as an investment in your future skills and confidence.
Thanks for the tips! What did you mean by 'plug GCSE gaps'?