Beginning in middle school, it is YOUR responsibility to have a solid foundation in mathematics. That foundation is the BASIC SKILLS that you learned back in elementary school: adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing the whole numbers, integers, decimals, and fractions. If you are struggling with these basic skills, then you are going to have a difficult time with mathematics. Yep, you read that right! There is no one to blame here and the only thing that you can do is to spend your own time practicing these skills (BORING!) because without them, you are just going to fail. Sorry to be bearer of bad news. Think of it like this: would your garden grow if you used SAND instead of soil? Of course not because soil is the foundation for your plants, right? Same thing.

Let's start off with a practice test to see just what skills you need to work on. Download and print out a copy of the test. Use your brain and a pencil ONLY to take the test. NO calculator, please. Take the test and see how well you do. When you finish, click Test Answers to self-check.

If you miss THREE (3) questions in any section, then you need to go and practice that particular section by going to the section on the website and reviewing the information VERY carefully. Are you ready? Good luck! *Note: Scroll down to the end of this page for the test answers.

Fractions—my favourite 'F' word. Yep, you read that right. This is one basic skill that you absolutely, positively MUST know up and down, back and forth, and every way imaginable. Think of it this way: Fractions are your new BFF. So get over any bad feelings you've had before. Learn 'em! Immediately!

Go to the page where you had difficulty on the practice test and start getting the skills down NOW. Trust me, you will be glad you have a new BFF (or, at least another BFF!)

Download & print: Fractions Practice Test

Integers are absolutely integral because without knowing these particular numbers, you are going to be in deep doo-doo! Seriously…The positive numbers are probably no problem-o (the whole numbers are usually a piece-of-cake, right?) but it is often the negative numbers that cause everyone to start banging their heads against a wall.

Just like with the fractions, take the practice test and if you miss three questions on any one section, go to the page where you need practice and get going! Sure, a calculator would help but why should you rely on the use of a machine when you have one built-in (um, your brain?).

Download & print Integers Practice Test

Here are the decimals tests.