Why Last-Minute Studying Fails and What Math and Science Tutors Do Instead

How to Help Your Child Prepare for Math and Science Finals With a Tutor in Fort Worth TX

Fort Worth, United States - May 27, 2026 / Math Around The Corner /

Fort Worth, TX, May 27, 2026 - With end-of-year exams weeks away, Math Around the Corner, a locally owned tutoring company serving Fort Worth and the greater DFW metroplex since 2006, is sharing how working with dedicated math and science tutors helps students walk into exam rooms prepared, confident, and ready to perform.

As national test scores continue to slide, the company wants parents to understand what targeted, one-on-one support looks like in practice, and why starting now, not after a bad grade, makes all the difference.

The Numbers Tell a Troubling Story

Student performance in math and science has declined across the country. In 2024, 45% of high school seniors scored below the "basic" achievement level in math, the highest percentage since 2005, and only 33% were considered academically prepared for college-level math courses, down from 37% in 2019.

Science scores are moving in the same direction. The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress showed an 8th-grade science score drop across all three tested content areas — Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth and Space Sciences, with only 28% of students reporting high interest and enjoyment in science, compared to 38% in 2019.

These are not abstract numbers. They represent students in Fort Worth and across the DFW metroplex who are heading into final exams without the preparation they need.

What Math and Science Tutors Actually Do Before Exams

Tutoring math and science before an exam is not the same as cramming the night before a test. Done well, it is a structured process that closes specific gaps, rebuilds confidence, and helps students use their study time more effectively.

"Most students don't underperform on finals because they can't do the work, they underperform because they ran out of runway to prepare for it. Six to eight weeks of one-on-one work changes what walking into that exam room actually feels like," says Carol Bearden, founder of Math Around the Corner.

Here is what that looks like at Math Around the Corner:

Identifying the real weak spots. A tutor does not work through every chapter of a textbook. They run a quick diagnostic to find exactly which concepts a student has not fully absorbed, then spend session time on those areas. This is far more productive than reviewing material a student already understands.

Practicing the types of problems that appear on exams. Knowing a concept and being able to apply it under test conditions are two different skills. Tutors work through exam-style problems with students so the format itself becomes familiar, not stressful.

Building STEM learning strategies that students can use independently. Good STEM learning programs do not just cover content. They teach students how to check their work, manage their time during a test, and approach an unfamiliar problem logically. These skills transfer across every exam a student will take.

Reducing test anxiety through repetition and progress. Confidence comes from preparation. When a student has solved similar problems ten times with a tutor beside them, walking into an exam feels different.

Science Tutoring Is Especially Underused

Most families seek help in math first and treat science tutoring as secondary. But chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science all require the same foundational skills: reading carefully, working through multi-step problems, and applying formulas correctly under pressure.

At Math Around the Corner, science tutors work with students on the same one-on-one model used for math. Whether a student needs help with 8th-grade earth science or high school physics, the approach is the same: find the gap, close it, and practice until the material feels manageable.

Tutoring math and science at Math Around the Corner gives parents in Fort Worth and across the DFW metroplex a real path to lasting academic confidence for their child. Reach out today and take the first step.

Math Around the Corner offers in-person tutoring at its Fort Worth location and virtual sessions throughout the DFW metroplex. Inquiries can be directed to (817) 720-6284 or hello@matharoundthecorner.com.

About Math Around the Corner

Math Around the Corner is a privately owned tutoring company founded in 2006 by Carol Bearden in Fort Worth, Texas, while she was completing her master's in math education at Texas Christian University. The company provides one-on-one tutoring to students from Kindergarten through college across math, science, English Language Arts, foreign languages, social sciences, and test preparation. In-person sessions take place at 6134 Southwest Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76109, in 14 private tutoring rooms equipped with interactive whiteboard walls. Virtual tutoring is available to students throughout the DFW metroplex. Students who attend weekly sessions typically see a significant improvement in their grades, often earning A's and B's in their classes.