Determining the subjects that give students the most trouble is critical for improving education outcomes. By identifying problem areas early, teachers can provide extra support, and students can focus their efforts. However, finding consensus on the most challenging subjects is difficult, as struggles depend on individual skills and interests. Still, looking at broad performance metrics and feedback from students and educators can reveal the common pain points.
Math
For many students, math tops the list of problematic subjects. Conceptually, math builds on itself, with each new topic relying on mastery of previous skills. Falling behind early on can snowball into bigger issues down the road. On a national scale, math scores consistently lag behind other core subjects. On the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 41% of fourth graders tested proficient in math, compared to 48% in reading. By eighth grade, those numbers dropped to 34% proficient in math and 33% in reading.
Beyond test scores, student surveys frequently list math as a significant challenge. In one poll by Pearson Education, 61% of middle and high schoolers reported struggling with mathematics. They described lacking foundational abilities, forgetting concepts quickly, struggling with word problems, and anxiety around math. Concepts like fractions, percentages, unit conversions, statistics, and algebra trip up many students. Those who don’t get a solid grounding early on may find themselves continuously playing catch-up.
Why Students Struggle With Math
There are several reasons why students often find math difficult:
– Abstract concepts – Math introduces abstract ideas some students have trouble grasping. Trouble visualizing intangible concepts makes it harder to understand and apply the math.
– Cumulative skills – As mentioned, math skills build on each other. Weak foundations lead to poor comprehension of more advanced concepts.
– Language barriers – Word problems rely heavily on strong reading and verbal skills some students lack.
– Anxiety – Many students find math stressful, creating mental blocks that impede learning.
– Weak elementary foundations – Weak instruction in early grades hampers abilities entering middle and high school.
– Perception of irrelevance – Students who fail to see “real-world” applications may lack motivation.
– Memory challenges – Memorizing and retaining formulas and procedures poses hurdles.
– Poor study skills – Deficiencies with skills like taking effective notes or reviewing regularly.
Science
After math, science frequently ranks high among troublesome subjects for students. On the 2019 NAEP, only 36% of fourth graders scored proficient in science, compared to 48% in reading. By 12th grade, 22% were proficient, versus 35% in reading. Performance declined across all demographics between 2009 and 2015. Students with learning disabilities fared worse than any other group.
As with math, science presents many conceptual challenges. Students must grasp abstract ideas and unseen forces. Subjects like physics and chemistry involve visualizing phenomena and interactions students cannot directly observe. Retaining all the terminology and nomenclature also taxes students’ memories. Complex lab assignments require following multi-step procedures while recording detailed observations. Weak literacy skills again put some students at a disadvantage for reading dense text and writing reports. Those with poor executive functioning struggle with planning, organization, and time management during elaborate experiments.
Why Students Struggle With Science
Notable reasons students struggle with mastering science include:
– Complicated vocabulary – Dense scientific terminology is challenging to comprehend and recall.
– Abstract concepts – Grasping theoretical models for unseen processes creates obstacles.
– Cumulative knowledge – Advanced concepts build on earlier principles, causing gaps in understanding.
– Math requirements – Solving scientific equations requires solid math skills.
– Lack of everyday application – Failures to see “real-world” applications can inhibit motivation.
– Hands-on difficulties – Following instructions for labs and recording observations pose challenges.
– Reading comprehension – Complex textbooks and papers tax reading skills.
– Memorization – Remembering facts, formulas, steps taxes memory capacities.
– Executive functioning – Staying organized for experiments taxes planning abilities.
English/Language Arts
Although overall reading and writing scores on NAEP assessments tend to exceed math and science, English and language arts still present stumbling blocks for many. Students with language-based learning disabilities like dyslexia face substantial barriers. But even those without diagnoses struggle to master skills like writing, reading comprehension, literary analysis, and grammar.
A survey by PBS found 87% of teachers considered vocabulary a major challenge for students. Meanwhile, the National Assessment of Educational Progress deemed just 27% of 12th and 8th graders proficient or advanced in writing in 2011. Students’ struggles with reading complex texts and developing coherent, organized essays hamper abilities across subjects. Weak literacy skills contribute heavily to difficulties in history and social studies as well. Those who reach high school with poor reading comprehension and composition skills find themselves seriously disadvantaged.
Why Students Struggle With English/Language Arts
Students experience difficulties mastering English and language arts for assorted reasons:
– Literacy problems – Reading disabilities like dyslexia create fundamental challenges.
– Limited vocabularies – Impoverished vocabularies lead to poor reading comprehension.
– Underdeveloped writing skills – Constructing clear, logical paragraphs and essays is difficult.
– Grammar deficits – Gaps in knowledge of grammar mechanics like punctuation or parts of speech.
– Spelling challenges – Memorizing correct spelling of words poses obstacles.
– Difficulty analyzing literature – Weak literary interpretation and analytical skills.
– Speaking anxiety – Fear of oral presentations hinders practicing articulation.
– Abstract concepts – Trouble grasping theoretical ideas about language.
– Slow reading – Inability to read at pace required to keep up.
History
History represents another academic weak spot for a large proportion of students. On the 2018 NAEP, just 15% of eighth graders scored at or above proficient in U.S. history, along with 24% in geography and 23% in civics. Again, those with learning disabilities scored lowest.
History stresses memorization and reading comprehension—two areas where students often falter. Absorbing and retaining all the names, dates, and events challenges students’ memories. Making sense of dense, complicated texts taxes reading skills. Analyzing and drawing connections between historical events and figures also proves difficult. Weaker writing abilities make crafting essays and reports laborious. Plus, many students view history as boring or irrelevant, sapping motivation.
Why Students Struggle With History
Factors driving students’ history struggles include:
– Extensive memorization – Remembering endless names, dates, events strains memory.
– Poor reading comprehension – Understanding textbook content poses reading hurdles.
– Lack of interest – Failures to see relevance hamper engagement and effort.
– Vocabulary deficits – Unfamiliar terms make grasping material difficult.
– Weak analysis skills – Drawing connections between events and figures is challenging.
– Writing difficulties – Constructing essays and reports strains composition abilities.
– Study struggles – Ineffective strategies for studying and retaining information.
Foreign Languages
Though foreign language enrollment has declined over the decades, studying languages still represents a significant obstacle for some. Students express frustration with memorizing vocabulary, learning grammatical rules, deciphering rapid speech, and building fluency. Adults trying to learn languages also cite pronunciation as a major challenge. Accurately producing new sounds not present in one’s native tongue takes significant practice. Grammar rules that contradict a student’s native language cause frequent mistakes. Plus, frustration and embarrassment over imperfect speech drives some to simply abandon language study.
Why Students Struggle With Foreign Languages
Typical challenges students encounter learning languages include:
– Unfamiliar sounds – Pronouncing new phonemes not in their native language is difficult.
– Vocabulary memorization – Memorizing definitions of countless new words strains memory.
– Grammar contrasts – Rules contradicting English grammar cause frequent mistakes.
– Speaking anxiety – Fear of imperfect pronunciation and fluency inhibits practicing.
– Listening comprehension – Grasping quickly spoken conversation is challenging.
– Reading barriers – Understanding written texts in the new language takes time.
– Cultural unfamiliarity – Grasping subtle cultural references can be confusing.
– Irregular conjugation – Memorizing irregular verb tenses, conjugations trips students up.
Strategies for Overcoming Common Academic Struggles
While some subjects prove more difficult overall, students can implement various strategies to overcome obstacles and improve performance:
– Seek one-on-one tutoring in problem areas from teachers, peers, or private tutors.
– Leverage online learning platforms with instructional videos on challenging topics.
– Join study groups to review material and solve practice problems collaboratively.
– Improve foundational skills through targeted practice and drilling.
– Employ mnemonic devices or songs to aid memorization of key facts and vocabulary.
– Break material into smaller chunks to improve comprehension and retention.
– Create visual study aids like flashcards, charts, and diagrams to consolidate information.
– Strengthen reading, writing, and verbal skills through regular practice.
– Practice effective study habits like distributing review across multiple sessions.
– Reduce stress and build confidence by focusing on growth and effort over outcomes.
– Speak regularly with teachers and parents to address struggles proactively.
– Strengthen time management and organizational skills.
– Seek assignment accommodations if learning disabilities severely impact specific subjects.
– Access school academic support services like tutoring centers or skills labs.
Conclusion
In summary, math and science represent the academic areas posing the biggest overall challenges. Students consistently underperform on standardized assessments in these subjects while reporting struggles grasping abstract concepts and retaining cumulative knowledge. English/language arts follow closely behind, with many students exhibiting weak literacy skills that hinder abilities across disciplines. History’s heavy memorization and reading comprehension requirements also place it high on the difficulty list. Less frequently studied subjects like foreign languages present obstacles as well, particularly with memorization and fluency.
No matter the subject, targeted support, stronger foundational abilities, improved study habits and instruction techniques can help struggling students find success. By addressing problem areas proactively, overcoming even the toughest academic challenges is possible. With persistence and the right strategies, students can excel in any subject that gives them trouble.