Don't panic at the sight of triangles, circles, or complex diagrams. Every shape is just a collection of measurable properties—lengths, angles, areas. Your job is to find the numbers hiding in the shapes.

Start by writing down every measurement you can see. If a side is 5cm, write "5" next to it. If an angle is 90°, mark it. Don't leave anything unlabeled—even if you don't know what it is yet.

What information do you already have? (The "given") What are you being asked to find? (The "find") Write these down separately so you know what you're working with and what you're looking for.

If you're allowed to use coloured pens, create a system: Green for what you know, Red for what you need to find, Blue for steps you need to take. This makes the problem visual and manageable.

Big shapes are just smaller shapes stuck together. A complex polygon can be broken into triangles and rectangles. Draw lines to divide it up—you'll find familiar shapes you know how to work with.

Keep a mental checklist of basic formulas:

• Rectangle area = length × width
• Triangle area = ½ × base × height
• Circle area = π × radius²
• Pythagoras = a² + b² = c²

If you know the final answer you need (like a total area), work backwards. What smaller areas do you need to add together? Start with the end goal and work towards what you know.

Before you calculate, make a rough guess. If you're finding the area of a rectangle that's about 3cm by 4cm, you should get something around 12cm². "If your answer is way off, you've probably made a mistake."

If the diagram is too small or cramped, redraw it larger on scrap paper. Bigger shapes are easier to work with, and you can add your own labels and measurements clearly.

Use everyday objects to understand shapes. A book is a rectangle, a pizza slice is a triangle, a coin is a circle. Measure real things—it helps your brain connect abstract shapes to concrete understanding.