8) Keep your solutions neat and line-by-line. Always work problems vertically42, with one step on every line. Never work horizontally43. It may take more paper, but you will be able to follow your steps much more easily. More importantly29, the teacher will be able to follow your work much better which allows him/her to give you partial credit. If there are just 2 steps when there should be 10, you will not be getting any points for your thought process. The steps you write down tell the teacher what you are thinking and how you are attacking the problem.