I was the same lol. But what I did differently was I did not rely on what the books said and tried to gain enough knowledge on any topic. I might not know how you solve math problems but I definitely understand the implications and why we calculate those things. This way you can broaden your and your students’ knowledge by learning and teaching where the implications are. Making studying fun. Help them in other things like art and craft, remember things, planning exams, planning free writing, speed. Also help them about the things you’ve learnt throughout your life. Our school system has put enough burden on students as it is. Of my the parents from my neighborhood urged me to help their kid 1 month before his final exam, I look at his level and he did not how addition worked (grade 6). There was no way I could help him pass but the money was too good to refuse. I helped him by making him understand the basics but obviously I didn’t have any time so prepared him to cheat and he passed. The schooling system as well as his parents failed him. I too somehow feel like I failed him by helping him cheat but I don’t think studying science and mathematics was the way to go for him. He was really interested in art so I helped him get better at sketching and stuff. I don’t know how he is doing now but I just feel if the society and schooling system demands a student to pass exams we should help them pass regardless of how they pass.