No, it's completely different than english class.
In english class you turn in a paper and get a non-optimal grade for reasons A, D, G - none of which are perfectly defined. You resolve not to do that next time. But the next paper you turn in gets another non-optimal grade for reasons L and M - and G again, because the problem (G, was not defined well enough for you to solve in all cases).
In math class, if someone (even someone who can't understand math easily) took however much time/effort to mull over the problems (and yes, it would take a long time if they truly have difficulty in understanding) in his/her textbook until they start getting answers that match the back-of-book solutions- then they will get an A. Why? Because unlike in english, when you get your answer it is (A) either right or wrong and (B) for reasons that are very precisely defined and that you can apply to the next problem.
Honestly, do you know any of these math whiners who have actually attempted all the odd-numbered problems in their textbook? A good portion of them don't even do the minimum required problems (copying other people's work, working in groups, soliciting "help" that is really just someone else solving it for them, etc) As a math tutor, I see this behavior all the time.