Mathematical ability refers to application of mathematical thinking and methods to understand and solve practical problems.Training college students’ mathematical application ability is related to the cultivation of high quality compound talents.From the aspects of teacher training,curriculum establishment,teaching methods and teaching process reform,as well as examination,this paper probes into the necessity and teaching reform so as to cultivate contemporary college students’ mathematics application ability.Moreover,appropriate teaching methods are the key to the cultivation of mathematics application ability.This paper expounds on the reform of teaching methods in the new situation from the following aspects:the combination of layered and classified teaching,enriching the content of medium-size class teaching,advocating multimedia-assisted teaching and cultivating students’ computing ability.