The average is the most important thing in high school and university as regards your academic career. It can mean more and better opportunities, leading to more money, better jobs, and a better life in general. But don't worry, a low average can still be correct if you start now.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Setting Up for Success
Step 1. Get organized
If your cabinet or desk seems to be going through a natural disaster, you can't expect your average to look different. The more organized you are, the easier it will be for you to study, get good grades, improve your average, focus, and win the challenge.
- Buy an agenda. Write down your homework every night, schedule deadlines, and everything on your to-do list. Erase them as you go along, keeping an eye on what you need for tomorrow. In this way your mind can stop worrying about what will happen next Tuesday, because you have already written it down.
- Invest in folders and binders. Keep the syllabi of each subject always ready to easily check them later. You can also keep old homework and materials ready, to use as reference points when you need to prepare for exams.
- Keep a pencil case or bag for study tools, such as highlighters, white-out, pens, rulers, and scissors. The less time you spend unnecessarily looking for things, the better.
Step 2. Choose the right courses
Let's face this thing: you are not Superman (or Wonderwoman). You cannot choose all advanced courses, 4 language courses at the same time, other university exams and have top marks in all of them. Even if you feel the need to be super competitive, don't burn yourself. Take only the courses you can take. If that means 3 advanced courses instead of 4, that's fine. Your media will thank you.
If each course you have chosen is difficult, you will get too tired. Do not take away the opportunity to attend minor courses or go to the gym. Everyone needs moments of relaxation, this will allow you to focus on the courses where you really need to concentrate
Step 3. Re-attend the courses if you need them
Many universities and schools give you the opportunity to take courses again. If you have taken a vow that you are not happy with and according to your plans you have enough time to do it again (in this case you have to think about the long duration), consider a second chance. Those barely enough grades could be wiped out forever. And for sure it will be easier on the second lap.
Find out what your chances are, not just take the exam again. Can you take a specific test again? Doing another project? Taking another very similar course instead of a completely different one? Many universities want their students to make it, and you certainly don't risk asking
Step 4. Attend classes
You would say it's a simple thing, but many students don't - they just go to classes. Even if you are there with the body but not with the head, go to class. Many professors add points simply for attendance. Some even say answers to additional questions to reward students who show up in the classroom.
And when you go, sit in the front row. It will be easier for you to be careful and for the professor to get to know your face. While it might seem embarrassing, it will be very helpful if and when you need help later (or when they're thinking about raising the grade from 28 to 29)
Step 5. Join the lesson
Imagine that you are the teacher and find yourself in front of a class of silent boys. Nobody talks, nobody seems interested, and nobody really seems to care. How does it look to you? Quite terrible, isn't it? Now imagine you have a guy who pays attention to you, who listens to what you say, and participates, even if he gets the answers wrong. How much better would the situation be? Professors don't care that you give the right answers, they care that it matters to you.
Show that you care by participating. Because? Meanwhile, he'll like you more. You will be a student who tries and therefore deserves the benefit of the doubt. And apart from that, participating means that you are processing the information in your head and it will be harder to forget it later
Method 2 of 3: Study Smart
Step 1. Find a way to study that you enjoy
Just as no two people get the same results following the same diet, so no two people get the same results following the same study plan. You have to find a way that works for you. Does it mean recording lectures and listening to them a million times? Transform your notes into images and tables? Transcribe your notes and turn them into a book that you can review later? Questioning each other with friends? Everyone is different, what does it help you remember?
How do you learn? There is a good chance that at this point you know how you remember things. Through listening? The sight? Using your hands? Whatever helps you, do it. Find a friend and repeat things. Make your own memorization tools and draw pictures to help your brain remember. Whatever you undertake is fine
Step 2. Take a weekly review
From now on, Sunday evening is the time for the weekly Sunday review. That is, when you sit down at your super-clean and well-organized desk, you take out your folders and binders, and review everything you've done in lessons from Monday to Friday. Anything you don't remember will take extra time, and anything you remember can be overlooked. This way you and your average will be acceptable at all times.
At the end of the weekly Sunday review, take a quick look at the program. What will you do next week? Do you have any exam or project deadline? If there is something to write on the diary, write it now
Step 3. Take breaks when you study
Research shows that the mind easily becomes saturated and stops processing information 100% if it doesn't take a break. The ideal would be to study for 50 minutes and take a break of 10. This allows your brain to recharge, and give the information time to be absorbed.
- Turn off your cell phone when you study. Just do it. Then, during the break, turn it back on and do whatever you've been dying to do for the past 50 minutes. The break should be the only moment when you do several things at the same time and when you get distracted from the matter you have at hand.
- Divide large projects into parts of an hour or similar. This way you will have a very clear time when you can take a break, take a deep breath, eat something, and get back to work again.
Step 4. Get your friends (smart and focused) and form a study group
Research shows that studying in a group is a very effective way to study, if the group is made up of about four people and they are really focused. This is because talking about the matter in question cements it in your mind, forcing you to listen, think and speak at the same time. All these skills used together cause concepts to be processed at a deeper level than your brain.
- Choose a group leader who keeps everyone in line. Bring something to eat and arrive with a few questions ready. Study all the materials, and try to go back on the issues you are confused about. Make sure you use everyone's strengths as much as possible.
- And don't miss out. Study groups aren't effective if you just sit there chatting, gossiping about friends, and munching on snacks. For this you need a leader, sometimes you will need someone to force you back on track.
Step 5. Don't be late
The point of the matter is that doing a single grind is not good for you. According to the latest studies, students who study the night before without sleep do worse on exams than those who study less but sleep a few hours. This is because the brain needs sleep for all the mechanisms to work properly, if you don't sleep at all, that study session won't do much.
If there's an exam in sight and you're not ready, all you can do is study a little the night before, get a decent night's sleep, wake up, study some more, have a protein-rich breakfast, and give your best. During the exam, put a candy or mint gum in your mouth to give yourself a sudden wake up call, studies show that it can improve academic performance
Step 6. Find a place to study that you enjoy
Sitting in your room while your roommate is watching TV eating chips won't help your average average person. You need a place that makes you feel peaceful and is pleasant enough to allow you to spend hours there without looking at the clock all the time.
Find a couple of places to study that you like. Studies show that studying in different places consolidates information in the brain. It is said that in a new environment the brain has to absorb more stimuli, and information joins those
Method 3 of 3: Organize Time
Step 1. Make extra credits
Almost every professor is willing to give extra credit, even if it's something they don't talk about openly in the classroom. If you want to raise your grade, talk to them privately. Ask if you can do some extra work for a few more points. They will probably be impressed that you want to work hard, most students would do anything to work less.
And if you are already a good student, this could bring the grade above 100%. What does it mean? Some leeway for different and more difficult lessons. And this is a bargain
Step 2. Abandon an activity
Sometimes to get a stellar average you have to make some sacrifices. If you follow a difficult subject with a lot of work, you play football, gymnastics, play theater, play in a group and lead the academic debate group, something has to go. You're overloading yourself. Take a step back and think about what matters the least to you. What could you live more easily without? So you can reassign that time to the study.
In other words, create time. Is there an afternoon nap among your activities? That too could be eliminated. It does not necessarily have to be connected to the school. The point is simply that you need to study and study well. If there is no time on your agenda, you need to create it
Step 3. Talk to the professors
It turns out that the professors are human beings, who would have thought that? If you are a good student who wants to improve, they will want to help you (when their students do better, they make them look better too). Don't be shy, talk to them. Ask for suggestions. Ask what you can do to improve your grade. They might have the answer.
- Some schools have "remedial courses". They let you take a course again or drop the lowest grade in a subject. Ask the professors if something like this might be available to you as well.
- Sometimes students are on the threshold of a better grade. If a professor knows you and likes you, you might get the benefit of the doubt. A 79% could go from a 19 to a 23. If nothing else, talk to the professors to enter into their good graces.
Step 4. Use your teacher's office hours
Developing a relationship with your professor, as you will have understood by now, is important to raise your average. Teachers have office hours or office hours, so use them. Not just to ask for extra credits or to lick them, but simply to talk about the course. Ask questions about the things that are difficult for you, talk about the topics you would like to know more about. Friends are great, but the teacher is your last resort.
Among other things, the professors have contacts. If you show that you are made of the right dough, they could let you enter different courses, put you in contact with some tutors at the university, or pull a few threads here and there that you didn't even have an idea of. There are endless reasons why getting to know your professor will give you advantages
Step 5. Take reps
Even if you are well organized and study, school is sometimes difficult. We can't be geniuses in all subjects, so you may have to give in and admit to yourself "I need some repetition." If you don't know where to start, ask your teacher. Many schools have tutored tuition programs to help students in need and to give credit to students who offer to do so. This is a win-win deal for both of us.
- You don't have to be ashamed. Even some blatantly intelligent students take rehearsal, so they can be even more blatantly intelligent. The competition is getting bigger and any help you can get is good.
- Some schools offer tutored tuition for free. However, if you can't find one that fits your budget, studying with a friend, or older brother or sister, or a neighbor will also be helpful. Two minds are always better than one.
Advice
- Always ask if you don't understand.
- Always participate in the classroom.
- Take a 5 minute break for every 30 minutes of study. You will be able to withhold more information if you allow your brain to rest a little.
