Whatever school you are attending (college, high school, middle school, or even elementary school), grades are important. The grades you get in middle school will be your calling card for high school. The grades you get in high school will be your calling card to the world of work or college. A good graduation grade will help you find a job. But, as is normal, not everyone manages to get excellent grades without effort. Learning to overcome the problems that keep you from getting high grades will set you on track to lasting success.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Improve Your Grades in the Short Run
Step 1. Consider where you are in the term or semester and what still needs to be done
Do you need to improve grades in one or several subjects? Are you missing intermediate tests or classwork or do you just have to take the final exam? Make a list of the courses you are attending or the subjects of your school, what needs to be done for each of them and the expected dates of all tests and exams.
To get the big picture, use a calendar on which to mark the dates of the tests and exams
Step 2. Examine your study method carefully
Sit down and think about how you have studied so far. Analyze what worked and what didn't, then ask yourself why. Make a list of the things you would like to avoid doing in the future (for example, postpone the study) and stop doing them. Find out what motivates you to study and take advantage of it.
This is a good time to learn how to do a SWOT analysis (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats). This method of analysis was developed for companies, but can easily be adapted to your personal school situation
Step 3. Talk to your teacher
Ask the teacher (or teachers) for advice on how to improve and any mistakes you may have made. Remember that this conversation can have different outcomes. If you have been a lazy student and ask for help, some teachers may be skeptical. Make sure you have an honest approach and follow their advice. If you ask for help and then don't follow the advice given, they probably won't be thrilled to help you next time.
- Ask the teachers if there is anything you can do to get extra-curricular credit.
- Ask teachers if you can submit homework overdue, even if the deadline for submission has expired, or if you can redo assignments that did not go well.
- Get help as soon as you realize you are in trouble. Don't wait until the last moment to ask for help. In most cases it will be too late.
Step 4. Talk to your parents
Your parents don't want you to get bad grades, and if you admit to having problems, they will most likely help you. Even if you just need them to follow you consistently to make sure you do your job, asking for help is a good idea.
Remember that this is helping your parents to provide you with additional support in the future. For example, if they find that you have a lot of problems with math, they might turn to someone who can give you tuition during the next term or during the summer
Step 5. Prepare a roadmap and get organized
Go through the calendar of things left to do and prepare a detailed roadmap. Set specific goals for each day and calculate the hours of each day that you will devote to studying. Try not to spend too much time on a single topic unless absolutely necessary. Try to study more than one subject per day if possible.
- Remember that studying a few hours a day is more effective than studying everything at the last minute.
- If you are in university you should try to study 2-3 hours per week for each hour of class. So, if you are taking a 3 hour weekly history course you should give it 6 to 9 additional hours of study each week. If that sounds like a lot to you, and it is, know that that's usually what it takes to get good grades.
- Don't forget to give yourself rewards for achieving your goals. Small things are enough to keep you motivated to stick to the program. For example, you could give yourself an hour to watch your favorite TV show or play video games. The largest premiums should be reserved at the end of the quarter or semester.
Step 6. Get under… and go for it to the end
Even if it's not the best of advice, if you're running out of steam by now, give yourself an intensive review. Memorize everything you can in the time you have left. Drink lots of coffee or other beverages that contain caffeine. Give up some sleep. Consider it a corner rescue attempt and do the best you can.
Avoid getting distracted during intensive review. Turn off the phone and television. Don't listen to songs (instrumental music is fine). You have very little time: use it wisely
Step 7. Make a plan for the next term or school year
Unless, of course, you're in your senior year of school! If you are still in school, take this opportunity to prepare for next year or next term or semester.
- Buy a school calendar or diary.
- Review the course schedule first for lessons to begin.
- Make sure you have all the material you need for each course before starting the year or semester if possible.
- Organize the space in which you study.
- Learn about the various ways to get study support at your school or university (e.g. supplementary courses, tutors, etc.).
Step 8. Go to a summer school
Nobody likes going to class during the summer, but if you're looking to improve your grades this is definitely an option. You might consider repeating a course during the summer (to improve your grade) or taking supplementary courses to prepare for more difficult subjects.
At the university level there are additional benefits for those who decide to take courses in the summer: you can reduce the workload in ordinary sessions or reduce the time needed to graduate; some summer courses are held in other countries or other universities, giving you the opportunity to travel; if you want to attend a specific course that requires a preparatory exam you can meet this prerequisite more quickly
Method 2 of 3: Prepare for the Next School Year
Step 1. Take an assessment at the end of the term or semester
Ask yourself a series of questions about how you did over the period to analyze what went well and what didn't.
- What did you do different after you decided to improve your grades? It worked? How much have your grades improved? Have you realized that there are things that work very well for you and others that don't work at all? Is there anything you would like to do differently?
- Think about the study methods that have been really helpful to you and make sure you include them in your routine.
- Think about what went wrong and why. Maybe you've tried studying at home and realized there are too many distractions. Make sure you don't put yourself in such situations anymore.
Step 2. Get organized
Buy a calendar or billboard to hang on the wall. Tidy up the space you want to use for studying, remove everything you don't need (books, magazines, comics, etc.) and fix the things you need (pens, pencils, highlighters, post-its, etc.). Make your study space distraction-free. Organize your material in a scheme that makes sense to you, so you can quickly find everything you need.
- Keep a different notebook or notebook for each subject or course you are taking and label it.
- Give a different meaning to each color of the pens and highlighters when writing in your notebooks or underlining in your textbook. For example, blue could be reserved for examples, yellow for definitions.
- Turn off your mobile and tablet when you study. And if you don't need the internet, turn off your computer's Wi-Fi. Don't give in to the temptation to check emails and messages!
Step 3. Talk to your teacher (or teachers) before the term or semester begins
If you are serious about improving your grades, the teacher will help you. Ask what you should focus on in class and which study methods are best for the subject you teach. Ask if it is possible to check the assignments together before handing them in.
- Find out about the contacts and office hours of your teachers. Every week you take stock of your situation in relation to each course and decide whether to go to a reception. If you feel it is necessary, add it to your agenda.
- When asking for advice, try to avoid phrases like "What's important in his course?" or "What do I have to do to get top marks?". These types of questions give the impression that you are not really interested in the lessons. Instead ask questions like "What kind of questions does the exam usually focus on? I would like to take my notes better" or "What advice would you give to a student who wants to do well on the exam?".
Step 4. Join a study group or organize one yourself
Work in a group with your friends or classmates to learn lessons and solve exercises. Question each other. Do exam simulations together. Take turns explaining the lesson to each other.
- It can be helpful, even if not necessary, to have a fixed pattern to follow in your study group: a predefined place and time to meet, specific goals for each session, an informal leader or moderator.
- Study group members don't necessarily have to be your friends. In fact it might almost be better if they aren't. Meeting with your friends to study could become an occasion for distraction.
Step 5. Take care of yourself physically
Make sure you get enough sleep every night. Eat properly every day. And exercise as often as you can.
Taking care of yourself also means taking breaks when you study, for example you should get up and take a short walk after each hour of study and treat yourself to a small reward when you reach your goals
Step 6. Get a tutor
Tutors can be people you pay to work with you on specific subjects, but they can also be made available by your school. Most universities have mentoring centers (often the tutors are older students) and other resources that are available to help you.
If you want to hire a tutor, ask your teachers for advice. They will know which students have passed their exams most brilliantly and who can help you
Method 3 of 3: Improve Vows in the Long Run
Step 1. Read the study materials before and after each lesson
Prepare for the topic that the teacher will cover in class. Write a list of questions about what you read and make sure each one gets answered during the lesson. Review the material immediately after the lesson and make sure you understand all the concepts that have been explained; if not, contact the teacher immediately.
Try reading aloud to aid in memorization. You may find that your cat is interested in molecular biology
Step 2. Attend all classes
Crazy as it may sound, it works! There are even some courses that give attendance points, so missing classes is like throwing them away. Always try to be careful in class.
- Going to class shows your teachers that you really want to learn. If you need help in the future, they will be more available as you have already shown your goodwill.
- If you want to make a really good impression, take a seat in the front desks. This way, not only will you be more visible to the teacher, but the rest of the class will be out of your sight and won't be distracted.
Step 3. Take notes carefully throughout the lessons
Take notes during each lesson using the method that works best for you. Review your notes immediately after class and rewrite them to improve concept memorization. Be sure to underline the teacher's suggestions and advice regarding homework or exams.
- In the notes focused on the key elements, such as dates or chronologies, the names of the characters and why they are important, the theories, equations, definitions, pros and cons of a topic that was discussed in class, pictures or graphs and diagrams, examples.
- If possible, use a system of abbreviations when taking notes. For example, use symbols instead of words (+ instead of “plus”) and abbreviated words (“approx.” Instead of “approximately”). Create your own abbreviations if needed.
- Don't worry about grammar and spelling when taking notes (unless it's a grammar and spelling lesson!). If necessary, you can correct them later.
- Adapt the way you take notes to the lesson. For some courses very structured systems such as the Cornell method may work, while for others, such as very discursive ones, free notes are more useful.
Step 4. Actively participate in all lessons
This is especially important if your teacher awards extra points for attendance. In this case, teachers are not looking for quantity but rather for quality. Active participation also shows the teacher that you are understanding the subject. Through active participation, the teacher can also understand if he has explained well and, if so, re-explain.
Active participation can become a debate - the dream of some teachers! If you disagree with what a classmate is saying, you can point it out, but be respectful. Don't turn the debate into a fight
Step 5. Do your homework as soon as possible
Don't wait until the evening of the day before delivery to work on it. Start doing your homework on the same day it is assigned to you (unless you already know it will be assigned to you) or include it in your curriculum (if you already know it will be assigned to you). Schedule the job so that you finish it before the deadline, so you can go through it without pressure.
Finishing homework early is particularly important because students often lose points on simple things like spelling, grammar, etc. Also, if you finish your homework early enough, you may be able to have it reviewed by your teacher, tutor, or someone else who can give you suggestions
Step 6. Submit all overdue assignments
Each assignment that is assigned to you in each lesson has some value. Some teachers have a system for evaluating late assignments. Depending on the teacher, you might at least get points for an assignment even if you turn it in late. And remember, when you're desperate, every single point counts!
- Ask your teacher or check the schedule before you do your homework overdue. If the teacher does not accept them and you have little time to do them, it could be useless.
- If the teacher doesn't accept that homework is late, but you have time to do it, use it as an exercise. If the teachers are willing to give you the solutions you can use them to understand if you did well.
Step 7. Ask the teacher to be questioned
Asking never hurts, and the worst thing that can happen is being told no. If you ask to be questioned and the teacher says yes, make sure you are well prepared.
- Don't wait two days before the end of the term or semester to ask to be questioned! You will give the impression that you have been lazy all semester and want to fix things at the last minute. If you are in trouble, come forward as soon as possible.
- There is an endless debate in the school environment about voluntary questioning. On the one hand there are those who think they are an excellent idea, on the other hand those who consider them bad. Each of your teachers is likely to be on one side or the other of the fence, and has good reasons for it (for example, their teaching experience). While asking doesn't hurt, it's not worth arguing with your teacher if she says no.
Step 8. Really learn and understand the material you are studying, not just memorizing
Being able to understand what you are learning is much better than memorizing the textbook.
- Make sure you master one topic before moving on to the next, particularly if it is related to the first. Most textbooks and courses are organized in such a way that each chapter / lesson builds on what you have learned in previous ones. If you haven't learned the previous material, studying the current one will be much more difficult.
- Use personal or familiar situations to help you understand the material. Textbooks (and some teachers) tend to use boring examples when explaining concepts and ideas, but that doesn't mean you have to too. For example, if you are learning Newton's First Law when it says that "a moving body continues so indefinitely … in the absence of forces applied to it", try to think of examples that make sense to you. For example in "Fast and Furious" the cars keep moving until something stops them (not the best possible example but it serves to give you the idea!).
Step 9. Read the exam instructions completely before starting
For some strange reason, students sometimes lose exam points because they haven't bothered to read the instructions and do what they say!
- For example, have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were asked to choose 4 out of 6 topics and write an essay on them but instead you wrote it for all 6 topics? In this situation it is clear that you have not read the delivery carefully and you have wasted precious time doing something you should not have done, and perhaps you have not been able to complete other parts of the exam.
- Furthermore, there is no reason to complete the exam in the order it is written, unless each question depends on the previous one. Read the entire exam and start with the simplest questions and then move on to the more difficult ones. This will help you maintain your confidence as you complete the exam.
- Exams aren't the only circumstances where you need to follow instructions precisely. If you have to write a essay and the teacher wants double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 font and 2.5cm margins, then DO AS REQUIRED. Do not use single spacing, Arial 10 font and 3 cm margins!
Advice
- Many schools offer tips, seminars and workshops on topics such as the note-taking method, the tendency to postpone (how to stop postponing, not how to postpone better!), Public speaking, powerpoint presentations, grammar, time management and more.. Find out what your school offers and take advantage of it.
- There is an endless list of free apps that you can use to manage your time and homework. If you don't already use one, try a couple and then decide which one to use for at least a semester without changing it.
- Remember to keep in mind the tasks that have been assigned.
- Practice more than required in all subjects. This will help you understand them better.
