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Getting good grades is no longer for the nerds. Succeeding in school
is for those who want to start early on going to the best schools,
getting the best jobs, and making the most of themselves. To start
piling on the A's now, read on!
Part 1 of 5: Getting Organized
1
Get a planner or calendar.
Whether it's a day planner you carry in your backpack, a calendar on
your wall at home, or a to-do list you make at the end of every day, it
can help you keep track of when assignments are due and stay organized.
At the beginning of the term, when you get a syllabus, write down every
test, quiz, and assignment due date. Do this for each class.
Every day when you get home from school, check your calendar and see
what needs to be done before tomorrow, as well as what's on the horizon
for the next few days. Check off what you have already done.
2
Organize your locker/backpack/desk.
Organizing whatever you use every day helps your mind feel
clutter-free. It may sound silly, but when your visual environment is
simple and orderly, your mind can concentrate on the more important
stuff. Once a week, clean out your locker or backpack and organize your
desk. It only takes a few minutes.
You won't lose things when you automatically put them where they
belong. Having a backpack, desk, or locker that's full of loose papers
just gets confusing and frustrating.
3
Make a study schedule.
You have a calendar for the week or month, but you need a weekly study
schedule, too. Map out your week to see when your studying can and
should get done. That way you know just how much time you can devote to
each class and when it makes the most sense to study for each one.
Use your common sense when it comes to allotting time to specific
classes. For example, Badminton needs a lot less time than Principals of
Celestial Mechanics.
Make sure you have an agenda so that you can write down all of your
test, when you have to study, and when you have homework due.
Part 2 of 5: Absorbing Information
1
Know your learning style.
The fact of the matter is that certain techniques don't work for
certain people. Some of us learn with our hands, some of us with our
eyes, and some of us with our ears (and others a combination). If you
can't remember a dang thing your professor said, maybe you're just going
about it the wrong way.
Once you find out your learning style, you can hone in on what's
best for you. Do you remember best the things you've seen? Then study
those notes and make graphs! The things you've heard? Go to class and
record those lectures. Things you do with your hands? Turn the concepts
into something you can build.
2
Read the textbook. As
much as it is boring and monotonous, it's incredibly useful -- sometimes
professors don't even mention the info in class! After reading a
paragraph, revise it in your head without looking. Then read it again.
It will stay in your mind for a longer time. It is particularly
effective when you have less time for studying.
Often the things mentioned in class that are also mentioned in the
book are the most important (duh). If you run across some of this while
reading, highlight it. You'll want to know where it is to find it later.
Don't write off the benefits of scanning. Concentrating on the main
ideas (the highlighted text, italics, etc.) will get your mind going.[1] If you can fill in the blanks, great! If you can't, read deeper.
3
Take good notes. For
most courses in middle school, high school, and junior/community
college, most of what is on the tests and homework will be discussed in
the class. If your teacher draws a diagram on the board, copy that down -
it can help you remember the information.
Write good, legible notes. Use highlighters if there's something you
need to find easily flipping through your notes, but don't highlight
too much text or it defeats the purpose. Colored pens are fun to write
with if you want to get more creative with your notes, but use them only
for sections of your notes that you feel will be on a test or are
important.
4
Study effectively.
Wasting nights pouring over books and emerging feeling like you've
gotten nothing out of it is just about the worst. Instead of falling
asleep over your textbook, try the following:
Make a study guide and review it. Look in the textbook and put all
important ideas and details in your notes. Go over it until you feel
like you know the material well. If you've written it, you'll probably
remember more of it.
Make someone test you on the study guide. Talking about the
information out loud is a lot easier to retain than going over the same
stuff in your brain over and over. When you have to explain it to
someone else, it forces you to understand it, not just know it.
Invent fun ways to study. Make flash cards, have a friend over, or
join an after-school homework club if you can for help from a teacher or
friend from the same class. You can make a board game to make studying
fun and easy, or you can just type up your notes if it makes it easier
to read. Do as much as possible to make sure you know the material.
5
Participate in class.
You've done your homework, so you're totally prepared to participate in
class. Show that you know your stuff! There are a few reasons this is a
good idea. The most important one is that participating in class will
cement in your head the stuff you learned from doing your homework
(before it was more like Jell-O).
The second good reason is that it will cement the information in
your brain. Seriously. Talking about it out loud (especially in class,
where it's a bit more stressful than when with a friend) uses a
different part of your brain than just writing about it. This way,
you're covering all your bases.
The third good reason is that your professor will totally appreciate
it. No teacher likes a room full of crickets. Get on their good side,
and you'll get treated better when grade time comes around or when you
ask for extra credit.
6
Ask for help. If you're
not sure what's required for a good grade or are struggling with the
coursework, ask your teacher for help. It doesn't have to be a complex
question; your teacher is always happy to help you. Ask after class,
during office hours, or in an e-mail for assistance.[2]
Often things we're told one-on-one stick with us more than things
we're just being lectured about. In addition to the personalized
learning session, your teacher will appreciate your efforts and straight
up probably like you more. Having a teacher that likes you can come in
very, very, very handy.
Part 3 of 5: Doing Your Homework
1
Do your homework immediately after school.
Time management is essential. If you're given an assignment that's due
next week, don't procrastinate; get started within a few days of
receiving the assignment. The more time you have, the less you'll
stress.
If possible, try to get assignments finished at least two or three
days before the due date. This is to avoid last minute emergencies, like
"the dog eating your paper," a party invitation, the printer running
out of ink, illness, family emergency, etc. Most teachers will deduct
points for each day your work is late. Some do not accept late papers at
all.
Homework counts for a large portion of your grade. If your teacher
has any extra credit assignments, do them! It won't hurt if you try it
out. Even if you get some wrong, your teachers will still notice your
effort to try to learn more.
2
Put homework first.
Set yourself goals and make sure you reach them before you go out and
party. Having a social life is important, but your grades can affect a
lot of your choices for the future. Schedule time each day to study,
just as you would schedule dates or parties.
You can reward yourself for getting your homework done! Once you've
completed it, it's TV, food, or party time. If that's not enough, ask if
mom or dad can help you get incentivized. They want you to get good
grades, too!
3
Work with friends.
Studying for tests with friends is super beneficial, so why not do
homework with friends, too?! Not only will you stay motivated (and
possibly stay interested in the class), but you'll be able to combine
your levels of awesome and get things done more quickly, effectively,
and possibly creatively.
The key here is to choose a friend that will pull his/her weight.
You don't want to work with a friend that expects you to do all the
work. Nor do you want a friend that wants neither of you to work! Choose a friend that's as goal-oriented as you are.
4
Don't plagiarize. The quickest way to get a zero on an assignment is to plagiarize it. Technology is amazing nowadays and your teacher will
know if you're plagiarizing. Whether it's Google Translate or a speech
by Martin Luther King, Jr., they'll know. So don't risk it.
Part 4 of 5: Preparing for Tests
1
Study with a friend.
There is strength in numbers, even when it comes to studying. Bouncing
ideas off each other and combining knowledge is a resource that is
invaluable. Just make sure you don't distract each other!
This takes the information off the page and makes it fun and
memorable. When you have to explain something to a friend, your brain
has to wrap around it, instead of just taking it in and hoping that it
stays.[3] Make flashcards and study guides for each other to cover all the material.
2
Use memory tricks.
Things like mnemonic devices can really trigger information that doesn't
otherwise want to stick. Odds are you probably know Roy G. Biv for the
order of the colors of the rainbow or "My very exhausted mother just
slept until noon." for the order of the planets. Why's that? They're
effective mnemonic devices that stick in your mind!
Associations work, too. If you're trying to remember that India used
to be a British colony, picture the queen jogging laps around the Taj
Mahal. When the test comes, you may not remember what you actually should remember, but you'll remember enough to jog your memory!
3
Study in the right places.
First things first, you need a good, calm place to study. Make sure you
have a sweater in case it gets cold, a good, comfy chair, some dark
chocolate (brain power![4]), a bottle of water, and whatever else you may need. That way, you'll have few interruptions.
Research also shows that you should study in more than one
place. It sounds a little funny, but your brain makes associations with
your environment. So the more associations it has, the more likely you
are to retain the information.[5] Locate all the comfy chairs and study in them all!
4
Stop cramming. Although
it's inevitable sometimes, cramming isn't the way to go. In fact, taking
breaks is good for your brain and will help you retain more. Try to study in 20-50 minute intervals, taking five or ten minutes in between.[6]
And if you're on top of things, it's best to study over a full week.
Several sessions will cement the knowledge in your head and by the end
you'll be able to notice how much better you know the content, allowing
you to relax and be confident.
5
Relax. Easier said than
done? Remember - you have all of the answers in your head already! The
only challenge is getting them out! Your first instinct is nearly always
correct. Don't go back and change answers. If you are really not sure,
skip it and come back later.
Always read the questions given on a test. Skimming over them might tell you the opposite of what you need to do.
If you're uncertain about the wording of a test question, go and ask
the teacher what it means. As long as you don't flat out ask for the
answer to a question, just what they meant by the question; they will
usually answer.
6
Get a good night's rest.
You need sleep in order to stay focused, and without it, you will have a
hard time staying on task and may forget what you just learned. That's
part of the reason why cramming is so evil!
Sleep is wonderful. Sleep deprivation can lead to accidents, dumbs you down, and can actually cause health problems.[7] If you have to choose between one last cramming session and sleep, choose sleep.
Part 5 of 5: Making Grade-A Decisions
1
Choose the right classes.
In college, though sometimes in high school too, it's tempting to
choose classes that look super impressive or are just plain out of your
reach. While taking difficult classes is great and you'll learn a lot,
limit it to one or two. If all you have is rocket science, you're bound
to get overwhelmed. Take Rocket Science 101 and Sand Volleyball. Your
brain deserves the break!
Choose the right amount of classes, too. Being absolutely
time-swamped won't do you any favors. When will you study? Stick to the
normal amount (4 or 5 classes per semester for college) and do well in
those. It's better to do well in a few than to do mediocre in many.
2
Go. The simplest way to
get good grades is just to show up to class in the first place. Not only
will you get the credit for attendance (hopefully), but you won't miss
any imperative announcements, concepts the professor stresses, or bonus
questions the teacher includes in class (sneaky buggers, aren't they?).
If you're ever on the borderline between grades, going to class will help you.
Professors often look at attendance to see if the student's grade
should be rounded up or down in questionable circumstances. Give
yourself the benefit of the doubt and go!
3
Keep track of your grades.
You won't get a high score if you don't aim for one. Some schools have
an online place where you can check your grades whenever you want.
Utilize this and make sure that you have a username and password from
your teacher. If not, ask your teacher for your grade to know where you
stand.
4
Eat a good, healthy breakfast every day.
It is known that if students eat a good and healthy breakfast every
morning, they generally get good grades and are able to focus better in
school.[8] Even if you're not hungry early in the morning, bring something with you for later.
You want to be not hungry -- not stuffed to the brim and sick.
Instead of a six-egg omelette, go for a bowl of cereal and an orange.
You'll feel more able to focus on your studies instead of that rock in
your stomach.
5
Improve your memory
with games. Give your brain a workout - try some fun puzzle exercises
every day such as crosswords, Sudoku, and other games which are easy
enough for anyone to do. This will boost your brainpower and you will be
able to memorize more information at school.
Websites like Lumosity[9] and Memrise[10] are great resources! Memrise even lets you input your own information to learn!
6
Use your time wisely. If
you are given an hour to complete a 120 question test, that's 30
seconds per question. 30 seconds can be made into a lot of time. Many of
the questions will take far less than 30 seconds, so apply the balance
to a tougher question. Don't think too deeply on the time, and don't let
yourself get distracted by the ticking of the clock.
Time limits are sometimes arbitrary. If you really need an extra 5
minutes, ask. A diligent student that needs a bit more time is a
concession most teachers will be willing to make.
7
Don't be afraid to be great.
Don't worry if people think you are a perfectionist or an overachiever.
Be persistent with your work while everyone else is fooling around in
class. In a few years you will more than likely never see these people
again, but you will see the A's and B's on your transcript that could have been C's and D's if you hadn't practiced!
8
Get an expandable file and put in the labels.
Put your papers in the file so that you always have the correct things
at the correct times. If you have a desk put the file in your desk. If
you have a locker you can put the file in your bookbag for the day but
at lunch you can put it your locker for lunch and whatever period you
want to.
Tips
Be positive and don't give up. Always try your best and make sure that you do it to the best standard possible.
Organize your work area. Make sure everything is neat and you can
find it easily. As any college student will tell you, working in an
untidy environment will only lead to distraction. Make sure you have all
of the supplies you need for class.
You may have to cut down on entertainment in order to succeed. The
best students know how to say, "No, I can't hang out because I have to
study." Some friends might tease you, but your real friends will
understand. Remember though that you do need to relax every now and then
or you will get too stressed out and get worse grades. It is important
to balance out your studies and social life.
Look up extra information about anything you're studying. It will
help increase your understanding of the information, make it more
interesting, and make it easier to remember. Your teachers will be
impressed if you can add information that you didn't learn in class into
the essay or test.
Read every night and then ask yourself questions on what you just
read to recap. This will also show you how much you need to work on
reading comprehension.
Make a document that you can use to track your grades each term to see if you have improved.
Sometimes it helps if you reward yourself. If you've gotten good grades, take a day off of studying.
Ask your teacher if you can do an essay or extra sheet of problems
for extra credit. If he/she says yes, hand it in the next day. If he/she
hands it back before the test, you'll see your mistakes and be able to
fix them.
Having small goals helps. Your goals should try to improve slowly
and finally settle on that A. Aiming for an A right away leaves you
feeling unrewarded and makes your goal seem unreachable.
Warnings
If you do get punished for bad grades, then be sure you strive to
try better even if you did in the past years. There's always time for
improvement!
Forming bad study habits or disregard for learning will hold you back in the future. Although it seems far off, it's not.
Don't hang around with friends who are not serious in their
education. Always stay close to the smart guys, even if your friends
laugh at you. It is your grades and future; what you put in it is what
you get out of it.
Do you want to be the head of your class, improve your grades, or
just do the best work you can? Getting A+s in school is important to get
into the most competitive colleges. If you would like to learn how,
this article has a ton of tips to help!
Steps
1
Be confident. Being
confident is one of the important steps for success. If you think you
can't do it or that you're dumb, you're more likely to not do as well.
2
Read the entire text carefully.
You should know every single nook and corner. Use active reading
techniques and take your time. It's also helpful to take notes, whether
your teacher asked you to or not.
3
Practice makes perfect.
Practice more questions and sums (if any). Test yourself periodically
and review the information that doesn't come to you right away.
4
Read beyond the text.
You should know everything both from the book and outside. Find
additional sources to read up on, and ask experts about the topic
questions.
5
Highlight important points in readings and notes. That way, when you go back to study, you'll see them and study them first.
6
Revise, Revise, Revise. Revise all what you have studied before the finals so far. Make changes to your notes as you go along and add to them as fit.
7
Clarify doubts. Go to
your teacher or instructor to clarify all of your doubts. You don't want
to lose points because you weren't sure what to do and did it wrong!
8
Ask questions. No question is too nerdy or dumb. If you're too embarrassed, ask your teacher at the end of class.
9
Get a tutor (if needed). Even if you are doing well in the subject, a tutor can help you do even better.
10
Study in groups. Try to
study with your friends / classmates. Make sure they're all devoted
students and aren't too crazy, or else you might get off topic.
11
Use time wisely. Never
waste it. Each minute is priceless in these hard times of finals. Use
every moment you can to study or do homework- the last five minutes of
class, the bus ride home, any dead time you have is crucial.
Being a great student doesn't mean hours and hours of being studious
and having no social life! There's always room to improve, so it helps
to always check the work you do. This will lead to happiness and
satisfaction with not only yourself but what you are doing with your
life. And you know: accomplishments are for life; they last! If you get
good grades, you're that much closer to a good college, which leads you
to a good job. Keep reading to find out how to be more successful in
school.
Method 1 of 4: General Practices
1
Go beyond the surface information.
Don’t just stop learning at the bare facts. These will not make you any
smarter, nor will they give you the analytical tools you need to get
straight A’s. If you really want to excel in school, the most important
thing is to always ask why. Learn why things work the way they do, why
things matter, and you can apply that knowledge across a vast amount of
information, correctly guessing even things you might not have learned
about.
Ad
2
Use the knowledge of others.
We don’t mean cheat…. when we say use the knowledge of others, what we
mean is that you should talk with friends, family members and teachers
about the subjects you are studying. Get their opinions on topics, see
how they would have approached a problem, or learn their method of doing
something. In opening your mind to new ways of thinking and doing, you
will be better prepared to handle any academic challenge.
3
Be proactive
in your education. Participate in study groups. Get help when you need
it. Study over time, rather than cramming before a test. Basically,
getting straight A’s is hard (if it were easy, everyone would do) so you
need to work at it if you want to do this.
4
Get organized.
Consistently place all assignments or handed back work/handouts
separate and in chronological order. Not only does this make life in
generally easier, but it also helps when exam time comes, especially if
there will be a cumulative "end-of-the-year" exam. You should also
organize your time (to give yourself plenty of time to study and
sleep!), organize your notes, and your study space (a cluttered space is
distracting).
Study and do homework in chunks. If you have 2 days to do a homework
assignment, do most of it the first and do the other part the second.
Or, if you have 1 week to learn 10 vocabulary words, do a few each day,
and review ones already learned. This way, you'll be less overwhelmed
and ultimately have more time free from cramming.
Get a planner. One of the most important things that you will need
to succeed is a planner. Write down your homework right when the teacher
assigns it, not later or you will forget! If a teacher tells you when a
project is due, or a test, or quiz will be given -- write it down! This
will help you know what you have to do.
5
Choose courses you are interested in.
If you can, make sure you are studying things you enjoy and can get
invested in. You will do better if you care about the material you are
studying. This is why you will find that you get the best grades in your
favorite classes.
Remember to balance things you enjoy with things you need to know! Keep your future in mind!
6
Be aware of your body clock.
The human body learns best at specific times (usually in the morning
for most people). Be sure you save this time for studying and
internalizing important class materials, and reserve the other time for
less pensive activities as homework or socializing. Avoid studying when
you are tired. In general, you should try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
7
Give your best effort.
You need some talent but persistence is most important. Never give up on
yourself. If you don't get a question on a test, then think it through
and write it out so that you can see what you are doing.
Method 2 of 4: Working Hard in Class
1
Pay attention in class.
You would be surprised to know how much you can learn from just
listening. You will notice that, if you pay attention, you won't have to
study hard for your tests! You will understand the subject better and
know what the teacher is talking about prior to a test.
If you lack focus or get distracted, remember your vitamins, proper
nutrition, and take any prescribed ADD medications (if applicable)
before you leave for school so that you can pay attention to the
subject. Be lively, wide awake, and interested!
2
Ask questions. Ask the
teacher real questions, not fluff. Try to figure out what you really
don’t understand, what the key information seems to be, and then ask
about that. Wait until you've listened, read and tried to understand,
yet don't understand a topic. If you're embarrassed by asking, do it
after school, at the instructor’s office hours, between classes (if it's
quick), or make an appointment if needed.
Never be embarrassed to ask questions! Not everyone knows everything
and there’s nothing wrong with not knowing something. We all had to
learn at some point! Your teacher knows this and they will
understand….they’ll even be happy that you’re asking! Curious students
make happy teachers! Make sure you understand each and every concept
perfectly. You should not have the slightest doubt!
3
Understand the course of the class.
Read any syllabus you are given and generally know where the class is
going. You should be aware of what you will be expected to know in the
future, so that you can begin making connection in your brain with the
material you’re learning now.
For example, if you’re in a history class and you’re learning about
the formation of the states but you see that the next section will be
about the Civil War, try to think about how those two events could
connect to each other while you are learning about the formation of the
states. This will help you to analyze information much better.
4
Take notes. Don’t write
down everything your teacher says. Learn to instead write down an
outline and fill it in with bits and pieces of key information. Write a
summary of what you learned in class to use it for future reference.
You can also work ahead of the class and take notes on what you
don’t understand, so that you are well prepared when your teacher
explains those things.
5
Show up. Never skip
class. This will only hurt your grade. Never play hooky! You will get
behind. Only miss school if you are really sick. If you are sick for
more than two days, get your work picked up from your teachers by
parents. When you come back get all your work done early. Strive to get
perfect attendance!
6
Talk to your teachers about your grades.
Ask about your quality of work and reasons for any weak grades. Asking
about your grade will help you raise your grade, motivate you to do
better, or help you feel rewarded for your work. Be careful! Don't ask
about grades too often or your teacher may start to resent you, as
seeming shallow, and that will not help your grade.
Method 3 of 4: Working Hard At Home
1
Do your homework.
Even in college where they might not always check it, it is important
to always do your homework. It is to help you learn the subject and
identify what you don’t understand so that you know what you need to
study. Homework is assigned to reinforce skills learned in class, so it
will lower your study time a lot. Also, if you don't have any homework
in a subject, read your notes, read the textbook, anything to practice
what you learned.
On average, about 10% of your grade is homework but how it is incorporated into your grade really depends on the teacher.
2
Don’t procrastinate.
Never stay up doing an assignment, unless you have not finished and it
is due very soon. Instead, if you have two weeks to do your assignment,
spend the first week outlining and doing the basics. Over the weekend,
neatly put it together, and the next week, just put the finishing
touches on it, do some editing, and print it out. Don't forget to hand
it in to your teacher one day before you actually should. This will show
your dedication and give your teacher time to suggest revisions.
Starting an assignment ahead of time will also give you time to meet
with your teacher and discuss problems you have, directions you can
take, and get other assignment help that is crucial to getting A’s. Just
going to the extra trouble of asking for help and taking your teacher’s
advice will probably earn you a slightly higher grade.
3
Teach the material to someone else.Find a quiet place,
like your room, lock the door, and imagine you are the teacher
explaining the subject to a student. This is also a good way to measure
your understanding of the material, and explaining it to someone who
doesn’t understand it at all can often help you develop a better
understanding of the material yourself. If you can participate in
tutoring programs in school, this serves the same purpose.
4
Get a dedicated study space.
You need a space that you know is just for studying. This will help
minimize distractions and keep you on track. Studying is just another
habit, and if you teach your brain that a certain desk or room is just
for studying, then you will have a much easier time focusing and getting
work done.
5
Read extra material if you have time.
You can always go onto the internet or go to the library and find more
books or information about the subjects you are studying. Learning
extra, and tossing that information into papers or test questions, will
impress your teachers!
6
Consider getting a tutor.
If you can afford to, consider getting a tutor. It may seem bad, having
to ask for extra help, but there's nothing wrong with getting in some
extra learning and it can really make a difference in your grades!
Method 4 of 4: Helpful School Tips and Tricks
1
Learn to take great notes. Still having trouble taking notes that help you later? There’s a wikiHow for that.
2
Learn to outline.
Outlining can make any assignment easier, by breaking it up into easy
to understand chunks. Dealing with these pieces, rather than trying to
wrap your brain around the whole thing can really help you excel!
3
Learn how to spell correctly.
If you want to get perfect points on an assignment, you’re going to
need to be sure it’s free of spelling problems. We’ve got lots of
helpful hints on breaking bad spelling habits and writing like a pro.
4
Learn how to ace that test. If you want to get straight A’s you’re going to need to get A’s on your big tests! To find out how, read our helpful tutorial.
5
Learn how to concentrate.
Ever have trouble concentrating while your little brother is running
around screaming like Tarzan, or your roommate is blasting country
music? Read our helpful guide for getting past the racket and
concentrating on your work.
6
Learn how to do well in school. Doing well in school is about more than just getting A’s. Read about how to succeed in school as a whole.
7
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Tips
If you're taking an Advanced Placement class, be sure to purchase an "exam preparation book" as a useful study reference.
When reading text, look for words that
wrap the paragraph. Things like "therefore", "additionally", "
furthermore", "however", and others like it. Pay attention to these, and
the sentences they are contained in.
Come up with a clever way that will
motivate yourself to work harder. For example, try looking at grades as
money $100 versus $95, 90, 85,... The higher the mark, the more money
you get. The lower the mark, the less money you get.
When doing an assignment (especially a project), follow the directions as closely and accurately as you can. It sounds like a given, but ensuring you meet and include every requirement is the best thing you can do. Overlook nothing.
Try to balance all areas of your life;
if you're having trouble socially or not getting along with your friends
or family, you might feel too emotionally stressed out to do stuff like
your homework.
The skills required to maintain perfect
grades vary across levels of education (high school, university,
graduate, professional, etc.). Entering new phases of your education
will require you to learn new skills and to develop different sorts of
study and work habits.
Set goals for the day and try to finish them by the end of the day.
When writing an essay, make sure you
include as much evidence and research as possible, as well as sticking
to your topic. Ensure that you do not get off track on certain topics
that have nothing to do with answering the question at hand.
Know the syllabus. You can not get an A,
if you do not know what work and understandings are required to get an
A. You might not even do the minimum if you don't know what is expected.
Make post-it notes! Write your
high-lights and important points on post-it notes gradually as progress
through your course, and stick all of them in a place (or places) where
you find yourself looking everyday. For example: bathroom mirror, closet
door, assignment book...
If you have finals, prepare from day one
of class. Keep notes clear, and note what is asked on tests. Also be
sure to flip back once in a while to check whether you've remembered
things.
Do not stress too much about final
exams! Study daily and prepare early. The more you study, the less
stressed you will be. Seek help from adults if there is a concept you do
not understand.
Read about strategies. Books such as Cal
Newport's Getting Straight A's, detail the specific study strategies
employed by real straight-A college students.
If you're doing an exam, study past exam
papers, and attempt every question -- near the end of the test put
something down on paper; you can't lose points by putting something down
(at last) when an approach may have come to you:
Use some comparison and arguments pro and con, if you aren't sure to show effort and logic!
Think of how your future will be if you do not do well in school.
Learn about your teachers: ask friends who have had them before.
Stay up to date, enjoying your subjects, throughout the School Year.
Not all students get straight A's. It's important to try your best, and it will be reflected in your grades.
Warnings
Never cheat or copy someone else's work! Cheating could get you a
zero on the assignment/test and you could risk getting expelled from
your school, if you get caught. Cheating won't help you in the long run.
Stand up and take a 5 minute walk, like on the stairs, every 45
minutes of study or work. It will be healthy for your stamina, eyes,
your leg and back muscles, vitality, snap!
Don't skip assignments; always do your reading or assignments,
otherwise you'll just have to make up the work/learning near exam time
when you have so many other things to do.
Enjoying your subjects, seeing the A on the report card, getting
into your dream college or grad school, and getting your dream career
will make all these bits of extra work, worth it.
Don't stress, if you do get a B on classwork. Chances are you will
get B's on tests, but instead of stressing about it, realize you need to
try smarter/harder next time. It's as simple as that.
If being numero uno, top of the class, is the only thing that
matters to you, you need to stop and muse. You probably won't always be
the best, (thousands of valedictorians/salutetorians may go to your
college) and when that event happens, you need to have something else
that makes you happy: like satisfied by doing your thing/as your best,
not compared so much to others. That can be anything from sports,
reading, to music to stamp collecting, as long as it isn't your grades
alone that define your avid interests. You'll be pretty near the
top of your class, and your drive will certainly lead you down a
successful path in terms of getting into an elite college, grad school
-- but also, if you've learn to learn and to work smart/hard, you will
be full of good success in life -- which is technically the only benefit
of being top of the class, anyway.
Keep working at that one problem in your book that you can't seem to
figure out. Once it makes sense, you'll be proud of yourself, and it
helps with your studying.
You should definitely work at it, but it's important to realize when
something's not realistic for your talents. It is a far better use of
time to develop a different topic or skill that comes easier to you or
is more enjoyable.
Give yourself a prize, when you have achieved your goal.
Also, look around a little, don't sit and stare at the screen of a
computer for long, uninterrupted periods because of the risk of myopia.
Don't lean on your elbow(s) for hours, it can do nerve damage and cause
stiffness, numbness,...
Network in person. Don't only do schoolwork. Unless it's exam week,
make room for social activities, sports, and hobbies. Neglecting these
things will make you more focused on un-reality while studying, because
you'll wish you were doing something else.
If you get grades that are lower than your friends, don't feel
depressed or sad. Move on and learn from your mistakes to achieve better
marks.
Just because you may have all As, or you're the best student, it
doesn't mean you're the most talented. So don't pick on kids who might
not have as good grades as you.
Don't compare your efforts and grades -- if you stress after seeing
this. Thinking, "It's too much" and feel you're not worth it: so you
don't strive for that A and settle with the B. Non-motivation is feeling
like you don't get it, and aren't as capable of doing it as someone
else. It might sound like a story, but "if you think you can do it,
you can usually do it, when you keep on it!" (You can drop a class in
college, study on your own -- and try again next semester, or take a
transitional class such as a "refresher"/or get a/another tutor as
needed!...)
Make use of additional resources and spend more time studying to
accomplish the same goal if necessary, that may be easy for others, but
for example: some children that have cerebral palsy, have learning
disabilities but do just fine without additional resources or help
because of extra effort to do all things (Challenged individuals with
learning disabilities will, similarly, need to use courage and extra
effort to excel in one's own way!).
Don't brag about your grades. It only makes people irritated and
bitter towards you. Keep them to yourself, family and other excelling
students -- and be proud!
Don't expect to use all these tips in just the last month or weeks
of school and see an A. You might, but depending on your grade before
you might not.
Make sure you get enough sleep every night. If you don't, you will
find it hard to concentrate. Plus, a lack of sleep reduces your ability
to remember what you have already learned [1].
