Hello!
Getting good grades is no longer only for the nerds or geeks. If you
don't take college seriously, it may affect your whole future. Success in
college matters a lot for those who want to start early on getting the best jobs, and making the most of
themselves and is what determines your future. To start piling on the A's now,
read on!
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
planner, write down every test, quiz, and assignment due date. Do this for each
class.
Every day when you get home from college, 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 couple 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.
Know
your learning style.
The matter of fact 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 thing your
professor said, maybe you're just going about it the wrong way.
Once you find out your learning style, you can zone 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.
4.
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.
5.
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. If it helps you,
try handing in your homework a couple days before it's due.
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.
6.
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.
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.
7.
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.
8.
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!
