Whether you're in elementary school, middle school, high school, college or college, grades are an important indicator of your success. A good academic record will open many doors for you in the future. The best way to improve and maintain your academic performance is to study hard. But this is not the only possibility. There are many little things you can do to improve your academic performance, including changing your daily habits at home and at school.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Form Good Habits
Step 1. Attend all classes
It can be very easy to miss 1-2 classes, but if you attend all classes, it will definitely help you in at least two ways: if your teacher notes attendance, then your presence will be noted; and besides, you are likely to remember some of the things you were taught in class.
Step 2. Sit at the front desks
Sitting in front does not mean that you are fawning at the teacher, but it increases your chances of being attentive and remembering what you are taught. If you sit in front, you will be less distracted by other students.
Step 3. Try not to use your computer for extracurricular purposes
If you are in a computer lab or bring your laptop or tablet to class, resist the temptation to use it outside the classroom.
- In class, close all your email programs and social networks.
- If you only need a computer for recording and viewing slides of presentations, turn off the Internet.
- By turning off the internet and social media, you resist the temptation to pay more attention to your computer than your teacher.
- In the classroom, you should avoid any activities that are not directly related to learning.
Step 4. Raise your hand
If you have a question in the lesson, ask it. If you think you know the answer to a teacher's question, answer it. If it is customary in your school to give grades for active work in the lesson, then your questions and answers will help you get those grades.
Being active in the class will also draw the teacher's attention to you, and he will see you as an interested student
Step 5. Talk to your teacher
The most important person who can help you improve your grades is the one who gives you these grades. Ask the teacher to talk to you about your progress.
- Let your instructor know that you are not happy with your grades and want to improve them.
- Ask your instructor what your problem might be. Ask what specific areas of expertise you should look at.
Step 6. Hand over completed work on time
Many teachers allow late submission of completed work, but they automatically mark assignments that were not completed on time. Therefore, make it a habit to turn in assignments on time to get the highest score for your efforts.
Step 7. Choose those courses that are really interesting to you
Not all courses you take are required. For elective courses, choose only those topics that you are really interested in and want to study. If you like a subject and you learn it with pleasure, then it will be easier for you not only to come to class, but also to memorize the material.
Step 8. Get enough sleep
Scientific research has shown that cramming before an exam or test does not produce real results. You will do better for taking an exam or writing a test if you stop studying and get enough sleep instead of spending the whole night trying fruitlessly to memorize everything you need to do on the test.
- Teenagers need to get at least 8-10 hours of sleep every night to be able to effectively perform their duties the next day.
- Children aged 6 to 13 must sleep 9 to 11 hours each night to effectively study the next day.
- Sometimes you might think it’s good to have an extra cup of coffee or a can of Red Bull, but remember that the more caffeine you consume in the evening, the more difficult it will be for you to fall asleep at night. Try to drink caffeinated drinks only early in the morning.
Method 2 of 3: Focus on what really matters
Step 1. Try to reduce your stress levels
Studying shouldn't be stressful. If you are under stress, it is more difficult for you to learn and memorize material. Think about why you are under stress and try to eliminate its causes (remove them from your life).
For example, if you are stressed about your assignments because you do them at the last minute, make a schedule for yourself to work on the assignments. Planning enough time in your schedule to complete tasks ahead of time rather than at the last minute will reduce the stress you are experiencing
Step 2. Be positive
If your grades are not as high as they could be, you can easily feel negative. Bad grades are frustrating, but the very fact that you are looking for ways to improve them suggests that you are trying to think positively.
Admit to yourself that your grades are not very good, but you are trying to do something to improve them. Think about how you will improve them, rather than worry about how things are now
Step 3. Find out where and what you are doing wrong
If your grades are lower than what you want or expect, it is possible that you are doing something wrong, or you are not doing something that you should be doing.
- If you already know exactly what you are doing wrong, great, you are on the right track!
- If you are unsure of what exactly you are doing wrong, delve deeper into the history of your studies and grades. See how things have evolved, or perhaps suddenly changed.
- Were your grades always not very good or did they deteriorate sharply after some event?
- Do you have a particular subject or a particular type of assignment that causes you the greatest difficulties? Or is it a problem in general?
- Are there any other non-school related reasons that may be causing your problems? Is there something happening in your life that affects your academic performance?
Step 4. Pay attention to the signals your body is giving you
Study may not seem like a physical process to you, but it can have an impact on your physical well-being. If your body and your brain tell you to pause, pause and get back to work when you feel better.
If you are tired and unable to concentrate on your studies, take a break. Taking a break of 10-45 minutes can really improve your learning ability
Method 3 of 3: Change Your Learning Methods
Step 1. Work on improving your note-taking skills
Depending on the nature of the course you are taking, taking good notes can be the key to your success. Take a look at your current notes. What can you improve on them?
- Make sure your notes are easy to read. If you cannot read your own notes, then they become useless.
- If you do handwritten notes, retype them after class. This will help you remember the material better and at the same time make them more readable.
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Make sure your notes are well organized.
- Create a separate notebook or notebook for each subject.
- Mark the dates and topics of the class. This will make it easier for you to keep your notes organized.
- Highlight headings and subheadings. Then it will be easy for you to browse your records to quickly find what you need.
- Use colored pencils, pens, or markers to highlight some points.
Step 2. Use metaphors or analogies
When you are trying to memorize some difficult concepts or ideas, do not try to memorize them exactly as they are formulated. Use analogies or metaphors to make it easier to remember.
- A metaphor is a word or phrase that has one meaning but is used to describe something else to show the similarity of two things. In other words, a metaphor is an object, action, or idea that is used as a symbol.
- An analogy is a comparison of two things based on something they have in common.
- An example of a metaphor would be the expression “the test was like seeds”.
- An example of an analogy: “life is like a zebra”.
Step 3. Try to use not only visual images, but also other senses
Often, visualizations alone are not enough. Try to use other senses as well, such as sounds, textures of materials, tactile sensations and smells. When you are trying to remember something important, try not only to visualize it, but also add the sensations of other senses.
An example would be a pie chart with some important information. Visualize the diagram as several pieces of a pie. Perhaps the larger slices of the pie will be with your favorite toppings, such as strawberries, and the smaller ones with less favorite ones, such as nuts
Step 4. Let's say you need to explain something to a small child
Simplifying an idea or concept down to basic elements will help you remember them. When trying to remember a difficult concept or idea, try to imagine how you would explain it to a 5-year-old.
Step 5. Draw diagrams or memory maps
This method initially resembles the rendering method. But he not only makes the idea visible, but also connects the first idea with the rest using a mind map. Multiple ideas in a mind map can be images or concept diagrams.
Step 6. Come up with a story
If you are just trying to memorize everything, then it will be difficult for you to grasp a lot of information at once. Try not just to memorize information, but to turn it into some kind of story. Come up with a story that ties into the concept or idea you need to remember.
You can also use acronyms instead of history. If you need to memorize a range of concepts, use the first letters of each concept and form a word so that it will be easier for you to remember the entire list
Step 7. Break all the work into small steps
One of the best techniques for exploring complex ideas and concepts is to break them down into smaller, easily accomplished steps. Don't try to grasp the whole complex concept or idea at once, break the material into smaller pieces that you can revise and teach separately.
Advice
- Many secondary and tertiary education institutions have student assistance centers that help improve their study skills. Use these centers whenever you want to improve your academic performance. Most of these centers provide services free of charge or at very little cost.
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Use the following tips to help you learn more effectively:
- Take frequent breaks. When you exercise, try to take regular and frequent breaks. During your break, get up and do something, such as walking around the room, going outside, and so on.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Try to have a drink by your side during class, preferably water.
- Study at your desk, preferably in writing. At home, you may well want to practice on the couch, in bed, or on the floor. This may sound like a good idea to you, but it will make it harder for you to concentrate and practice effectively. And if you get too comfortable, you can just fall asleep.
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Don't worry so much about speed as about accuracy. Sometimes you can get stressed out by a topic or subject. In this case, you will either quickly skip through this material, or you will put off studying it until the last. Sometimes we sacrifice careful study to get the job done quickly. It is better to take the time and study the material properly.
- Try to carefully study the material, and not gallop across Europe. The human brain is designed so that it picks up speed as we learn something more clearly.
- Careful study also takes time. You should not leave the study of the material for the last minutes, when in a hurry you will do everything just to get off as soon as possible. Plan your time effectively so that you have time to study things slowly and thoroughly.