What To Do If You’re Not an A+ Student

Let’s face it, not everyone is a natural-born test-taker. For some, they can look at their notes one time and ace the test—but for most people, the idea of studying seems like an unbearable task. Or maybe you pour countless hours into studying to only score below average. Learn how to improve your study methods and your grades!

Are You Making Below Stellar Grades? Here are 10 Tips to Become an A+ Student:

1. Be Consistent with Your Homework. Make a habit of doing your homework every day and try not to miss any assignments. You are given homework to apply the lessons you learned in the classroom to make sure you understand what you have been taught. Take the time to work out each problem and let the newly learned information sink in.
2. Take A Practice Test (or Multiple). According to scientific research, the best study method is taking practice tests. These tests allow you to put what you have learned to use. Not only does it help you retain information and improve your memory, but it also helps you mentally prepare for the actual test.
3. Seek Assistance. If you’re not sure what is required from a teacher to get an A+ just ask the teacher about anything that you don’t understand about what you learned in class. The teacher will appreciate your efforts and be more willing to work with you because you have shown initiative.
4. Don’t Pull That All Nighter to Cram. It is difficult for your brain to remember information after studying for 30+ minutes. Space out your study sessions throughout the week and break up the material into small sections. This will allow you to reflect on what you studied and heighten your chances of retaining the information. Go back and review what you previously studied to refresh before the test.
5. Make A Study Schedule. Get a planner you can take to school in your backpack and write your homework in. Write down when your upcoming test dates and make a plan to study in small increments until the test. You can write out what you need to do before the due date in your planner. You need to map out your week and see how much time you can devote to studying for each subject.
6. Study Before You Snooze. It is definitely important to rest up before a big test, but make sure to add a short study session before you settle in for the night. Do a quick refresh or just run through some notecards. We strengthen new memories while we sleep, so this can help with reinforcing everything you’ve studied.
7. Strive for Permanence. Quiz yourself often with the goal of permanently retaining the knowledge. Oftentimes, we study just enough that our memory of the data is tied to a trigger. Multiple choice questions are great for this type of studying but the answers might not contain choices that trigger your memory. Study with the aim of remembering the information for good so you can know the correct answer without having to see it.
8. Create Helpful Surroundings. The environment you create for yourself to study is just as important as how you study. An ideal study environment is one with limited distractions and consistently low noise levels. There are also learning apps that give you the benefit of being able to study virtually anywhere which is useful if you’re on your phone a lot.
9. Try Teaching Someone Else. You spend hours in the classroom hearing the lessons and following the teacher’s lead. When you study, try switching it up and play the role of teacher. It usually helps you understand things better when you try to explain them to someone else. This makes you really hone in on the specific steps of a problem.
10. Make it Fun. Most people look at studying as a stressful, monotonous task. It’s a necessary evil to pass a class and get a good grade, but you can train yourself to view studying in a more positive, exciting light. You can do this by giving yourself rewards and treats for completing your goals for studying—however, the ultimate reward will be making that A+!