Midterm reports were recently handed out, and we all know what that means: the lecture. Whether it’s from your parents or yourself, someone is almost always pushing you to get better grades. But with the holidays coming around, projects piling up, and a constant parade of tests, how can you improve your marks?
Listen in class. This is a no-brainer, but many find it hard – because frankly, it is. Some days, you don’t want to be listening to the teacher talk about trig identities. Some days, you just want to talk to your friend about your other friend who said she didn’t like this one guy but then ended up telling you that she did, but then it turns out you like him, so you’re in somewhat of a pickle.
Cool story, bro. No really – it is. But as hard as it may seem, you need to wait to tell it. If it’s really pressing, it doesn’t have to wait until after class; just after the lesson. Once you know you’ve understood everything that you need for the homework (and the upcoming test), you can chat (quietly), because we all know that the best way to feel better about a situation is to tell someone about it.
After the lesson, still get at least some work done. Often, a concept will seem easy until you apply it. If you try some of the homework, and if you find that you don’t understand it, you can always ask the teacher for help. This way, you’ll actually understand it, so reviewing for the test will be much easier.
Which brings us to how to review properly. Truth is, there is no “proper” way. Each person has their own, individual way of learning. Find a way that works for you. This quiz from VARK seems to be effective: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire. Once you’ve determined your learning style, you can figure out which study methods work for you. Reading/writing learners usually learn best from charts, notes, and by reading things over and over. Aural (listening) learners need to discuss; listening to the teacher is often really helpful. Kinaesthetic learners like to experience things: labs, field trips, and trial and error are often used.
Regardless of which type of studying you use, be sure to do it regularly. Depending on the class, or how busy you are, you may do this every week, every few days, or even every day. This way, you’ll introduce concepts into your head slowly, so you won’t have to cram.
Homework often helps you to study these concepts. In math or some sciences, for instance, your homework goes over the key concepts, so you don’t need to study quite as much. That also means that you have to do your homework. We all know you’d rather be using your free time for other things, but think about how much more time you’ll get before tests and exams while the rest of your class is cramming.
The greatest tip, however, is to remember that you can’t compare yourself to others. Sure, your best friend may have done better than you in some test, but that’s because you each have different strengths and weaknesses, so you may do better than them in another area. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t try your best: because believe me when I say, your best is pretty darn incredible.
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