As long as you are still a student, academic grades are one of the determinants of your success. Although not the only determinant, good grades are still one of the important factors that can open up various opportunities in your future. Studying is one of the best ways to improve your academic grades. There are many things you can do to improve your academic grades without having to study constantly, one of which is to change your daily habits at home and at school.
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Method 1 of 3: Build Positive Habits
Step 1. Attend your entire class
Skipping a class or two doesn't seem like a big deal. But attending an entire class without exception can provide at least two advantages for you: your attendance scores are good (if your institution places importance on attendance) and you'll find it easier to remember things taught in class just by listening.
Step 2. Sit in the front row
Sitting in the front row allows you to hear the teacher's explanations more clearly, improves your concentration, and helps you remember the material better. Sitting at the front also minimizes your chances of being distracted by other students' speech or actions.
Step 3. Avoid wanting to use the laptop if it is not needed
If your class is held in a computer lab or if you are used to bringing a laptop into class, avoid using these electronic devices for non-academic purposes.
- Close all your email and social media pages while in class.
- If you only use your laptop or computer to take notes or view presentation sheets, turn off the internet connection.
- Disconnecting from the internet (including e-mail and social media) helps you to concentrate more on the teacher's explanation in front of the class.
- As much as possible, avoid all activities that are not related to the lesson while you are in class. Make the best of the time just to listen to the teacher's explanation.
Step 4. Raise your hand
Whenever you feel unclear or want to ask something, don't hesitate to raise your hand and ask. Also, whenever you feel you can answer a question your teacher asks, raise your hand to answer it. If one of the assessment elements is class participation, asking and answering will give you more marks.
The attention of the teachers will also be more devoted to those who are verbally active in class. They may be moved to get to know you more closely and judge you as someone who has a high interest in learning
Step 5. Talk to your teacher
The best people who can help increase your value are those who provide it. Invite your teacher to meet to discuss your performance in class.
- Let him know that you are dissatisfied with his grades, and that you want to do even more to improve that grade.
- Ask what makes your score unsatisfactory. Also ask if you need to focus more on certain things.
Step 6. Complete your tasks on time
Some teachers are willing to tolerate late submission of assignments, with a note that there will be a reduction in grades. As much as possible, organize your schedule as well as possible so that you are able to complete all tasks on time. In this way, you can get the maximum value.
Step 7. Take classes that interest you
For those who sit in lectures, not all classes are required to be followed. Therefore, choose the classes and materials that you really want to study. Taking lessons you love will encourage you to maximize your attendance schedule and remember the material better.
Step 8. Get enough rest
Scientific research shows that studying the material at the last minute (or what's known as the Overnight Speed System) doesn't really increase your grades. Your performance on test day will actually improve if you get enough rest and don't stay up late the night before. Quality sleep also helps improve your concentration and memory the next day.
- Teenagers need at least 8-10 hours of sleep every night for their bodies to function properly the next day.
- Meanwhile, children aged 6-13 years need at least 9-11 hours of sleep every night so that their bodies can function properly the next day.
- You may be tempted to drink coffee or an energy drink in the evening. But know, excessive levels of caffeine will actually make it more difficult for you to sleep at night. Make sure you drink caffeinated drinks only in the morning.
Method 2 of 3: Focusing on What Matters
Step 1. Reduce your stress levels
Ideally, studying shouldn't stress and frustrate you. Learning something when your mind is under stress will make it harder for you to remember the material. Think about the reasons that underlie your stress and try to manage them (if necessary, remove them completely from your life).
If schoolwork is stressing you out because you're used to doing it at the last minute, try setting up a study schedule. Organize your study schedule as well as possible so that you have enough time to work on assignments ahead of time. This way, you will be able to avoid feeling stressed ahead of the assignment
Step 2. Keep your attitude positive
If your grades are unsatisfactory, keep your thoughts and attitudes positive. Bad grades are disappointing, but you can always fix them another time. Don't let negativity take over your mind.
Admit that your score is unsatisfactory and that you intend to improve it. Instead of regretting it over and over again, start thinking about what you can do to improve it
Step 3. Find where you went wrong
If your grades don't live up to expectations, chances are that you've made a mistake that you shouldn't have made. Understand your mistakes before correcting them!
- If you already know your mistakes, then you are on the right track!
- If you're still having trouble figuring out your mistakes, try to "dive into" your past learning process and grades. Find out if any patterns suddenly change.
- Have your values always been mediocre? Or did your grades start to decline at one point in time?
- Is there a specific material or task that has always been difficult for you? Or do you really have trouble understanding all the material?
- Are there non-academic reasons that affect it? Is your life in trouble so your grades should be affected?
Step 4. Pay attention to the signals your body is showing you
The learning process is not a physical process, but sometimes your body can become a victim. If your body and brain are asking you to rest, take a break. Re-learn whenever your body and brain feel more prepared.
If you are tired and have trouble concentrating, take a nap. Sleeping for 10-45 minutes can really improve your learning ability
Method 3 of 3: Changing the Way You Learn
Step 1. Improve your note-taking skills
No matter what class you take, taking notes on important materials can be one of the keys to your success. Reread your notes and find flaws that you can correct.
- Make sure the legibility of your notes is good. If you can't read and understand your notes yourself, of course they're no longer useful.
- If you always take notes manually in class, try copying the notes on your laptop or computer after class. Apart from helping you remember better, this step will also improve the legibility of your notes.
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Make sure your notes are neatly and systematically organized.
- Record different materials in different books.
- Write down the title of the material and the date the material was taught so that your notes are neater.
- Write down the main title along with a sub-heading to make it easier for you to find it when needed.
- Write down important points using pencils or colored ballpoint pens to make your notes clearer and easier to read.
Step 2. Use a figure of speech or analogy
When trying to remember a complex concept, don't memorize it. Instead, use figures of speech and analogies that you can easily remember.
- Figures are words or phrases used to describe a concept that has similar meanings. In other words, a figure of speech is an object, activity, or idea that is used as a symbol of the meaning of a concept.
- Meanwhile, analogy is a comparison of two things that have similar meanings.
- One of the figurative examples is “today's test is toll road surfing”.
- An example of an analogy is "life is like a box of chocolates".
Step 3. Blend visualizations with deeper concepts
Sometimes, just imagining is not enough. Try adding other sensory elements such as sounds, textures, feelings, and smells. When remembering something important, don't just imagine it, but add those elements as well.
If you have to memorize a pie chart that contains important information, think of it as a collection of different-flavored pie slices. You might think of the largest part of the chart as your favorite type of pie (such as peanut butter pie), while the smallest part of the chart as your least favorite type of pie (such as fruit pie)
Step 4. Suppose you are explaining something to a small child
Simplifying an idea or concept can help you remember the concept better. When trying to remember a complex concept or idea, imagine that you are explaining the concept to a 5-year-old child; explain in a way they can understand.
Step 5. Draw a diagram or mind map
The basic concept of this method is similar to the visualization method. It's just that you're actually linking one concept to another on paper, instead of just imagining the main idea in your mind. To make it easier for you to understand, the various concepts summarized in the mind map can be arranged in the form of diagrams or pictures.
Step 6. Create a story
Remembering all the information at a glance is indeed difficult. Therefore, try to put the material you need to learn into a story. Create a story that summarizes all the concepts and ideas that you need to keep in mind.
If you don't want to compose a story, try creating an acronym. If you need to remember several things (such as the names of the chemical elements), create easy-to-remember sentences based on the first letter of each element
Step 7. Divide the material into smaller concepts
One of the best ways to learn a complex concept is to break it down into smaller parts. Don't force yourself to understand the whole concept firsthand. Divide the material into small sections that you can learn step by step and take turns.
Tips
- Some educational institutions provide additional classes outside of official study hours to help develop your study skills. Certain classes are deliberately provided for those whose grades are not sufficient, while there are also classes that are open to the public. If your educational institution provides these types of classes, try taking them.
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Try some of the tips below to make your study more effective:
- Take regular breaks. Make sure you've inserted a break schedule in your study time window. During breaks, leave your desk and activate your body: take a walk around the room, get out of the house, etc.
- Keep your body from becoming dehydrated. Always have a drink (especially water) near you.
- Study at the desk. Studying on the sofa, bed, or while lying on the floor does feel more comfortable and enjoyable. You can do it once in a while. But know that such learning methods can actually reduce your concentration and learning effectiveness. Another possibility, you will be sleepy and fall asleep because it is too comfortable.
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Focus on accuracy, not speed. Topics that are difficult to understand can be stressful. As a result, you tend to skip the topic or skim through it. Both methods focus on speed, especially if you find the topic uninteresting to study. Don't neglect accuracy. Make the most of the time you have to study all the material, even the most difficult ones.
- Make sure you focus on accuracy; read and understand the material well, don't rush to read even if the material is very boring. The human brain is able to adjust the speed after understanding something more accurately.
- Also make sure you don't learn everything at the last second. Trust me, this kind of method can make you even more stressed. Plan your study time well so that you have enough time to understand all the material without rushing.
