Get Straight "A"s

Being a great student doesn't mean hours and hours of being studious and having no social life at all! There's always room to improve, so it helps to always check the work you do. This will lead to happiness and satisfaction with not only yourself but what you are doing with your life. And you know: accomplishments are for life; they last! If you get good grades, you're that much closer to a good college, which leads you to a good job. Keep reading to find out how to be more successful in school.

Steps

General Practices

  1. Go beyond the surface information. Don’t just stop learning at the bare facts. These will not make you any smarter, nor will they give you the analytical tools you need to get straight A’s. If you really want to excel in school the most important thing is to always ask why. Learn why things work the way they do, why things matter and then you can apply that knowledge across a vast amount of information and may be correctly guessing even things you might not have learned about.
  2. Use the knowledge of others. We don’t mean cheat…. when we say use the knowledge of others, what we mean is that you should talk with friends, family members and teachers about the subjects you are studying. Get their opinions on topics, see how they would have approached a problem or learn their method of doing something. In opening your mind to new ways of thinking and doing you should be better prepared to handle almost any academic challenge.
  3. Be proactive in your education. Participate in study groups. Get help when you need it. Study over time rather than cramming before a test. Basically, getting straight A’s is hard (if it were easy, everyone would do it) so you need to work at it if you want to do this.
  4. Get organized. Consistently keep all assignments or handed back work/handouts separate and in chronological order. Not only does this make life in general easier but it also helps when exam time comes especially if there will be a cumulative end-of-the-year exam. You should also organize your time by allowing yourself plenty of time to study and sleep. Organize your notes and your study space. A cluttered space is distracting.
    • Study and do homework in chunks. If you have 2 days to do a homework assignment, do most of it the first and do the other part the second. Or, if you have 1 week to learn 10 vocabulary words learn a few each day and review the words already learned. This way you'll be less overwhelmed and ultimately have more time free from cramming.
    • Get a planner. Write down your homework as soon as the teacher assigns it. If a teacher tells you when a project is due or a test will be given write it down. This will help you know what you have to do.
  5. Choose courses you are interested in. If you can, make sure you are studying things you enjoy and can get invested in. You will do better if you care about the material you are studying. This is why you will find that you get the best grades in your favorite classes.
    • Remember to balance things you enjoy with things you need to know.
  6. Be aware of your body clock. The human body learns best at specific times and for some people it can be in the morning. Be sure you save this time for studying important class material, and leave the rest of the time for less important activities such as socializing. Avoid studying when you are tired. In general you should try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
  7. Try Your Best at Anything. You need to have knowledge of the study subject but it is also important to persevere and go back and revise the subject until you are confident that you will be able to get the right answers during an exam or test. If you don't understand a question on a test then think it through and write it out so that you can see what you are doing.

Working Hard in Class

  1. Pay attention in class. You can learn so much from just listening so always pay attention in class. study hard You should be able to understand the subject better and know what the teacher is talking about prior to a test.
    • Eat breakfast and if you are prescribed medication or take vitamins make sure you take them before leaving for school. A good breakfast will help keep you awake and focused throughout the day.
  2. Ask questions. Ask the teacher relevant questions about the subject. If you do not understand the subject then write down what it is you are having trouble with and ask the teacher if you can have some time to discuss your concerns.
    • Never be embarrassed to ask questions. Curious students make teachers happy.
  3. Read any syllabus you are given and have a general idea about the course subjects and what you may be learning.
    • For example, if you’re in a history class and you’re learning about the formation of the United States of America but you see that the next section will be about the American Civil War, think about how those two events could connect to each other.
  4. Take notes. Learn to write down an outline and fill it in with bits and pieces of key information. Write a summary of what you have learned in class to use it for future reference.
    • Make notes on what you don’t understand so that you are well prepared when your teacher explains those things or you can discuss then with your teacher
  5. Never skip class as you will fall behind and it may affect your grades. If you are sick and cannot go into school, ask the teacher for any notes on the classes you may have missed. If the teacher is not available for some reason, ask a friend for some information you have missed on the day you were absent . 
  6. Talk to your teachers about your grades. Ask about your quality of work and reasons for any weak grades. Work on any areas of weakness and ask your teacher if your extra work will help improve your grades.

Working Hard At Home

  1. Do your homework. Some college teachers may not always check your homework so it is important to remain motivated motivate yourself to do your homework. Homework helps to reinforce what you have learned in class and identify what you don’t understand. study. If you don't have any homework on a subject, read your notes or read any textbooks on the subjects.
    • On average about 10% of your grade is homework but how it is incorporated into your grade really depends on the teacher.
  2. Don’t procrastinate. Never stay up late doing an assignment unless you have not finished it and it is due very soon. Instead, if you have two weeks to do your assignment, spend the first week outlining and doing the basics. Over the weekend, neatly put it together, and the next week, just put the finishing touches on it, do some editing, and print it out. Don't forget to hand it in to your teacher one day before you actually should. This will show your dedication and give your teacher time to suggest revisions.
    • Starting an assignment ahead of time will also give you time to meet with your teacher and discuss any problems you have, directions you can take, and get other assignment help that is crucial to getting A’s. Just going to the extra trouble of asking for help and taking your teacher’s advice may earn you a slightly higher grade.
  3. Teach the material to someone else. Find a quiet place, maybe in your room, lock the door and imagine you are the teacher explaining the subject to a student. This is also a good way to measure your understanding of the material and explaining it to someone who doesn’t understand it at all can often help you develop a better understanding of the material yourself. If you can participate in tutoring programs in school, this serves the same purpose.
  4. Get a dedicated study space. Find a space that is only for studying. This may help to minimize distractions and keep you on track. Studying is just another habit and if you teach your brain that a certain desk or room is just for studying then you should have a much easier time focusing and getting work done.
  5. Read extra material if you have time. You can always go onto the internet or go to the library and find more books or information about the subjects you are studying. Learning some additional information and adding it into papers or test questions may impress your teachers.
  6. Consider getting a tutor if you can afford to. There's nothing wrong with getting in some extra learning and it may make a difference in your grades.

Helpful School Tips and Tricks

  1. Learn to take great notes. Still having trouble taking notes that help you later? Try the look, cover, write and check method, aiding your memory to take in the information you are learning.
  2. Learn to outline. Outlining can make any assignment easier by breaking it up into easy to understand chunks. Dealing with these pieces rather than trying to wrap your brain around the whole thing may help you excel
  3. Learn how to spell correctly. If you want to get perfect points on an assignment you’re going to need to be sure it’s free of spelling and grammar mistakes.
  4. Learn how to concentrate.
  5. Learn how to do well in school. Doing well in school is about more than just getting A’s. Read about how to succeed in school as a whole.
  6. Get subject help. WikiHow offers help in all sorts of subjects, including tutorials in Mathematics, a helping hand in Science, and advice for English. Find more general help in the Education and Communications Category.

Tips

  • Set your priorities. Make a list of why you want to get straight A's and paste it on a wall or your study table to motivate yourself.
  • The skills required to maintain perfect grades vary across levels of education (high school, university, graduate, professional, etc.). Entering new phases of your education will require you to learn new skills and to develop different sorts of study and work habits.
  • If you're taking an Advanced Placement class, be sure to purchase an "exam preparation book" as a useful study reference.
  • Come up with a clever way that will motivate yourself to work harder. For example, try looking at grades as money $100 versus $95, 90, 85,... The higher the mark, the more money you get. The lower the mark, the less money you get.
  • Know the syllabus. You can not get an A, if you do not know what work and understandings are required to get an A. You might not even do the minimum if you don't know what is expected.
  • Think of how your future will be if you do not do well in school.
  • Set goals for the day and try to finish them by the end of the day.
  • Read about strategies. Books such as Cal Newport's Getting Straight A's, detail the specific study strategies employed by real straight-A college students.
  • Stay up to date, enjoying your subjects, throughout the School Year.
  • Learn about your teachers: ask friends who have had them before.
  • Not all students get straight A's. It's important to try your best, and it will be reflected in your grades.
  • The right attitude will help you achieve your goals.
  • Take notes on what your teacher says in class. Tests can sometimes be a revision of what your teacher has emphasized in class.
  • Reward yourself if you achieve your goals and encourage yourself to get more good grades.
  • Complete all the work you are assigned. Try going beyond what is expected of you in the quality of your work and its presentation.
  • Have an "objective log" in your notebook. Write down what the objective for the day is and quiz yourself to see whether you know all the material being taught in class. Revise any areas of weakness in your knowledge.
  • Start revision at least 8-10 weeks in advance, this will ensure that your brain is saturated with all the vital information and therefore you should not be stressed 2 weeks before your exams.
  • Always eat a healthy light meal or snack such as fruits, vegetables, yogurt, etc. before an exam or test. This should help improve your energy levels and concentration as well as preventing hunger.
  • Write legible notes. If you have sloppy handwriting try taking notes on a computer if they are allowed. If not, type them up as soon as you get home.
  • Understand the criteria and valuations your teacher marks projects and large assignments on. This may be a 6-point scale with 0 being no marks and 6 being the best mark.
  • Try to balance all areas of your life; if you're having trouble socially or not getting along with your friends or family you might feel too emotionally stressed out to do stuff like your homework.
  • When doing an assignment or project, follow the directions as closely and accurately as you can, ensuring you meet and include every requirement is the best thing you can do. Overlook nothing.
  • When reading text, look for words that wrap the paragraph. Things like "therefore", "additionally", " furthermore", "however", and others like it. Pay attention to these and the sentences they are contained in.
  • If you have finals you should prepare from day one of your class. Keep notes clear, and note what is asked on tests. Also be sure to flip back once in a while to check whether you've remembered things.
  • When writing an essay make sure you include as much evidence and research as possible, as well as sticking to your topic. Ensure that you do not get off track on certain topics that have nothing to do with answering the question at hand.
  • Do not stress too much about final exams. Study daily and prepare early. The more you study, the less stressed you will be. Seek help from adults if there is a concept you do not understand.
  • Make post-it notes. Write your high-lights and important points on post-it notes gradually as you progress through your course and stick all of them in a place or places where you find yourself looking everyday. For example: bathroom mirror, closet door, assignment book...
  • If you're doing an exam, study past exam papers and attempt every question.
  • Sit in front of the class. You will be able to see and hear clearly.
  • Don't talk while the teacher is talking.
  • If it is hard for you to take notes, try taking Cornell notes. You draw a line about 1/4 of the page over on the left side. On the right side of the line you write the key information. On the left side of the line you write questions about that information. On the back of the page you write a summary. Later, study these notes to avoid too much confusion.
  • It's okay if you don't get an A+ on a test. Just ask your teacher what you did wrong and learn from your mistakes.
  • Learn what your teacher wants. If they want you to write essays a certain way, even if you think it's wrong, do it. Every teacher grades differently.
  • Don't get discouraged if you don't get an "A" on your first try. If you have an "F" on your report card it can be hard as well so don't get discouraged by that as well because everyone has to slowly make up their grades.
  • Never forget to complete your homework.
  • A good mixture of studying, listening and understanding class work is very helpful.
  • Get good sleep and a healthy Breakfast.
  • Be aware: There's a fine line between working too hard and stressing yourself out, and working the correct and needed amount.
  • It's a good idea to have an assignment notebook where you write down your homework. If you don't want to use a notebook, reminders in your phone could also be helpful.
  • Study each chapter one week before it's covered in class. If you really want an A, you can also prepare for your class during summer or winter break, just look at old syllabus from your teacher and you will know which chapters will be covered And read them. Try to memorize some important formulas too.
  • Ask your teacher if doing extra work will help improve your marks.
  • Ask friends and families for support to help you get A's.
  • When you want to give up, think about why you want straight A's and why you tried.
  • Ask for a topic list to know what to study in advance. This will better prepare you for questions from the teacher, who will likely notice your efforts.
  • Don't let social activities or events get in the way of your studies. Even though in the short term it will be more fun, you have to think long term. You should always put education first.

Warnings

  • Don't brag about your grades. It only makes people irritated and bitter towards you. Keep them to yourself.
  • Just because you may have all As, or you're the best student, it doesn't mean you're the most talented. So don't pick on kids who might not have as good grades as you.
  • Don't sit and stare at the screen of a computer for long as this could cause headaches. Don't lean on your elbow(s) for hours as it could cause stiffness and numbness.
  • Make sure you go to your teachers if you need any help whatsoever.
  • If being numero uno, top of the class is the only thing that matters to you, you need to stop and think. You probably won't always be the best.
  • Don't compare your efforts and grades.
  • Never cheat or copy someone else's work. Cheating could get you a zero on the assignment or test and you could risk getting expelled from your school if you get caught.
  • Don't skip assignments; always do your reading or assignments, otherwise you'll just have to make up the work/learning near exam time when you have so many other things to do.
  • Don't expect to use all these tips in just the last month or weeks of school and see an A. You might, but depending on your grade before you might not.
  • Make sure you get enough sleep every night. If you don't, you will find it hard to concentrate. Plus, a lack of sleep reduces your ability to remember what you have already learned [1].
  • Network in person. Don't only do schoolwork. Unless it's exam week, make room for social activities, sports, and hobbies. Neglecting these things will make you more focused on un-reality while studying, because you'll wish you were doing something else.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/learning-memory
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