Pay attention to what distracts you while you’re studying. Do you find yourself shifting in your chair a lot? It might help if you move to the couch. Does your sister always try to talk to you while you’re doing your homework? You might ask your mom if you can lock your door while you study. You need to have a productive environment to study in. Your study environment should be free of distractions, so turn off your cell phone, clear your desk, and ask your friends or family member to respect your space. In general, it’s best to keep your study area consistent from day-to-day, but it’s okay to change things up while you’re figuring out what works best for you.
Educators used to think that people tend to have one learning style that works best for them—that you might be more of an auditory, visual, or kinetic learner, for instances. However, we now know that most students learn best by seeing information in a variety of different ways!
Try to connect what you learned that day to things you’ve already learned. Making these connections will help you really understand the topic on a deeper level. If you have any questions, write them in your notes as well. Then, go back and try to find the answers in your textbook. If you can’t find them, bring them to class the next day and ask your teacher.
Try making your study time interactive by making flash cards, taking practice quizzes, or using mnemonic devices to help you memorize tricky lists.
This is a great time to get a snack and do some stretching!
Don’t let nerves get the best of you when it comes to exam time—you’ve been preparing for this! If any of the questions seem confusing, ask your teacher for help!
Essay questions can account for a huge part of your exam score in some classes, so it’s worth taking the time to improve them! Try finding a few sample essay questions online or in your textbook and answer them on your own time to get comfortable with them before your test starts.
In some classes, you can actually end up with a failing grade for not turning in your homework, even if you get good grades on your exams. Make sure to do any assigned reading, as well. That can make it a lot easier to understand what your teacher is talking about in class.
Staying organized extends to your work space as well. Keep your desk clear so you won’t be surrounded by distracting clutter.
When you’re taking notes, don’t just write down everything the teacher says. Instead, you might jot down things like key concepts, vocab words and their definitions, and a few examples. And be sure to write neatly so you can re-read what you wrote![11] X Research source Especially pay attention to anything your teacher mentions more than once—there’s a good chance that’s something important, and you might be tested on it later![12] X Research source Try not to miss any classes, either—you probably won’t get good grades if you skip class a lot. If you take online classes, log in at least once a day. In some classes, attendance is actually part of your grade![13] X Research source
For instance, you might have a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, an apple for a mid-morning snack, a sandwich and carrots for lunch, and cheese crackers in the afternoon. Most teachers won’t let you eat in the classroom, but you may be able to keep snacks in your backpack or locker so you can fuel up between classes.
Sometimes it’s hard to get enough sleep at night, especially if you have to work after school or your family makes a lot of noise. Sticking to a regular schedule will help you fall asleep quickly at bedtime, and the consistency will lead to better sleep overall.
Work together to come up with ways to remember key concepts, definitions, and other information that might be on your tests. You can even quiz each other to see how well you remember what you’ve learned! Just make sure you pick friends who have the same goals as you—a study group only works if you’re willing to actually spend the time reviewing the course material.
Try asking your teacher if they have any suggestions for how you might do better in their class—they might be able to recommend some study guides or extra homework that will help you understand the material better. Even if your teacher won’t allow you to do any extra work to improve the grade you’ve already gotten, assure them that you’re going to make an extra effort to do better for the rest of the term. Then, follow through with that promise!
Ask your teacher or counselor if they can recommend a tutor, or look online for tutors in your area.
