Marcus Richards
For a student, the sad reality is- his academic performance will always be measured by his grades. So nothing is more important to him in his student life than the grades. Failing is not an option; even downgrading could cause serious consequences.
We are all more or less acquainted with these ‘traumas’ of student life. The truth is learning should be fun and should be enjoyed by everyone. But the pressures of keeping an above-average grade or simply keeping it constant could put a lot of pressure on our students.
What happens once you slip? Grade slipping is any student’s nightmare. Every student at every level suffers from this phenomenon. But it’s truer for university students. Cumulative GPA-based results are like a black hole for someone who slips a grade in one semester.
So, is there no way to improve your grades? In CGPA based systems, it’s true that if you constantly keep slipping on grades, you may not recover. But slipping once or twice is certainly recoverable. It is truer for school-going students.
So, how can you improve your grades? Given that there are no exact ways to do this, you can follow certain procedures to improve your grade. Let us discuss some of them-
Think positive
The first effect grade drops have on anybody is a mental breakdown. You lose morale and vigor required to go on. falling in a depressive state of mind. In 90% of the cases- this morale shot down causes the students to become derailed.
First things first, you have to accept that you received bad grades and move on from the situation. You have to be determined. Set some clear-cut goals. You will have to tell yourself repeatedly that it’s recoverable. Get your spirits up.
Go for activities that cheer you up, even if it means taking a break from the studies. The first mistake people make after a bad result is to stick their nose into the books, which makes them feel more miserable. You are going to have to accept your current grades, mentally first.
Get help
One thing you should never shy away from is a helping hand. You will see many people around you who are trying to help you when you are down. Your friends, most of all, can help you with study materials required for in-depth research.
They can cheer you up. Friends can be of great help in improving your grades. Group-studies and other activities with them could create a fun learning environment, exactly something you will need to bounce back.
Parents are always our biggest shelter. Although sometimes we are judged by our family for our bad results, that shouldn’t stop us from going to our biggest support.
They could provide you with better tuition and mental support for improving your grades. Other family members like siblings and cousins can be of big help for providing emotional & academic support.
Last but not least, the teachers. If you are looking to improve your grades, it’s a must to improve your relationship with the teachers. Not just in the class, on the sidebar- after the class, during the breaks, you will have to reach out to them. They are the most equipped to help you out in a situation like this.
Class activities
You will have to concentrate more on the classes. Active and attentive participation in the classroom goes a long way in ensuring a good grade.
You are going to have to ask the teachers questions on topics you do not understand. Finish your homework. Turn in assignments. Be active in group work.
One of the most obvious things you will have to do is improve your note-taking abilities. Many things we study can be done in different methods. But sometimes the teacher prefers it that you do it his way, which is why taking class notes are very important, as they contain those elements that the teacher prefers. You could get help online on this particular matter.
Arrange your life
Probably the most important topic of this discussion. In most of the cases, bad results occur due to a bad lifestyle. You may blame it on many other factors, such as not studying, lack of concentration, etc. But the root of all these issues is a bad lifestyle.
In order to improve your grades, first, you will have to re-arrange your lifestyle. You may have heard this a thousand times, but again- a routine always helps. If you make a daily routine for your work, it becomes a lot easier. Removing the randomness from the equation of daily life certainly gives a sense of specificity.
You will need to arrange your daily work, classes, and time for studies in a manner that’s suitable for your habits. It may sound boring to lead a linear life, under a certain routine, but improving your grades is no easy game.
You will have to manage your sleep cycle. For many students, this is a major issue. Nights are for sleeping; daytime is for work. This should be the principle of your life.
If you sleep very late at night, you won’t be able to wake up for that morning class. If you force yourself by sleeping less, you will end up with bad health. You shouldn’t compromise your health, not even for good grades.
You will need to let go of procrastination. A good amount of student life goes into this unproductive activity, even if we don’t want to. Social life and other factors force us to procrastinate sometimes. We shouldn’t allow it to take more time out of our life.
Getting a good grade is no easy feat. It requires a lot of hard work and a rigid lifestyle. You will need to sacrifice a lot to achieve this. But, while trying to improve your grades, do not forget to have a life.
It’s important to balance out the fun and the necessities in life. Otherwise, you will head for the same pitfall you are trying to rise from.
