THE SECRET BEHIND THE A

Each year, the homework assignments become tougher, workloads get heavier and staying ahead of the curve becomes more of a challenge.  By following these 10 Handy Dandy Hints, you can develop better study habits, have a productive year, and discover The Secret Behind the “A.”

  

1. Get Organized. Between homework, tests and extracurricular activities, it’s all too easy for things to slip through the cracks. A planner can help you keep everything organized.  Write down assignments, appointments and make to-do lists. Review items in the planner/notebook at both the beginning and end of the day to stay on track.

2. Know the Expectations.  By high school, most teachers will provide a course outline or syllabus, which can serve as a guide for the semester. If expectations aren’t clear, don’t wait until a bad report card comes in the mail. Make sure you feel comfortable approaching teachers with questions about grading and assignments at any time. Also, pay attention to homework assignments, projects, and other course requirements and make sure you do them completely.

3. Designate a Study Area and Study Time. Find a place at home where you can study without distractions.  Studying in front of the TV or with music on won’t be the best use of your time. A quiet, well-lit, low-traffic space for study time makes for optimal use of your study time.

4. Develop a Study Plan. Setting goals for each class is also key to success. First things first: you need to know when a test will take place, the types of questions that will be included and the topics that will be covered. From there, create a study plan and allow ample time to prepare.  As you do your homework, evaluate how well you understand the material.  If you are unsure of what you are doing, ask for help BEFORE you take the test.

5. Think Positively. Being in the right mindset can make all the difference. Think positively when studying or heading into an exam and by all means, avoid catastrophic thinking. Turn negative statements like “I’ll never have enough time to get a good grade on this exam” into positive ones like “I began preparing later than I should have but I put together a study plan and will be able to get through the material prior to the exam.”

6. Attend before-school or after-school study sessions.  Working in groups can help students when you’re struggling to understand a concept and you can complete assignments more quickly than when working alone. Sometimes, your local school has study sessions and/or tutoring after school that will assist you with homework and help you to make the “A.”

7. Practice Active Listening. It’s important for students to concentrate and avoid distractions when an instructor is presenting. You should avoid talking or thinking about problems when listening. If a teacher says, “This is important” or “I’ll write this on the board,” there’s a good chance you will see the concept on an exam.

8. Review Test-Taking Strategies. It is normal for you to feel stressed when taking an exam. However, there are certain strategies that will help you manage the stress and do your best on the test. First, arrive on time and be relaxed. Students should be sure to read all of the directions on the exam and pace themselves so as not to feel rushed.

9. Read Actively. A pack of post it notes can be used to help you actively write/annotate in any book.  It’s all too easy to skim over an assigned book chapter and not know the main points of what they just read. Practice active reading by finding the main idea of each passage and looking up unfamiliar words or concepts. Make an outline of the chapter or create flow charts and diagrams that help map out the concept at hand. After each section, write a summary in your own words and come up with possible exam questions.

10. Look to the Future.  The higher your GPA, the more likely you are to be accepted to the college of your choice.  Starting early can be an immense help in navigating the college admissions process. Be sure to get organized, set goals and have regular check-in’s with the Upward Bound Academic Coordinator to assess progress.  If you know you are struggling in a particular course, seek out additional help using a TRIO Upward Bound tutor to keep your GPA as high as possible.