Learn How To Get Better Grades With Proven Techniques

Searching for ways to improve study habits and how to get good grades in school? Most people believe that students need to work harder to get good grades. While hard work is an important part of the process, it is only one piece of the puzzle. 

There is more to the puzzle of academic success. These pieces make a student’s learning more effective and efficient while spending less time than what people normally think it should take to become a consistent A-student. 

The truth is, if you’re looking for ways to improve grades, you need to work smarter and practice consistent study habits. What a student does and does not do daily will always impact their performance down the road. 

Strong academic records will open doors to all sorts of amazing opportunities. A student’s grades are the foundation for a bright future. This should be taken seriously.

It’s a difficult climb, but there is a way to make the process simpler. Students can walk on the path to excellence by following a proven roadmap to success. We will be sharing 10 good study habits for students that if implemented will allow students to excel in school. 

Here are 10 Successful Study Habits For Students:

1. Be Prepared

Practice time management and prepare ahead of time. This is one of the best ways to get good grades. Set a schedule and follow it. Do not cram everything into one night. Procrastination leads to stress, frustration, and anxiety. This will only result in a distracted mind making it very hard to focus on the tasks at hand especially when deadlines are slowly creeping in.

Being prepared is not only crucial in student life but also in the real world. This builds confidence which is key to consistent excellence. 

It is best to tackle responsibilities as soon as possible when there is still a lot of time. It is easier to focus on the tasks at hand this way. 

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” - Benjamin Franklin

2. Be Organized 

Eliminate unnecessary clutter in life. Something as simple as creating a to-do list can be a big game-changer. Take notes to avoid confusion or forgetting about important projects and deadlines. 

An unorganized life is chaotic. It is very hard to stay focused because of all the distractions. It is equally as important to organize one’s learning environment as well as one’s daily habits. Once you know what to do and what not to do and what works and what doesn’t work, everything becomes a lot simpler.

“A good system shortens the road to the goal” - Orison Swett Marden

3. Create A Study Schedule

Learning will always be a priority in life even when a student has long graduated. Part of continuous growth & progress is being able to study and learn new things. 

To make learning more streamlined, there must be a daily study schedule in place. Students should not just study when they feel like it because that “perfect” moment may never come.

Having a set schedule creates discipline, proper time management, and a sense of responsibility. This is a winning habit that will benefit students long after school life. 

Having a schedule is a great way to identify what is important and what is not important. This gives students insight into how and where to allocate their time. 

“The key is not to prioritize what is on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” - Stephen Covey

4. Everything Takes Practice

No one becomes a master at something overnight. Great things always take time, discipline, and a lot of practice. Patience is key. Every expert was once a beginner. Everyone has to start from scratch at some point in their lives.

Set realistic, specific, and achievable goals. Do not be afraid of challenges. Start small, be consistent and growth will happen. Practicing is a great way to get used to facing challenges which is something life has a lot of. It is a good way to train one’s mind to be solution-oriented.

Take things one step at a time. As simple as practicing for an hour a day can make a world of difference in one’s life. It is also life-changing if students have a mentor who can help them practice their schoolwork. This alone will cut the learning curve, and save time.

“Behind every brilliant performance there were countless hours of practice and preparation.” - Eric Butterworth

Click here for 2 free online tutoring sessions with a licensed K-12 teacher.

5. Learn From Your Mistakes

There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes. It is a part of life. No one is perfect. It happens to the best of us. What is important is you learn from them and make sure not to repeat them. You become wiser, resilient, and build valuable life experience.

Pro tip: It is important to know that some mistakes could be avoided. Learning from mentors and the experiences of others is a great way to get that valuable foresight. Try to learn from the mistakes of others and use that information to your advantage. 

“You can pick up a mistake and carry it as a burden, or you can set it down and use it as a stepping stone to greatness.” - Anonymous

6. Find Real-Life Examples Relating To Your Lesson

For example, if you’re studying the area & perimeter in Math, think of the area as the floor of a room and the perimeter as the walls. Students can get a clear picture of a real-life example. 

Find a way for you to relate lessons with something applicable and used in daily living. This method can help students clear confusion by witnessing first-hand how their lessons work, their importance, and their purpose in the real world. 

Study the environment around you. There is so much to learn. You just have to pay attention to your surroundings.

"Education is every day and everywhere, the only thing you have to pay is attention." - Tim Fargo

7. Eliminate All Distractions

When it’s study time, you need to focus. Put the phone down, turn off the tv, and close all unnecessary tabs on your computer. Having all these distractions around will only make studying more challenging than it should be. It’s unnecessary.

Whatever the task is at hand, give it your full focus for at least an hour. That’s when real productivity and progress happen.

“Your real competition is your distraction.” - Anonymous

8. Take Breaks

Various studies have proven that students are more productive and can retain more information if they take breaks. We all deserve it so take a breather now and then. 

For every 1 hour of studying, take a 15-30 minute break. Going straight for more than 2 hours may lead to burnout. You will end up losing time instead of saving it. It’s unnecessary stress. 

Go out for a nice walk under the sun and enjoy some fresh air. It will do wonders for the mind and body.

"Almost everything will work if you unplug it for a few minutes…including you." - Anne Lamott

9. Practice Self-Care

We must take care of our bodies. We can not muscle through every task. We need to make sure we get exercise, sleep, and proper nutrition. Lacking in one or all will affect one’s learning ability. This will lead to increased difficulty and the inability to focus on the tasks at hand.

Success can never be attained without a healthy mind & body. One of the biggest life lessons is to never take your health for granted. Do not underestimate its impact. Do what is necessary to stay in shape and live a healthy lifestyle. 

"Take care of your mind. Your body will thank you. Take care of your body. Your mind will thank you." - Debbie Hampton

10. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

“How do I get better grades if I don’t understand the lessons?”

It’s not fun feeling lost, especially in Math. We all experience that at some point in our lives. Instead of getting frustrated, do something productive about it. 

Don’t ever be afraid or hesitant to ask for help. If you look hard enough, you will find that there are a lot of people who are willing to help out. 

As mentioned before, there are some mistakes in life that could be avoided. Having someone to serve as a mentor/role model is a great way to gain that valuable foresight and wisdom. Working with a mentor can help shorten the learning curve. You’ll learn what works and what doesn’t. 

It has been proven many times that students who work with mentors outperform those that don’t. This method works and is the most efficient and effective way to learn.

"A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you." - Bob Proctor

Important Note:

Remember, knowing how to get good grades is one thing. Implementing and putting everything into action is a whole different story. Nothing will work without consistency and hard work.