Study tips to boost your grade while in University

One goal that brings fulfilment and self actualization for every university student is achieving good and excellent academic grades. However, not many students have been able to crack the mindset and strategies needed for acing their test and exams.  Guess what?! You no longer have to be part of that number.  In this article, we are going to be exploring seven tips to help you secure and maintain good grades throughout your academic journey. Although these tips might be familiar to you, there, we have made it practical 

Know what type of learner you are

Generally, there are four classifications of learners:

• Visual learners: You learn best with images, diagrams, videos and any information that appeals to your sight. Choose to take out time to convert your notes to diagrams, images and colours to aid comprehension.
• Auditory learners: Do you learn faster via your ears? Then you must be one to attend class actively and pay attention. Record your classes and listen to them as you go about your daily activities
• Text based learners – Do you love getting lost in the world of texts? Then your notes in class must be very comprehensive to capture all you are taught in class.Reading/Writing
• Kinesthetic learners: Do you learn faster from your experiences? Then, you must ensure to attend classes, ask questions, interact with your notes and most importantly, practise what you  learnt in class. Teach others what you have learnt. That way, you are creating experiences from what you have learnt.

Maybe you are a little of everything. Then, ensure to spice up your learning and study time to fit your style of learning per time.

Effective Time Planning:

We are familiar with the adage that says; time is everything. Time is a resource that is irrecoverable. It cannot be retrieved or generated by Artificial Intelligence. You need to learn how to plan your time well because good time-planning skill is essential in every phase of life, not just in your academics. Here are simple tips to help you plan your time well:

• Prioritise your life. You need to truly know what is important to you. Here are 3 questions that can help you in choosing your priority:

1. Do I have a timeframe to meet?
2. What goal do I want to achieve?
3.  Will this task deliver more value than the other tasks?

Once you set your priority right, it will be easier to allot time to tasks

• Understand your current study-strength and create a realistic time for each task you have to do for each day: If you know you cannot study successfully for two hours and you need to study that long, then break the study time to 25 minutes with a 5-minute break. The trick is to ensure you start.

Active Participation in Class/Lecture Room

• Be involved in class activities.
• Engage actively during lectures by asking questions and participating in discussions.
• Make thorough notes so that by the end of each lecture you have something to fall back on to strengthen your understanding.

Avoid Procrastination

Procrastination they say it’s a thief of time. How then can you avoid procrastination;

• Break tasks into smaller and manageable tasks.
• Set specific goals.
• Create a schedule for each task.
• Minimize distraction and spend your time on less important things.
• Always reward yourself for completing a task, you truly deserve it!

Seek Help

No man is an island of knowledge. Maximise the wealth of knowledge around you in person of your lecturers, friends, collegues by seeking counsel, help and clarification when needed. Whenever you ask for help, also ensure to consider the schedule of the person. Do not ask for help with the mindset of dumping all your tasks on the person without a contribution from your end. Rather, be active and grateful. Have an attitude of openness to freely speak to your lecturers, other students or even those who have gone ahead of you for clarification. Also seek accountability to ensure you keep tabs with your study schedule.

Effective Test taking Strategies

Test taking will help you as a student to review your notes and practise ahead of exams. 

• Always study for a test like you would study for an exam.

How then should you study for a test?

• Practice past exams under timed conditions to improve time management during tests.
• Read questions carefully and plan your answers before writing them down.

To keep what you have learnt top of mind, you have to consistently engage with that knowledge. Plan periodic revision sessions and test sessions even before your class tests.

Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

• Ensure you get an adequate amount of sleep each night for an effective cognitive function. There are times when you will have to sacrifice sleep time for study. Nevertheless, ensure to sleep in between these drills.
• Maintain a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity to support overall wellbeing. Always eat healthy and stay healthy.
• Drinking enough water helps to keep you hydrated and energized to study.
• Avoid eating junk food. Instead, choose good and wholesome meal.

By embracing these tips into your academic routine, note that you might not see change immediately in your academic grades. This routine is building in you the habits of a successful student so that you won’t just have a one-hit success but a consistent record of good grade. Now, what is the first step you will take on your journey to boosting your grade?