Why Students Are Not Able To Score Well In Academics?
Academics is certainly one of the instrumental parts of a student’s life as it shapes their careers and makes them capable of the future. Despite this, not all students enjoy studying and doing assignments. As a result, most of them hustle at the last minute to meet their deadlines.
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| Photo / Anil Sharma |
- Excessive pressure:
There's no denying that most of the time, students are under immense academic pressure. They must study multiple subjects, attend back-to-back classes, complete more than two or three assignments regularly, participate in extracurricular activities, and so on. Naturally, if you have a similar routine, you will be stressed and struggle to cope with the inhumane pressure, affecting your grades.
- Complicated coursework:
Subjects like mathematics, accounting, science, and engineering are difficult and demand 200% effort. Most learners lack a thorough understanding of the fundamental concepts and struggle to grasp whatever is taught in class. In such scenarios, you will fail to study with full concentration and grasp the main ideas of each lesson.
- Deadline pressure:
There's no denying that today's academic curriculum has become much more hectic than a decade ago. Students enroll in multiple courses and participate in different extracurricular activities for personality development and skill building. However, the pressure of handling multiple assignments and meeting the requirements of different courses and activities can be better for even top-ranked students – so you are not alone.
- Poor exam preparation:
If you constantly juggle your time and effort from one task to another, you will likely wear out of your energy and won't have sufficient time to prepare for the exams. Thorough exam preparation is mandatory to get better and higher grades. If you fail to devote enough time to self-studies and exam preparation, the results will reflect on your scores.
- Lack of note-taking skills:
Note-taking is one of the key skills that most students lack. They struggle to stay focused in class and cannot create helpful notes for self-studies later. Knowing how to take good notes can help you recall everything taught in class. Plus, you can refer to them while working on your Assignment writing tips to improve the overall quality and impress the grader.
- Time management issues:
Besides that, most of you have a lot to accomplish within a limited timeframe, and you may struggle to balance time for homework, self-studies, and exam preparation. Furthermore, if a task or chapter is difficult to comprehend, you will likely take more time to complete your task, which will affect your entire study routine. And if you repeatedly do this, it will affect your grades drastically.
- Multiple distractions:
Games, movies, and series on OTT platforms, music, pets, and so many other things come to mind when discussing distracters students have to deal with. So it's not just you who gets distracted by the neighbor's dog or the notifications on your phone. The inability to stay focused is a huge problem among students failing to earn good grades and must be tackled seriously to reduce the consequences on the overall grades.
How to Perform Well in Academics & Secure Higher Grades?
The first and foremost tip for academic success is to study smart and not hard. You need to understand that each subject has unique requirements and challenges, and you should adopt a unique learning approach to understand the fundamentals and overcome the learning hurdles.
The following sections will highlight several tips on effective studying to get better grades. You can experiment with each of the tips to find the best ones working for you.
- Simply reading is not effective:
Reading and re-reading texts, lessons, and notes without proper concentration will do you no good. It's equivalent to reading a novel or storybook. So, instead of merely reading the text, focus on understanding what the text is about and make notes of the important and your doubts.
- Use reference books and study materials:
It's difficult to master a topic if you don't understand the basics. Get books, notes, and other study materials that simplify the concepts to solve this issue. You can also refer to examples, class notes, and sample assignment papers to understand the topics and ease the complicated sections of the chapter.
- Study when you can focus:
We are not at our productive best throughout the day. Some are more active in the morning, while others prefer to study till the wee hours of the night. That's why you should determine when you are most active and plan your study time around that hour. Make sure you plan your time and the subject you want to do at that time. Also, keep some buffer time to complete your study target without rush and stress.
- Be regular with your studies:
As generic as it may sound, don't leave your studies until the last minute. Develop a habit of studying regularly to complete your syllabus before your exam month. Again, develop a habit of following a study routine. Give extra attention and time to subjects and topics you find tricky. That way, you can identify the areas you struggle with beforehand and give yourself enough time to study and practice.
- Get yourself a tutor:
There’s no shame in admitting you need additional help and guidance from a subject tutor. Just make sure you get the necessary assistance much before the exams. Studying under the guidance of qualified subject matter experts and tutors will get you customized and personalized support with challenging topics. Plus, the tutor will prepare personalized study materials focusing on your needs and simplify learning.
- Be prepared for your class:
Lessons and assignments become easier to comprehend when you regularly follow up on your lessons. So, always review the lessons taught in the class before you attend the next class. This practice will help you brush up on whatever was taught in class and identify the areas where you need further assistance.
- Practice, practice, and practice:
The success mantra for scoring high grades in exams is taking as many mock and practice tests as possible. The more you solve papers, the easier it will become for you to get used to the question pattern. You can check online academic portals for sample papers once you have completed answering the questions behind your textbooks.
- It’s okay to relax:
Psychologists suggest that well-rested students who actively participate in different physical activities tend to have sharper brains and stronger information retention abilities. Hence, take breaks in between your studies to cut the monotony. You can restrict the break time to 5-10 minutes to refuel yourself without getting distracted. Plus, avoid being a night owl and sleep on time. Keep time for physical activities to boost your energy and concentrate better.
- Push yourself to learn:
One of the most important aspects of scoring high grades in exams is to set the path for a better career. So whenever you are low on motivation and want to quit a course because it's difficult, remind yourself why you are here in the first place. Then, tell yourself, "You can," and give your best effort. Undoubtedly, there will be moments when self-doubts will cloud your brains. But the secret is to stay focused on your goal and target to achieve the best.
Performing well in studies is a long-term to work hard. Therefore, follow the suggested tips above to improve your study habits and secure the best grades in class.
