Whether you’re still in high school, are working on your undergraduate degree, have recently returned to school after a break, or are continuing your education, or working on a graduate degree, certain subjects can be difficult. Every person is unique and has different areas in which they excel and others in which they struggle. For example, in an international math test administered by the National Center for Education Research to people with ages ranging from 16 to 34, only about 10 percent of Americans made it within the top two levels, while nearly 30 percent were in the bottom two levels. Those numbers don’t indicate that the US is bad at math in general but illustrate that math is more of a struggle for many Americans than it may be for others.
On the other hand, there are plenty of students who do fairly well at math but may struggle with English, history, or even science. If you’re struggling with one particular subject and want to improve, or want to do better in school in general, here are seven tips to help:
1. Go to Class
Going to class seems like a no-brainer, but as the school year wears on, you get tired, and you have conflicting priorities, it’s tempting to miss a few classes here and there. If you miss a few, though, it becomes easier to miss more and more which means that you’re missing out on the opportunity to learn from your professor and your peers. Approximately 6.5 million students have reported chronically missing class in a school year, but skipping class doesn’t just cost you a learning opportunity, it cost you money too—anywhere between $30 and $104 per class period when attending college.
When you go to class, you have the chance to ask questions, learn from resources other than a book, collaborate with others, and be more engaged in the learning.
2. Keep Everything Organized
Organization is the key to doing better in school. With so many different classes, it can be hard to keep folders and binders and papers all straight, especially after they get shoved into a backpack or book bag. Creating an organizational system, though, can help you better keep track of what you have been assigned, what’s coming up, and what you’ve turned in which will help you, in turn, get better grades since you’ll know what needs to be done or if something was turned in or not.
3. Make Yourself an After-School Schedule
You’re already on a schedule when you attend school, but after school, you get to choose what you do with your time. If you want to do better with your school work, then it’s important that you take that time and create a schedule for yourself. Make sure that you schedule in time to do homework, time to study, and time to work on any projects that need to be done. If you have other obligations and extracurricular activities, schedule those in too.
Having a schedule that divides your time for you will help you ensure that you give the proper attention to the things that you have going on.
4. Get Help on the Difficult Subjects
As mentioned, everyone struggles with at least one subject, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. If you find yourself struggling with a particular subject, then don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can get help from other students, from your TA, from your parents, or from a professional tutor at Studypool. Choose whichever resource you feel more comfortable with and go to them if you don’t understand a concept, you’re having trouble completing homework, or need help with a single problem.
When you get help from a third-party, you may be able to get a better understanding of the concept you’re struggling with and will be able to do better not only in that class but school in general, too.
5. Understand Your Learning Style
Everybody learns differently. Some people learn visually, others learn by listening and hearing, some prefer to read and write, and others need hands-on experience. While you may learn best with a mix of different approaches, try to distinguish which learning style you respond to best and better understand it. Once you understand your learning style, you can take the concepts you’re learning and apply them in a way that you better understand and relate to, helping you better relate to and apply the material you’re being taught.
6. Try Not to Cram
Cramming is a bad habit that too many people have. Although you may end up cramming for a test every once in a while, you should try to avoid it overall. That means you’ll need to plan, study well, and know when it’s time to stop. When you cram, you overload your brain, but it can often be hard to recall everything you shoved into your head, making it less effective than you might think.
7. Ask Questions
If you have a question about something that’s being taught, then you need to ask it. For people who are shy, it can be hard to step out of their comfort zone and speak up, but it’s worth it. Asking the questions you have and getting answers from your teachers, professors, peers, and tutors will help you get a better understanding of the subject you’re learning.
Final Thoughts
No matter what stage you’re in with your learning, school can be difficult and present different challenges. Whether you’re struggling only with one class or are having a hard time learning overall, by getting the help from a tutor and better understanding your learning style you can improve your grades and do better in school.
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