Simple Solutions for Bringing Your Grades Up

It can be disheartening when you try your best, but you’re unable to reach the heights of the top students in your classes. Fortunately, no matter where you stand now, there are ways you can bring up your grades. Here are a few simple strategies to try.

1. Attend Every Class

The first thing to do is to stop seeing classes as optional. You should only be missing classes if you’re unable to attend for a good reason, such as being sick or having a family emergency. Besides, skipping class just means you’ll need to catch up with the material in your own time.

Attending classes means you’ll hear key information first hand and have the chance to participate with your own insights and questions. This can bring the material alive and clear up any doubts you have. Plus, if your university awards points for attendance, this could be an easy way to instantly improve your grades.

2. Become Better Organized

It’s impossible to get good grades if you forget about assignments until the last minute. Using a planner will help you remember all your due dates, appointments, and other commitments. You can also use your planner to block time for studying, working on assignments, and to ensure you spend enough time preparing for each class.

As well as organizing your schedule, sort out your physical space and files. Remove all the clutter from your desk, put your papers in order, and make sure you have all the stationery you need.

3. Get to Know Your Professors

You’ll find it easier to reach out for help when you’re struggling if you know your professors. In addition to speaking up more in class, attend office hours. If you’re finding anything difficult or you need feedback about how to do better after a bad grade, you can always turn to your professors.

4. Take Detailed Notes

Whenever you’re in class or reading new material, take notes. You’ll find that you retain much more information this way — especially if you’re selective about what you take notes on and write in your own words. Since there’s always a risk you’ll write notes verbatim if you use your laptop, it helps to take notes on paper. You can always type them up later if you want a digital copy for easier search. In fact, it’s a good idea anyway to rewrite your notes right after class to review them.

5. Avoid Distractions

Studying should be a distraction-free experience. This means putting your phone away, avoiding the temptation to jump between activities, and asking others not to interrupt you. If you’re unable to stay focused at home, studying in a quiet spot in the library can be a good alternative.

6. Study in a Group

While you should be mindful of limiting distractions, it can also be demotivating to study for hours on end alone. By forming a study group, you’ll be exposed to new ideas and points of view, have the chance to learn from others, and be able to explain concepts in your own words. Consider a balanced approach in which you study on your own often but also block out some time for group sessions.

7. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Another thing that can help you better concentrate on your studies is to become physically healthy. It’s crucial to eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. You should also fit regular exercise into your daily routine, such as by going to the gym, jogging in the park, or attending fitness classes at your university. Finally, you need to sleep enough hours every night, as it’s impossible to study effectively when you’re sleep deprived. If you improve your organizational skills, you should find that you never need to stay up late working on papers.

It’s difficult to improve your grades if you’re unable to study without distractions at home. The solution could be moving out of your dorm. For comfortable off-campus student living, Ottawa students have 1Eleven. You can have your own apartment or a private bedroom in a shared suite with the option for an en-suite washroom.

When you want a change of scenery, you can use the dedicated study spaces. Book a video tour to check out our student housing for yourself.