by Scriber

Created on: December 21, 2006   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

I have to say it can take some time to learn how to succeed at college and improve your grades. After having completed an undergraduate Science (Chemistry major) degree I then went on to do an Information Management Graduate Diploma followed by a part-time Master of Commerce (Marketing) major. My point is it was only when I started my Masters that I really learnt how to study, apply myself to college and get the grades I wanted.

My advice to improve your grades are as follows:

1. Learn the material AS YOU GO. In other words the very day you learn a new topic, read around it in the library, referring to a diverse selection of library textbooks. Make short notes. Then make medium length summary of the topic.

2.When you come to mid-terms summarise again but this time combine your university/college notes with your own additional library reading notes.

3.When you come to the final study for exams you should only have about 3-5 pages max for each subject you are studying.

4.ATtend all tutorials since these often provide you with additional clues on assignments and exams including the final exams.

5.Listen to emphasis placed on certain aspects of topics when first taught. You can almost bet these will be in the forthcoming tests or exams.

6.If you are not sure of anything, ASK...you teacher, your tutor, your more smart co-students. If you look at this way every topic you are unsure of is another question or part question you cannot score full marks. Get the picture? You need to allow for exam nerves and making mistakes even on material you do know. YOu simply can't afford not to clarify topics when first presented even if you think it makes you feel stupid. Swallow your pride. Often you will find other students admire and thank you for asking the so called "dumb" questions. Remember too everyone has different rates of learning and this is not necessarily dependant on intelligence. Even Einstein failed maths miserably at school;in actual fact he was way ahead of the current thinking not dumb!Just outside the normal thinking bell curve.

7.Hand in assignments on time and start them almost as soon as you get them. That way you can put your best effort in and achieve your optimum assignment result.

8.Something I have learned after studying a lot across a wide range of subject areas, is to never give up. In other words if a subject or topic appears really hard or unsurmountable,take a break, a walk, a swim, or go out with your friends. Come back and you will view the challenging topic with a fresh mind and most likely solve it. Often the mind when stale or panicked about not understanding something can get stuck in a rut and only see a narrow perspective. A change of scene and perspective when you return can work wonders. The key is never to give up. Nothing in this life is beyond you. Some people just find some things easier than other things or than other people.

9.Try and get your friends and family to test you whenever you can. This is good practice for the final exams and they will often ask you tricky questions knowing nothing about the topic.

10.Hand in all your assignments;these are easy pre-exam marks. If you do well in these it may influence or sway you to a better mark even if you underperform in the final exam(s).

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