1. Pay attention in class.
Listen when your instructor speaks. If you get distracted you might miss important information and you'll have a harder time understanding what to do or when you have to study later.
If you're having trouble staying focused when your teacher is talking, try sitting in the front and participating more in the class.
2. Take good notes.
Solid note-taking is crucial for improved learning and higher grades. While it may be challenging, effective note-taking enhances studying, leading to better test scores and academic success.
3. Do your homework.
Complete all assignments well and on time. Do as well on your homework as you can. When you don't understand it, ask someone for help! Your teacher might be able to set you up with a tutor or even help you themselves.
4. Ask questions.
Asking questions demonstrates engagement in the learning process. Whether seeking clarification or expressing genuine interest, posing questions not only shows attentiveness but also contributes to enhanced understanding and learning.
5. Get help when you need it.
Seeking help is a natural part of learning. Despite potential feelings of embarrassment, asking for assistance demonstrates initiative, and teachers appreciate students who take proactive steps to address their needs.
6. Stay on top of your assignments.
Effort is commendable, even if academic performance is not exceptional. Regardless of intelligence or test scores, teachers appreciate and notice hard work, fostering a positive relationship that may lead to becoming a favored student.
7. Find the learning style that works for you.
Everyone learns best in different ways. Some people are visual learners, for instance, while others are auditory learners. Take this quiz to find your learning style so you can study in the best way that suits you.
Visual learners "might be really great artists," Ruiz notes. If you find it easy to remember charts or pictures, you may be a visual learner.[9][10]
Tip: Try creating charts to illustrate abstract concepts to help you better understand them—for instance, a chart to memorize the parts of speech.
Auditory learners learn best through "music, being able to memorize based off of auditory things."[11] For instance, maybe you can't remember what your teacher wrote on the board, but you can "hear" what they said in your head.[12]
Tip: Try recording your teacher when they're talking so that you can listen to their lecture while you do your homework or study.
Kinesthetic learners "learn through action and movement," Ruiz says.[13] If you’re a kinesthetic learner, you might feel like you really need to stand up or move around while you listen to a lecture or pace while you study.[14]
Tip: Try playing with a piece of clay in your hand while your teacher talks.
You'll have more control over this when you study at home, but you can also talk to your teacher about adjusting how the lessons are taught to include more variety for different style learners.
8. Look for extra ways to learn.
Learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom! Diving into school subjects in a way that makes you more passionate about the material can help you stay engaged and be a successful student.
9. Study early and often.
Don’t wait until the last minute! If you start studying as soon as you know an exam is coming, you’ll be more likely to ace the test. Waiting until the night before can leave you anxious and unprepared.
10. Take care of yourself.
Get your brain and body ready to learn. You will learn best and have the easiest time in school if your body is ready to learn! There are lots of things that you can do to get your body ready.
Get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night to stay energized and help your brain work best.
Eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, and lean proteins (like chicken and fish), and try to avoid processed food.
Drink 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) to 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of water a day to stay hydrated.
11. Be kind to your classmates.
Being the best student is about more than just good grades. It’s about being a positive presence in the classroom! Focus on making other students feel good by giving them compliments and telling them when they do a good job.
12. Respect your teacher.
Treat your teacher with kindness and respect their authority. If you want to make your teacher happy, being respectful is really the best way to start. Especially if other students are disrespectful, you'll stand out and quickly become their favorite.
13. Try not to stress too much.
Grades are important, but they’re not everything. It’s more important that you’re happy and healthy. So, try not to get stressed when school gets tough. If you don’t get straight A’s on everything, it doesn’t say anything about your worth.
14. Be yourself.
It’s easier to thrive when you’re being who you are. Do the things that make you happy. Share the things that you love. Be friends with the people that get you and make you feel good about yourself.
