It is hard to find a student who doesn’t want to have their knowledge assessed fairly. It is common practice that boys and girls study a lot and seemingly know the material well but still cannot pass tests. And you may be one of them, but what is wrong with you? As strange as it may sound, cramming doesn’t always guarantee good grades – sometimes, to get prepared for an upcoming exam, a person needs to do something different.
Truth be told, you can study less, use an online essay writing service, and still achieve great results if you know how to do this effectively. So, if you believe that you study a lot but your grades say otherwise, then it is time to think about what you do wrong. Now, when you know that the point is to learn productively, find out what is wrong and decide on how you can make things better. Below, there are the most common reasons why students don’t get the grades they deserve:
You don’t understand what you learn
When many students study, they strive to only cram rather than to digest. But it is important to give a great deal of thought to what you are currently learning – first of all, you need to realize what you deal with. Think about how some topics are connected with other ones. This is how you can get a deeper insight into what your teachers tell you.
You prefer to study at night
If you choose to cram all night long before an exam instead of learning a bit day by day, then you should better give up on this habit. Remember that much sleep is needed before a test day for the digested information to move to long-term memory. It is better if you start preparing at least three days before a test day to avoid the unnecessary fuss.
You may have test anxiety
If you feel confused and your brain freezes every time you sit down for another test, then, most likely, you suffer from test anxiety. In this condition, you may get distracted and thus it is hard for you to focus on what you have studied.
Remember that positive thinking can make things better. Avoid cramming on a test day and try to breathe deeply to focus on your assignments better.
You don’t study all the time
If you hold academic books only before an exam, don’t expect to get a good grade. Effective studying requires students to participate in workshops, join study groups, and read their notes at home again and again. Remember that if you devote a bit of time to study regularly, it will be easier for you to digest and memorize what you learn.
You study too hard
You make a big mistake when study for long hours without any break. Spending too much time studying affects your memorizing capacity. Therefore, instead of perusing academic books for hours, turn to spaced learning. This method is all about studying for half an hour and having a ten-minute break between sessions. This is how you can help your brain digest and retain information better.
You don’t stick to your schedule
If you don’t stick to your learning plan, it may be hard for you to focus on one subject at a time. To study effectively, make sure that you know what exactly you should learn during each study session. This is how you can track your progress easily. At the end of the day, you will always know if you need to repeat anything.
You may tend to procrastinate
Procrastination is one of the most frequently cited reasons why boys and girls fail exams. If you tend to put studying on a waiting list, then be sure that you will not have enough time for absorbing educational materials before an exam. You can address this problem by adding more time for learning into your routine. Before going to bed, look through your notes from class. This is how you can memorize information better.
You waste your time
If you start reading your notes ahead of time, have enough breaks, and sleep at least eight hours a day but still feel like you don’t get the grade you deserve, then most likely the problem is that you learn everything, but not just what you have to. Therefore, it is crucial to produce effective notes for studying. But you can do this only if you focus on important things that you are taught at school. By highlighting those things you will train yourself to pay attention only to what matters most.
You choose a wrong learning approach
If you work hard but your efforts fail, then you probably use a wrong study method. While some students learn best by listening, others show better results when learn by reading. So, try to decide on the approach that suits the way of learning that works for you best. If you are an auditory learner, then read the material aloud for better understanding. If you are a visual learner, then create mind maps. If you learn better when read or write, then write down educational materials and read over them regularly. If you are a hands-on learner, then participating in study activities can be of great help to you.
