Study Tips for People With Low Grades
- Hey! If you’re thinking about reading this, your grades probably aren’t the best and that’s totally okay! Everyone has trouble with school at some point and sometimes you just need to figure out what the most effective way of studying is for you! So, as a fellow person that hasn’t had the best grades throughout my middle and high school career, I’ve compiled a list of some study methods that I used regularly that have helped me fix my grade a bit.
REMINDER: these may not work for you, and that’s okay! Everyone learns differently and you’ll find your study-style someday~
Rewriting Notes
This is my favorite way to study because it’s the most simple. The only real work you have to do is take notes during class, and the rest is completely up to your body! The way I do it is I’ll take notes during class and when I get home - I have a notebook specifically for rewriting notes - I’ll rewrite the notes I’d taken in class multiple times. Usually, it only takes two or three times before the information is stuck in my brain, but it could take more or less depending on the person! If you’re trying to study for a test or exam, bust out your old notes and recopy those. Re-insert the old information back into your brain. This method literally only takes about an hour and a half a day and it is by far the most effective for me.
Record Lectures and Listen to Them
This is something I do a lot as well. It’s not my favorite, but it does still help a lot. Bust out your phone at the beginning of class and record the lecture - audio or video, it doesn’t matter. Then, when you get home you can listen to it while doing other things. Whenever I use this method, I usually end up listening to the lectures while doing chores or just scrolling aimlessly through the internet. Also, if you’re not in Uni and aren’t sure that your teacher will let you do this, just ask! Tell them you want it for later studying and I can almost guarantee they’ll say yes!
Apply for an IEP or 504 Plan
This one isn’t a study tip, but it can be helpful! A lot of people don’t know, but if you apply for an IEP or 504 Plan the school legally has to examine and test you. So, if you feel like you just can’t learn like the other people in your class and you need a little extra help, go ahead and write a letter to your school psychologist/therapist and ask to be evaluated. Your parent/guardian does have to write it for you, but if you explain to them how much trouble you’re having in class and how much it would help, they really should realize how beneficial it’ll be for everyone. Remember, they are required legally to evaluate you within 60 days of you sending the letter in. (I will leave a link here to a reference on how to write an evaluation request letter)
Study With People
This one’s my least favorite on the list. Not because it doesn’t work, just because I hate being around other human beings. BUT in the rare times where I actually felt like being around them, study groups helped me a lot! It’s really easy to find them as well. You can just ask your normal friends if they want to go to the library after school and study together or you can contact your school and ask if they have a study group. Studying with other people can be a lot of fun and it can help because you’ll be able to ask questions as your studying and have people check your work and such.
Anyway, those are all the tips I have for now. I hope some of these were helpful, and if they weren’t then don’t worry! Someday you’ll find what works for you ~
