Grades in school are supposed to measure how well you've mastered the material that's been taught. Good grades are generally necessary to progress to harder courses, get into college, and ultimately get into graduate school. Getting good grades is not as simple as just studying hard; there's more involved in the process. This page provides some tips for how to get good grades.
Grades in school are supposed to measure how well you've mastered the material that's been taught. Good grades are generally necessary to progress to harder courses, get into college, and ultimately get into graduate school. Getting good grades is not as simple as just studying hard; there's more involved in the process. This page provides some tips for how to get good grades.
Introduction
- In general, your grade is determined by test and homework performance, and a teacher's evaluation of your class participation. While it is not a science, there are things you can do to help increase the odds that you will get good grades.
Step 1: Understand the Grading Rubric
- All courses have rubrics that a teacher uses to calculate final grades. In some classes, it's as simple as performance on a single exam. Other rubrics are more complicated, factoring in things like attendance, or a subjective view of class participation. If the teacher does not distribute a rubric the first day of class, you should ask for one. It's important to understand the grading rubric, so you don't lose points for simple things, like being late for class.
Step 2: Show Up for Class
- Showing up is important for more than learning the material. Teachers occasionally communicate new information, such as dates of upcoming quizzes, that you'll miss if you're not there. Attending class, participating, and asking questions when something is unclear, is the foundation of the teacher-student relationship. If you have a good relationship with a teacher, they're more apt to use subjective factors to raise your 89.4 to an 89.6, converting a B to an A.
Step 3: Take Good Notes
- The act of note taking forces you to pay attention in class, reinforces what you're learning, and gives you a framework to review before a test. It is probably the single most important thing you can do to help master the material.
Step 4: Study for Tests
- Don't wait until the night before to cram. Attend any organized review sessions, or organize one yourself with classmates. Periodically review the material to reinforce your knowledge.
Step 5: Ask for Extra Credit
Asking the teacher for extra credit projects will help you in two ways. They may agree, which will give you an opportunity to raise your grade, and it shows the teacher you are serious about your grades, which may convince them to tilt any subjective evaluations in your favor.
