How’s school these days?

Do you love student life? A recent poll shows that one in five college students are depressed or anxious. High-schoolers face similar troubling statistics.

You don’t have to love studying. However, you’ll get a lot more out of it if only you can learn to shine in school. No matter what aspect of education you’re struggling with, here’s how to become a better student.

1. Don’t Procrastinate

Do you have an upcoming test?

If so, you might want to skip that party, hunker down, and study up.

when you’re trying to balance a social life with your duties as a student, the choices are tough and the consequences are real.

The secret to not becoming a recluse while also passing your classes is to stop procrastinating. If you know there’s work to be done for school, do it right away. Don’t put it off.

In fact, try to take care of your classwork right after school. If you can do your work as soon as your out of class:

• The subject is still fresh in your mind
• You can get it over with during the week, leaving your weekend more open to fun
• You can plan your social life around school without missing out.

Your friends are likely students as well. They should understand what it’s like to juggle schoolwork and socializing, so they’re not likely to give you a hard time. Perhaps, you can even help them become better students by setting a great example.

2. Don’t Skip The Homework

Homework is a universally hated activity among students. While it’s not as effective for younger kids, studying and completing assignments outside of class is helpful to teens and young adults.

You don’t have to spend forever on homework. If you understand the concept of the assignment, do your best to breeze through it without sacrificing the quality of your work.

If you find yourself overwhelmed with the subject, at least take a look at the assignment. Jot down some questions for your teacher so that he or she can pinpoint what you’re struggling with.

Homework is meant to show both students and teachers how much the student understands. So if you choose to skip it altogether, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

The tips in this article might help you understand the importance of making the best of each assignment you get.

3. Bring A Recorder To Class

Do you hate taking notes?

forget about sitting in class and trying to concentrate on writing neat shorthand while making sense of the subject.

Drop a recorder in your backpack. Press play at the beginning of class and spend the time actually paying attention to the lesson.

When you come home, play back your recording and take notes from it. This way, you are guaranteed to absorb the concept as much from the class itself as from a lesson. This might save you time on cramming before a test.

Don’t forget to inform your teacher that you’re recording the class, though. You should obtain permission to do so. In some states, it’s illegal to record someone without their knowledge or consent.

4. Flash Cards Are Your Friends

If you truly struggle with a concept, buy a pack of flashcards. They’re the study buddy you never had.

Science shows that flashcards are effective for students of all ages. They work on three different levels:

• Active recall
• Metacognition
• Confidence-based repetition.

Active recall is the concept of remembering something out of context. For instance, if you see a passage on a flashcard that you often see in your textbook, you’re forced to remember what it means outside of the context of your book.

Metacognition occurs when you ask yourself questions about the subject you’re studying.

For instance, if you have a question on one side of flashcards and its answer on the other side, you’ll naturally try to answer the question as soon as you see it. This forces you to associate the question with the answer as closely as possible.

Confidence-based recognition simply means that the more you see corresponding questions and answers, the faster you can remember them. Simply put, flashcards and study games work wonders.

5. Pick Up That Book

Don’t just abandon your textbooks when you come home. They’re not a symbolic requirement for the class — they’re meant to be studied.

If you know which chapters you’ve gone over in class, reread those chapters and then read ahead. This way, you’re somewhat prepared for your next lesson.

Reading, in general, boosts a student’s academic confidence. So even if your textbook seems dry and boring, give it a cursory glance, even when you’re not assigned to do so.

6. Put Down The Gadgets

Do you really have to bring your tablet to class?

It’s true. Most schools have migrated to tech-based learning. Students are encouraged to use laptops and tablets, some of which are provided by their schools.

However, studies show that students who pay attention to their gadgets are less likely to perform well academically. this makes sense.

In our tech-driven society, we’re forced to multitask. Our attention is literally at a deficit.

If possible, try leaving your laptop and phone at home one day. Bring an old-fashioned pen and paper to class. You can even leave your gadgets in your locker if leaving them at home is not an option.

Do this experiment, and find out if you’re more focused on the subject at hand.

7. Engage With Your Class

Were you ever given a grade for participation?

That’s not a cop-out grade. It’s not meant to be an easy A. This tactic is used by teachers to entice their students to stay engaged.

Try to ask questions during class. Talk to your peers and teachers alike about each subject.

this is most important when you’re struggling with a subject. Talking about it forces you to think about it in different ways. It also opens an honest line of communication between your teacher and yourself, allowing him or her to help you.

8. How To Become A Better Student by Teaching

Along the same lines, if you do understand a topic, try teaching it to a fellow student.

Find someone who struggles with the topic, and volunteer to tutor them in it. This will score you points with your teacher, and it’ll help you understand the concept even more thoroughly.

When you teach something to someone, you have to explain it on very simple terms. You also have to figure out how best to relay the subject so they can grasp it. This forces you to look at the subject from multiple angles.

Teaching something to someone almost makes you an expert in the subject. If nothing else, this guarantees you an improved grade on your next test.

Fascinated With These Tips?

Showing you how to become a better student is not all we excel in.

From researching career choices to learning how to rock your social media, you’ll find no shortage of interesting ways to entertain and educate yourself.

Now that you’re more likely to ace your exams, visit us often for more useful tips on acing life in general.