Improve your grades

ARE you flunking a course or getting bad mid-term reports from your teachers? Here is how to boost your grades in four steps.

Don’t beat yourself up

It is never nice to see comments such as “inadequate preparation” or “does not attend to detail” but don’t take it to heart and give up on yourself. If you trust your teachers, it can be a good thing to have a set of detailed comments about your skills and achievements because it gives you a point to start from.

Look on the bad report as groundwork for improvement.

Start small

Look at your report and highlight all your good and bad points. If that makes you feel tearful, pretend it is someone else’s and play the role of consultant. Pick one specific weakness and plan how you can make the necessary improvement. Define a goal and develop a set of milestones that will help keep you on track.

Review progress every week. When you reach your goal, start on the next project.

Get a study buddy

Improving yourself is easier if you have the help and support of someone you trust. Ask one of your brainier friends to mentor you. They can help you work out what you need to work on and offer sound advice. Be prepared to look for a different mentor for each subject.

Empower yourself

Take charge of your own development. Buy books (in second hand bookshops and charity bazaars if you are short of cash), surf the Net, and put in the extra effort needed. Remember: Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.