How to Get Good Grades in University: Top 10 Tips

Choosing to go to university is a big decision and a big investment in your future. And you might be wondering if it's the right decision for you.

Every year hundreds of thousands of prospective students choose higher education as their next step after school or college. and although some get to benefit a lot from their stay others do not; At the same time, most students get to become good students and better individuals generally only after making a lot of mistakes.

Based on my personal experience and approach as a full-time BSC candidate at Federal University Wukari, I have put together 10 tips and tricks to make the most of your time at university.

Attend and pay attention to all lectures

Although it might seem pleasing to skip lectures especially when it is scheduled in the morning when we just start getting comfy on our beds or when we fill tired later in the day or even when we feel there is just no need of going to that boring lecture especially when the lecturer doesn’t take attendance serious or does not give an unexpected test and then we promise ourselves we’ll spend several hours reviewing the class material, and pull the duvet back over our heads. There are quite several reasons students skip lectures and while it may seem not very important there are added advantages to students who attend lectures, some of them include:


1. Tremendously cut off your study time by attending lectures.
2. Lectures offer you more interactivity with the lecturer and other students in the class.
3. Gain extra marks for unannouced assessments.
4. Lecturers usually emphasize the important concepts, giving you a better idea of what is important and what you should focus on.

Write and go through your lecture notes every day

Taking good notes in class is an important part of academic success in college. Actively taking notes during class can help you focus and better understand main concepts and retention. Even if you have a great memory, you simply won't be able to remember everything the teacher says. A permanent written record that you can refer to later can prove indispensable when it's time to write an exam or take a test on the materials discussed in class.

Part of good note-taking includes revisiting your notes a day or so after class. During this time, check for clarity, fill in definitions of key terms, organize, and figure out any concepts you may have missed or not fully understood in class. Creating good notes means that you will have a record for later review. Reviewing a set of condensed and well-organized notes is more efficient than re-reading longer texts and articles.

Ask and attempt questions

Performing question and answers in the classroom enable you to resolve your queries with different opinions and ideas. It will also allow you to gain a better understanding of the particular topic and allow you to make an in-depth study. Research shows that when you ask a question yourself, you are more likely to remember the information you receive.

Make friends with the top students in your field

People you surround yourself with have an influenced way of thinking, judgments, and experiences. If you stay with the top students or spend more time with them, they can help you to see your personality in a brighter light. They will shed light on the things which need improvement. Their comments and opinions can direct your best personality development.

Obtain Old Exams Question papers and Assignments from your senior colleagues

Obtain Old Exams and test Question papers from your senior colleagues to procure a satisfactory idea of what subject matter the instructors are most likely to test you on. Not only does this help you know the most important topics of the course they are even more useful because you can attempt the exam/assignment as a check of knowledge, identifying weak areas that you must take into further consideration or re-study.

Take continuous assessment seriously

Aside from the fact that continuous assessment improves a student's learning, it takes 20 to 30 percent of the entire marks for a course. A simple technique good students use is to get about 90 percent of the allocated score for a continuous assessment, which makes them need fewer marks to get their desired grade. Think of it, out of 100 marks split in a 7:3 ratio 30 for continuous assessment and 70 for the exam, if you get a 25/30 total, only 45 is required to get an A grade. Awesome right.

Be organized

Knowing how to organize your schoolwork is essential to gaining as much as possible from your education. By being organized you can help prevent things from piling up and becoming overwhelming.

Health is key

Not only will you do better in school when your health is good, but you'll be happier as a person. Research has shown significant benefits to eating a nutritious diet and incorporating a regular exercise regimen into a student's life.

Don't overspend

Overspending even when not necessary is the most common mistake among students. These could include purchasing designer clothes and premium shoes or watches where a less-expensive brand may be equally good or buying expensive foods one can cook for way less money.

Don't procrastinate

Everyone procrastinates. Some are proficient at it. As a student, you don't want to procrastinate on your important priorities due to its effects. A study by Case Western Reserve University determined that college students who procrastinated experienced higher levels of stress, increased episodes of illness, and poorer grades by semester end.