How to Get Straight A's in College

Co-authored by Josh Jones and Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: October 14, 2024 Fact Checked

Going to college is exciting, but it's also a big adjustment. If maintaining a perfect GPA is one of your goals, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do to make the grades you want. There's no guaranteed method for making straight A's in college, but you can improve your chances by adopting effective study techniques. Managing your workload carefully can also help you make the best possible grades.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Studying Effectively

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1
Take notes in class and when you study. When you're listening to a lecture or reading a chapter of your textbook, the act of taking notes helps you focus more closely on what you're hearing or reading. Additionally, your notes will help you remember the key points of the lecture or reading assignment when it's time to review the material.
- Carry a notebook and pen and take notes by hand if you can. When you take notes by hand as opposed to typing them, you're forced to focus on the most important points instead of writing everything down word-for-word.^{[2]
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- If you're an auditory learner, ask your professors if you can record their lectures. You might also find it helpful to read your written notes aloud to yourself.
Did you know? Doodling while you take notes can help your brain stay engaged and make it easier for you to remember what you hear.^{[1]
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Read the assigned materials. If your professor assigns readings, don't try to coast by on what you're learning from the lectures. Do the required readings, too. They may contain additional material that's not covered in class.
- If you feel overwhelmed by your reading assignments, try breaking them down into manageable chunks. Start by doing a quick skim, focusing on the introduction, conclusion, and informational headings. This will help you spot the main points of the text.^{[3]
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- You may find it helpful to write a brief outline of your reading or take notes in the margin as you read.
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Make sure you understand your assignments. Read the syllabus for each class carefully. Check over your assignment handouts for instructions and information about how the assignment will be graded. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask your professor or TA. You'll have a much easier time meeting your instructors' expectations if you know what they are!
- Some professors provide detailed grading rubrics that can help you understand exactly how they evaluate and grade a test or assignment.
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Review what you've learned.^{[4]
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Josh Jones
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Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.} Review is an important part of remembering and absorbing what you learn. You may not hold onto information or understand it fully if you only read or hear it once. Take time to go back over your notes and readings to make sure you remember and understand the material.^{[5]
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- If your textbook or course includes self-administered quizzes or knowledge checks, take advantage of them. Quizzing yourself will help you evaluate your knowledge of the material and figure out what you need to focus on during review sessions.
- Be honest with yourself with how well you're doing. If you're studying difficult questions and only answer half of them right, you should probably go back and review some core concepts.^{[6]
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  Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.}
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Take frequent breaks. Sitting down to study for too long in one stretch will leave you burnt out and make it harder for you to focus. Don't study one subject for more than about an hour at a time, and take brief breaks every 25 minutes or so. During your breaks, you might take a walk, eat a snack, or even put your head down for a power nap.^{[7]
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- Try using the Pomodoro technique to make the most of your study time. After every 25 minutes of work, take a 5-minute break. During the break, do a little meditation or visualize a calming scene.
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Ask for help if you need it. If you're struggling to understand the material or complete an assignment, don't hesitate to talk to your professor, TA, or academic advisor. They may be able to offer advice or connect you with resources that can help.^{[8]
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- Remember, your instructors and advisors are there to help you! It's up to you to do the work of studying and completing your assignments, but it's their job to give you the tools you need to succeed.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Managing Your Workload Wisely

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1
Choose classes you're interested in. It's hard to do well in a class you're not excited about. As much as you can, stick to classes that are relevant to your interests and your career goals.^{[9]
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- Most college degree programs require you to take some general education courses, so you're bound to get stuck with a few classes you aren't interested in. Even if you aren't thrilled by those classes, try to focus on the big picture and think about how they will help you meet your overall goals.
Tip: You may be able to get out of taking some general education classes or prerequisites if you can demonstrate that you already have equivalent skills or knowledge. Talk to your advisor about whether your program allows course overrides or other workarounds for avoiding required classes that you don't really need.
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Avoid taking too many classes at once. If you're overloaded with work, you'll find it hard to put in the time and effort you need to do well in any of your classes. Avoid exceeding a full load during a given term, and try to balance 1 or 2 difficult classes with a couple of easier ones.^{[10]
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- If you ever feel like your course load is too much to handle, talk to your advisor about the possibility of dropping a class. Just make sure to do it early enough in the term that dropping will not affect your GPA.
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Minimize your extracurricular activities. While it's important to have a good balance between your schoolwork and other activities (like working on hobbies or spending time with friends), putting too much on your plate is counterproductive. Take a look at your extracurricular schedule and see if there's anything you can drop or put on the back burner for now.
- If you have to work or support a family while you go to school, consider enrolling in a part-time degree program. That way, you won't have to struggle to balance a full course load with your other responsibilities.^{[11]
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Create a study schedule.^{[12]
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Josh Jones
Academic Tutor

Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.} Setting specific times to study and deal with your other responsibilities can make your workload much easier to manage. Avoid letting work pile up and become overwhelming by creating a daily plan for studying and doing your assignments.^{[13]
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- Try to schedule in 30-60 minutes of study time per subject each day.
- Create a schedule that includes the times and locations of your different classes, as well as any other responsibilities you have throughout the day. This will help you plan your study periods more effectively.
- Reader Poll: We asked 362 wikiHow readers how they like to prepare for a multiple choice exam, and 48% of them said studying in advance and following a study schedule. [Take Poll] This also works well when studying for other types of exams!
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Prioritize your assignments. While it may be tempting to tackle your easiest assignments first, doing so can cause harder tasks to pile up and become more unmanageable. Take a look at your assignments and consider:^{[14]
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- Which ones are due first? If deadlines are coming up, tackle those assignments right away so you won't be scrambling to finish them last-minute.
- Which assignments are the most difficult or time-consuming? Try to give yourself extra time to deal with those assignments.
- How much of your total grade is each assignment worth? Focus your efforts on the assignments that are most important.
6
Make time for fun. If you don't enjoy yourself now and then, you'll quickly burn out. Try to block out specific times for enjoyable activities in your schedule.^{[15]
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Josh Jones
Academic Tutor

Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.} That way, you can have the fun you need without letting it eat into the time you have to spend on your schoolwork.^{[16]
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- For example, you might schedule a weekly frisbee game on the quad with your friends, or meet a classmate for dinner at a specific time every evening.
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Include self-care in your schedule. If you're not caring for your physical and mental health, you'll have a hard time succeeding in college. When you're making your schedule, make sure you leave time for the necessities, like eating regular, nutritious meals, getting good-quality sleep, and exercising.^{[17]
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- In addition to caring for your physical needs, take measures to minimize your stress. For example, you might schedule in a few minutes each day to meditate, do yoga, or do something creative.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Do you want to make your studying more efficient, learn more quickly, and remember more information? Check out these expert articles.

1

Study For Exams

2

Study So You Can Remember Everything

3

Make a Study Space

4

Create Good Study Habits for Exams

5

Learn Without Forgetting

6

Retain Information when You Study for a Test

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I get better grades when I'm in college?

Josh Jones
CEO, Test Prep Unlimited
Josh Jones is the CEO and Founder of Test Prep Unlimited, a GMAT prep tutoring service. Josh built the world's first and only score guarantee program for private GMAT tutoring. He has presented at the QS World MBA Tour and designed math curricula for Chicago Public Schools. He has over 15 years of private tutoring and classroom teaching experience and a BA in Math from the University of Chicago.

Josh Jones

CEO, Test Prep Unlimited

Expert Answer

Start by making a study schedule so you stay on top of your coursework. Be sure to review any material that you've been struggling with.

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Take advantage of extra credit opportunities, but don't rely on extra credit to get you the grade you want. Focus on understanding the material and completing your main assignments in an effective and timely manner.

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