It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that those students who do well are the ones who are naturally academic or gifted when it comes to certain subjects. Of course, these students do indeed exist, and will universally frustrate their peers who seem doomed to work much harder than them to achieve the same grades.
However, there is so much more that goes into creating academic success, whatever that may look like for you. Natural ability will only get you so far, which means that at some point, every single student is going to have to take control and form habits that are going to get them over that finish line with the grades they want, need, and deserve.
What then are the best things you can do now to ensure your future academic success? We asked some of our online tutors to tell us what their most successful students do differently, and here’s what they came up with.
If you’re in a lesson or study session, whether that’s face to face in school or college or part of a one to one with your online science tutor, or your online maths tutor for example, it’s vital you actively participate. Make sure you engage with, and interact with your online tutor, so that you absorb all the material that your tutor is covering with you. If you are in a classroom, sitting at the back, daydreaming, staring out the window or checking messages on your phone is not going to allow you to be fully present and engaged with the information your teacher is sharing.
Equally, generally being passive isn’t going to serve you well either. We all know one of the benefits of online tutoring. Actively engaging in discussions, answering questions (and yes, occasionally getting them wrong) are all helpful when it comes to further embedding the information.
The reality is, you are more likely to understand and retain information that you have gained through active learning and discussion, than simply listening to a teacher lecturing from the front of a class. Successful students are often the first ones with their hands up – why not resolve to give it a go come September?
Whatever you’re studying and no matter what level of education you’re at, whether it’s GCSEs or A Levels, it’s really important to have an end goal in mind. Knowing what it is that you ultimately want to achieve, gives you something to work towards, and allows you to keep track of your progress.
Our chemistry tutors, biology tutors and physics & maths tutors have all noted those students who start a course with a solid intention to achieve a specific grade, tend to do better than those who just want to “get through” the subject. Being determined to do more than simply pass, is one of the best ways to guarantee you’ll secure a better grade.
You’ll keep thinking of ways to ensure you perform better – reading articles like this is a great way to start!
The further you go along your educational journey, the more independent you are supposed to become. Teachers will no longer spoon-feed you information, instead, you will be responsible for taking notes, keeping hold of hand outs, accessing websites they’ve recommended and doing the homework. To keep track of all the different bits of information you’re provided with daily, you’re going to have to get, and ultimately stay, organised.
Having a notebook or ring binder for each individual subject is a great way to start. This way all the notes and materials you produce for each subject can be stored away easily, making it simple to refer back to when it comes to completing assignments or doing revision.
It’s also vital you have a planner or diary where you can keep track of deadlines. Whilst the deadline itself is, of course, worth noting, you should also take the time to organise and create a timetable for completing the work. Write down when you will commence your research, when you will write your first draft, when you will complete revisions and when you will write up the final version. When you have multiple essays or experiments to complete within a specific time period, it’s important you don’t leave them all to the last minute!
Where possible, try to set up a designated study space. This makes it easier for you to focus when it comes to studying, as all your notes, books and stationery will be in one place. It also means you can ensure that this area is free from the usual distractions you might find elsewhere in your home – no TV, no phone, no music (unless, of course, you study better with some background noise).
Another sign of a successful student is their willingness to seek out additional support. This may take the form of asking their biology tutor or physics tutor what more they can do to improve within class. Suggestions may include reviewing scientific journals, reading set textbooks, or simply engaging with a private science tutor.
Online tutoring has become increasingly popular since the start of the pandemic, with thousands of UK students accessing the expert assistance of a variety of subject tutors. Online biology tutors, for example, can help explain complicated biological concepts, provide advice on how to complete set class tasks, and even provide additional practical support through screen shares and video.
Working with a private tutor is a great way to ensure you understand concepts before moving on to something else. You will have the opportunity to play an active part in your education, working with your tutor to meet your goals and build confidence as you progress.
Here at Tutorspot, we have a wide range of tutors ready to help turn you into a successful student from lessons through to revision advice. Whether you’re looking for online chemistry tutors, or you’re keen to improve your maths skills, use our simple search tool to connect to a tutor online that will help you achieve your academic goals.
