In the world today, many believe there is no value in education.
“School na scam,” they say.
“Getting straight A’s doesn’t guarantee success in life.”
“Having a First Class won’t make you rich.”
But it sure won’t hurt. On the contrary, it increases your chances of accessing certain opportunities in your career path. Moreover, everything worth doing is worth doing well. If your parents spend a fortune to put you through school, make the most of it.
Whether you intend to get a good job, run a successful business, or further your studies (especially if you want to study abroad), your education counts. So, if you’ve been playing with your studies, this is a wake-up call to take it seriously.
READ: What GPA Do I Need For an Ivy League Admission?
Your GPA and CGPA play a vital role in your academic performance. You have little or no chance of getting admitted into your dream school abroad without a good GPA. Most universities abroad are not just interested in knowing if you graduated with a First, Second, or Third Class. They also review your transcripts and crosscheck your GPA to gain insight into your academic standing throughout your undergraduate study. These things may not matter in your country, but they do in the western world.
READ: What’s the Difference between GPA and CGPA?
Don’t be scared. You still have a shot at making your dreams come true. Having a low GPA is not a death sentence. No matter how low your grades are, you can still fix them.
In this article, we will share tips on improving your GPA and CGPA.
Are you ready to learn?
Let’s get into the crux of the matter.
Tips on How to Improve Your GPA and CGPA
Now you understand the importance of having good grades; the next question is, “How do I improve my GPA and CGPA?”
Good thing we came prepared. This is going to be a detailed and practical read. So, be ready to take notes with your pen and jotter.
Here are some tips to help you improve your grades and raise the bar.
1. Evaluate Where You Are
The first thing you must do to improve your GPA and CGPA is to retrace your steps. This is the most crucial part of your plan. You cannot solve a problem effectively without first identifying the root cause.
You can start by answering this question: How good or bad are your grades? Be honest with yourself. If you don’t have a clear answer to this question, you can calculate your GPA with our Effiko GPA Calculator. It is fast, accurate, and easy to navigate.
READ: How to Calculate GPA and CGPA
There are more questions you need to answer:
When did you start having bad grades?
Do you know what went wrong?
Were you distracted by friends, extracurricular activities, or personal issues?
Do you struggle to understand or remember what you read?
Evaluate where you are in your educational journey, identify the loopholes and check how much time you have to fix your mess. For example, If you are a fresher who slacked because you got carried away by the frivolities of the first year, you have enough time to level up. So, you can map out a long-term study goal and strategy. However, if you are in your penultimate or final year, time is not on your side. What you need at this point is an emergency fix.
Once you’ve identified the root of your problem and how much time you have, you can take steps to create a pragmatic solution. You can readjust your schedule, reduce external commitments, create study goals, and try new study/learning techniques.
Now, let’s discuss some of the study and learning techniques you can use to revamp your GPA.
2. Attend Classes Regularly
If you want to improve your GPA and CGPA, then you must stop skipping classes. We know you will still read the lecture notes, but by skipping class, you miss out on other important things like:
▪︎Detailed verbal explanations and visual demonstrations that will help you understand the topic.
▪︎The chance to ask questions and learn from the Q&As of other students.
▪︎Important points that may not be highlighted in the lecture note.
▪︎Special announcements that may help you prepare for quizzes and exams.
▪︎Most importantly, the opportunity to earn extra marks.
In some schools, class attendance serves as part of your continuous assessment. Sometimes, a lecturer may award extra marks to a student who answers a question correctly in class.
Also, some lectures are observant enough to know the students who attend their classes and those who do not. Don’t ruin your reputation by identifying with the latter. Some lecturers take these things seriously and may regard you as an unserious student. We bet you don’t want that kind of prejudice to cloud their minds when marking your scripts.
3. Participate Actively in Class
Don’t just attend classes and be a passive observer. That defeats the aim of attending classes. Be an active participant in the class. Sit in the front row, where you won’t be distracted. Listen attentively and engage fully by volunteering for demonstrations and asking and responding to questions.
Also, create a system for taking notes in class. You can use a notepad or audio recorder, which you can listen to at your leisure. Participating in class shows the lecturer that you are eager to learn. It also helps you to remember the things taught in class.
READ: The Advantages of Using a GPA Calculator
4. Create a Study Strategy
Sometimes, we fail not because we do not study but because we do not study effectively. The only sure way to make the most of your study time is to employ a strategy that complements your schedule and learning style. If you don’t have a study strategy, you can read all day and night to no avail.
What time works best for your study pattern? Do you assimilate better when reading in the morning, at noon, or at night? Now, organise your schedule to fit in that study time. Create a time management system that helps you prioritise only the important stuff. As you create a study timetable, remember that writing assignments differs from studying. Separate your personal study time from group study and homework. Each has its relevance.
What study techniques work best for you? Are you are text, visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? Do you learn better by reading lecture notes and textbooks, watching YouTube videos, or listening to podcasts and lecture recordings? Figure out what works for you and stick to it. As you study, keep a list of proven information sources, web apps, and other dependable resources you can use for future reference.
5. Do a Weekly Study Review
The mistake many students make is that they relax and do nothing at the beginning of the semester. Only for them to suddenly become serious and try to read everything at once just before the mid-semester quiz or final exam. That’s practically impossible. Little wonder you don’t remember what you’ve read during the quiz or exam.
You can’t force-feed your brain and expect it to function properly. The best approach to studying is to take it bit by bit. Create a study goal and action plan to help you learn consistently. Breakdown the curriculum into bits and start studying one after the other at the beginning of the semester. You can create a daily timetable and spend at least 30 minutes on one topic. If you do this consistently, you will cover the curriculum by the end of the semester.
You can also start a weekend study review where you revise everything taught for the week. The more you do this, the more you get familiar with the subject. This will improve your understanding and retention capacity. You will be better equipped to ace your exams at the end of the semester. As the saying goes, little drops of water make a mighty ocean.
READ: What You Should Know Before Studying Abroad
6. Make Use of the Library
Reading in your dorm room isn’t always the best, as you can get distracted by your roommates and other visitors. Not everyone will be thoughtful enough to give you some space and quiet to read unless it’s at night when everyone’s asleep.
Your study time will be more productive if you use the school library or other learning facilities. The school library is a designated place of study, so it is naturally quiet and conducive for reading. It also gives you access to additional study materials and resources that could come in handy. So, if you do not have a library card, get one now!
7. Avoid All-Nighters
We are not saying you can’t study at night. However, as you apportion time to study at night, ensure you get enough sleep. Studies show that poor performance in school can be linked to sleep deprivation. Your brain and body need good sleep to function properly.
Remember, you still have to attend lectures the next day. You don’t want to wake up cranky and be caught nodding off in class. No, skipping class is not an option. We’ve already agreed that attending classes is just as important as your private study.
Moreover, if you consistently practice the tips we shared in No.5, you won’t need an all-night emergency study to ace your exam. You can’t slack off all semester and think you can fit three months of lectures into one night. You’re not a magician, are you?
READ: What You Should Know About Work-Study Life
8. Befriend Smart Students with High GPA
We often talk about networking in the corporate world. The same rules apply in school. If you can’t beat them, join them and learn what they know. To improve your GPA and CGPA, you must make friends with students who are already on that pedestal. Instead of making fun of the geeks and nerds in your class, get closer to them.
These are the kind of friends that will motivate you to read and pay attention in class. You can form a study group with them and ask them to teach you topics you need help with. They can also help you navigate difficult subjects, assignments, and class projects. Most importantly, they will hold you accountable and help you stay out of trouble.
READ: Can I Get a Foreign Scholarship with a 2:2 Degree?
9. Leverage Extra Credit Marks
Some lecturers give students opportunities to earn extra credit marks. These are goldmines you can use to improve your GPA and CGPA.
It could be classwork, attendance to class, answering questions, term paper, assignments, impromptu quizzes, etc. Don’t slack o! Be alert and seize the opportunity. Take advantage of them to improve your grades.
You don’t like impromptu quizzes? No one does. But if you follow the tips we’ve shared above and study consistently, then you have nothing to fear.
10. Reward Yourself
Don’t look surprised. Rewarding yourself is part of the game plan. As the saying goes, every worker is deserving of their wages. You’ve worked hard to improve your GPA and CGPA, and you deserve a pat on the shoulder for achieving your goals. Good grades are their own reward, but giving yourself a little treat or incentive won’t hurt. This way, you will be motivated to do more next semester.
Conclusion
We’ve shared all you need to improve your GPA and CGPA. Now, it’s time for you to roll up for sleeves and get to work. Improving your GPA and CGPA is not as hard as you think. All it takes is a little discipline and commitment. Start by taking little steps today, and you will be back to thank us in a few months.
Remember, you can calculate your GPA with our Effiko GPA calculator. Click here to download it now! Schedule a call with our careers advisors if you need further guidance on improving your grades.