Q&A for How to Be a Smart Student

It's always best to get a quick jump on your studies to avoid playing catch-up later in the term. Also, always follow up with your teacher on vague concepts, or when you can't follow the entire flow of the argument or concept. If you don't ask for help, these concepts will only get cloudier.

You can use a paper agenda book, or you can try something virtual like Google Calendar. Some people like to use color-coordinated systems, where there's a different color for each type of task. Use whatever system works best for you.

I would say the most important thing is to take really, really precise notes on what it is that the school is actually teaching, or what you're actually learning in class that will be on the test that you wouldn't already know. Because, for example, a lot of people will take too many notes, and literally write everything down. And at that point, they can end up spending too much time and having all these notes of really obvious stuff that they didn't need to take notes on, and then it takes them forever to go back into the notes to look for the information they need. Or vice versa, the opposite problem where they don't take enough notes. And now when they need to go back to study, there's nothing really to pull from and they're just gonna have to reread the book again. So you need to take the right amount of notes so that it's only on the things that would be on the test that you wouldn't already know.

Be organized, definitely. Be motivated to do well. Have dreams or goals and try to accomplish them, try your hardest in order to make things happen. Be disciplined, be a good self-advocate, and do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

There are no qualifications for "being smart." Even if you have a lower than normal IQ or have a learning disability, you can still be a smart student. Believe in yourself and ignore other people's opinions. You can be smart even if you aren't traditionally "intelligent."

Yes. Any student can follow these tips and work hard to become a smart student. There is no age minimum or maximum.

Try to find someplace in the house that's quieter (if such a room exists), such as a bedroom or a parent's office space, if it's available. You might explain your need to your family members and schedule "study time" for yourself someplace where siblings and parents agree not to interrupt you.

Find a type of genre that you like in particular: fiction, science-fiction, fantasy, romance, nonfiction, etc. Read books that interest you from that genre. As you continue to delve into the genre, you may grow to love reading and thus become a bookworm.

Have confidence in your own abilities -- everyone has a field they are great at. You just need to find it.

It's possible if your focus is narrow (that is, if you zero in one one or two things you want to know more about), if you have a natural affinity for your subject, and you work really hard. For some people, however, no matter what the subject is, it takes them a while to learn and achieve mastery.

If you want to have good grades, you will need to find the motivation to study. Make studying more interesting for yourself by coming up with games, rewards, etc. or ask a friend or family member to quiz you.

You can't achieve your goal without trying and putting in effort. Even knowing how to be smart without doing a lot of work requires some work to get that smart... as in, you need an excellent foundation across a wide range of subjects to be able to participate in lateral thinking and plausible conjecture. Otherwise, without knowing much, you will make stupid decisions and not know what you're doing. It might seem annoying but being smart requires effort. Being smart also is about choosing the right ways to study, not just reading and parroting back.

You should take notes in class, use highlighters so you remember important things. If you can, ask your teacher if you can voice record the class.

Being smart takes work, just as being strong takes exercise. You can't magically become smart without putting in mental effort. You have to think, study, and learn, whether it's school-related studying or your own independent learning. If you ever come across someone who seems to do well in school without studying, it's because their brain has been exercised enough to absorb information easily - or because they already learned what you guys are learning outside of school.

Be an active listener. Jot down important words, short phrases or questions onto note paper that you can use to study later. There are some other helpful tips in this article about taking lecture notes on wikiHow.

It can be. Laziness can affect your grades, your personality, and your motivation to study.

That depends. The teacher may like you, but the other students may not like it.

Ask your friends if you can all study together. One person in your group can ask questions while others answer them. You can also share notes together. Working in a group might help cement the information in your brain better.

Tell them nicely that you are trying to listen and take notes. If they continue to be a distraction, you should move your seat so that you can take notes and pay good attention in class.

Yes, smart students can also play video games.

There is some helpful advice in wikiHow articles Pay Attention in Class and Pay Attention in a Dull Class .

Think about all the benefits of studying and what it will help you to achieve. If you start to study, but just can't focus, take a break and do something else for a few minutes.

Try to split the subject you are trying to understand into separate components, and learn one thing at a time. Don't rush into studying really hard, but take your time and don't leave studying until it is almost time for an exam, as you will get stressed.

List all of your subjects (or parts of subjects), and take them in. Then, make a schedule where you have a mix of easy and hard studies in a day. Try not to have the same subject at the same time two days in a row.

Hiding them wouldn't really make you not think about them, but you could put them in a high cupboard where you don't usually go.

Wikihow has a great article on how to improve self confidence .

Take your homework with you to your activities and try to get something done during any free time. You can also work in the car on the way to and from your activities if this does not cause you to get carsick. If your grades are beginning to suffer, however, it may be necessary to cut back on your activities.

Evidence and research is stacking up to prove that comic books make their readers smarter. Comics make you want to read, and they use complex language, which improves verbal intelligence. Like steroids for the mind, comics can even take struggling readers and make them stronger!

Try to read in your free time. Keep studying topics you love and soon you will become smart for sure. And if you don't think you are smart, know that you are smart, you just need to keep trying.