Q&A for How to Make All A's in High School

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  • Question
    How can I study smart?
    Ashley Pritchard, MA
    School Counselor
    Ashley Pritchard is an Academic and School Counselor at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Ashley has over 3 years of high school, college, and career counseling experience. She has an MA in School Counseling with a specialization in Mental Health from Caldwell University and is certified as an Independent Education Consultant through the University of California, Irvine.
    School Counselor
    Expert Answer
    Give yourself breaks as rewards to motivate your study sessions. For example, every 30 minutes or hour that you study, take 10 minutes off as a break. In that time, you can go for a short walk, make a snack, or watch a few minutes of a show you like. Then you can get back to studying feeling refreshed and ready to go until the next break.
  • Question
    I'm a freshman and I don't know my goal yet, is that bad?
    Community Answer
    No, take your time deciding what you want to do. There are a lot of people who switch majors in college, and plenty of adults figuring out what they want to do as a career. Focus on your grades; the better your grades, the more opportunities that will be available to you when you do make your decision.
  • Question
    How can I balance school work, activities, and family time?
    Community Answer
    When you get home, do school work, then other activities and then you can spend the later hours to relax with your family.
  • Question
    How do I get A's when I am not a good student?
    Community Answer
    Do all the work, even if you don't understand it, so that you at least showed your participation and that you tried. Also study hard, read and reread your notes or textbooks to cram all the new knowledge into your head. If you ever have questions, or feel like you need extra help, don't be afraid to ask the teacher, that's what they're there for.
  • Question
    What if I don't have time to study?
    LittleMissAwkward
    Community Answer
    Try your best to write out a schedule that includes all your daytime activities AND your study time. If you want to get an "A" then it is important that you make time to study. You could also try talking to a guidance counselor - see if they can arrange for a free period where you can get some work done.
  • Question
    How do I become interested in studying?
    Community Answer
    Connect your subjects to your daily life to make them more relevant.
  • Question
    How am I supposed to have a quiet area when I have to clean the house and listen to people yelling and screaming all the time?
    Community Answer
    Go to the library, the park, or go sit in a car. Wake up earlier than everyone else and do your homework then, or put in earplugs/earbuds.
  • Question
    How do I lift D's up to A's?
    Community Answer
    Set realistic goals, study hard, prioritize your time and complete your assignments. This is not an overnight process, so you'll need to be patient; first work toward getting them to C's, then B's, then A's.
  • Question
    Is it okay if I do my homework during recess and other free time in school?
    Community Answer
    Yes! Completing homework during breaks at school allows you to be sure you get your work done and then leaves time after school for any other commitments or activities you may have (family things, social events, a part-time job, sports, music, etc.).
  • Question
    How can I turn an A- into an A in one of my classes?
    Community Answer
    First, ask your subject-area teacher for advice. He or she would know exactly where you've been falling (slightly) short and be able to direct your studies. You could also buy exercise books that are harder than what you are learning right now. For example, if you are in grade 7, do questions in grade 8 books to challenge yourself.
  • Question
    How do I find a space to study with no noise?
    Community Answer
    Study at your local library or the one at school, or just in your room with the door closed. If it's too loud at home, try asking people to keep quiet while you're working, or get some earplugs.
  • Question
    How can I do my work daily, though I do not want to do it?
    Community Answer
    Motivate yourself. Usually, it feels good when you try your best and complete assignments, especially if you finish them beforehand. Ask your parents to purchase notebooks and materials you'll need if you don't have them already. Customize them the way you want. It'll make you want to have them with you at all times.
  • Question
    How can I get an A in a class when I don't really understand the work and I'm scared to ask for help?
    Community Answer
    You shouldn't be scared to ask for help. Your teacher will be happy to give you some extra guidance. If you really don't want to talk to them, ask a classmate who seems knowledgeable in that subject to help you.
  • Question
    How do I get A's in high school when what I'm doing doesn't work?
    Community Answer
    Figure out what exactly you need help with. Then, do as much as you can to fix that problem.
  • Question
    How do I deal if my parents have lost hope in me?
    Community Answer
    Prove them wrong, plain and simple. Even though they have given up on you, you NEVER give up on yourself. The first step to being successful is believing in yourself mentally. Actions speak louder than words. Show them what you can do.
  • Question
    How can I balance my games, school work, house work, and have time for my family?
    Community Answer
    Set up a schedule for everything that you need to get done, including work and socializing. Determine how much time you need to set aside for each activity and then work those activities into each day of your week. Doing this at the beginning of each week can make it much less stressful for you.
  • Question
    I am obsessed with video games, and my grades are suffering. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    Come home from school and do your homework and studying immediately. Don't play anything until it's done. Give your controllers to a parent if you know you can't trust yourself. If you don't want to do it this way, use the games for a break/reward system. Study for 45 minutes, then take a 15 minute break to play, then return to studying. Set a timer so you know when it's time to get back to work. This will only work if you have the willpower to stop playing!
  • Question
    What can I do if I freeze when I have a test and forget everything I learned even though I study hard?
    Community Answer
    Maybe you do not have the correct study habits. You should try to study daily for at least 30 minutes, and the more the better. Cramming all of your study time to the day before the test/quiz won't help you as much, and do not study too hard. Study for 45 minutes at a time and take a 15-minute break, and repeat this process for the best results.
  • Question
    What can I do during the summer to prepare for the upcoming school year and get good grades?
    Community Answer
    Make sure to take care of any summer work. Ask the teachers at your school what kind of work you should do to prepare for the next grade; they may be able to give you general advice or specific assignments. You could also focus on reviewing material from the previous year to ensure that you can learn new material more quickly.
  • Question
    How do I become an A student in high school if I wasn't a good student in middle school?
    Community Answer
    You have to focus, take notes in class, do your homework and study. All pretty straightforward.
  • Question
    Why do Freshman have trouble getting A's their first year of high school?
    Ashtyn Felton
    Community Answer
    Sometimes Freshman come from places that aren't exactly helping them cope with school, or they struggled the year before entering high school. The best way to get around this is to have a desired plan for Freshman year, with goals such as, "I want to get better grades than last year" or "I want to make honor roll and have straight A's". These goals will give you proper motivation and also help you feel as if you can accomplish anything you need to accomplish.
  • Question
    What can I do to lessen my stress if my parents are pressuring me to get straight As all of the time?
    Community Answer
    Try meditation or other relaxation activities. Also, talk to your parents about how you're feeling. Remind them that you're working as hard as you can, and that the pressure they're putting on you is making you feel stressed out and anxious.
  • Question
    How do I not be nervous about getting good grades in high school when transitioning from middle school?
    Community Answer
    High school teachers are more understanding. Trust me. My GPA was only 3.88 in middle school, but it's 4.0 now. If you are not doing well in a class, feel free to ask: "How can I improve to an (insert grade here)?" Your teachers will put you on the right track. Also, take advantage of extra credit.
  • Question
    How can I redeem myself after getting a bad grade?
    Community Answer
    Try harder next time. If you're not sure what went wrong, talk to the teacher about it. Ask for extra help if you don't understand the material, and if you think your studying skills could use some work, check out the article on How to Study and/or ask your school counselor for tips.
  • Question
    How do I focus on school instead of getting distracted by other things?
    Community Answer
    Have a designated study time every day. During that time, put away all distractions, like your phone, tablet, etc., and just focus on schoolwork. Give yourself a 15 minute break every 45 minutes or so. Remember, you can do whatever you want once your schoolwork is done. But this time is just for homework.
  • Question
    What if I have tests in multiple classes with very long study lists? How do I remember and balance that much studying and repetition?
    Community Answer
    First, prioritize which subjects you need to study the most, and then prioritize the smaller topics within each subject. Just like you would do on a question on a test, don't spend too much time on one, and not enough on the others. Once you've studied a good amount for one subject, move on. Give yourself some time at the end to briefly go back over your notes or the main ideas from each subject.
  • Question
    Is it okay to study in a comfortable place if I am sure I won't be distracted?
    Community Answer
    Yes, if you won't be distracted and you're sure you won't fall asleep, it's fine to be comfortable while you're studying. Just be honest with yourself. If you feel yourself having a hard time concentrating, move to a more suitable location.
  • Question
    How can I balance school, my job, and other activities? It's my senior year and I want to do really well.
    Community Answer
    You need to have priorities and understand the value of education. It is your last year in high school and you need to balance your life. For example, if you play basketball for 2 hours every day, limit that to 1 hour and spend the extra time in the subject you need the most help on.
  • Question
    I want to move to a better school, and for that I need a good report. Half the year is complete and I have gotten mostly B's. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    You should start fresh. Recognize your mistakes and make sure you don’t make them again. Focus on the time that’s left and make a detailed plan for your studies going forward.
  • Question
    How do I change a grade C to a grade B?
    Community Answer
    That's a question for your teacher, my friend. Maybe he/she'll give you an extra credit project.
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