How to increase my efforts by at least 6% ?

[oriental_express]

Hey everyone

Currently I'm in my 2nd year of computing and last semester my overall average % was 64.25% and it was very similar in my 1st year of computing. This works out as a 2.1 in grading but I really want it up to a 1st.

50-60% = 2.2
60-70% = 2.1
70-100% = 1st

I do feel that Im working hard but not enough to get that extra 6% to make my grades a 1st as I dont know how to work harder. I think its too easy to say "just work harder" or is that the case ?

What tips could you give to help me increase my % / effort ?

Thanks for replys.

[m0vingon]

That's a tough question. I don't know what technique you're using for your studies, but I'll tell you what I do when I'm in a pinch.

1) I write my class notes with different coloured pens. This way I can easily discern one topic from the next and I never get them confused.
2) I review notes at the end of the day and typically type them up on the weekend. I find that regurgitating the info helps me to retain it.
3) I research anything I'm not sure about. This gives me the benefit of seeing/hearing other peoples' takes on the material.
4) I talk to the profs or email them regularly. They often are more than willing to give me a "heads up" on what to know and what may be on an exam when I have contact with them outside of class.

When I honestly employ all of these tactics I get marks well into the 80s.With 2 preschool kids, more often than not I don't do much extra work and I carry high 70s. Now, my major is a humanity, so it's not the same as computers, but maybe if you can figure out what type of learner you are you can figure out some techniques to add to your regimen. You can do it. Good luck!

[Another Jen]

My first observation would be from what you say you already know what you need to do to get a 2:1, which is fantastic. You've not said how you've done that but if you were to look at how you are doing that already what obviously springs out at you which you feel would easily make that difference for you now?

Out of curiosity do you know the difference between a piece of work that is a 2:1 and a piece of work that gets a 1st? I ask because in my experience its a lot easier to get anywhere if you actually know what it is you're trying for. I know from a trainers point of view that I am always very impressed when someone takes it upon themselves to approach me to ask me how they "can improve even more." If you have a lecturer or postgrad who's opinions you respect you could always go and ask them for specific advice on what they see as being a way of improving.

I get that 6% is the amount that it would take you to get a 1st and I don't know how achievable you feel that amount is in one go (some people I suspect would find it easier than others). I was just wondering if you only improved by 0.5% each week what would be the first thing you would do? (after all in 12 weeks that would be a 6% increase - off course you could if you wanted aim for a 1% improvement each week).

One thing that I have found also often works for people is when they start to look at what would make it more fun? General when people are having more fun and enjoy something more, they do more of it and if you do more of anything you generally get better at it and when you get better at something you generally enjoy it more etc - It's what Michael Neill refers to as the enjoyment cycle. The worst that happens is that they have lots of fun but the vast majority of the time (and I have seen this happen just as much with learning as in other aspects of life) things start to move in the direction that they want it to move in.

Hope that helps

Jen

[RT Wolf]

Have you read this post:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...lege-students/

And this one:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/articles/do-it-now.htm

Have you googled "Improving your grades" and a number of other things hat mean teh same thing? Also search these forums for tips.

Also, check out your local library. A good book is Getting Straight A's. It offers some good advice that I thought if pressed most of us would know, but it codifies it into a system and also encourages you to actually take action. Its one thing to know how to do something and quite another to actually do it.

I might also ask, why only 6%? Sometimes hair, ambitious goals help motivate you and get you thinking in different ways about it.

BTW, if I ever have to hear, "Just work harder" again I'm gonna snap. Most people tend to have such useless advice.

HTH.