Do you want to get better grades but are not sure what you should change or where to start? With different subjects, exams, and grading rules, it is not always clear what really counts.
Getting better grades is not about being perfect. It is about understanding what matters in your courses and learning how to study more effectively.
Key takeaways:
- Understand how your courses are graded, follow the criteria closely, and focus on what really matters for each exam or assignment.
- Studying longer hours does not automatically lead to better results. Find study techniques that work best for you and improve your focus.
- Use feedback, ask questions early, attend classes, and meet deadlines. This is more helpful for better grades than revision alone.
- Good time schedules across all courses, along with healthy routines and balance, helps you stay consistent and do well throughout the semester.
In this guide, we walk you through what really matters for good grades and share simple, helpful tips you can start using right away.
Grades are a system, not just a measure of effort
Do you believe that good grades are mainly about working hard and studying all you can?
It is true that effort is important, but grades are also part of a system.
Grading systems work like a shared language. They help universities or companies understand how well you can meet certain learning goals and apply knowledge in an exam or assignment. This gives them an idea of how you learn and work, even if they do not know you personally.
In school, grading is often more guided. Teachers may support you closely and consider participation and behaviour. In college, grading is usually more formal. Exams, essays, and projects follow clear rules, often called rubrics or marking criteria.
Knowing what is expected – knowing these formal criteria – for each exam type, coursework, or assignment, is already a good start to getting better grades.
A good grade usually reflects several things:
- Understanding the topic, not just memorising facts
- Applying knowledge in exams or assignments
- Knowing what your teacher values (mainly for school)
- Meeting formal requirements for exams and coursework (= rubrics, marking criteria, course outlines)
- Studying efficiently and consistently
These points show why studying more hours does not always lead to better grades. If the way you study is ineffective, extra time spent on it may not help much.
In this sense, good grades reflect your understanding of the grading criteria and your studying system.
Use feedback and ask for help to improve your grades
Feedback is one of the most powerful tools for learning, because the feedback you get tells you exactly where your weak points lie.
To get better grades in college or school, start reading comments carefully. If you do this each time, you will learn what you’ve done well and what you can improve next time.
Feedback usually focuses on:
- Clear reasoning
- Good structure
- Correct use of sources
- Following given criteria and instructions
- Critical thinking
Understanding what professors or teachers base their grading and feedback on helps you adapt your work for better grades.
Asking for help is another important part. As a student, you may feel embarrassed to ask questions and show that you have not understood something. In reality, though, teachers often appreciate questions.
It shows that you are actively engaging with the topic.
Start by asking questions during classes. No question is too small or silly.
Other good ways to ask for help include:
- Visiting office hours with specific questions
- Emailing politely and clearly (Tip for college: Check if a professor has an assistant; they are more likely to take the time to reply)
- Asking for clarification on feedback
- Joining revision sessions
- Use intranets or other group chats of the course
Asking a question early can save you hours of trying to figure something out during study sessions.
| Personal Tip: Join any revision sessions or group reviews that are offered. I remember one statistics class in my Bachelor’s where I was hopelessly lost. The university offered revision sessions with PhD students for that course, and going to these really made the difference between failing and passing the exam for me. |
Study friends can also explain things in different ways and help you see the gaps in your understanding.
Manage your time and stay organised across all your classes
Do you sometimes focus so much on one subject that the others suddenly pile up? I have gone through that plenty of times during my studies.
Learning how to get better grades means managing all your courses together.
Start by getting an overview. At the beginning of the semester, write down:
- Exam dates
- Assignment deadlines
- Presentation dates
- Important readings
Tip: I personally like to make a visual plan or mind-map, for example with timelines, at the start of each semester. This way, I have a clear vision of when which class or assignment has priority. Also, I adapt these plans during the term, whenever needed.
The next step to help you stay organised across all courses is simple:
Attend your classes.
Attending helps you understand what teachers emphasise, and get to know any updates or changes made to the course.
Deadlines are another factor for good grades. Submitting late work often leads to penalties, even if the quality is good.
Simple time management habits help for not missing any deadlines:
- Plan weekly study blocks (make plans every week anew)
- Start assignments early (even tiny steps count)
- Break big tasks into small steps (make specific to-do lists)
- Review deadlines every week (keep yourself updated)
Practical tips for getting better grades
Here are some simple strategies I have gathered from my own study experience. You can start with any of these at any time.
Be prepared for each lecture or class
Read slides or texts before class, and do your homework. Write down any questions that come up.
If you already have an idea of what will be discussed, your brain can relate much better to what you hear and learn in class.
Attend classes and participate
Being present matters.
You take notes, hear explanations, examples, and can ask questions.
Take organised and useful notes
For me, organised and useful notes is the best basis for good studying and for actually understanding what you are learning.
When taking notes, do not just think of getting them onto paper to sort out later. Rather, try to make it easy for your future self when time for revision comes.
Link your notes to the class content while writing them.
For example, I always write them next to the slides of the lecture, so that I know to what part of the content they relate.
I also always quickly highlight the key ideas right when the lecture finishes.
Improve your study techniques
This is one of the most important steps.
To get into a study routine that actually works for you, you have to find out what techniques work best for you. There’s not one way of studying that suits everyone.
Ask yourself:
- Do I learn better alone or in groups?
- Where do I focus best?
- How long can I concentrate?
- What distracts me most?
We cover effective methods in our article on best study techniques. For focus training, see our guide on how to focus on studies.
Revise regularly
Do not wait until exams to go through all the material again.
For example, I like quickly rereading the last lecture the day before the next one. It freshens up the context in my mind.
Know your weak points
Pay attention to what feels difficult to you, and spend extra time on these areas to give you confidence.
Oral exams, for example, were always my weak point because I got very nervous. Whenever I had one coming up, I adjusted my study routine and practised by explaining the material out loud to myself or talking through it with friends.
Aim for understanding, not just memorising
Shift your mindset from thinking you have to ‘get through’ all of the material before the exam, to wanting to understand the main ideas first.
Some exams require memorisation (such as language vocabulary tests), but most university and school exams reward understanding.
Find a healthy balance
Research shows that good rest, health, and joy is just as important as studying to consistently getting better grades.
- Sleep enough
- Eat well
- Take breaks regularly
- Reward yourself after long study days
When I feel unmotivated, it is often because I neglected other parts of life for too long. Rest and proper breaks usually brings my energy back.
Conclusion: Start practicing now to get better grades
With a better understanding of what grades are made of, and with these tips in your pocket, you can start working toward better grades today!
If you are planning your next step in your studies, explore study programmes worldwide on StudyPortals to find courses that fit your goals and interests.
