how to become a topper <3

Becoming the first rank of your class, or a class topper, is an incredible academic achievement, but it does require discipline, determination, and effort. Aside from scoring well on exams, class toppers choose their classes strategically and use specific techniques to stay organized and productive. Luckily, we’re here to teach you everything you need to know so you can follow their lead! By the end of this article, you’ll learn how to organize your schedule, work more efficiently, and become the top of your class. 🍓How to Top Your Class?? Participate in class discussions to fully understand the lesson and get clarity on confusing topics. You can also create a homework calendar to ensure you complete your assignments on time. When you study, do so for 1-2 hours at a time, and take a short 10-minute break if you feel like you're losing focus. 1. Sit at the front of the class. Choose a seat at the front of the room so you can listen attentively to everything that your teacher says. Being up front makes it easier to pay attention in class because it removes distractions from your classmates, and it also puts you on your teacher’s radar, giving you a better opportunity to earn extra brownie points. • Sitting in front will also remove the temptation to pull out your phone, read something that isn’t pertinent to the class, or zone out. • If you can't move to the front of the class, ask your classmates to let you focus and to not talk to you during class. 2. Take concise notes during lessons. Absorb the most you can during each lesson by taking better notes in class. Instead of writing down every word your teacher says, listen attentively to pick up on important details, such as names, dates, and places. This narrows down the amount of information you need to learn, which can help boost your productivity and minimize stress. For instance, you might write: "Franz Ferdinand (archduke of Austria) was assassinated on June 28, 1914." • If your teacher hints that a specific subject might show up on an upcoming exam, put a star next to your notes so you can go back and focus on studying it. • If you’re a visual learner, create charts, diagrams, or doodles to help you remember things. 3. Actively participate in class discussions . Speak up in class to show that you are keeping up with the course work and thinking about the material thoughtfully. Bring up points and questions that relate directly to the specific lesson or module your class is covering that week. Mention other students’ ideas in a respectful way, either to agree or disagree, to show that you are fully engaged in the conversation. • For example, say something like, "I agree with Andrea's point about global warming, and I think even more effort can be put into making a change." • Try to think of questions that will spark further discussion. For instance, "How do you think Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet might have been different if he had written the play in the age of social media?" 🍓Homework • Create a homework calendar. Set up a day planner to help you juggle coursework for different classes. • Complete all of your assigned reading on schedule. Carefully review your calendar and course outline to set aside enough time to read. Completing your readings before class helps you fully engage in class discussions, impress your teachers, and prepare for any potential pop quizzes • Shift between subjects when you lose concentration. If you have multiple homework assignments from different classes, shift between them when you start to lose focus. A fresh topic can reinvigorate your mind and ensure that you do not waste any valuable time. • Turn your homework in on time. Late homework is usually subject to penalties that will bring down your grade (and possibly lower your class rank). 🍓Studying • Start studying for exams at least 3 weeks early. If you have a major exam coming up, begin studying as early as possible. Give yourself 3-4 weeks to cover all the material in small, manageable study sessions, and plan out these sessions in advance so you have enough time to keep up with all of your other course work. Planning ahead will remove stress from the studying process, making it easier to concentrate. • Revise regularly to help you retain information. Revision is the process of answering questions, recalling facts, and connecting new information to your existing knowledge. Instead of simply reading over your notes, develop your own materials to fully understand lessons and study more efficiently. • Test yourself to gauge your progress. While studying for exams, use practice tests or previous years’ exams to test yourself on the course content. Complete them within the same time frame as you’re given in class, and score them once you’re finished to see what areas you can improve on. If you don’t attain the scores you need to achieve first rank, schedule additional study time to improve your performance. • Remove any distractions from your room. Create an optimal environment for learning by putting away your phone and turning off the TV and radio when studying. If possible, study without using your computer: read out of a book, use a paper and pen to take notes, and make physical flashcards.

PrevNext