Expert offers tips for good grades

These tips can be used as guideposts to achieving
success in school.

LOS ANGELES — Achieving good grades can be a difficult task.

However, there “are certain guidelines you can follow that will help you achieve optimum knowledge and exceptional grades regardless of the difficulty of the subject,” according to Vielka McFarlane, the CEO and founder of the nonprofit Celerity Educational Group.

She offers these tips to improve your grades:

UOrganization: Plan a study framework and time line, keep ordered notes, maintain notebooks and develop a method for sifting through acquired knowledge. Organization is about compartmentalizing knowledge and streamlining content. Any methods for doing so will vary from individual to individual based on their learning style.

UAsk questions: This seems simple but asking questions about the material and the assignment is often overlooked. It is imperative to inquire in order to increase your knowledge. Thus, questioning is part of the learning process and is essential for achieving good grades.

UKnow what is expected: This means, among other things, knowing the criteria for the evaluation of your work. Educators call this “understanding the rubric.” Rubrics are essentially yardsticks for assessing and grading your work. Knowing the parameters of the rubric will help you modify your work product to ensure a favorable review and optimal grades.

UStudy groups: Developing a peer network or peer study group can be helpful in getting good grades. The peer study group can answer questions regarding the material, and the rubric and can offer support throughout the learning process.

URead for pleasure: Many people forget to read for fun. While in school and even after school there is this pressure to read for a purpose, but reading for fun is not only enjoyable but stimulates imagination, creativity and language development.

UTime management: Schedule time to study, do assignments and review notes. Planning ample time to acquire knowledge rather than trying to cram it in at the last minute will help you achieve good grades.