Challenges of not able to pass JAMB/Post UTME exams, being on academic probation, having poor GPA, being unable to grasp fundamental courses, poor performance, etc. commonly called ‘temporary setbacks’ designed to demoralize. The reasons for this poor performance may vary from one person to another but whatever the reasons, they should not be an excuse for your academic downfall.
John F. Kennedy once wrote, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” This literally means that one should not dwell on the things that are happening right now, nor worry about the things that have already happened. Instead, one should focus on how to make adjustments, grow, and take the steps necessary to move ahead. Below is how to improve your grades and academic performance.
Get Help
Do not be demoralized or depresses about the situation, rather, you should focus on getting help from your academic advisor, lecturers, group or individual tutors, counselling and psychological services and faculty advisers. You can also communicate with your professor and teaching assistants regularly to make sure you are on track with your course work. You can even hire a private tutor or someone who is good at that course to help you get through your difficulties.
Set new goals and work out where you missed it
After you’ve got help, the next step is to make some set of goals that could help you catch up from where you missed it. Setting academic goals will enable you to continuously track your progress and adjust accordingly. The kind of goals discussed here should be considered a small adjustment throughout the year, rather than set huge goals when exams are approaching. By this, you can now make a list of the things that you are not good at and try to improve on them.
Plan your time and measure your progress
The process of setting new academic goals will enable you to plan your time more effectively and be able to measure your progress by re-evaluating your performance and determining what you are able to achieve throughout the year. If you plan your time wisely, you will not wait until the last minute to start reading for exams. If you wait until the last minute, you are only going to cause yourself anxiety, the pressure will build up and you will be unable to focus on your task. Finally, plan your time to include class attendants, engaging in active discussions with fellow students and preparing for each lesson.
Improve your learning skills
Along with getting help, setting new goals and working out where you’ve missed it, as well as planning time and measuring success, you will need to work on improving your learning skills. Improving your learning skills can mean, taking some time to revise your notes consistently and write a summary of your course work. Reading summary makes it easier to grasp. So, you don’t waste time reading bogus notes for exams. You can use past question papers to test your memory and master the areas of focus.
Finally, acceptance is a choice. You can accept and change your academic status. Be positive and improve your performance.