Are you happy with the grades you’re getting? Do you want higher grades but, aside from holding your tutor to ransom, you have no idea how to achieve them?

The best way to improve your grades is to improve your study skills. This means developing your abilities in these areas:

• Time management and organisation
• Note taking
• Essay writing (including academic writing, research, and critical thinking)
• Revision and exam preparation

Now this seems like a scary list I know. But you definitely do not have to tackle it all at once.

I promise you there are simple study techniques out there that, if followed, will improve your study skills and transform your results.

I want to share some of these with you today, broken down into three levels.

3 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR STUDY SKILLS (AND GRADES)

LEVEL ONE > Reflect on your grades and methods

Trying to improve your study skills and grades WITHOUT self-reflection would be like going on a treasure hunt without knowing which direction to head first. If you want higher grades you first need to reflect on where you are and where you’ve been.

Self-reflection involves looking inwards: at your strengths, weaknesses, drivers and goals. Get clear on these and you’ll know where to focus your efforts.

But self-reflection isn’t a one-time thing. It’s like shaving your legs (in summer anyway): you’ve gotta do it more than once.

Good news for you, I’ve created a printable workbook to help you get clear, so you can get those high grades.

Spend twenty minutes with a cup of tea (or wine) and go through the workbook to identify your strengths AND the areas you want to work on to improve your study skills and gain you higher marks.

LEVEL TWO > Test new study techniques

One of my core beliefs is that university doesn’t teach you HOW to study. It can only teach you WHAT to study.

This means we’re largely alone in working out the most effective study methods. (But don’t worry, that’s why I’m here!)

So if you only ever study using the same methods, chances are you haven’t tried enough to find those which will lead to the highest grades for you.

Trying to improve your study skills WITHOUT trying new techniques is like going on a treasure hunt without enough equipment. You find you have to walk the long way round a cliff because you didn’t think to bring rope to abseil down. You end up having to dig with your hands because you didn’t think to bring a shovel.

You still go the job done, but it took you longer and was A LOT harder.

Now, there’s not one right way of studying. The perfect method for you and each of your modules is probably different to the next student.

So I recommend switching up your methods often so you don’t get stuck in a rut.

With every new module, trial some new techniques to make sure you’ve found the best one for right now.

Here’s some of my best resources to help you find new study techniques, improve your study skills, and get higher grades.

Note taking

• How to choose the best note taking method
• 13 note taking mistakes successful students don't make
• Handwritten or typed: what is the best way to take notes?

Essay writing

• How to improve your critical thinking for higher grades
• Academic writing advice for more professional essays
• How to overcome the scary blank page and start your essay
• 5 simple tips for better sentence structure and higher grades
• 7 word count tips for clear, powerful academic writing.

Revision and exam preparation

• 15 revision mistakes stopping you getting high exam grades
• 5 tips for powerful flashcards and better revision
• 15 ways to fail an exam (and what you should do instead)
• How to banish your exam fears and improve your mindset.

Time management and organisation

• 5 simple steps to the most productive week ever
• How to boost your productivity with the Pomodoro Technique
• 15 ways to overcome studying procrastination
• How to organise your study materials for university success.

LEVEL THREE > Get tailored advice and training

Now there may be times when one-on-one advice or further training is necessary, such as:

• If you’re studying again after a break from education and feel your study skills are a little rusty
• If you don’t feel confident that you know HOW to study
• If you know what you need to do but need someone to kick you up the butt and keep you accountable
• If you’re studying alongside work or a family and need help fitting education into YOUR unique schedule
• If you’re set on achieving a certain degree classification and your grades aren’t high enough at the moment.

Trying to improve your study skills WITHOUT tailored advice would be like going on a treasure hunt somewhere unknown…without a guide. You may be lucky enough to stumble upon the right way, but it would be 100X easier with someone guiding you who knows the area.

As a study skills trainer, I have online courses and coaching packages that can help you:

• Discover smarter study so you can achieve higher grades in less time with lower stress
• Boost your confidence and self-belief so you can achieve grades you never thought possible before
• Get personalised advice and support for your course, strengths and situation

To find out how to level up your study skills to the max, check out my work with me page.

Don't forget to download your free self-reflection workbook to start improving your grades in only twenty minutes.