<p>How did you get straight As. What characteristics did you have which other students did not have. What is the differentiation factor from you and other students. What advice can you give, about how to study, and how to get straight As.</p>
<p>excellent question, lets see what they respond with.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure most are:</p>
<p>-Intelligent
-Organized
-Meticulous
-Hardworking</p>
<p>I'm</p>
<p>-Unorganized
-Hardworking
-Intelligent
-Pay little attention to detail </p>
<p>so I only manage about a B+ average although I grasp many complex concepts with ease. </p>
<p>I'm pretty sure you can be a flat-out genius and get bad grades though--Einstein did.</p>
<p>Just Over Achieve!!! Bug Your Teachers Until They Give You A's!!</p>
<p>Yeah...I'm sure I bugged the heck out of my teachers. I asked a million questions about everything. And every single assignment is important...even if it's only worth twenty points. Beyond that, I just kept ahead of all my classes, and I read a bunch.</p>
<p>I've been on both sides of this question. From 1st Grade to 6th, I was an A student, then in 7th and 8th, My grades slipped drastically because I sort of stopped caring, and then in 9th (this year), I've gotten all A's so far, and now that I'm back on track, I'm takin all honors classes next year, with only 1 this year. So seriously, the reason my grades slipped in 7th and 8th-------
behold....</p>
<p>I didn't do homework. That's it. I did fine on tests and such. As long as you do your homework, you seriously understand the material. I use to think that when teachers said this, it was a bunch of bull****. I have never studied for a test and I usually get 95-98% on them. The reason is because I try to pay attention in class and do homework. This really cuts out for the need to study, except about 5-10 minutes if you don't remember how to do something, or you have to memorize dates or something. It's really not hard to be an A student. And also, if you get a B or lower, don't be content. Drive yourself. If you''re content with a B, then you have no motivation to get an A on the next test.</p>
<p>
THat's because Einstien had a brain disorder when he was young. They say that he was actually retarded, which in my pinion, is har to believe. He did have some sort of brain disorder though. They know because the've stored his brain in a bottle and studied a piece of it.</p>
<p>There are many, many smart kids at the top prep school I attend. I can tell you for sure it's not the smartest kids that get the best grades much of the time. Great grades, assuming you have the capacity to understand what you're being taught, are about study skills, time management, focus and priorities. Great research skills are key. Understanding what a particular teacher wants and expects and doing more.</p>
<p>I got A's in two classes because I kept on annoying the teacher. I got a B in one class, and I stayed after school for six days with the teacher trying to make sure there was not a single mistake in my grade (there wasnt). In the end she finally got bored and just gave me a B+
I tried that with another teacher and he actually took me down from an A to an A- because of what I did. :(</p>
<p>I've always been a straight-A student... but I don't think there's much a "trick" to it, but some things will ensure that you <em>don't</em> get straight-A's:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Falling asleep in class/ not paying attention</p></li>
<li><p>Taking anything lightly in the first couple of weeks</p></li>
</ul>
<p>** Planning to "bring your grade up" - always work harder in the beginning (VERY BAD :P)</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Neglecting "free points"/homework</p></li>
<li><p>Taking a test "cold" (I don't much, but I always look over notes and review the day of the test)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I slack a lot, I don't do homework at home most of the time, and I don't study at home at all... but I've always known what a teacher wants (as tumr says) and I have a knack for multiple choice tests, apparently. That's about all :)</p>
<p>you can be extremely smart and not get As. School tests you on intelligence to a certain extent but not nearly enough</p>
<p>I don't do much work at home anymore either. But just keep up in class. Stay engaged, follow what the teacher is saying, and make sure you understand everything before going to school the next day. Just keep up with the material and you shouldn't have a problem on tests.</p>
<p>I sleep in class, I do the majority of my homework the day it's due, I study for tests a period before, and I am not that naturally smart</p>
<p>I've gotten straight As this year :)</p>
<p>It's all about just keeping up with the material for tests/quizes. I usually know nothing until the day of a test.</p>
<p>No procrastinating. Period.</p>
<p>One thing that is important rather then just studying and paying attention is to let the teacher know that you care about your grades and work. Make sure the teacher knows that you are serious about work. NEVER BRAG A TEACHER FOR ANY GRADE! This will only hinder you.</p>
<p>I'm not officially a straight A student, so I dont know how relevent this is (I told my driver's ed instructor that I could make the corner, and I did, but he still barely passed me).</p>
<p>I'm like annn. My friends usually have to remind me if we have a test that day. I slept through all of my freshman year science class and ended up with the highest grade. I played varsity football and did Science Olympiad, coached Science Olympiad, am Senior class president, and am FFA Chapter president.</p>
<p>My main advice is not to rely on your teachers to teach you, but teach yourself. Pick out your own important points, know when to listen and when to zone out, and when the teacher is on an endless out-of-the-book lecture, just cancel him/her out and read the book yourself, but try not to draw attention to yourself so you don't get called on.</p>
<p>But by far the most important thing a student can do is make friends with the school janitors, secretary, and clerk. These are the three people that actually run the school, can open up rooms whenever you ask, and do any number of vital favors.</p>
<p>I'm a pretty close to strait A student (1 B+ in my whole high school career)</p>
<p>I am extremely lazy, I procrastinate a lot, and I don't really do homework. I usually read the book the night before the test or the morning of the test in a class.</p>
<p>Here's how to get As:</p>
<p>-Pay attention in class and engage in the disucssions/ask questions
-Make friends with the hardworking kids -- they come in handy when the teacher wants to check homework or make you do busywork
-Don't expect to sleep much
-My personal philsophy: "I refuse to lose".... learn it and you will not fail in your goal
-Almost NEVER memorize stuff... understand it instead
-Make friends with kids who have classes in periods before you
-Learn how to BS like it's your job (easy As in all the non-math/science classes)
-For math/sci classes read my other advice: don't memorize as much as you understand, and engage in discussion</p>
<p>READ THE LESSON BEFORE.
Then when the teacher goes over it in class, you won't be confused. You will at least have a notion of what is going on. Ask questions.</p>
<p>Reeze nailed it. Learn how to BS</p>
<p>I don't know how many times I've talked my teachers out of a bad grade by making them see reason</p>
<p>One time I talked up a math test 30 points, no lie</p>
<p>"Almost NEVER memorize stuff... understand it instead"</p>
<p>YESx4585904389043859043.</p>
<p>Memorizing is a <em>waste of time</em>. Really. Especially in higher level classes since it's all application anyways. </p>
<p>When I actually try in classes I make thorough outlines in a word document and near finals/AP exams I combine all the documents. For chapter tests, details were important. Now, I'm basically condensing it to get the main idea from all the important concepts. Hoping I think in a very organized fashion so these help a lot in classes that have a lot of new information. This is when I feel like trying in a class. It's not as effective unless you do it the entire year. And in the end it makes a nice reference when you have to review a previous class for some reason... </p>
<p>Math and science courses I just do as many example problems as possible and try to understand concepts perfectly. I don't really care if I get the right answer ... it's really the WHY that you have to know to do well on tests. If I don't understand something I just find websites that explain the concepts and eventually I'll get it.</p>
<p>English courses -- sparknotes is God. Seriously. Reading is something for people who have time. I use sparknotes when I don't have time to read chapters and then I can still participate in discussions. Then I use sparknotes before tests to get the bigger idea and avoid focusing on details that nobody cares about.</p>
<p>Foreign language--I use notecards for vocab/some grammar basics. A lot of foreign language classes for me is rereading/redoing worksheets. I guess this class is one where memorization is key. Maybe that's why I dislike it..</p>
<p>Two other things: First, I only did well in school when it got hard. During 'easier times' (like when teachers forcefeed information or when there's a lot of BS worksheets to do) I slack off and do terrible. When it gets super hard and most poeple freak out under pressure-- that's when I can perform at my best. And second, I've never asked a teacher for help. I don't know what it is, but if I can't figure out on my own... well, that's not an option. I'm an (intensely?) independent learner.</p>