<p>This is a little off topic, but I have always wondered this: have you ever wondered why some people who don't study at all receive decent to top grades while those that study everything up and down receive okay to average grades, but in other words, really have to work hard to do well? </p>
<p>There is a girl in my math class who never pays attention. She takes messy notes, stares into space a lot, and never really completes much of the homework on her own (our teacher gives most of the answers the next day, assuming we "tried our hardest"). However, when we test, she always manages to place in the top bracket. Sometimes somebody studies a little harder or is more familiar with the math, but she always seems to creep up and grab an A in the class. It is the same with the SAT or ACT. I studied the practice book my counselor gave me, but I received only a 23. This other girl said she barely even looked at the practice book, and went in and came out with a 27. She got an 1130 on her SAT, which in our school, is very good. People who actually studied actually didn't even go or they didn't do as well. </p>
<p>It always bothered me that while I study and get really good grades, it takes work, while this other girl hardly ever studies and yet receives almost the same grades as me, if not better. Does that say this person is smarter or has a better memory? Does it say a 27 on the ACT is equal to someone who studied their heart out and got a 31? How can you compare them?</p>
<p>i know what you mean. i know plenty of people who never bother to study for anything and end up making awesome grades. it's very strange... i guess they're just lucky. but the work they have to do in college will probably be a lot harder, and then they won't know how to study, so that's going to be bad. i'm actually guilty of the whole not studying thing with SAT and ACTs. for some reason i'm good at mind numbing tests...</p>
<p>My friend said that I'm one of those kind of people.
Probably memory accounts for a large portion of this phenomenon.
Whats sucks is that my other friends claim that I study like crazy when I go home, which ****es me off because I don't.</p>
<p>Some people have more advanced innate understanding than others. This happens particularly frequently in math. It's one of those things that people just "get," so they don't have to study for tests.</p>
<p>Also, people learn very very differently. A friend of mine is able to recall exact phrases from books and exactly what teachers say, so she just searches through her memory during tests and finds the answers. Myself, I learn better by association. I can't remember exactly what what I read or hear, but I relate it to another thought in my mind or fact that I memorized and I usually remember it. That and cramming between classes is mostly how I live.</p>
<p>I am one of those people, sorry. I am a slacker, but Junior year I got a 4.47 GPA. And my school is pretty competitive. Most of the work I do is in school, during homeroom and during class. I used to try hard, but I never got grades as good as I do now. I guess I just learned how to manage my time more efficiently and beat the system. Memory is definitely a factor, as is intelligence/innate understanding.<br>
But the bad thing is that I have essentially no ECs. My friend told me that colleges will think I study 24/7 because of that. The SAT is one abberation for me, because I actually studied and still am studying for it.</p>
<p>Although it is definately possible for CERTAIN people to attain high grades w/o studying, don't be fooled by those that "hide" their studying. I know a person that FREQUENTLY says "I NEVER STUDY!!!!! DON"T SAY THAT I STUDY, STUPID!," yet I found out that he spends 3-4 hours per night reviewing material.</p>
<p>Just don't feel bad about what you think is your lack of inate intelligence. In every field, the most successful people are those that WORK HARDER than anyone else.</p>
<p>Its okay. If you need to study, study. I have found that I can get by without studying, but that doesn't mean that doesn't mean you are stupid. You need to find a method of studying that works for you. Because apparently, however your teacher is teaching is an effective way for learning for your non-studying peers.</p>
<p>I also want to add that kids who read about subjects for fun also have an advantage over you when it comes to whether they need to study or not.</p>
<p>agree with the last post. I have been always interested in the sciences. altough i got a C in my ap chem class, i got a 4 on the test, also in physics I never had to study at all and had a 99 average on tests. On the other classes i have to study though, but l like saying that i dont study cus its mostly true lol. I have a 3.8 u.w gpa.</p>
<p>It depends on what you're good at. I needed to study for biology in our school's AP class, and I barely slid by with a very low A. On the other hand, I don't need to study for standardized tests (I actually got the best score on the test I didn't study at all for.)</p>
<p>how do you guys like keep studying.. i have a major problem with concentration.. like im nto add or anything.. lol.. but i just arg, i open my book and my mind wanders from one thing to another.. and before i know its like 11 and im like ahhh.. i have soo much to do.. how do you guys make yourselves concentrate?</p>
<p>When I study, I guess I naturally enjoy it. I become absorb in the material. </p>
<p>There was a time I had to study something I didn't rightly care about. Something in history. And the text book was rather dull. I drew comics and pictures of whatever was happening. I also took it one bit at a time. I had to start early. I read half a chapter almost every day. Haha.</p>