The short answer here is that to achieve a straight A grade as an 8th Grader (US System) or in the UK a Year 9 student, there are four main categories one should focus on: Classroom Tactics, Homework Management, Test Preparation, and Teacher Relationship. These aspects are deemed to be the most effective and give a student the best chance of obtaining a perfect report card, as there are many different criteria that a teacher considers before releasing a final grade, especially for middle school or secondary school students.
Classroom Tactics
There are a few classroom tactics one can utilise during class to ensure you maximise your learning. Firstly, sitting strategically, you do not always have to separate yourself from your friends to minimise distractions during classes. However, for subjects that you find challenging or more complicated to understand, it is advisable to sit closer to the teacher and ideally away from your friends to hear clearly and help you focus more. Fernandes et al. (2011) have scientifically proven that a closer seating location in the classroom can lead to higher academic achievements. Next, smart and active note taking, you should not write everything down, but rather, focus on jotting down key points for example terms or phrases written on the white board, and more importantly listen carefully on the queues made by the teacher such as, if the teacher speaks about a specific topic and says “you should remember this chapter” or “this will be important moving forward”, or if the teacher keeps repeating a particular topic, could all be exam clues that one should be mindful about. In addition, while note-taking, if there is a specific concept that is hard to comprehend during class, you can always mark it with a symbol like ‘⚠️’ or ‘❓’ for you to revisit during self-study time.
Homework Management
Completing your homework efficiently does not come from one trick, but from combining several effective methods. The most crucial strategy out of all is ‘tackling the hardest homework or subjects first’, the reason is because complex tasks requires more effort and cognitive power and it is better to complete it when you have the freshest memory before your mental capacity diminishes causing you to not able to solve difficult problems or comprehend complex ideas, leading to higher chances of error or incompletion due to fatigue. This method has been established as effective by Nieroda-Madden (2019), an expert in the field of cognitive learning. Another crucial point to mention is always to keep a homework ‘to-do list’ and never rely on your memory for assignments. Trying to remember every assignment creates a burden on your memory, but more importantly, it prevents stress from missing assignment details and deadlines. Therefore, depending on personal preference, it is essential to use a physical planner, a school app, or mobile apps to keep track of homework assigned in class. Finally, when finishing your homework, always remember to keep your phone and gadgets out of sight. Also, before completing, take five minutes to review your homework, ensuring that there are no careless mistakes that can cost you points.
Test Preparation
From experience, there are two methods one should implement to ensure a productive test revision. First being the hybrid use of paper and digital flashcards (e.g. Quizlet), as it leverages the strength of both approaches, for instance, when you are outside, Quizlet is a very convenient tool to revise on your fingertip, but when you are at home and want a digital free study session a paper flashcard will be the best alternative. However, from a deeper scientific perspective, handwritten revision can improve memory, and digital tools have different revision and testing modes that can help your brain understand and search for answers, rather than just recognising terms or phrases. The latter method is the group study method, where information sharing is an effective way to ensure a more comprehensive coverage of course material. Compared to working alone, it is sometimes easy to skip topics due to time constraints or carelessness. However, if notes are shared among 2-3 people on an online document, such as Google Docs, you can see perspectives, views, or questions that you have not previously considered. Not only that, but group study can also help with your self-understanding by teaching others. This ‘Protégé Effect’ is a phenomenon where teaching others boosts one’s learning and understanding of the materials, as you are constantly reminded of what you are saying makes sense and reveals any knowledge gaps which you may have, which you can revisit before the actual exam.
Teacher Relationship
Having a good relationship with your subject teachers in school can be one of the pivotal factors that turn B’s into A’s. It is not about sucking up, but rather about maintaining a good relationship, which involves showing curiosity in their subjects and demonstrating respectful behaviour towards your teachers. Although there are many ways to support this relationship, a few methods are deemed the most effective. The most straightforward approach is to engage and participate in class. However, if you would like to deepen the connection, discussing your doubts, questions, or even asking for model answers or top-scoring assignments with the teacher individually after class can demonstrate your willingness to excel and care about the subject. Another behaviour to embody is honesty. When you cannot finish your work on time or if you find the homework too tough to understand, always be truthful and directly explain the situation to the teacher and ask ways in which you can catch up, rather than making excuses or hiding. Ultimately, when you come across as mature and a responsible student, it will be something that the teacher will remember when they are grading, writing recommendation letters, or even deciding who to give extra opportunities to.
Final Remarks
Achieving straight A’s is not just a dream; with the proper habits, correct strategies and the right mindset, it is attainable. While the strategy above provides a solid starting point, if you want extra guidance, personalised support, and accelerated progress beyond the classroom, that is where the Crimson Rise Program comes in. This program connects you with industry-leading consultants and mentors who have personally experienced the journey to university, ensuring you are not just focused on grades, but also preparing for your future and the bigger opportunities ahead.
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