In this article, I’ll explain the seven rules I followed to get all A’s in school and how you can become a straight-A student too.
(I’ve since completed my formal education.)
If you take my advice, you’ll get better grades and lead a more balanced life.
But first, here’s some background information about me, to assure you that I have some credibility in writing this article.
(I don’t say these things to boast, really!)
- I got 9 A1’s for the GCE O-Levels.
- I got 4 A’s for the GCE A-Levels, along with 2 “Special” paper Distinctions and 1 Merit.
- I received a full academic scholarship to study at Duke University, which consistently ranks as one of the best universities in the world. I graduated from Duke in 2011.
- I did a double major at Duke, and graduated summa cum laude (First Class Honors). My GPA was 3.98/4.0.
- Throughout my academic career, I never received a grade lower than an A- at a major exam.
Now, just to be clear…
Do I think I’m a super impressive person because of these achievements? No.
Do I think students should be obsessed about grades? No.
Do I think good grades and having a high GPA are the keys to long-term success? No.
But do I think that grades matter to some extent? Yes.
A strong academic record can open doors for you down the road. More importantly, through the process of becoming a straight-A student, you’ll learn values like hard work, discipline and determination.
These values will serve you well, long after you take your last exam.
So go ahead and pursue academic excellence. Just don’t let it become an unhealthy obsession.
Now that we’re clear on that, we’re ready to find out how to become a straight-A student. Read on to discover many study tips and much more!
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Rule #1: Always have a plan.
Getting straight A’s every time requires a good amount of organisation and planning on your part, so that you’re always prepared to do your best.
(a) As the semester progresses, keep track of key dates: tests and exams, project submission deadlines, term breaks, etc.
Enter these dates into a physical or digital calendar.
If you choose to use a physical calendar, I recommend that you get a management diary. This will allow you to see the week’s events at a glance. The inside of the diary should look like this:
If you choose to use a digital calendar, I recommend Google Calendar.
(b) Schedule a fixed time every week where you review your upcoming events over the next two months. Mark down when you’ll start preparing for that Math exam, working on that History project, or writing that English paper.
(c) Next, note your commitments for the coming week, e.g. extracurricular activities, family gatherings, extra classes. On your calendar, highlight the blocks of time you’ll have for schoolwork.
This planning process might sound time-consuming, but it’ll typically take just 15 minutes every week.
It’s a wise way to manage your time as a student, because the rest of your week will become far more productive.
You’ll be studying smart, not just hard! Efficient habits like these can help you become a straight-A student.
Rule #2: Be organised.
Ever had trouble finding your notes or assignments when you needed them? You probably ended up wasting precious time looking for them, before you finally asked to borrow them from your friend.
Many students tell me that they keep all their notes and assignments in one big pile, and only sort them out before their exams!
Being organised – it’s easier said than done, I know.
So here are just two key areas to focus on:
1. Filing
(a) Get an accordion folder that looks like this:
Bring this folder to school every day.
(b) Assign one section in the folder to each of your subjects. In addition, reserve the section at the front of the folder for your incomplete homework across all subjects. Label each section, e.g. Math, Physics, English, Incomplete Homework (All Subjects).
(c) Every day, place your “incoming” notes and assignments in the correct section, as you receive them. There’s no need to create sub-categories for each subject.
(d) Keep one large binder for each subject. The binder would look something like this:
Leave these binders at home.
This is a simple system that takes 15 minutes a week to implement, but it’ll save you many hours in the long run.
2. Homework
(Thanks to Cal Newport for this one. I started using the system described below years ago; it’s roughly based on his system.)
(a) Keep a homework list. Whenever your teacher assigns a new homework set, add it to your list. You can use a notebook for this purpose, or you can use an app on your phone. (I recommend the Google Keep app, but any note-taking app will do.)
Next to each item on your homework list, write the due date in parentheses.
(b) Every day when you get home from school, refer to your homework list. At the same time, open your calendar. Look for blocks of time in your calendar where you’ll be able to complete each item on your homework list. Prioritise the items that have the most urgent deadline.
(c) At the end of each day, look at your calendar to see if there are any assignments (which have already been converted into appointments) that you’d planned to finish, but weren’t able to. Add those appointments to another day that’s well before the due date.
And that’s how the system works.
I know it seems complicated, but it really isn’t. Try it out for a couple of weeks and you’ll get the hang of it.
Make tweaks to this system if necessary. Everyone is unique, so exactly how to become a straight-A student also depends on your particular strengths and weaknesses.
Rule #3: Take care of your physical health.
Most of the students I work with complain that they’re constantly tired and sleep-deprived.
They can’t focus in class. They daydream. They lack energy and enthusiasm. They frequently fall sick.
Is it possible to be a straight-A student when you’re in this kind of physical state?
Yes… but it’s unlikely.
Physical health is the foundation of academic excellence. To be a straight-A student, you don’t need to have the physique of an Olympic-level athlete. But you do need to take excellent care of your body.
Work on these three areas, and you’ll become a better learner:
1. Sleep
Eight hours of sleep a night is ideal; some people need nine.
If you’re sleeping four, five or six hours a night, you won’t be able to suddenly increase it to eight or more. The jump is too big, and you probably feel like you have too much to do during the day as it is.
So I recommend that you gradually bring forward your bedtime. 10 minutes earlier this week, 20 minutes earlier next week, 30 minutes earlier the week after, and so on, until you get to your target bedtime.
To remind yourself to go to bed on time, set an alarm. When the alarm goes off, start your bedtime routine.
But it’s not just about how much you sleep. How well you sleep matters too.
To improve your sleep quality, use a blue light filter for your phone and your computer.
Next, make your bedroom as dark as possible at night. Put up blackout curtains and remove all light sources.
Turn off all electronic devices in your bedroom before you go to sleep. If, for whatever reason, you need to leave your phone on, turn it to airplane mode. This way, you’ll minimize the cell phone radiation you’re exposed to, and you’ll sleep better.
2. Food
It’s the usual advice:
- Eat regular meals.
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.
- Don’t overeat more than once a week.
- Restrict your intake of processed foods.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Don’t drink sugary drinks.
Do these things and you’ll feel more alert throughout the day. It’s hard to become a straight-A student if you’re always feeling lethargic!
3. Exercise
You’ve heard it before: Exercise at least three times a week, for at least 30 to 45 minutes each time.
Exercise enhances your memory and thinking skills, as proven by research. So make exercise a priority, and you’ll get better grades.
Rule #4: Don’t cram. Instead, use a periodic review system.
People are usually surprised to hear that I’ve never pulled an all-nighter before. As the research shows, cramming is a bad idea.
The more effective approach?
Periodic review, which is also known as a spaced repetition system.
If you periodically review the new information you learn, you’ll move that information from your short-term to your long-term memory. This way, you won’t forget important facts or equations come exam time.
The end result: Less exam stress and anxiety, and a greater likelihood of getting straight A’s.
After much experimentation, I’ve found that the optimal review intervals for most students are as follows:
- 1 day after learning the new information
- 3 days after the first review
- 7 days after the second review
- 21 days after the third review
- 30 days after the fourth review
- 45 days after the fifth review
- 60 days after the sixth review
By the end of this cycle, the information is almost permanently stored in your long-term memory.
Note that each review is just a review of the key facts and equations, not a full review of the topic. As such, each review only takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
This system will save you dozens of hours by maximising your studying efficiency.
Rule #5: Form a homework group.
Here’s why I recommend this.
You’ll run into difficulties while doing your homework, so it’s good to have friends around whom you can turn to for help.
Even if they can’t solve the problem, you can bounce ideas off them. This process can be a fun way to study and motivate everybody in the group.
But if you do your homework alone, you’ll become discouraged more easily when you can’t solve a problem.
Your homework group should consist of three to four people, including you. More people than that and it’ll be distracting.
When it comes to studying, however, you may or may not be better off doing it in a group.
Some students enjoy studying with friends, because there’s a healthy pressure to stay focused. But other students concentrate better when they study alone.
So run your own experiment and decide what works best for you.
Rule #6: Set up a distraction-free study area.
Here are some practical things you can do to make your study session as fruitful as possible:
- Install and activate the Freedom app on your computer.
- Turn off your phone, and put it at least 10 feet away from your study area.
- Keep a clutter-free study area.
- Decide when’s the best time to study for you. (Click that link to read my tips, so that you can find a study schedule that works for you.)
- Work in 30- to 45-minute blocks. Time your study sessions to help you stay focused.
- Give yourself a small reward every time you complete a study session, e.g. eat a fruit, watch a YouTube video, go for a short walk.
On a related note, don’t multitask. You might think that you’re able to watch TV, write an essay, check your Twitter feed, and solve a Math problem – at the same time.
But research shows that multitasking isn’t productive, and may even damage your brain. So focus on one thing at a time, and you’ll be that much closer to becoming a straight-A student.
Rule #7: Clarify your doubts immediately.
Many students wait until a week before the exam to clarify their doubts. This leads to panic and anxiety, a combination that doesn’t result in optimal exam performance.
The alternative is simple: Ask questions. Lots of them.
Getting straight A’s requires that you have a thorough understanding of the material.
If you don’t understand a concept, ask your teacher to explain it again. If you feel shy about raising your hand during class, then approach your teacher after class.
Yes, if you do this consistently, your classmates might label you a “teacher’s pet” or a “brown noser.” There’s always a price to pay when you pursue excellence. Accept this fact and move on.
On a related note, go to class every single day.
Yes, your teachers might be boring. Yes, they might tell lame jokes. Yes, they might speak in a monotone.
But nonetheless, they’ll highlight the important areas to focus on, which will save you time and effort down the line. Furthermore, you’ll probably find it easier to make sense of your teachers’ explanation, than to figure things out on your own.
That’s why borrowing your classmate’s notes isn’t a substitute for attending class.
I’m proud to say that throughout my 17 years of formal education, I only ever skipped one class. 🙂 (That class was a review session on a topic that I’d already studied several times.)
The bottom line
Right now, you might be feeling overwhelmed.
I can almost read your mind: “These rules all sound good, Daniel. But there are just so many habits I need to change as a student. I don’t think I can do it.”
Rest assured that I’m not asking you to put everything into practice all at once. I’m asking you to start with just one tiny change.
If you want to start exercising regularly, don’t set some huge, ambitious goal. Instead, start with a 10-minute walk, once a week. After a month, increase it to 15 minutes. The following month, increase it to 20 minutes, and so on. Eventually, you’ll be exercising three times a week, for 30 minutes each time.
The same principle applies to all seven rules. Focus on one rule at a time, and stick with it until it becomes a habit.
It took me more than 10 years to learn the rules, so don’t rush the process.
One other thing…
I mentioned it earlier, but I think it’s worth repeating: Straight A’s on their own don’t mean much. The process of becoming a straight-A student is what counts.
Learning how to become a straight-A student will teach you valuable skills for the future as well.
As you implement these seven rules, you’ll become more disciplined, organised, responsible, and self-motivated. These traits are vital for long-term success.
So start building the foundations of school success and more – one day at a time, one habit at a time, and one rule at a time.
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Thank you very much
You’re welcome!
It was a very lloonngg passage but I find it extremely useful! Thanks for taking your effort to write this out!
You’re welcome!
I just want to say thank you!
This lifted me quite a bit from my exams I did quite badly (PSLE) I got 244, parents expected 250-260 but stress got to me.
Thanks for introducing some good habits to me, but stress still gets to me somehow but I handle it a bit better, any tips?
You’re welcome. Stress management is a huge topic on its own, so I apologize that it’s hard for me to give you advice in just a few sentences — I’m planning to write an article on this in the future though!
Help
I am a Kenyan student that used to get straight As but now there is nothing that I do that works
Daniel you are such an awesome and hard working boy.
I am gonna review this article on my YouTube channel name MehakLovelyPie.
I am O level student and it seems really difficult especially Maths and Chemistry.
Hi Mehak, Nancy here. I’m an O level student and these are also my two only subjects i’m finding difficulties in. Especially, Math. I’ve been failing it from Secondary 3 till now. Daniel, any tips? Also, thank you so much for this article.
Thank u Daniel for the article I fee motivated lam o level was a drop out though from secondary 2 to 3 and l don’t know if I will make it to straight As for the exam I’m will be writing in the coming months
just do past paper you will get the concept and secure and a as they recycle questions
Thanks so much . This will really help me I have a very poor performance when it comes to exam or grades . Am sure your article will help me.
Thank you Sir you is really good and I Will implement it.
Thank you for doing this I sometimes struggle with my organization in school and this has helped thank you! 😉 I really do need some help to stay on task and do all my work on time so I can study more and excel in my exams
I would really need some help focusing on getting things done when they need to be because I am considered very smart but my grades don’t reflect that because I cannot seem to get all of my homework done and turned in when needed
It is okay I will handle the situation I know
Hi Daniel, how can I get an A for physical science.? I always get 50%
same omg i literally don’t do good in most tests i get like 50 maybe or a 60 or a 70 maybe a 80 but on some subjects i just suck and give up easily and just stress about it
Thanks Daniel I have learnt alot
Thank you, I am sure everyone is listening.
so did you get straight A1s???
Thank you for this help.Atleat I now get hope but can you post a general life routine for a 02 or 10 grade student please . It will help a lot .
But seriously, can you help me in creating a schedule or a time table for studying as a commercial student. I am funmi from Nigeria
I am a grade 6 student and I always get 4-6 in my class
Thanks for the help Mr. Wong I hope it’s not too late for me
Daniel i feel over whelmed thank brother.
Wow, you are so awesome!
I get 30s for mathematics and science. How do I improve? I’m really dedicated and wouldn’t want to fail.
This was an amazing very helpful influence because this made a huge impact in my life in the beginning of my 3rd quarter I was failing all my classes but my electives once I read this I followed every step evreyday & by then end of the semester all my grades were higher then a 90! Thank you sooooo much!🥰💕😌 This was a huge impact!
Wow really? Can’t wait to try these new habits! Thank you!!
wow i hope this improves me as well
How true…!
Whenever I read articles like this they just give basic stuff to do and don’t even help at all, but yours help a lot and I am glad I get to see these tips to help me with my grades, thank you 🙂
will this help me
Thanks
For some reason (not a racist reason) I knew you were Asian lol
This really help me thank u
Am glad that at least I am now a change student for I want to go higher than what I have been doing, thanks so much for your help 👋👋👋
Hi Daniel!
I loved the fact that you mentioned eating lots of fruits and vegetables for better study, rather than advocating meat.
Thanks! the post was incredibly helpful.
Daniel, are u sure it will help
Hi, Daniel
I am determined to become an A student however, I am dull and slower academically. Wjat can I do to have and express my potentially. How can a zero % student becomes an A student, be intelligent?
I am a horrible student in learning if I make a planer I can’t work I have to force myself to learn I have my o levels next year plz help me
remember to break up studying into chunks, it makes it easier. accomplish one big thing per day! ask yourself before you go to bed, “am i satisfied with the work i did today?” if not, you might need to get a planner that is more interesting to you! decorate it, buy nice stationery, get inspired, getting good grades is all depending on effort, the more effort you put in, the more good results come out of it! be creative! learning can be fun if you are inspired! hope this helps ☁️
I advice you to start revising right now….don’t waste your precious time in other things..
You need to manage your time….
And lastly,practice many past papers as you can for all subjects that you do.
Balance your work….
It would be good.
Last and last,when you practice the past papers,do it in the durations given.
Time plays a great role.
My experience says this……
Hope it helps you.
But as the saying goes… “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” You need to take breaks occasionally! Don’t forget!
I feel like I can do anything!
Thanks too, I’m gonna make my mum proud.
You’re really helpful, let the Almighty bless this soul.
Thank you so much sir😊😊
I always remember this notes😊😊
Excellent stuff
Thank you. I’m glad you found it useful.
Awesome post. I posted it on my blog for my mummy friends to read. Such practical tips for us to use for our kids. Thanks!
You’re welcome, Ruth. I hope your mummy friends enjoy the tips!
Your points are very useful! Buy how do we make time if we had alot of time in extra lessons and will be coming home late especially when you leave very far from school. I always had to jiggle time as i had to travel back and fro from school. Also, i had cca’s going on and i will be coming home later. Not only that, i had even plans sometimes durimg the weekend so weelends will definitely come in my way for atudying. So how would i make time to study?
Ahmed, you’ll need to draw a time table. Time management becomes crucial in your case. Please don’t forget that you need to eat healthy for the energy and brain function.
Thank you
It’s very useful as I am quite bad at some subjects.
Thank you so much for typing this out! These skills will be implemented into my study regime for my GCE O’Levels that I’m sitting for at the end of this year. God bless!
You’re welcome, Karyn. It took me about 15 hours to write the article, so I’m glad that you found it useful 🙂 All the best as you prepare for your O-Levels, and God bless you too!
I am thankful for your 15 hours. Those hours will change the life of many and May God bless with countless bounties. I am also stepping up into the 2nd year of olevels an personally i wanted help to get myself organised and your efforts borne fruit for thousands.
Man these points are really helpful, you are absolutely correct that this type of transformation would take years, but surely it is and would be worthwhile
Thank you. I am sharing this with my students!
I hope your students find the tips beneficial 🙂
Thanks for sharing
It’s my joy to be of help, Layhong!
Thank you so much Daniel! This is a really comprehensive blog post. Better phrased than the many study skills books I’ve read! Will be implementing them in my study regime as I prepare for my J1 promos and so on! I really loved your “The Happy Student” book too, that I have both the first and second edition copies! Hope you will write more books pertaining to academic excellence as I am looking forward to savour them =) God Bless!
Thanks a ton for your kind words and encouragement, Shannon! I appreciate your support. I’m always delighted to be of service 🙂
Thanks for sharing Daniel, i will definitely share it with my son. 🙂
You’re welcome, Lizah. I hope your son finds the tips useful 🙂
So glad you emphasized on the process, not the pursuit of straight A’s, as the main goal!
I learned well from the lessons my parents taught me! 🙂
Thank you very much! These guidelines are really effective to my studying plan
You’re very welcome, Ace!
Haiz…is it too late? Discipline is the root problem for my son. We have given so much guidance and support but still did mediocre for O levels
I don’t think it’s ever too late, Catherine. The goal of education is to prepare students for long-term success, so I’m always happy to help students no matter what stage they’re in. Please feel free to send me an email if you’re interested in having me work with your son?
I read but I find it hard to understand very hard, what can I do
It’s all about your mind and focus actually, To study and not understand is a common thing but as you see that difficulty it means you have to make an extra effort to study. Find something that interests you and find out how you can understand studying better. Concentrate and find your inner mind it will be there waiting for you.
This is wonderous.
Thanks!
Do you happen to learn some of these tips from cal Newport? Check out his books and blog on amazing study hacks.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Hello again. Wanted to clarify some things. Regarding the periodic review system you had recommended, how I should I apply it for my arts based subjects like history and literature since no formulas are involved? Can you please enlighten me on good note-taking habits as well? I am not sure if mind maps are really that suitable for me as I take far too long to do my notes (~3hrs per topic per subject ><) that I lack time for practice and revision.
Thank you very much for sharing the tips. Always looking forward to your articles and sharing. 🙂
Thanks, Christine 🙂
Thank you very much for the article Daniel. Very well put. The 7 rules are so do-able but my unmotivated students don’t even have the energy to start. They have too many distractions.
Thank you, Helen. Yes, distractions are a huge problem nowadays. My experience has been that the emphasis needs to be on purpose first, before there’s any emphasis on performance.
your awsome
Hi Mason, thank you for sharing your story. It’s fantastic to hear that you’ve been doing well, and that you’re way more motivated too! Keep up the good work 🙂
I’ve been following all these points for years, but am still stuck in the high B / low A range! How do I secure that final bit? 🙁 Going off to University next year!
It sounds like you’re very close to getting there! If you’re serious about securing that final bit, feel free to send me an email and I’ll see how I can help.
I find your article delightful, easy to comprehend and highly useful. Kudos to you for sharing!! I’ll be sharing your post with my students to help them prepare better for their major exams. Please do share more
Thank you, Roselind. It’s my joy to be of assistance!
There’s an app on iPhone to track the quality of our sleep. It’s called Sleep Cycle if I’m not wrong! And thanks for this awesome article! It’s really helpful!
Thanks, that’s indeed a helpful app!
Love your ideas! I really hope I will get straight As. It’s gonna be really hard because I take triple Sci and double Maths but I am gonna do my best! Thank you! 🙂
You’re welcome. Wishing you all the best – I’m sure you’ll do great!
Fantastic guide! Any tips to improve English?
To do better in English, I don’t think there’s a shortcut — you’ll need to do lots of reading and writing.
thanks for sharing!
You’re more than welcome 🙂
Thanks daniel, this surely will help a lot for my new coming semester.
A very good information indeed.
Peace yo 🙂
All the best for your new semester!
This is great. Thanks for remind me, Daniel!
You’re welcome, Rio!
You must have had a lot of discipline.
Well, I did 204 for PSLE, 28 points for O levels, GPA 2.33 for Poly, took a private degree at SIM (1 year 10 months), currently pursuing my Masters at NTU.
So for the normal person to get a local degree, it’s 4 years on average. I’ve got my Bachelor’s degree and soon, my Masters, in a total time of 2 years 10 months.
I’m 28 this year. My way of studying? Didn’t study much really. I just listened in class. Did my homework and whatnot. Wrote a few pages of notes 2 days before any exam and that’s it.
That’s a cool story, Jeremy. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for al these tips! Even though I think it will take some time to implement! Heading to JC this year! Anyway, do you have tips to improve language based subjects such as Chinese ? I’m very bad at it 🙁
You’re welcome. For languages, you can still apply the techniques I mentioned for learning vocabulary. But to improve in the other areas, you’ll still need to do plenty of reading and writing, unfortunately.
Hii daniel.
Im a student of olevels from pakistan. I’ve a big problem in managing my time..please give me some tips of how shall i study chemistry. My base is really weak in chemistry!
Thanks for the great article Daniel, you have listed very good advice.
I believe you will agree with me that the journey of exploring and finding one’s own way to learn and perform effectively is also important. While the process of becoming a Straight-A student is what counts, the process of finding that process for oneself counts, too.
I read these rules with some worry because I think there may be students who will take these advice at face value and go away believing that it is a one-size fit all winning formula. It may work for O levels, A levels, but one day when they hit that brick wall that cannot be overcome using this strategy, they do not know how to overcome it as they have never gone through the process of figuring it out for themselves. My own younger sibling is an example of this. Self-awareness, which I think you are abundantly equipped with but probably missed out in your process of writing the rules, would more likely provide for long-term sustainable success.
In addition, I feel that such a set of rules may lead some to believe that their achievements can be solely attributed to their efforts. When these students practise this set of rules and succeed and meet someone who doesn’t, they arrive at the conclusion that it is because the latter is “not organised, has no plan, and probably doesn’t have good studying habits”. They tell themselves, “I am successful because I practise rules that lead to success, and these people fail because they don’t”. They forget that a lot of their success is due to good, for a lack of a better word, luck. Good genes that enable them to process knowledge better, being born in a stable family that enables them to focus on academic pursuits, meeting good teachers that inspired, being born at a right time in the right country – and so many more.
I think the recognition of these two points above will enable students to grow up to be more gracious, humble, creative, and more importantly, unafraid to fail.
I must confess I have never practised any of your rules – I’ve probably flouted all of them, thankfully, I believe I figured my way out fine. The truth remains that you have provided us with a handy set of advice that will benefit the lives of all who read and follow it. But I think it’s good to remind people to be the “yet” man/woman you have mentioned in your other article – That in times when they’ve followed your advice to the dot but still fall short, a small voice at the back of their head will remind them, “I just haven’t found the right way for myself, yet”.
Just my two cents, and thank you once again for the great work.
I appreciate your well thought-through feedback. Wishing you all the best, Al!
how did you manage to figure this out when you were still in school? amazing stuff 🙂 the system and thought process are more impressive than your already impressive grades!
You’re too kind!
I am a straight A student too and this site totally summed up my study techniques. good job.
Thanks!
Your study tips are great, Daniel! Do wish me luck, I’m doing my O levels this year and I think I’ll start implementing these tips 🙂
Glad I could help. All the best for your O-Levels Levels this year!
Thank u so much for these wonderful tips! I really hope to score well for next year’s O lvls.
You’re welcome! 🙂
Hello! Thanks for the tips! I’m currently doing okay in my studies. I get As for most of my subjects but I believe I still have lots of room for improvement. Truth is I’m bad at managing my time. And I’m facing O levels this year and I really want to get good grades for many reasons. I don’t really have the time to sleep as I have tuition till 9pm on most days. Can you suggest a few tips for me? Thank you for sharing your tips! Your kindness is very much appreciated!
Glad you found the tips helpful! I’d say that you don’t have the time NOT to sleep. If you’re not sleeping enough, then your studying and learning will be less efficient, so it’s counter-productive. It’s tough for me to give you suggestions without knowing your actual schedule, so if you’d like more in-depth help, feel free to send me an email?
Wow this is really going to be useful..I’m starting my Uni life in a few months..I’m so glad I found this..=D
Hope the tips come in handy, Julius!
Having read through your advice, allow me to provide a validation, an observation, and some advice for those that also read it. From a validation standpoint, I easily translated your comments into good management practices for success in the workplace and career advancement. Only changes in terminology were required to alter the perspective. Your concepts work. At 70, I am long past the job entry stage, but I have a unique stage from which to comment. Through increasingly responsible management positions, career advancement with accompanying increases in income, retiring as head of human resources for a significant company, I used your techniques for my own success. I hired many, many people, always looking for such an organized thought process
Thank you for sharing your insights, Douglas!
Hi,
More useful tips.My son who takes PSLE hopes to follow your tips.He does well in the class test and when it comes to final exams,he is not doing well.When asked,he mentioned anxiety and hurry to finish his work.How to tackle this.Pls suggest
Hi Ryan, there are probably a number of issues at the root of that. It would help to focus on the process instead of performance, and even to take his mind off the result completely (if possible). I do work with students 1-to-1 on this, so please send me an email if you’re interested in more help?
Just started college and I already have doubts in myself, but I feel so much better after reading this! Thank you for sharing your tips, Mr Daniel!
You’re welcome, E-Lyn!
Hello! Your tips were extremely useful and I’m wondering if you can send me a blank soft copy of the template at jessicaliew312@gmail.com? I think it would help me plan my time better according to my needs. Thank you!
Hi Daniel, I tried your method, but it did not seem to work. I made sure I followed every single step. Do you know what went wrong? Please help me. I want my As too.
Hi Cynthia, I would encourage you to keep using the tips. It took me more than 10 years to start using all of the rules, and it will probably take you 6 months to a year of using the rules every day to see a total transformation. I’m sorry that it’s not possible for the changes to take place overnight.
Thank you Daniel!
They were great tips! They were very thorough and good than compared to some general guides that are online. Wishing you all the best in your life’s journey ahead.
You’re very welcome, Cleo. Wishing you all the best too!
Thank you, you are an inspiration!
Thank you, Yj!
TQVM Daniel for sharing and blessing many. I believe the methods help in all areas be studies, works, at home (housewives) .. to be organised and achieving any goals set. GBU.
You’re welcome, Corrine!
Hello Daniel. So what’s next after straight A’s? Or without straight A’s? Just curious. =)
Hello Audrey, those are great questions 🙂 Like I mentioned in the post, I don’t think that getting straight A’s is all that important. With or without straight A’s, the thing that I believe we should all be doing is loving, serving and adding value to others.
Hi Daniel, Thanks for your helpful tips. Just wanted to clarify, regarding the periodic review system, its 3 days/7days/12days ..etc AFTER the first encounter with the information or after the previous review?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Gillian, it’s 3/7/21/etc. days after the previous review 🙂
Plz help me I am starting my o level and can’t set the time table. If I set the time table I sometimes sleep or use mobile on that time
Hello Mr.Daniel,
In this article I have A few Queries which I would Like you to clear.
1. What are the Use of Binders if we are keeping Subject Notes in the Accordation Folder ?
2. In Periodic Review, you state that we have to have a cycle of about 60 days in which we revise our learning material.
I would like to ask that Does this apply to every new material we learn everyday ?
If so then do we have to allot a time on the Planner/Calender to revise the material on Periodic basis.
eg: I learned ABC Today, I must then allot a time tommorow to revise it on my planner, then later on after 3 days, 7 days and so on.
And Iearned DEF Tommorow so then will I allot a 60 day cycle to this information on my Planner , and similarly to every other information or not?
I would appreciate if you take the time to clear my confusion
I am in my second semester of junior year. I currently have a 4.0 and I’m reading for more study tips. Even though I already have all A’s, I found some interesting organization strategy that I can use to improve. I’m interested in more study techniques because one can always do better! I’m impressed that your exam scores are so high. I’ve gotten low B’s on exams but still managed an A for the course. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for this invaluable tips! I’m taking my PSLE in 1 month time so I really appreciate your advice and hope to apply it throughout my school years!
i got 9 a* in my o level thanks
Thank you for writing this. I mean I’m just in 8th grade but this really helps. All of my classes are high school courses, and I’m really stressed out I’ve pulled several all nighters this year, but now I know that i need to manage my time better. So thanks again!
Thanks Daniel it is very helpfull as I am worried about my two kid’s study habits i think they are less concerned. They work hard every time but when i get the result it is not up to the mark, what i caught they are unable to understand the questions properly. Could you help me regarding this problem???
Hi Mr Wong , since you are a graduated student person , may i know if you have any english notes ?
Thanks Daniel you’ve really inspired and motivated me. I thought I could never get straight A’s but listening to this message really changed my perception.
Your post information is very unique and useful for all readers.
Many thanks for spending 15 hours to write this useful information.
Reading this and procrastinating unfinished studying the night before my exams is really ironic.
Shoulda saw this earlier.
how long should I study for a day?
This is very encouraging, I didn’t do extremely well during my IGCSE’s and I regret it terribly, I always want to study but I’m never motivated enough.
Obviously you are very talented. I read this article thinking youd say “Practice for an eternity, wake up, and study” but these tips were super helpful! They also inspired me to spend my 15 free hours on better things to do that could promote my grades.
The article is a great way for me to change the way i have looked at education so far.I enjoyed reading everypart of it and I am asured if I follow it one step at a time everything will be great.Thank you very much.
I realy found all of these 7 tips, rules verry usefull. I have only been using them for a short while but i alredy feel more sucsessfull. Especially the tip about that it is verry important to have a good night sleep. I alredy se my grades go upp even higer than i expected especially now when i am combinding your tip and Jonas von essens. If you do not now who he is, he is the worldwide mindmaster two years in a row. He wrote a book about how to use ancient tekniks (how to learn bacicly anything) my point is thank you so much for your tips.
Thank you for this! Btw do you have any tips for secondary sch science? thanks
Thank you so much it really helped
Thank you very much for the article. You’ve done such a good job!
All of it makes sense. You’ve got a healthy good judgement. Keep going:)
Thanks for being a generous benefactor Daniel.I have been your avid follower and admirer since 2016 and for that matter,all has been going well through your motivation…..Ample of Blessing for your great work
I really appreciate this, i’m really interested and feel motivated to raise my grades, thank you very much
Hi! I just found this web only in this year although it had been posted since 2015 (i guess). I will try to follow these steps because i always get very very very bad results which u can’t even imagine. So i need to use your guidelines because it a must for me to surprise my family, friends and boyfriend. They often put down me for getting very very bad results (except for my boyfriend). So, I wanna prove them WRONG. The thing that i want to say is that thank you for sharing with us and I hope it helps me a lot.
Thank You!!!!! I’m trying to convince my parents to have me get a job when I’m 14-15! They said I need straight A’s! This was very helpful!
This really motivated me
Thanks for this, may God bless you, i shared it with my friends and they really love it
Everything he says in the article will help you
I am really impressed and motivated with this
Let me then honour this advice
I really need help working on my grades for this year grade12 examination
Hello sir, I found these tips very helpful. See I am in 8th standard and in April I am going to 9th standard. And all the children in my class are very talented but I am good at studies only so I request you to give me some tips how to manage studies but also good in any sport dancing or singing. Because it feels very depresssing when everyone is able to score the marks which you score but also good at drawing dancing and sports and you are only good at studies.
Hi Daniel . Thanks a lot for your tips . It helped me a lot as just a day before my final exam of class 11 , I was finding it difficult to start studying and delaying it on and on . But now I can focus clearly as I have listed the reasons why I want to get good grades and started following these tips.Once again thank you very much.
One more thing .. please add up an article on how to stick yourself to a routine to change your distracting habits .
Hi Daniel. I am writing Matric exams in two months and I’m panicking. I want to study medicine in 2020 but I’m losing it. I used to be a straight A student but something went wrong. Please help..
I would like to say thank you for the articlenyou wrote.Really helpful.😀
Daniel
I am a Straight A* student with lots of achievements and distinctions.
I try to study hard and review regularly for less stress but in the end I only study for 30 minutes tops and that’s is yet I still get high grades but I wsnt to be better.
Any idea how about how can I motivate myself??
Thanks, this is really helpful.
I think the idea about binders being left at home sounds great. Mine is currently too clunky to take around school.
I got 8A1’s in the GCE O-Levels. I am currently in Raffles Institution(JC).
thank you this helped me so much
it helped me as well
thanks!!
Your 7 rules are very effective. Thanks for sharing….
This resonated so well with me, thank you so much for sharing!
i’m having a problem with some of my teachers as they don’t explain well (especially in maths) and after having some private lessons i still couldn’t manage to understand even though i have a load of past papers. my o level is next year and the fact that things from 9th and 10th grade will come is scaring me (changing schools or failing in the o level is not an option), and i don’t know how to study for it besides, the school is cramming us by teaching us during finals and mid-terms. my grades have fallen in this year as teachers told us that 9th grade is the hardest grade in our school (my parents can’t understand that it’s hard to keep up in 9th grade and im trying my best) and i don’t want to go to the american program. please help me!
i forgot to tell you that i don’t have time to do these calendars and exercise as it wastes time in this country the time runs fast so studying everything can be a problem. i got an A* in english and science and a C in maths in the 8th grade GCE exam and my maths basics were taught by one teacher who actually teaches physics instead of maths and she is the reason that made me fail for the first time in my life.
Thank you very much this is really helpful, I know that so many people are very glad that you wrote this and they read it. thank you so much hope you are doing great.
Thank you…i am writing my o level this year and my mom has been continuously complaining about me not reading. Well i do read but i fall asleep very quick so i am believing that this will help me a lot…i will cme back again to tell you the results after this term’s tests…and also how can i reduce my social media efficiency..i use it almost everyday sometymz i don’t use it for school
HI Daniel i am really gonna try these steps please pray for my PSLE GRADE 7,Botswana exams and i ,i will be writing in 4 to 5 months so wish me luck and i really loved your tips.God bless us.
Thanks a lot for a job well done.
Thank You so much for sharing these tips. This is really amazing and helpful!! I have learned a lot. I am going to start putting this tips into practice starting from today!! THANK YOU!!
Thank you so much Daniel . I’m going to tell my Dad about this . He’ll love this
Thank you for thy principle of obtaining 7 A’s
I do all these things: eat healthy and brain foods like nuts and fish, I don’t eat anything processed I study at least 30 hours a week, I am very organised, I sleep at least 9 hours a night,
I always do my homeworks as soon as I receive
them, I exercise a lot , I have a weekly planner, agenda and do a lot of to do lists, I have specific and varied studying methods and I know all my classes by heart. However, I still don’t manage to get straight A’s…
Thank you Daniel. I’m about to enter the university, I have a lot to cover. When I read I forget after few days. What can I do and how can I improve. How can I also do what is taught in school practically
Hey,
Awesome and great post! From the students’ point of view, this Blog is very useful. After reading this Blog many students can find the right way of study.
Thank you so much for sharing great content. Keep writing!
Wow! It’s truly awesome of you to actually come up with helpful tips like these…thanks a lot….
It was so nice progress whereby also in life it is applied thank you once again may God bless you to write these tips🙏🙏🤝
Hi Daniel,
How to wake up early in the morning I can’t wake up..
Thank you for sharing your study tips. I am preparing for my board exams and I was wondering what material you use when reviewing material each time. Do you make your own outlines/ condensed notes for faster revision?
This is so helpful . Thank you such much for taking your time in writing this passage even tho I am in middle school.
Thank you so much Daniel, I know it’s been 4 years since you have wrote this article but you’ll be glad to know it is still useful to this day. I have currently just finished my GCSE’s and am waiting upon my results in 10 days :0 but this article will be specially useful for my A levels in a couple of months.
thanks for sharing this educational post with us
Truly the rules work,eversince I applied them my academic performance has improved greatly and am grateful.Only a question i would like to ask,as a teenager,can my performance be affected by my love life?
It kind of will . But as long as you don’t think a lot about it , it won’t affect at all.
Continue with good performance.
Thank you very much, the TIPS are really helpful if followed as stated…. KIND REGARDS… FROM NIGERIA
Thank you for your tips.I also love to listen some piano or orchestra when I am studying and I love drinking tea! Can you please give me advice because there are times that I can get nervous in reporting in school.
Will gaming affect to get A’s
Well if you don’t go over 2 hours a day I would say you are on safe turf, just work around 1.5-2.5 hrs a day and you will be fine. Amp up your study time during exams, you will get a good grade. Unlike this guy, I had no distinctions but I did get 3A*’s and 1A in A2 so I guess don’t overdo it. I personally would play 1.5 hrs of games a day.
did you really skip just one class in your whole 17 years of education !!!…that must have been really hard
GREAT ARTICLE very helpful
thx. im failing to i read this and i trust it because your asin and asins are smart so there for i trust this web. thx. i hope i get straght A’s. lol more like i will.
Very very helpful. God richly bless you. Now I know I am struggling because I’m doing everything almost contrary to what you highlighted. Thanks a lot
I am impressed by your academics record! and Thankyou for such a helpful article.I my self have to appear in May for 5 subjects so this article not only help me but also motivated me so again Thank you.
sir u r great your speech was so motivated thank u so much sir
What if you think that you cant score good and there is very less time left in cie a level exam. I am not even interested in studying. What will motivate me???
I am still not good at the Math Test in year 8,my classwork is exceptionally good but i need more help on the exam.
This seems a really good helping guide…I just can’t wait to start! ^^ I really want to get into college…I hope these 7 tips could help me! ^_^ thank you again!
#1 was so brilliant. It seems so basic but you can’t get anywhere without a clear plan that makes good use of your time. Great tips for better grades.
Amazing article. Will try to start following rules as my o levels just started. Thank goodness I read this today thx daniel
Revisiting this article after a couple of years and I can tell you all that my life has completely turned around. Thank you.
Thanks, Daniel for sharing your tips.
I would like to add that it is very useful for one to study way ahead of current requirement. For example, when I was preparing for my A-level exams I used a university physics textbook and went through higher level math exam papers. I was looking forward to the exams and as expected I think it was perfect 1s in all the physics, pure math and applied math papers.
NTU’s Centre for Prof and Continuing Edu (PaCE@NTU) continuously runs e_learning courses, most of which are based on university textbooks with textbooks provided and professors (most have retired from full time teaching) as tutors. These courses were meant to help NS boys to better prepare for their university studies. They are now made available to public with no prerequisite.
i read this it was amazing thanks B.
It’s incredibly a nice article
Thanks for your advice I got a new phone because of this article
Hey. I really need some help. I was an average student in high school an when i joined a university i topped the first year with 4 GPA. in the second year i already felt a lot of pressure on my shoulders and i already knew i wouldn’t be able to maintain 4 GPA and my CGPA dropped to 3.97 in the third semester. Now I am in the forth semester and still my heart is not calm . I know something go wrong i already scored low marks in midterm although i am studying but i am doing silly mistakes in exams. I feel like I have some pressure. I hope you understand.
I got straight A’s while not sleeping, not putting exercise first, and being super disorganized. I don’t recommend my strategy, this article is definitely the way to go!
Thank you so much, Daniel. The article is amazing and well understandable.
Stay blessed!
Hello,
Your content is worth appreciating but I am facing a problem of not assignment being done on time Kindly share some tips regarding that too.
I would like to appreciate your effort for making this article. It’s really helpful.
Daniel I am as close to becoming and A student in technology and mainly maths and physics but the problem is that I want to do better and more to be like you …lol
Anyways I usually cram and I think that’s the problem so I want to follow your rules thanks so much…you are my role model
These advices were really helpful, thanks.
But I gotta small prob : my chem teacher is new, infact we R her first grade, and I have Ols in like a liitle less than a year. She forgets to teach certain parts of topics, and when we remind her, she always says th she’ll teach us later. What should I do bro?
thanks Daniel your words really inspire me.I will make sure I follow these rules
Wow!I am so excited to read all these tips.I am a first year student studying in Papua New Guinea and according to our Academic calendar semester two begins tomorrow.Looking forward to try these brilliant 7 steps on getting As and Bs 😇 Thank you for writting this wonderful tips Mr Wong.🙏🏻👍🏻
Great article! thank you for your tips 🙂
I’m happy to come across this article. I am a candidate whose purpose is to join the best university next year. These 7 rules are gonna guide me.
Thank you Daniel. This was very resourceful
This is exactly what I need to reach being a vet.
I decided to follow these advices during my first year at Uni and guess what, it really paid off! I got straight A’s during my first semester and I was intrigued because I was always an average student in high school. With time it is hard to maintain these steps but we must motivate ourselves.
I absolutely agree
Thanks a lot
I need help so l can’t really focus or l barely forget things in exam help me in a few subjects and l am writing this year in November …
Please l need to earn better grades this time
Thank you very much this article is amazing, really helped me.
I don’t know if drop outs will make though a typical example of myselfim in o level sitting for my GCE in months do you think I will make it?
Thank for motivation but can having a girlfriend can led me from getting grade A or is a factor that discouraged me from getting grade A
Great info Thank You!
This is another of your great articles Mr. Daniel. Am a huge fan and am extremely glad to say anywhere that my getting to know your articles has been a huge blessing to me. In so many areas, I got educated on very relatable terms how to be better in my academics and your articles have contributed immensely to my academic upgrade and have contributed particularly to the ground work that actually made me change. “Specific actions are what lead to change” you once explained.
However, the idea of sleeping 8hours a night is one I can’t totally relate with up till now. So I ask, if you sleep 8 hours a night, when then do you read?? School in the morning and all through to the afternoon, or evening sometimes, things to do at home will get you engaged till later at night. Between all that, catching a quick nap as a siesta involves doing some serious planning before undertaking if not you won’t be able to fulfil a couple of duties.
Also, you have assignments and notes to justify almost everyday.
So, being so occupied will virtually leave you no better option than to flex your brain during the silent night and of course, not a 5-minute glance at a note unless you want to end up with a C or worse.
I’d love to hear your thoughts Sir Daniel.
HI MR DANIEL
Thank you so much for motivation and study tips because I did applied your rules in my studies and I passed with A+ in all my 4 modules
I really want to ask questions and tell the teacher that I don’t understand but I have depression and social anxiety and I’m failing everything and everyone is dissapointed in me
Hi! I really hope you’ll respond to this comment. I’ve gone from a straight A students to having more F’s than anything else because of some hardships. What are your recommendations for procrastination and time management? I really need help with both of them.
I’m sorry to hear that. I think you’ll find this free quick action guide useful:
https://www.daniel-wong.com/students-improve-focus/
Don’t fear. So what if ur asking a question about he topic? U don’t understand it, it’s better to ask. Ur classmates won’t think of u as an idiot.
Wow you have helped me please daniel continue helping us