How to Handle Bad Grades

Taking notes in class gives you an instant study guide for exams.

Achieving and maintaining good grades not only helps your education, but it also helps boost your self-esteem. Keeping your grades up lets you know you are succeeding in your classes and that you can feel comfortable about graduating on time. However, it is likely that you will have grades that disappoint you from time to time. A few low scores don't have to mean the end of a successful academic career. If you trace the problems in your grades and work to improve on those areas, you can still have an impressive grade point average.

Things You'll Need

• Exams and any other important work with low scores that you wish to improve.

Instructions

1. Review the papers, projects or other classwork that you have scored poorly on to look for comments from your teacher on ways you could have improved your work. Make note of any patterns you notice in the areas you are struggling with, such as writing an effective essay.

2. Schedule a meeting with your teacher whose classes you are receiving low scores in to discuss your grades. Your teacher will be able to help you pinpoint areas you need to strengthen and help you find ways to improve your grades.

3. Work toward improving your grades by using good time management and making use of your school's resources. Your school library provides you with a wealth of information on almost any subject you may be studying and gives you a quiet place to study with staff who are willing to help you make the best use of your time.

4. Make use of any extra credit assignments to help boost your overall grades. The Cuesta College Academic Support website notes that students who excel in school make use of extra credit assignments as a way to continuously improve an overall grade. Even when you think you are improving or doing well in a class, extra credit will only make your overall average better.

Tips & Warnings

• Take advantage of any makeup exams or papers that your teacher may offer to eliminate a previous bad grade.

References

• Cuesta College Academic Support: Characteristics of a Sucessful Student--Study Skills Guide