If your marks have slipped and you’re struggling to keep up with the pace of your studies, then you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, maybe even despondent. Don’t panic! There is a solution. The first step is to work out the reasons why you might be falling behind or under-performing, and the next step is to come up with a plan on how you are going to tackle the problem. Write this plan down and stick it somewhere you will be reminded of it every day – your daily diary, next to your desk or on your mirror so you are reminded every morning when you are brushing your teeth. This article gives you a few ideas on what you can do to move past this speed bump and potentially even avoid the situation in the future.

Find a tutor

If you’re struggling with concepts and understanding the material, then you might need to consider a tutor. Tutors come in a range of guises from private accredited professionals to the bright spark who usually sits three seats down from you. Depending on what you’re struggling with, you might choose a chemistry tutor Adelaide and set up weekly sessions or a quick meet-up over coffee with a classmate.

Focus on the problem areas

Sometimes when we get frustrated it’s easier to bury our heads in the sand and focus on what we find easier. Sit down and work out where you’re stuck. Make a list and spend time on each item until you’ve mastered it. Don’t be tempted to skip over the harder ones too quickly. A tick of the items as you go, these little successes are often the best way to motivate yourself.

Improve your note-taking skills

Very often the sheer volume of work is a mental stumbling block. There are various ways to take effective notes – some people find mind maps useful which others find that colours and visual aids help. Regardless of the method you choose, condensing what you are learning into concise notes is a skill that you need to master. If you’re scrawling notes in class, take some time at the end of the day, when the information is still fresh in your mind, to write or type these out neatly in your chosen format. This avoids the pre-test cramming and the repetition will also help your recall.

Online resources

If your teacher or lecturer hasn’t pointed these out, then they should. There are hundreds of online resources that can help you understand a concept or revise for an upcoming test. Very often these resources will approach concepts from different angles and provide visuals and explanations that help you understand and remember what you’re learning.

Time management

Organise your desk. Nothing wastes time like trying to find a pen or clear a space to work in. Draw up a daily timetable that includes all your commitments and tasks for each day. Allocate extra time for the subjects that you are struggling with and plan your revision time in advance so that it’s not a rush to cram everything in.