how I went from FAILING to becoming a TOP STUDENT | TOP 10 BEST STUDY TIPS + free printable

Summary

In this educational video, the speaker shares personal anecdotes and top 10 study tips that transformed them from a failing student to a top achiever. They emphasize the importance of organization, using Grammarly for essay perfection, and engaging with teachers. The script offers practical advice on note-taking, to-do list management, and the value of extracurricular activities in enhancing academic performance. A free printable resource is provided for tracking study progress, and the video concludes with a motivational call to take responsibility for one's learning journey.

Takeaways

• 📝 Start by writing everything down, including due dates and initial steps for assignments to avoid last-minute rushes.
• 📚 Use a simple notebook as a planner to organize tasks and projects without needing fancy stationery.
• 🔍 For essays, create a table with keywords and requirements to ensure a comprehensive approach and use Grammarly to check for errors.
• 🎯 Prioritize tasks by setting up a to-do list with columns for essential and additional tasks to manage workload effectively.
• 🔑 Include keywords in digital notes for quick searching and easy revision, or use colored sticky notes for the same in handwritten notes.
• 🤔 Maintain a Google Docs page for questions you don't understand and seek clarification from teachers to improve understanding.
• 🏫 Attend help or extra classes provided by schools to reinforce learning and gain insights from other students' questions.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Experiment with different study times and environments to find what works best for your productivity through trial and error.
• 📊 Track your study progress and confusions with a printable tracker to prioritize topics for revision and clear up doubts.
• 🧐 Cultivate curiosity by asking questions and seeking answers to deepen your understanding, which can be beneficial for exams.
• 🎭 Engage in activities outside of studying to develop life skills like time management and prioritization, which can indirectly improve academic performance.
• 👩‍🏫 Build relationships with teachers or lecturers for better understanding of the syllabus, accountability, and potential future opportunities.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial approach to exams and report cards?

The speaker initially chose to sleep during exams and avoid them altogether to prevent failing grades, resulting in 'N/A' or 'Not Available' on their report cards.

How did the speaker transform their academic performance?

The speaker improved from failing to becoming the top student in their school within two years, a story they promised to share in the description box of the video.

What is the significance of writing down everything according to the speaker?

Writing everything down helps in organizing tasks, setting deadlines, and initiating projects, which the speaker believes is crucial for avoiding procrastination and last-minute stress.

Why is setting up a regular notebook as a planner recommended in the script?

Setting up a regular notebook as a planner is a simple and effective way to keep track of assignments and due dates without needing aesthetically pleasing stationary.

How does the speaker suggest using Grammarly to improve essay and assignment scores?

The speaker suggests using Grammarly to check for spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes, and to enhance the quality of writing with its advanced features, which can help in achieving top marks.

What is the purpose of creating a table with keywords for essays according to the script?

Creating a table with keywords helps in defining and tackling each requirement of the essay question, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the topic and better organization of thoughts.

Why is it important to write down the next day's plan for a project or assignment?

Writing down the next day's plan for a project or assignment helps in maintaining momentum, avoiding last-minute work, and ensuring that the task is not forgotten.

What is the strategy for organizing a to-do list as suggested in the video script?

The strategy involves having a column for the most important tasks and another for additional tasks, allowing for prioritization and flexibility in managing workload.

How can including specific keywords in digital notes benefit a student during revision?

Including keywords in digital notes allows for quick searching and locating of relevant information during revision, making the study process more efficient.

What is the speaker's advice on participating in extra classes or help sessions?

The speaker advises attending extra classes or help sessions regardless of one's understanding of the material, as they can provide new insights and clarify doubts, which is beneficial before exams.

Why is it beneficial to have a Google Docs page for questions you don't understand?

Having a dedicated Google Docs page for questions allows for a clear record of misunderstandings, which can be discussed with teachers or lecturers, leading to better comprehension and improved grades.

What is the speaker's view on balancing academic study with other activities?

The speaker believes that engaging in activities outside of academics can improve time management and prioritization skills, leading to increased productivity and better grades.

How does building a relationship with teachers or lecturers benefit a student?

Building a relationship with teachers or lecturers can provide insights into the syllabus, make asking questions more comfortable, and increase accountability for one's work, ultimately benefiting the student's academic performance.

What is the speaker's perspective on making excuses for poor academic performance?

The speaker emphasizes that making excuses is unproductive and that students should take responsibility for their performance, seeking solutions rather than blaming external factors.

What actionable advice does the speaker give for students to improve their mindset and performance?

The speaker advises students to change their mindset by taking responsibility for their learning, seeking alternative resources when needed, and focusing on self-improvement rather than making excuses.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Transforming from a Struggling Student to Top Achiever

The speaker shares their personal journey from avoiding exams and failing to becoming the top student in school within two years. They emphasize the importance of taking notes and planning, starting with writing down due dates and beginning tasks early to avoid last-minute rushes. The speaker promises to share their full story in the video description and encourages viewers to take notes for the top 10 study tips that will be revealed in the video. A free printable resource is also hinted at for viewers to use.

05:02

🖋️ Effective Study Techniques and the Role of Grammarly

The speaker discusses strategies for effective studying, such as creating tables for essays, defining keywords, and using Grammarly to check for mistakes. They highlight Grammarly's benefits as a digital writing assistant that can improve writing and save time. The video offers a discount for Grammarly premium, which includes advanced features for enhancing writing quality. Additionally, the speaker talks about organizing to-do lists, using digital notes with specific keywords, and having a dedicated Google Docs page for questions that need clarification.

10:04

🔍 Seeking Help, Managing Time, and Engaging with Teachers

This section covers the importance of attending help classes or extra classes, regardless of one's understanding of the material, as they can provide valuable insights and questions from peers. The speaker also emphasizes the value of trial and error in finding the best study methods and the importance of tracking progress with a provided printable resource. The speaker encourages viewers to feed their curiosity by asking questions that delve deeper into topics, which can be beneficial for exams. They also stress the importance of engaging in activities outside of studying to develop life skills like time management and prioritization.

🤝 Building Relationships with Teachers and Overcoming Excuses

The speaker advises viewers to get to know their teachers or lecturers, not to become a teacher's pet, but to build a rapport that can lead to better understanding and accountability. They share their personal experience with arranging meetings with lecturers to discuss questions. The speaker also addresses common excuses students make for not performing well, such as blaming teachers or distractions, and encourages taking responsibility for one's learning and improvement. They invite viewers to reflect on their own excuses and to commit to self-improvement.

Keywords

💡Grammarly

Grammarly is an online writing assistant tool that checks for spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes in written work. It is integral to the video's theme of academic improvement, as the speaker recommends using Grammarly to ensure high-quality essays and assignments. The video mentions Grammarly's free version and its premium version with advanced features, emphasizing its utility since the speaker's secondary school days.

💡Productivity

Productivity in the context of the video refers to the efficiency with which one can complete academic tasks. The script discusses various strategies to enhance productivity, such as writing down tasks, setting up a planner, and using digital tools like Grammarly. It is a key concept as it directly ties to the video's goal of improving grades through effective study techniques.

💡Academic Improvement

Academic improvement is the overarching theme of the video, focusing on strategies to elevate one's performance in school. The script provides specific tips and tools, such as using Grammarly and maintaining a structured planner, to achieve better grades. The term is exemplified by the speaker's personal story of transformation from failing to becoming a top student.

💡To-Do List

A to-do list is a sequential organization of tasks that need to be completed. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a to-do list with a column for the most important tasks and another for additional tasks. This helps in prioritizing work and managing time effectively, which is crucial for academic success.

💡Trial and Error

Trial and error is a method of problem-solving where one attempts different solutions and learns from the outcomes. The script mentions this concept when discussing finding the most productive study times and environments. It is a key part of the video's message on self-discovery and customization of study habits for individual effectiveness.

💡Digital Notes

Digital notes refer to notes taken using electronic devices rather than traditional pen and paper. The video encourages the use of keywords in digital notes for easy searching and reference during revision. This method is presented as a time-saving and efficient way to organize and review study material.

💡Revision

Revision is the process of reviewing and consolidating material previously learned, typically in preparation for an exam. The video provides tips on how to effectively revise, such as using digital tools to find specific topics quickly and maintaining a document for questions that need clarification.

💡Extra Classes

Extra classes are additional learning sessions provided by schools outside of regular class hours. The speaker recommends attending these classes to reinforce understanding and learn from the questions of other students. This concept is tied to the video's theme of seeking all available resources to improve academic performance.

💡Time Management

Time management is the ability to effectively organize and allocate time to different tasks and activities. The video suggests that engaging in activities outside of studying can paradoxically improve grades by teaching time management and prioritization skills, which are essential for academic success.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is the desire to learn or know more about something. The script encourages feeding one's curiosity by asking questions that go beyond the surface level of understanding, which can lead to deeper insights and better performance on exams. This concept is exemplified by the speaker's personal experience of asking questions that later appeared on exams.

💡Accountability

Accountability is the state of being responsible for one's actions or decisions. In the context of the video, building relationships with teachers can increase accountability, as students may feel more compelled to perform well to avoid disappointing their teachers. This concept is part of the video's broader message on taking personal responsibility for academic success.

Highlights

The speaker shares their personal story of academic transformation from failing to becoming a top student.

The importance of writing down everything, including due dates and starting dates for assignments, is emphasized.

A method for setting up a regular notebook as a planner without needing aesthetic stationary is introduced.

The strategy of starting assignments early, even with just five minutes of work, to overcome the initial hurdle is discussed.

The speaker advises writing down the next day to continue a project to avoid last-minute stress and forgetting assignments.

A table method for organizing essays with keywords and requirements is shared.

Grammarly is recommended for checking essays and emails for spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes.

The benefits of Grammarly Premium for advanced writing features are highlighted.

A to-do list organization method with a focus on most important tasks and additional tasks is presented.

The speaker suggests using keywords in digital notes to facilitate quick revision and study.

A Google Docs strategy for documenting questions and seeking clarification from teachers is introduced.

The value of attending help or extra classes for learning and exam preparation is discussed.

A trial and error method for finding the most productive study times and places is suggested.

A free printable tracker for studying and prioritizing topics is offered.

The speaker encourages feeding curiosity by asking questions and seeking answers to improve understanding.

The benefits of engaging in activities outside of studying for improving time management and prioritization are explained.

The importance of building relationships with teachers for academic and future career benefits is discussed.

The speaker challenges the audience to reflect on common excuses that hinder academic performance and the need for a mindset change.

A call to action for viewers to comment on one self-improvement goal for the semester is made.

Transcripts

Thank you Grammarly for sponsoring this video.

Believe it or not,

I used to write my name on my test paper,

then go to sleep

but because I didn't want every single one of my report cards

to have fail written there,

I just decided not to go to the exam altogether

so my report card would say N/A instead

for not available.

Yeah, that was me.

I will write my entire story of how I went from failing

to becoming the top student at my school in two years

in the description box below,

because I do not want this video to be too long

because we are not going to waste any time.

Get a pen and paper ready,

I'm serious,

because this is literally years of trial and error

that I'm giving away for free in one compact video.

So, bestie, take notes.

Here are my top 10 best study tips

that will improve your grades

and have you excelling and flexing when you go back to school.

Stay tuned because I'll be surprising you guys

with a free printable somewhere in this video.

First: start writing everything down.

Here are five things I always write down and how I do it.

Have homework projects or assignments?

Write the due date down first.

You don't need any nice aesthetic stationary.

Here's how you can set up just any regular notebook as a planner.

Then write the date you're going to start that essay or assignment.

Even if it's just five minutes,

try to do a little bit of research

or brainstorming for that project

because I find that the hardest part about any big task is just starting.

So once you get the ball rolling,

everything else will just fall into place.

So once you get that first step done,

immediately write down

the next day you're going to continue that project or assignment.

That way you can avoid last minute work

or just forgetting about the assignment altogether.

If you're enjoying this video so far,

be sure to click the like button and subscribe.

It's free.

Second: do you want to score the top marks

for all your essays and assignments?

When it comes to essays or assignments,

I always write down the points that I want to research

or add to later on, on top of the page.

Here is the table that I always create for any essay.

You take your question

and you find out all the keywords

or requirements that they have.

You add those into your table,

making sure to define and tackle each one.

Remember to note down the resources

so you can refer back to it later on.

After that, you quickly run it through Grammarly

to check for spelling, punctuation, or grammar mistakes.

Look at the marks of my last two essays

and the feedback from my examiner.

This is literally fail-proof.

I have used Grammarly since secondary school

to check all my essays and emails.

I have convinced many of my friends to download it

because it's so useful

and you guys definitely should too,

if you're going back to school

or if exam season is starting.

Basically, Grammarly is a digital writing assistant

that improves your writing and saves you time.

You download Grammarly for free,

then use it wherever you work,

such as Google docs, emails, or Microsoft word.

You set the goals for your writing,

then check your final score.

The free version has Grammar, spelling and punctuation suggestions.

This already wipes out any careless mistakes,

but Grammarly premium has advanced features

that will help your writing stand out

Like rephrasing wordy sentences,

making your writing sound friendly or formal

and so much more.

So, if you want to improve your grades and succeed in school,

go to Grammarly.com/Faye Films to sign up for a free account.

If you like the extra features,

upgrade to Grammarly premium for 20% off

using the link in my description box.

Third, when it comes to your to-do list,

have a column for the most important task

you have to get done.

The column next to it is for any additional things.

Again, we don't need any fancy stationary.

You can separate your to-do list by week, by module or by topic-

whatever you're comfortable with,

but lectures, compulsory readings and homework

will live in this column.

Any extra worksheets or any extra readings

that your teacher randomly gives you

live in the other column.

If you have time, you do it.

If you don't have time, scrap it.

Next: if you make digital notes,

try to include these keywords in your notes.

Summarize, paraphrase this,

answer this, revise this, understand more,

write all of these keywords on top of your document

so that you don't forget

and keep these consistent throughout your notes.

During revision week when you're studying,

press 'Command+F', type in the keyword,

then click the arrow.

You can find all the questions you need to answer or revise in one go.

This applies for any of the keywords that you type in

when you press 'Command+F'.

If you prefer handwritten notes,

you can use those different colored sticky types

and associate them with each keyword.

So it's the same thing.

The fourth thing:

for every subject, have a Google docs page

dedicated to questions you don't understand.

Make sure you write down

your current understanding of that question,

then show this document to your lecturer or teacher

and ask them to explain the right answer for you.

This is a complete lifesaver that will change your grades.

Trust me.

Next: always go for the help classes

or extra classes that your school provides.

It doesn't matter if you think you already understand the material.

A lot of the times,

we don't know what we don't know.

You'd be surprised at the questions that other students ask

and how much you actually learn from these sessions,

especially before exam.

Of course, make a separate Google Doc containing any questions

or answers discussed during these sessions

and make sure you revise them before your exam.

If these classes are specifically made for very weak students,

then just attend the classes

on topics that you aren't quite sure about.

Next: trial and error.

Everyone says, "Study when you're most productive,

study where you focus the best."

The thing is, how do we know?

I don't even know what I want to eat for lunch.

How am I supposed to know when I study the best?

Like, here you go, screenshot this.

Write down how you feel and which one you prefer.

Now you have no excuses.

I've already given the list for you.

Next: track everything.

You guys are my besties

so here is a free printable for you guys.

Write the topic you are currently studying

and rate how difficult you find the topic.

Then write down all the confusions that you have.

It could be a question or a page in your notes or textbook

that you don't quite understand.

Basically, you wanna clear up all these confusions before your exam.

Leave a small space for answers,

then you prioritize the topics.

During revision week or before your exam,

you study those with higher priority first.

The link to download this free printable

is in the description box below.

The only payment that I need

is for you to like this video

and leave a pencil emoji in the comment section.

That's all I need.

An advertisement might play in the next few seconds

so if you want to support this channel,

please do not skip the ads, thank you.

Next: feed your curiosity and ask questions.

I remember reading yesterday that carnivorous animals have sharp canines.

Okay, everyone knows that...

and large molars?

I thought to myself, why large molars?

I could just stop there and memorize the fact as it is,

but I decided to search it out.

You have no idea how many times

these little curious questions actually came out for the exam

because they're related to the topic that your teacher is teaching,

but it goes into more depth

which is exactly what your entire exam is about,

is to test your understanding of your topic

and this actually came out as a question.

So, feed your curiosity,

keep asking questions and finding the answers to them

because I remember vividly,

my Science secondary school teacher.

He said that the questions I ask during class

always spoils what is coming out during the exam

and because of what he said,

I never stopped doing that

and it's never stopped helping me.

Next: start doing something other than studying to improve your grades.

Contrary to popular belief,

you can't only study.

You might think that by not participating in anything,

you have more time to study

thus it'll improve your grades

but that's not always the case.

You see, doing other activities

will not only allow you to take a break from your academics,

but it'll also teach you two very important life skills:

time management, prioritization.

How are you going to learn how to manage your time

if you have nothing to manage?

Or how are you going to learn how to prioritize your things

when you don't have anything to do?

You only have to study.

My grades actually improved significantly

when I started putting a lot of my energy

towards other things like my passions.

Because I didn't have as much time available to study,

I was actually much more productive every single time that I did

plus you hone in on many other important life skills.

Activities could be anything,

could be cooking, cleaning, dancing, music, art, theater;

just do something other than studying

and see how much your grades improve.

Trust me on this.

Next: start knowing your teachers or lecturers.

This is not about becoming a teacher's pet.

I was never one.

I was never cheerful enough to be one.

There are many benefits

that come with being friends with your teachers or lecturers.

I'm going to teach you how you can do that.

You can start by becoming a familiar face

by asking them questions after class like,

oh, I wasn't so sure about concept A you explained just now,

or, back in A levels,

I would arrange meetings with my lecturers every two weeks

to discuss questions that I didn't understand.

First of all,

you start to notice them emphasizing different parts of your syllabus.

That is what is coming out for your exam.

Second, by building a bond with your teachers,

it makes you feel more comfortable asking questions,

and it also makes you more accountable for your work

because you don't want to disappoint them.

In university, your lecturers are tickets to your future.

They have connections in the industry that you want to go into

and they have walked the exact same path

that you are going through right now.

Talk to them after class about their personal experiences in the industry,

or read up on papers that they've written before.

Build a relationship with them,

and they will be more than happy to help you.

Now, stop whatever you're doing, besties and listen.

I need to ask you this.

Do you feel like you're not performing at your best

or at your fullest potential because of all these reasons?

Here are some of the other responses

that Instagram fan gave me.

I want you to look at this list

and count how many times you agree with it.

Do you realize that all these, specifically, are excuses?

These are all attempts at blaming something or someone else,

because that's so much easier than blaming ourselves

and this was the mentality that I had for many years.

For example, if your teacher isn't good,

are you going to sit there

and do nothing for the next one month or three years

until you miraculously bump into a good teacher?

If social media is too distracting,

are you going to wait until YouTube or Instagram collapses

before you start studying?

Like how long do you have to wait

until everything is perfect enough for you to start?

And by the time everything falls into place,

is it too late?

You have a good teacher.

You saved up to buy nice stationery.

You've managed to download a blocker for social media websites and so on,

and yet our grades will still never improve

because we're just gonna continue making excuses for ourselves.

I wish someone had told me this when I was younger,

but you're never going to improve

if you keep pointing your fingers at everything else,

except for yourself.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh,

but someone needs to tell you

because no one told me

and it took me many years of making mistakes to find that out.

We have to change our mindset.

We have a bad teacher?

Okay, let me look for other sources that can help me.

I don't have nice stationary?

Okay, let me make notes with circles, underlines and arrows.

It's been a while since I've said this

but there's nothing stopping you but yourself.

Check the description box below

because I have linked all my videos that solve common student problems.

If you've made it this far, comment down below

one thing you want to improve about yourself this semester.

Think about it long and hard until you come up with one.

Be sure to like this video, subscribe

and turn on the notification bell and set it to 'all'

so you don't miss out on any future uploads.

Thank you guys for 593,000 subscribers.

It's amazing.

You guys are amazing

and I'll see you all in my next video.

Bye bye.

The sun is really bright.

Oh gosh!

I'll take a thumbnail now.

The lighting's so good.