Is it normal to study really hard, but always seems to get crappy grades?

78% Normal
8 Comments

I'm in my 2nd year of Uni this year. I study quite hard such as writing relevant notes down for each week's lectures, as well as reading my textbook/s and copy a few texts on a paper, and also do exam questions posted by my lecturer. I end up, by week 7 almost over 20 pages of notes (with printed diagrams etc.) before the mid-semester exam. But somehow I always end up getting a really low score - like below 70%. Compared this to my friend who didn't write as many notes as I did, ends up with a really good mark than I am.

I'm just wondering if my studying tecnique is not right? And what do I need to fix to make myself study better and understand the concepts/theory?

Voting Results
78% Normal
Based on 54 votes (42 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • destiny.94
    13 years ago

    Dont stress too much about taking notes down - it's better to listen to the information properly and have it stored in your brain rather than written down where you can't even understand it or remember what it means. Try a different study approach

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  • georgienne
    13 years ago

    You're doing well, but I think you're problem is that you're too busy taking the motes to actually 'be' in class. Listen to the prof, notes later.

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    • MoonJ90
      13 years ago

      georgienne (71911) - Yes I do listen to the professor, but he doesn't really go in detail of the complex theory, and he tells us to read the textbook at home. So I write notes from the textbooks and memorize off them for the exams etc.

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  • aaa83
    13 years ago

    I'm a final year student... I don't write note and my average above 80%. it doesn't matter whether you write notes or not. The secret is to concentrate, I found writing notes are destruction. If taking notes are really important for you, get a recorder and record what the lecturer say and when you go back home, write them down and therefore, you concentrated well and have the notes. Good luck with your study

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    • FearFigment
      13 years ago

      Yeah what the previous person said; study smart, not hard. Unless you're doing some course with mass memorization involved, I think making notes and diagrams is pretty overrated apart from the confidence boost it brings. I don't do more than a page of notes and get 70s, but I will read the text book really intensely for hours.

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  • cookiesaregreat
    12 years ago

    For some people its just harder to remember stuff?

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  • SweetSherry
    12 years ago

    I can relate

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  • flax
    13 years ago

    Maybe try a different study technique or ask your professor on where it is you are not excelling. They can give you some good tips on ways to improve. Good luck!

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