How to Get Top of the Class

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To reach the top of your class, you will have to maintain discipline and study hard throughout the school year. Participate in class activities and do all homework on time, including assigned readings. Schedule classes, self-test, and eliminate any distractions that slow down learning. Keep a good attitude and always aim for the highest possible rankings.

Table of Contents

Active participation in class

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Sit at the front desk in class. Distractions from classmates sitting in front of you can make it very difficult to concentrate and keep up with the lesson. You should choose a seat at the front desk so that you can concentrate on listening to everything the teacher says. Moreover, you can also catch the eye of the teacher when sitting at the front desk; And when the teacher sees that you are paying attention to the lesson, maybe you will get extra points. ^{[1] X Research Source}

When you’re at the front desk, you’ll also be less tempted to pull out your phone to look at or read inappropriate things in class or doze off.
If you can’t move to the front desk, ask the other students to let you focus and not talk to you during class.

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Detailed notes. Get the most out of the lesson by taking notes in class. Instead of writing down everything your teacher says, focus your attention on picking up important details like name, date, and location. Write short, simple sentences that include key words in the lesson. ^{[2] X Research Source}

For example, “Franz Ferdinand (prince of Austria) was assassinated on June 28, 1914.”

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Participate in class discussions. Speaking in class is a great way to show that you’re keeping up with the lecture in class and deepen your thinking about the content. Include points and questions that are directly related to the content of the lesson that day or that week. Address the opinions of other classmates respectfully to show that you are fully engaged in the conversation, whether you agree or not. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

For example, you could say, “I completely agree with Minh Anh’s opinion on global warming, and I also think we can do more to bring about change.”
Try to think of questions that can take the discussion further. For example, “How do you think Shakespeare would write Romeo and Juliet differently if he lived in this age of social media?”

Do all the homework

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Schedule exercises. Coping with a variety of subjects can be difficult, so it’s important that you stay organized as closely as possible. Track the deadlines of all homework assignments and create a specific timetable for completing them. You can use a daily calendar or a wall calendar to organize your homework, or use both if you want more reminders. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Try using different colors to mark on the calendar the priority or difficulty of the task.

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Complete all reading materials by the assigned deadline. Follow the course outline and complete all required reading materials on time. This will help you fully prepare to participate in the lesson, impress the teacher, and be ready for the unexpected questions in class. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Switch to another subject when you lose focus. If you have to do a lot of homework in different subjects, you should switch to another subject when you start to lose focus. A new subject can bring your brain back to life, so you don’t lose your precious time. You can switch to as many subjects as you need, but make sure to complete all assignments on time. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Try focusing on difficult subjects first so you can spend more time on those subjects if necessary.

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Avoid late submission. Late submissions will be deducted points, and your GPA will drop. Be sure to include in your class schedule the exact time the assignments are due and try to complete them on time. If you plan to miss school on the day your assignments are due, you should submit them early to avoid deductions.

Learn effectively

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Ask your teacher what scores you need to pass. The ranking system in each school may be different as different methods are used to determine the top ranking. You can ask your teacher how much he or she thinks you have to score on tests and assignments to get the first rank. You can also ask how many points the top students from the previous year scored to give you a rough idea of where you need to go. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Start studying three weeks before the exam. Don’t procrastinate on revising the knowledge needed to get an excellent score on the test, a task that can’t be accomplished if done only at the last minute. You should spend at least 3 weeks reviewing all the content you need to learn in small and manageable parts. Schedule these sections in advance and make sure you have enough time to keep up with other subjects. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Planning ahead takes the stress out of studying and makes it easier to focus.

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Self-test to assess progress in the learning process. While studying, take the previous year’s exams to test your knowledge of the course. Time these tests to match your school timetable, then grade them when you’re done. If you don’t get the score you need to get to the top, you need to schedule extra study time to improve your results. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Practice tests for some subjects can be obtained online, or you can ask your teacher for previous year’s exam questions.

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Block out distractions. Phones, laptops, radios, and televisions can be major sources of distraction during study time. If possible, choose to study in books and use pen and paper instead of computers, which are full of distractions. Put down the phone, turn off the radio, turn off the TV to focus on the lesson. ^{[10] X Research Source}

If you need to use a computer, you should download software that blocks websites to entertain while studying.
If there are too many distractions at home, go to the library to study quietly.

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Learn in short sessions. Long periods of intense study can be distracting and drain your energy. Instead, choose to study in short bursts of about half an hour and take short breaks to recharge. You will be able to concentrate better after 10-15 minutes of relaxation, and the learning process will be less tiring. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Use breaks to snack on healthy foods like applesauce or yogurt.
Watch short videos on YouTube or chat with friends for a boost before going back to school.

Find a tutor if needed. Keeping a balance between different subjects and assignments can make it difficult to keep up with all of them. If you find it difficult to grasp certain content or keep at the top, you should find a tutor or ask the teacher for extra help. Do this as soon as there are signs that you need support so you don’t fall behind.

Show good behavior

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Try to go to school fully. Missing classes can leave you behind and disrupt your schedule. You can also interrupt the lesson in class if the teacher has to stop teaching to help you catch the information you missed. You should try to attend class fully, only taking time off when you are so sick that you can’t go to school. ^{[12] X Research Source}

If you miss a class, don’t forget to borrow your notebook and make up the exercises.

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Polite and respectful. Disruption in class not only prevents you from studying effectively, but also distracts everyone. Always respect your teachers and classmates, and keep a positive attitude. Good behavior will help you gain the favor of your teacher, and this can translate into good grades as your teacher evaluates your efforts and participation.

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Put the phone away. Looking at your phone in class can seem hard to resist, especially when you get a text or email. Put your phone on silent mode and keep it in a hard-to-reach place so you won’t be tempted to study in class. The behavior of looking at your phone not only shows disrespect to the teacher, but also distracts you and reduces your effectiveness in class.

You should also avoid other distractions such as passing papers to classmates or reading things that are not relevant to the lesson.

Do not follow distracting students. Good classroom behavior includes avoiding distracting students. Do not respond to students talking privately or passing papers to each other during class time. When outside of class, you should let other students know that you are trying to concentrate on your studies so that they don’t disturb you when class starts.

Steps

Active participation in class

Do all the homework

Learn effectively

Show good behavior

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