Make Better Grades
with Good Learning and Study Skills
Index
Information
Advice
Internet Links
Books & Media
CSULB Referrals
Other
INFORMATION
Many students think that they are not as
smart as other students who make better grades when in fact all they lack is
good learning skills and study habits. Learning more and making good
grades helps get better jobs and achieve more in one's career.
Good grades are necessary to
get into graduate school. Many students as freshmen don't think they would
ever want to go to graduate school, but later change their minds after doing
poorly their first year or two in college. You can never take away poor
grades, they will always affect your grade average! So don't wait, start
improving your learning skills and study habits now.
Return
to Index
ADVICE
The basic requirements for making good
grades follow:
1. Take courses that you have the proper background for.
2. Spend an adequate amount of time outside of class studying efficiently.
For a course that is "easy" for you, that may be about 1 hour
outside of class for every hour in class or less to make an "A". For a
harder course it may take 2-4 hours outside of class for every hour in class to
make a "B" or "A".
3. Take good class notes. See below for help.
4. Talk with your instructor and other students to get help when needed (but
don't rely upon them to do your thinking or learning for you.
5. Learn good learning and memory skills (this is what makes some students
appear smarter and get more done in less time). See below for help and go
to the page on Reading help to improve textbook
comprehension and memory.
6. The last three weeks of the semester are the most important (most points are
due then and instructors tend to give better grades to those who improve or do
well at the end--not those that go down). During the last three weeks, put other
activities on the back burner and pour your efforts into studying.
Return
to Index
INTERNET
LINKS
Many of these sites can be
helpful. If you are not making good grades despite adequate study time,
start by reading our guide.
Learning
and Study Skills
C=> Improve Comprehension and
Memory for Better Grades
This guide has been used by hundreds of students to study more
efficiently and improve their grades. It is especially for those who study hard,
but don't do as well as they would like. Tom G. Stevens PhD, CAPS, CSULB
http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/LEARN.htm
*** Virginia Tech University Learning Center Study Help:
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html
*** University of Texas, Austin Learning Center Study Help Links
http://www.utexas.edu/student/lsc/handouts.html
***Study Skills Checklist --Wadsworth Publishing
The purpose of this inventory is to find out about your own
study habits and attitudes.
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/checklis.html
Dr. Carolyn Hopper, Study Skills Coordinator for the Developmental
Studies Department at Middle Tennessee State University. Two sites:
****(1) Study Help Web Links
http://www.mtsu.edu/~studskl/index.html
***(2) Memory Principles
http://www.mtsu.edu/~studskl/mem.html
***Memory Mnemonic Techniques
http://www.psychwww.com/mtsite/memory.html
Textbooks--Understanding and Remembering
the Material
(Click here to get help in addition to above links)
Note-Taking Tips
***A SYSTEM FOR EFFECTIVE LISTENING AND NOTE-TAKING
University of Texas Learning Center
http://www.utexas.edu/student/lsc/handouts/1415.html
** NOTE-TAKING: THE CORNELL SYSTEM
Virginia Tech
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/cornell.html
Test-Taking Skills
Note: most poor test result problems are due to poor textbook reading or poor note-taking, but
students there are also specific test-taking skills that are important.
Also, test anxiety may be a problem. See those relevant sections.
*** Test taking tips plus special self-help guides for Objective Tests, Essay
Tests, and Problem-Solving (Math) and Science tests. Special guides on studying
for Final Exams also.
University of Texas Learning Cente
http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc
***Survival Strategies for Taking Tests
Dr. Carolyn Hopper
http://www.mtsu.edu/~studskl/teststrat.html
ADDITIONAL LEARNING AND STUDY SKILLS SITES
www.dartmouth.edu/admin/acskills/index.html
Dartmouth Study Skills Guide
www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html
Virginia Polytechnic Institute Study Skills
www.d.umn.edu/student/loon/acad/strat/study_strat_enr.html
University of Minnesota Study Skill assessment and self-help
Return
to Index
BOOKS
& MEDIA
GO TO: book_sites.htm
Return
to Index
CSULB
REFERRALS
Return
to Index
CSULB
Student Services:
CSULB
Learning Assistance Center
The LAC provides a variety of services to help students succeed in
their classes including workshops, individual study skills help, self-help
materials, tutoring referrals, supplementary instruction referrals, and more. Library East Room 12; (562) 985-5350;
csulblac@csulb.edu.
CSULB
Writer's Resource Lab
Language Arts Building (LAB) Room 212; (562) 985-4329; Department of English, California State University, Long Beach.
Individual tutoring available. On-line handouts include: Essay Structure Essay Introductions Parts of Speech Fragments,
Revision Checklist Terms Used in Essay Test Questions Writing a Summary,
Comma Splice & Run-On Sentence Article Use (a/an & the) Writing Book Reviews,
plus new ones being added, Check their web site:
http://www.csulb.edu/~wrl/
CSULB
Mathematics Assistance Center
Mathematics Tutoring: FO3-200B for many regular math classes and in Mathematics Education
(MTED) Tutoring In LA5-259 for student taking mathematics courses for elementary
teachers.
For
Workshops, Test Anxiety, and Motivational or Concentration Problems
Counseling and
Psychological Services (CAPS)
CSULB students can obtain free counseling from licensed psychologists for almost
any type of personal problem including relationships and family problems;
stress, anxiety, depression, anger, grief; academic-related concerns; career
decision-making; crises; and almost any type of self-development issue. We
offer individual and group counseling, workshops, and self-help materials
including this web site. Brotman Hall, Room 226; 562-985-4001; web site: www.csulb.edu/~caps
Other student services and
student organizations may also be helpful
Go to CSULB student information page for a comprehensive list of student services and activities
