I’m At A Bad School And I Want To Be A Good Student

Here’s the bad news: there are bad schools, bad teachers, bad pupils, bad courses and bad exams.

Here’s the good news: none of the above is a barrier to your personal success.

Here’s the checklist on how to get around the bad news.

1. Set two goals
   1. What do I want my career to be? WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
   2. What grades do I want from my exams?
2. Focus on doing as well as you can WHERE you are. (If your circumstances are so bad then look to change schools – however, this may take more time than its worth.) This means getting the best possible exam grades you can.
3. To get great exam results in a subject (apply this list to each of your subjects):
   1. Get the course outline or course plan.
   2. Make/find a list of topics you need to learn.
   3. Make/find a list of all the possible questions that could come up in the exam.
   4. Work out how many topics you need to know for the exam.
   5. Read the information – use Exam bodies’ Teacher’s books to get all the information you need to know.
   6. Produce revision notes – succinct in the notes.
   7. Produce a revision plan. How many topics do you need to know, how much time have you got? See, my revision planner here.
   8. Memorise the information you need to know for the exam – use my Guide to Essays here.
   9. Do practice exams – Test yourself on the information you have learnt
   10. Seek good feedback, criticise your own work, or seek a guidance from a good teacher, parent or someone you trust on your work. (repeat steps I and J to reach A* level)
4. Find people to work on step three together. If you can’t, you are able to do it yourself.
5. Exercise – for 16 to 21 years old, try doing at least 3 for 4 hours each week. This is not wasted time.
6. Eat properly – eat meat, vegetables and some fruit – find recipies online which allow you to make one dish and keep it in the fridge/freezer to heat up and serve with fresh vegetables. This saves time and is healthy. Your parents may not being buying you the right food, get them to.
7. Do not eat or drink any surgery drinks, especially so-called ‘energy drinks’ high in sugar. These do not give you energy. Do not eat chocolate, or energy foods, such as cereal bars. These take away your energy.
8. Relax – you cannot work allow the time and you must give your body down time. Find a way to relax which does not involve alcohol or drugs.
9. Live life – get out and enjoy the world – if you don’t have exams upcoming then moderate alcohol intake is permissible.