Finding out the Requirements
Ask your teachers. Talk to your teachers about what you can do to get yourself on the honor roll. Ask what the grade point average (GPA) requirements are as well as if there are any other necessary qualifications. Find out if there are any extracurricular requirements, like joining a club, participating in afterschool activities, or playing an instrument in the school band or orchestra. There may also be behavioral requirements related to being on the honor roll. So make sure you behave well and treat others with respect. You can also try talking to your guidance counselor to find out more about what it takes to meet the honor roll requirements.
Plan your courses according to your skill level. Some courses (such as honors or AP classes) are given extra weight in your GPA calculations. This is intended to make up for the difference in grades based on the amount of effort it takes to achieve them. You need to keep this in mind when choosing your classes. In most schools, you can still be on the honor roll without taking honors or AP classes. So it might be a smarter idea to take the regular classes where you have a better chance of making an A. However, if you plan on attending college, taking AP classes is important. So it’s probably worth the extra effort to take the honors/AP classes. For example, you might have to work really hard to make a B in an AP class whereas you could have made an A in the regular version of the same class.
Meet the grade requirements for each class. It is easy to think of the honor roll as a holistic performance evaluation, but you need to also consider the smaller parts that make up the whole. Making good grades in each individual assignment is just as important as thinking about the whole picture. Keep track of upcoming tests, quizzes and exams so that you can plan to study them. Generally, these assignments are worth a very large amount of your grade so getting good grades on them is important. Never stay up late before such an assignment so you can be well-rested and awake.
Find out your current grades. This is important so that you can keep track of what areas you need to focus on and how much. It can also be helpful to calculate the grade you’ll need on major assignments to maintain or raise your GPA. For instance, knowing that you need a B+ on the final exam to get an A in the class can help you prioritize your studying. If you have excellent grades in one class, you’ll just need to work hard enough to maintain that grade. But if you have a lower grade in another class, you’ll have to work harder to make up the difference. Remember to always communicate with your teachers. If you have questions about class assignments or your performance in class, talk to your teachers about it. They are there to help you. Similarly, if you are struggling with a subject or if you have a schedule conflict and have to miss a few classes, be sure to tell your teacher as soon as possible. The more advanced notice you give them, the more flexible they can be to help you.
Making the Grades
Pay attention in class. The first big step toward making the honor roll is making sure that you pay attention in class. This is crucial so that you can understand what is being taught and ask questions if need be. If you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss learning the material as well as comments about homework assignments, projects, and other graded assignments.
Keep up with your homework. Whether at school, in a study hall, or at home – always make time to do your homework. One missed assignment usually will not harm a class grade significantly, but many missed assignments in a row will. Remember – homework is intended to increase your understanding and help you find what you need to learn. Take advantage of that, and come to class with questions about it if you don't understand. Never leave assignments and study time for the last minute. Procrastinating will not get you the grades you need to get on the honor roll.
Write assignments well. You want to turn in interesting, polished writing assignments. This means that they shouldn’t have spelling or grammatical errors. Be sure to make it interesting to read and never repeat yourself. If you can, choose a topic you’re excited about. This will make the assignment more interesting to read for your teacher. Answer the assignment question thoroughly and don’t get off topic. Develop a clear thesis statement that helps you stay on topic throughout. If your teacher gives a specific essay format, be sure to follow it in order to avoid losing points that could have been saved easily. Make sure you proofread your writing assignments thoroughly before handing them in. You don’t want to turn in assignments with careless mistakes you could have easily fixed.
Going the Extra Mile
Ask for help. Talk with teachers and get help with subjects you don't understand. Your teachers will be happy to help you if you come to them after class or during office hours and tell them that you are struggling. Show them that you care about your grades by going the extra mile to ask for help. If you don't get one concept, or have a question, be sure to ask the teacher. There's no such thing as a stupid question. If you're studying or doing homework at home and don't get a problem, ask your parents or call a friend who has the same class. If they don't know the answer, make sure to come into school, ready to ask your teacher.
Study for upcoming exams a little bit every night. This makes it easier to study for tests and keeps all your notes fresh in your mind in the event of a pop-quiz or even just for class participation. Reviewing topics daily will help you stay on top of your studies and prepare for whatever happens in the classroom on a daily basis. Reviewing for exams a little bit each night means you will absorb much more of the information than if you wait to cram it all in at the last minute the night before the test. Always have time set aside to study and search for techniques that work for you.
Take good notes. Always take thorough notes in class. Be sure that your notes are easily readable and contain everything you need. Trying to study notes that are incomplete or illegible is a waste of your valuable time and making the honor roll requires organized study routines. Try to organize your notes as you write them (with bullet points) so that they make sense later.
Go above and beyond. If your teacher offers extra credit, always take advantage of those opportunities. This is one of the easiest ways to improve your grade, and it won’t hurt it if you don’t do well. In addition, you can put in some extra work to help you understand the concepts that are taught, rather than doing the bare minimum for each assignment. For instance, do independent research so you have thorough background knowledge of the subject. This is especially helpful if you will have to answer essay questions on the topic.
Join extracurricular activities. Show that you are a well-rounded student by joining some extracurricular activities. Being on the honor roll is more than just about making good grades. It means that you are an exemplary student that your school is proud of. Participating in extra activities on campus will help your school administrators and teachers view you as an involved student. You could run for class president, become the treasurer of your school’s chapter of the Environmental Society, or start playing the violin in orchestra class.
Minimize stress. Being stressed out all the time will make you unhappy and, in the end, it could cause your grades to drop. Take some time to enjoy life, but remember to keep up with your work and your review. Go to a movie with your friends or go on a weekend trip with your family. Spend some time reading a book for pleasure or playing sports with your neighbors. Avoid expecting too much from yourself or setting unrealistic expectations. Don't focus on school so much that it consumes your life. While school is always the priority, be sure to get involved in other things as well.
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