The Secrets Of An Overachiever

What is it that the top 0.01% of students do differently? How is it that with the same amount of time and resources, two students can have such drastically different grades? And what can you do to increase your chances of becoming a top student?

“The first step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one.”

Congratulations! The hardest part of solving a problem is understanding that you have one. Having recognized that there is a gap between you and the overachievers, we can now work together in analysing the differences and understanding what you can do better.

“There is no elevator to success you have to take the stairs.”

Studying is long, tedious, and boring, which is why it is so important to develop self-discipline to succeed through those times of less motivation. However, rushing forward and changing every aspect of your life overnight is foolish and will lead to your burning out.

So, what can you do to bring more discipline to your life, in a healthy manner? The change must be gradual, taking small steps which lead to an overall change in your life. Such changes could include:

  • Setting aside two hours from your day where your only focus is studying (meaning no Facebook, Instagram, or any other distraction)
  • Completing homework on time
  • Revising one topic a day

It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform. These changes are small, but over time you can gradually increase your workload and thus enter the realm of top students.

“Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work.”

No one is born intelligent; it is only hard work that differentiates between the best and the rest. Working hard will help you build confidence and self-esteem, but you must be resilient.

  • You must pay attention in class, even though it is boring, and the lesson seems to go on forever; you must pay attention until the final minute.
  • Complete your classwork and homework. Teachers will not test you on materials you have not touched. The questions and more importantly, the answers can be found in your homework and classwork. So, pay attention and do your work diligently.
  • And if you have extra time, read up on extra material and complete past papers. Because the more you understand what you are going to be questioned about, the better you can answer. The better and more concise your answers are, the more marks you will be awarded.

And as you read and re-read, solving multiple problems and completing multiple past papers. You will achieve better and higher grades. Because an exam just does not test how much you know, but also how well you understand the question and subject.

“Practice makes perfect.”

Doing past papers is very important because the examiner is limited by the syllabus and can only ask so many questions before he starts repeating himself. Past exams have many benefits, including but not limited to:

  • Helping you to understand the exam time duration, so you can complete your paper, and get the maximum number of marks. (An incomplete exam will lower both your confidence and the maximum number of marks you can obtain)
  • Identifying the style of exam questions (multiple-choice, short-answer, or long answer).
  • Helping you to practice exam techniques so you can give a more effective paper.
  • Identifying key subject areas to focus on in revision.

It is in these key ways that a top student differs from an average one. They are resilient and confident. They practice strict self-discipline. And are willing to work hard so that in the future they have the chance to not just follow but LIVE their dreams.

But do not shy away from taking breaks. Maintaining an emotional balance and taking care of both your mental and physical health are paramount. Because you cannot give your best if you do not feel your best. These tips will help you for sure.

If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below.

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