How to improve your grades quickly
The age old question!
The best way to improve grades is by consistent improvements, staying organised, developing good study habits, and keeping a positive mentality. But real, measurable progress also comes from knowing how and when to do things differently. The good news is that with the right strategies, most students can see improvement within weeks, not months.
Here is our practical guide to raising grades quickly and sustainably!
1. Identify the root problem
Before simply diving into more revision, work out why your grades aren’t where you want them to be. Common causes include:
Gaps in knowledge
Weak exam techniques
Poor time management
Ineffective revision methods
Inconsistent homework habits
Ask teachers for feedback or look at past papers to spot patterns - you can only fix what you’ve identified.
2. Prioritise the highest-impact topics
Not everything in the syllabus is created equal - two or three topics often carry a large percentage of exam marks, so focus on:
Key concepts you’ve repeatedly struggled with
Topics that frequently appear in past papers
Skills that underpin multiple subjects (e.g., essay structure, algebra, or evaluation)
Mastering these first often leads to the fastest improvement.
3. Switch from passive to active revision
Rather than just reading notes, which is often slow and ineffective. High-impact revision methods include:
Self-testing with flashcards
Teaching the content out loud
Using past papers and mark schemes
Creating mind maps from scratch
Setting time-limited exam questions
Active revision forces your brain to retrieve information, which strengthens memory far more effectively.
4. Do past papers early and often
The quickest way to raise grades is to practise with the format you’ll be examined on. Past papers reveal:
Exactly what the exam board wants
Where you lose marks
What question styles you struggle with
How well you manage time under pressure
Make sure to mark your answers with the official mark scheme.
5. Fix your weakest skill first
You might be losing marks for something simple like:
Not showing working in maths
Misreading keywords
Writing too little
Poor structure in essays
Weak evaluation or analysis
Improving one key skill can dramatically improve grades across multiple topics.
6. Create a simple weekly routine
You don’t need a perfect timetable - just consistency. A realistic plan might include:
Short, focused sessions (25–40 minutes)
Two to three subjects per evening
A mix of learning and testing
Regular review of tricky topics
Small, regular effort beats a long Sunday night panic every time.
7. Seek help
If you’re stuck, ask for help:
Teachers
Friends who understand the topic
Online videos or revision guides
A tutor for personalised support
One or two sessions with a tutor can quickly clarify topics that have been confusing for months.
8. Believe that rapid improvement is possible
Students often underestimate what they can achieve in a short time. With the right plan, progress can be visible surprisingly quickly - sometimes even within two weeks.
The key is not to work endlessly, but to work strategically!
For more advice, or to work with one of our expert tutors, contact us today!
