Get The Best Grades With the Least Amount of Effort
To get better grades in school, you need to be observant which means your power of focus and attention to detail need to be fined tuned. I came across these photos on the Internet and thought it a great way for you to test how many differences you can spot between the two photos. Leave me a comment with the total number you’ve found and we’ll see who is the most observant of all!
How Many Differences Can You Spot?
This blog is all about helping students get better grades. As you will notice, more pages are being added to the blog portion of this study skills site to give you the information and advice you need.
I recently added a new section aimed at parents. It covers what parents can do to help their kids get better grades from primary school to university. Also included are pages on the costs of university degrees and the value of a degree with a special page just for Australian degrees.
It’s important that parents remind their kids that an education is an investment that pays off for a lifetime. All the statistics reflect the need to learn skills that are marketable and valuable to employers or lead to self-employment.
I see it everyday – business people and entrepreneurs who struggle with basic writing skills or are challenged with high school level math problems. It’s painful to see because even though it’s never too late to learn, it’s been shown it’s a lot harder to learn as you get older.
Learn as much as you can, as soon as you can – you’ll not only get the benefit for a longer period of time, it will be easier and faster than any other alternative. No one can go back in time, but we can all think ahead and act accordingly.
Keep an eye on these pages – they will be updated and expanded on an on-going basis.
John Hall reviewed my study book. You might want to click on the hyperlink and have a read of his impressions. If you’re considering buying my study book, it might help you to know that it’s been sold to thousands of students from around the world, in more than 29 countries and is now available as an English Study Book, French Study Book, Romanian Study Book and a Chinese Study Book.
Have a quick read of John’s review and then make the decision to get better grades faster and easier!
As you know from my study book, I am a big supporter of identifying a student’s learning style so you learn HOW to learn. If you don’t know what learning styles are, just answer these questions:
If You Answered “YES!” then keep reading to find out how you can help raise your child’s grades just in time for the very next report card…
I promise your situation is not unique. What you also need to know is that your child’s situation is NOT hopeless.
The problem is that children who suffer from learning challenges have been mis-lead with the 4 biggest myths by well-meaning teachers, other parents and even some learning authorities.
The plain truth is, kids love to learn when they are successful.
But sometimes, they just don’t know how to “win the school game” because no one has taken the time to show them “HOW TO LEARN”.
Think about it. Every day, your child is given assignments and told what to learn. This is like a baseball coach giving a player a written test to see if he or she can make the team. No one is showing your child “how to learn”. You can’t just tell a child, “learn this for the test” and then if they don’t do well, blame them.
Wouldn’t you agree that it’s crazy to think you’ll get different results if you keep doing the same thing over and over again?
That’s why you need to do something different… That’s where this learning toolkit comes in.
Click on the hyperlink -> to help your child get better grades in school.
Here is another installment of top 10 lists to help you study smarter, study for exams or just develop better study skills. These lists are designed to give you direct access to valuable quick learning tip that you can pick and choose to use at your leisure.
Whether you are a student struggling to learn or a teacher trying to help prepare your students, knowing HOW to develop good study skills by using the right study skills material will help you achieve your targets with outstanding outcomes. The following top 10 best study skills are hyperlinked to valuable resources that will help you get better grades faster.
The Education Tax Refund (ETR) is a new Australian government initiative to help with the cost of educating primary and secondary school children. It means eligible parents, carers, legal guardians and independent students could get 50% back on some education expenses. This includes items like computers, educational software, textbooks and stationery.
Most people are eligible for the ETR because they receive Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A. However, there are some payments that prevent you from receiving FTB Part A, but which still entitle you to receive the refund. You can also claim the refund if you are an independent student. For more information, see Am I eligible?
You can claim the ETR each financial year for children in primary and/or secondary school, or if you are an independent student. You will be able to claim the refund from 1 July 2009 for the 2008/09 financial year. This means you can claim for items purchased from 1 July 2008. Remember to keep your receipts as they will help you calculate your entitlement and you may be required to produce them as proof of purchase.
You can claim the ETR even if you are not required to lodge a tax return. For more information, see How do I claim?
This 3 minute YouTube video is from a teacher with a special approach that will inspire you to get better grades by doing your best. It’s a source of inspiration and motivation that you can come back to whenever you need a little motivation. Even though it’s about a teacher, after all, it’s all about YOU!
Chances are if you’re in high school, struggling with your English courses – it’s at least partially because you’re TEXTING and TWEETING too much. A recent study reported that British teens were using approximate 800 words a day, significantly less than the 40,000 words a typical 16-year-old should have at his or her command.
Here’s an exponential tip for you – try to learn ONE NEW WORD EVERY DAY… That will help replace the one you’re FORGETTING every day!
A great site you can bookmark is Visual Thesaurus. It’s also a great resource when you’re writing term papers and need to find just the right word!
Recently, Ann, a First Year University Student posted this comment on this blog…
Dear Marc Dussault:
I recently purchased your book. It has now been a week and while I agree with a lot of the suggestions in your book, I have yet to start implementing them yet.
I was a procrastinator in high school. Somehow though I managed to succeed enough to well and still get into the Engineering degree of my choice.
However the same methods don’t work anymore in university. University is so different from high school!
Yet for almost the past 5-6 years this is all I have done in order to complete my studies. I understand everything your book says and I appreciate the e-mail tips; I do the exercises and I try to eat well as well as sleep, but still… I just can’t seem to start.
What’s wrong with me? I’ve researched on the net, and apparently there are not only procrastinators but also chronic procrastinators as well. I think I may be one for sure, for I’ve been procrastinating so long I don’t really know what the meaning of “study” is anymore…
I make lists and lists of what I want to achieve. Each time changing and changing the detail or format, and hoping that I will implement it (I tried to start with this technique from your book first). But somehow I just become tired by the large amount of uni work covered in the day or even if I’m not tired I just would rather have fun things to do.
I really want to succeed and do well… that should be enough motivation… but I still can’t keep it up. I did the 8-minute technique and it seemed to work well, that I actually kept going. But the next day, I looked at the same piece of math homework and I could not bring myself to continue doing it. I literally was having a mental argument inside my head for the pros and cons of not doing the homework, that I physically felt like I was actually getting stressed.
Where do I start? And why can’t I stay motivated?
In saying all of this, I have a mathematics exam this Friday…
Sincerely requiring help………….!
Ann
First of all, Ann, you’re “owning” the label of procrastinator just a little too seriously – what that means is that you SEE YOURSELF and THINK YOU’RE a procrastinator, which means you’re going to continue to procrastinate. Let’s face it – the label of regular every day LOSER is not enough, you need an even WORSE label… “Chronic Procrastinator!” which is a TOTAL LOSER!
How does that make you feel? Because it’s true – procrastinators, especially chronic ones never achieve anything because they never get anything finished – many don’t even start – LIKE YOU!
How do you feel about being branded a LOSER?
Procrastinator sounds better doesn’t it?!?!
You’re still a LOSER…
UNLESS you are just “doing procrastination”… That means you just slipped and got into a bad habit and are in fact a winner who just slipped up…
Is that it? Are you really a WINNER who just had a lapse of judgment and discipline?
Or are you really a LOSER? If you are a LOSER, good riddance, I have no time for you – seriously.
If however you are a WINNER who just lost her way – watch this YouTube video for the cure to procrastination – it works even better for CHRONIC PROCRASTINATION!
Now seriously, how do you “Stop It!” ???
I recently filmed a bonus video for people who buy my study book. It’s called “5 Minutes To Go From Panic To Passing Tomorrow’s Exam”. In fact, the introduction video is included at the end of this blog post. In the video, I explain strategies that make the most of the little bit of time you have when cramming for an exam at the last minute.
That’s when the two little guys below came to mind…
Ace Your Next Exam With Troll Power!
Here’s the thing that’s really important, as I explain in my video…
All students rely on Post It Notes to reference where the most important facts, figures and information is. It’s a priceless study tool that we just can’t live without. That being said, this 2-minute YouTube video brings a whole new dimension to how you can use Post It Notes. Enjoy it and then get back to studying!
Today’s post is a YouTube video that answers the most popular questions people ask me about my study book.
Studying is always stressful and filled with pressure – it’s even more daunting when you’re a mature student, who has been out of school for 10, 20 or even 30 years… Like Sue Wickliffe of Omaha, Nebraska. In today’s post, I have a few recommendations for someone who’s going back to school after a long absence…
Hi, Dr. Dussault.
I found your website by accident. I belong to IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals) and I have been an admin/executive assistant for 35+ years.
Here I am… I’m going to be 60 in April and the IAAP Chapter that I belong to here in Omaha, Nebraska talked me into becoming certified. I’m currently thinking … “What did I get myself into.” There are four large books I will be studying:
1) Office Systems and Technology
2) Office Administration
3) Management
4) Advanced Management
I have an electronic version of these books (which is better than the books themselves). The actual books are too wordy. Loses the reader. On the electronic version there was a link to “Ask Jeeves” and I typed in How to study. Voila!!! There was your website. I purchased your book “Get The Best Grades With The Least Amount Of Effort” as well as your Speed Reading Video Program.
Right now I’m feeling overwhelmed and haven’t studied since high school. I’m hoping your materials will help me. I plan to apply them. The big 6-hour test will take place this November and the other two hour test (for the last book) will take place in May 2011.
The Good Lord gave me a brain and people like you to bring it to fruition.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
ONWARD AND UPWARD!!!
Sue Wickliffe (I hope to have CPS and CAP initials after my name soon)
One of our affiliate referral sites, www.mature-student-tips.com has quite a bit of useful content for a mature student going back to school.
Go there and have a look. I’m sure you’ll find some great ideas. We like to support people who endorse our products and programs!
As a student who wants to get the best grades with the least amount of effort, you need to find inspiration and motivation from somewhere. This YouTube video is so cute, I am sure you’ll agree that not only is it original, but the message is positive and uplifting. Enjoy!
Today’s blog post is based on a comment from Ad Poi, he’s a little stressed because he has an exam in about 3 weeks. I recently filmed a video called “5 Minutes To Go From Panic To Passing Tomorrow’s Exam” which is now included as a bonus to my study book Get The Best Grades With The Least Amount Of Effort. In the video, I explain 5 strategies you can use to cram for an exam if you’ve run out of time and are stuck at the last minute with too much to study and not enough time to get it done.
The other suggestion I have for Ad is to get my Speed Reading Video Program. Rapid Reader is FANTASTIC for WORD, PDF and Website reading, but when it comes to reading your textbooks, you need to know how to speed read.
Hi Dr Dussault,
I came to know about your book and your strategies recently.Your strategies, you say, help get the best grades with the least amount of effort, but I wonder if they are going to help me since , I have 3 and a half weeks until my exam and I feel not quite prepared.
What I need are strategies to get the most done with the least amount of time, not the least effort. I am willing to give in a great deal of effort , but I am anxious and afraid that I won’t be able to complete all the courses to my satisfaction (especially chemistry, which I hate and have neglected greatly until now).
So, I ask whether your book will help me get the best grades with the least amount of TIME?
I have managed to get a copy of the rapid reader software yesterday, and am trying to increase my onscreen as well as off-screen reading speed.
My greatest drawback though is that I get quite nervous during exams and my efficiency is more than halved. As a result, my grades are compromised even though I worked hard. So I ask whether your book can help me getting rid of this anxiety and increase my concentration.
Thank You.
Ad
David Fisher, bought my study book and is applying the study tips to get better grades. One of the questions he had was about MindMapping to take better notes. A friend of mine is a gifted artist who created a 2 minute 44 second long YouTube video that begins the explanation about MindMapping which you can view below.
MindMapping is one of the key speed learning skills I teach my business and professional clients who pay me tens of thousands of dollars per year to improve their results. If you want to access one of the most powerful skills – you can get my Exponential MasterMind Program by clicking on the hyperlink.
But I have to warn you – it’s potent and powerful. If you want to get the best grades possible without becoming a nerd or a geek, this is the fastest and easiest way to do it.
Today’s post is in response to a comment to a previous post on personal development books for students and one on speed reading. Both of them ask the same question “When speed reading, should I highlight? While I do speed reading or after?”
If you’ve been subscribed to my blog for a while, you’ve come to realise that my study book is a system that teaches how to think like an A student without having to spend hours and hours studying, becoming a nerd or a geek. The best way to explain what I do for students is to hear from them directly, like David Fisher below:
Hello Marc
I have been reading your study ebook and have only once listened to your speed reading video once.
The extra emails you send after I bought your study book are great as they keep me on track, otherwise I would wonder a bit.
I am working on a better format for my notes with more drawings and mindmaps as this is a better form of learning for me and audio tapes. (Now that I know
this thanks to your book!)
Exams start end of the month so the next stage is to compile my class notes into A3 mindmap layouts (any extra tips on this technique) would be good and then
the exams.
I am now in a study room not the office which had too many distractions and getting into the mind zone more quickly – it’s the little suggestions like this that make all the difference.
I don’t cold read my study guide and text anymore so I pre-read first to get a general understanding then highlight and compose the notes and now I
comprehend and remember a lot more. I can afford to do this because I can do speed reading, even though I still need to improve and increase my reading speed.
My assignment grades have increased from about 60-80% to the last one which I got 88%!!! This was my highest grade. 
My studies are extramural so no lecturers only Webct, study guide and textbooks.
I am practicing my speed reading and using on my first read but need to work on this more. When you speed read a page when do you highlight the text? I read the paragraph then go back and highlight?
So lots more to learn!
Thanking you very much for you help.
David Fisher
Stay tuned for the answers to David’s questions about MindMapping and highlighting while or after Speed Reading…
