Expert Voice: Developing a positive attitude will help

Dear counsellor, I am a hardworking student, and I score good grades in almost every subject, apart from economics, which has made me hate studying it. How can I enjoy economics and improve my grades. Conrad -- Even the brightest students can sometimes find themselves academically underperforming in a particular subject often through no fault of their own. In the face of lower-than-expected grades in economics, you’re faced with a wide range of strategies that you can apply to realise a dramatic improvement in your performance and make learning economics more fun. Start by mentally taking control of the situation. Be prepared physically, mentally and emotionally to tell yourself that you’re willing to learn and perform better, plus get equipped with all the scholastic equipment you need to use like your calculator, books and notes. Think about what helps you remember things the most and then find ways to work that into how you learn your course material. We’re all different, and each of us has our own way of studying that yields the best results. Perhaps you just haven’t found your most effective studying style yet. You might find it easier to work in groups to friends who can motivate you. Allow plenty of time for revision and make learning more fun. Talk to your parents and hire a private coach to help bring your grade up, as you’ll benefit from one-to-one session in an environment in which you might feel more able to ask questions without the fear of speaking up in front of your peers. Economics is not as daunting as it seems, it’s all about following simple rules to hasten your levels of retention. Repeated use of these rules builds understanding and confidence. Show your teacher how serious you are by actively participating in lessons. They will facilitate your learning more rapidly once you show enthusiasm. If you don’t comprehend something, don’t hesitate to ask your teacher and by doing your assignment right after the class, it won’t be hard recalling the said lesson. Make discussion groups with friends who are good at economics along with the internet, materials, online quizzes and practice by yourself on any given problem you find disturbing. Don’t skip class and try to motivate yourself by routinely revising books much earlier before exams to allow your brain get familiar with both simple and complex economics formulas. Be pretty relaxed while you are studying. Excessive anxiety can cause you to lose focus and make mistakes. Review the notes on anything that isn’t your strongest point and focus on that. With the right attitude and proper time management, don’t give up; you’re more than capable of achieving high grades in economics.

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Expert Voice: Developing a positive attitude will help