There are a multitude of strategies that people can use to improve their grades (and therefore their GPA) not all of these will work in all situations. There are about four main ways that can be utilized. The first thing to do in any academic situation is talk to the teacher. By talking to your teacher, you can get an understanding of where you are at and what needs to be done, such as any missing homework, and what classwork is not completed or turned in. Most importantly they can tell you how and why your grade is so bad. After this first conversation, you should find out the next steps to improve.

The second thing that needs to be done is finishing and turning in all the missing or incomplete assignments. It is very important to finish this step, even if the teachers refuse to give full points, because even if you do not get full credit that point will mean a lot in the long run. It also shows to your teachers that you are trying to do the work and succeed.

The third step is studying for all tests. Studying is the most important thing you can do to help yourself. It may seem like a very basic thing but there is an important distinction is that reviewing is not studying. While both are useful you must learn how to study, and you must do it in a way your brain can understand, break down, and retain. There are many ways to study, from flashcards to having someone read the information to you, there are infinite methods to learn. If you cannot teach yourself going outside and learning from others such as a learning center or a tutor is completely fine and should not be looked down upon.
The fourth step is extra credit work, now not every teacher is going to give extra credit work, but most teachers will give extra credit if you are serious about getting your grade up. This is why Step one is so important it is to show your teacher that you are trying and doing the work to succeed, and if your teacher allows extra credit make sure you complete it all even if you have a good grade it’s very nice to have that cushion.

These are the four steps I have used to improve my grades, specifically in math. When I spoke to my math teacher, I found out that I had 3 missing assignments and 2 missing homework pages from when I was sick. I was able to complete those 5 missing assignments, and started to work on extra credit, also started to go to a tutor to help me with the final. She was able to break down the concepts so I was able to understand. I started to make flashcards and quiz myself. It wasn’t just for math but for all of my classes. Fortunately, I had a great math teacher, who was willing to help me improve my grades, which helped my GPA.