A strong academic record can open doors for you down the road.

More
importantly, through the process of becoming a straight-A student, youll learn
values like hard work, discipline, and determination.

These values will serve you well, long after you take your last exam.

So go ahead and pursue academic excellence. Just dont let it become an unhealthy
obsession.

Now that were clear on that, were ready to explore the seven rules.
Rule #1: Always have a plan.
(a) As the semester progresses, keep track of key dates: tests and exams, project
submission deadlines, term breaks, etc.

Enter these dates into a physical or digital calendar.

If you choose to use a physical calendar, I recommend that you get a management diary.
This will allow you to see the weeks events at a glance. The inside of the diary should
look like this:

If you choose to use a digital calendar, I recommend Google Calendar.

(b) Schedule a fixed time every Sunday where you review your upcoming events over the
next two months. Mark down when youll start preparing for that Math exam, working on
that History project, or writing that English paper.

(c) For each item or milestone, write down the associated key tasks. Do this on a
separate sheet of paper. Create a rough timeline for when youll complete each of the
tasks.

(d) Next, note your commitments for the coming week, e.g. extracurricular activities,
family gatherings, extra classes. On your calendar, highlight the blocks of time youll
have for schoolwork.

(e) Write down the tasks youll focus on during each block of time. This plan will evolve
as the week goes by, but it will at least give you a framework to refer to.

This planning process might sound time-consuming, but itll typically take just 15 minutes
every Sunday. This is a wise investment of time, because the rest of your week will
become far more productive.
Rule #2: Be organized.
Ever had trouble finding your notes or assignments when you needed them? You
probably ended up wasting precious time looking for them, before you finally asked to
borrow them from your friend.

Many students tell me that they keep all their notes and assignments in one big pile, and
only sort it out before their exams!

Being organized its easier said than done, I know.

So here are just two key areas to focus on:

1. Filing
(a) Get an accordion folder that looks like this:

Bring this folder to school every day.

(b) Assign one section in the folder to each of your subjects. In addition, reserve the
section at the front of the folder for your incomplete homework across all subjects. Label
each section, e.g. Math, Physics, English, Incomplete Homework (All Subjects).

(c) Every day, place your incoming notes and assignments in the correct section, as
you receive them. Theres no need to create sub-categories for each subject.

For example, place all your Physics notes and graded tests/assignments/lab reports in the
Physics section of the folder. Dont bother creating sub-categories like Physics
Notes, Physics Lab Reports, etc.

(d) Keep one large binder for each subject. The binder would look something like this:

Leave these binders at home.

(e) Use dividers to create sections within each binder, e.g. Physics Notes, Physics
Lab Reports.

(f) Every Friday when you get home from school, file your notes and assignments (from
the accordion folder) in their respective binder.

This is a simple system that takes 15 minutes a week to implement, but itll save you
many hours in the long run.
2. Homework
(Thanks to Cal Newport for this one. I started using the system described below years
ago; its roughly based on his system.)

(a) Keep a homework list. Whenever your teacher assigns a new homework set, add it to
your list. You can use a notebook for this purpose, or you can use an app on your phone.
(I recommend the GNotes app, but any note-taking app will do.)

Next to each item on your homework list, write the due date in parentheses. For
example, your homework list for a typical Wednesday might look like this:

Jan 14th, Wednesday

- Math Chapter 2 assignment (due: Jan 20th)

- Physics Chapter 4 assignment (due: Jan 18th)

(b) Every day when you get home from school, refer to your homework list. At the same
time, open your calendar. Look for blocks of time in your calendar where youll be able to
complete each item on your homework list. Prioritize the items that have the most
urgent deadline.

For example, looking at your calendar, you might notice that you have time on Jan 14th
from 4 to 6pm to finish your Physics Chapter 4 assignment. Convert that item on your
homework list into an appointment in your calendar.

Referring to your calendar once again, you might see that you have time on Jan 15th
from 8 to 9pm to complete your Math Chapter 2 assignment. Once more, convert that
item on your homework list into an appointment in your calendar.

At this point, you might ask

What happens if a homework assignment takes longer than expected, and I cant
complete it during the appointment slot?

Thats a good question; the answer is in the next paragraph.

(c) At the end of each day, look at your calendar to see if there are any assignments
(which have already been converted into appointments) that youd planned to finish, but
werent able to. Add those appointments to another day thats well before the due date.

For instance, lets say you couldnt finish your Math Chapter 2 assignment on Jan 15th
from 8 to 9pm, because you got stuck on one of the questions. You estimate that youll
need another 30 minutes to finish the assignment.

So, at the end of Jan 15th, you refer to your calendar. You notice that you have an
available slot on Jan 17th from 4:30 to 5pm. So, in that slot, create an appointment,
Math Chapter 2 assignment.

And thats how the system works. I know it seems complicated, but it really isnt. Try it
out for a couple of weeks and youll get the hang of it.
Rule #3: Take care of your physical health.
Most of the students I work with complain that theyre constantly tired and sleep
deprived.

They cant focus in class. They daydream. They lack energy and enthusiasm. They
frequently fall sick.

Is it possible to be a straight-A student when youre in this kind of physical state?

Yes but its unlikely.

Physical health is the foundation of academic excellence. To be a straight-A student, you

dont need to have the physique of an Olympic-level athlete. But you do need to take
excellent care of your body.

Work on these three areas, and youll become a better learner:

1. Sleep
Eight hours of sleep a night is ideal; some people need nine.

If youre sleeping four, five or six hours a night, you wont be able to suddenly increase it
to eight or more. The jump is too big, and you probably feel like you have too much to do
during the day as it is.

So I recommend that you gradually bring forward your bedtime. 10 minutes earlier this
week, 20 minutes earlier next week, 30 minutes earlier the week after, and so on, until
you get to your target bedtime.

To remind yourself to go to bed on time, set an alarm. When the alarm goes off, start
your bedtime routine.

But its not just about how much you sleep. How well you sleep matters too.

To improve your sleep quality, get the Twilight app for your Android phone. For your
computer and jailbroken iPhone, install f.lux. (Unfortunately, if you have a non-jailbroken
iPhone, there doesnt seem to be a substitute app at the moment.) My own sleep
quality has improved dramatically since I started using these two apps.

Next, make your bedroom as dark as possible at night. Put up blackout curtains, and
remove all light sources.

Turn off all electronic devices in your bedroom before you go to sleep. If, for whatever
reason, you need to leave your phone on, turn it to airplane mode. This way, youll
minimize the cell phone radiation youre exposed to, and youll sleep better.

And just in case you need further convincing that sleep is crucial if you want to become a
straight-A student, read this study.
2. Food
Its the usual advice:

Eat regular meals.

Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.

Dont overeat more than once a week.

Restrict your intake of processed foods.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Dont drink sugary drinks.

Do these things and youll feel more alert throughout the day. Its hard to become a
straight-A student if youre always feeling lethargic!
3. Exercise
Youve heard it before: Exercise at least three times a week, for at least 30 to 45 minutes
each time.

Exercise enhances your memory and thinking skills, as proven by research. So make
exercise a priority, and youll get better grades.
Rule #4: Dont cram. Instead, use a periodic review system.
People are usually surprised to hear that Ive never pulled an all-nighter before. As the
research shows, cramming is a bad idea.

The more effective approach?

Periodic review.

If you periodically review the new information you learn, youll move that information
from your short-term to your long-term memory. This way, you wont forget important
facts or equations come exam time.

The end result: Less stress and anxiety, and more As.

After much experimentation, Ive found that the optimal review intervals for most
students are as follows:

1 day after learning the new information

3 days later

7 days later

21 days later

30 days later

45 days later

60 days later

By the end of this cycle, the information is almost permanently stored in your long-term
memory.

Note that each review is just a review of the key facts and equations, not a full review of
the topic. As such, each review only takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Heres how to put this periodic review system into practice.

(a) Lets assume that today is Jan 14th, and your teacher has just finished teaching
Biology Chapter 3. Referring to the optimal review intervals listed above, you should do
the first review one day after learning the new information. So take out your calendar and
go to Jan 15th.

(b) Create an appointment, Review Biology Chapter 3, for Jan 15th during an available
slot.

(c) Referring to the optimal review intervals once more, you should do the second review
three days after the first review (which you did on Jan 15th). This would bring you to Jan

18th, so flip to that date in your calendar. Create an appointment, Review Biology
Chapter 3, for Jan 18th during an available slot.

(d) You should do the third review on Jan 25th (7 days after Jan 18th), the fourth review
on Feb 15th (21 days after Jan 25th), and so on.

(e) Now all you need to do is fulfill the appointment when it comes around.

This system will save you dozens of hours by maximizing your studying efficiency.
Rule #5: Form a homework group.
Heres why I recommend this.

Youll run into difficulties while doing your homework, so its good to have friends around
whom you can turn to for help. Even if they cant solve the problem, you can bounce
ideas off them. This process can be motivating and fun.

But if you do your homework alone, youll become discouraged more easily when you
cant solve a problem.

Your homework group should consist of three to four people, including you. More people
than that and itll be distracting.

If possible, find people to join your homework group who are better than you at that
specific subject. More importantly, ensure that the people in your homework group
actually want to get together to do homework not chat!

When it comes to studying, however, you may or may not be better off doing it in a
group. Some students enjoy studying with friends, because theres a healthy pressure to
stay focused. But other students concentrate better when they study alone.

So run your own experiment and decide what works best for you.

Rule #6: Set up a distraction-free study area.

Here are some practical things you can do to make your study session as fruitful as
possible:

Install and activate the Freedom or Anti-Social app on your computer.

Turn off your phone, and put it at least 10 feet away from your study area.

Keep a clutter-free study area.

Work in 30- to 45-minute blocks. Time your study sessions to help you stay
focused.

Give yourself a small reward every time you complete a study session, e.g. eat a
fruit, watch a YouTube video, go for a short walk.

If you plan to study at home, let your family members know when youll be
studying so that they wont interrupt you.

On a related note, dont multitask. You might think that youre able to watch TV, write an
essay, check your Twitter feed, and solve a Math problem at the same time.

But research shows that multitasking isnt productive, and may even damage your brain.
So focus on one thing at a time, and youll be that much closer to becoming a straight-A
student.
Rule #7: Clarify your doubts immediately.
Many students wait until a week before the exam to clarify their doubts. This leads to
panic and anxiety, a combination that doesnt result in optimal exam performance.

The alternative is simple: Ask questions. Lots of them.

If you dont understand a concept, ask your teacher to explain it again. If you feel shy
about raising your hand during class, then approach your teacher after class.

Yes, if you do this consistently, your classmates might label you a teachers pet or a
brown noser. Theres always a price to pay when you pursue excellence. Accept this
fact and move on.

If youre studying and you realize that you have many questions about a topic, write
down all your questions on a sheet of paper. You might be tempted to text your friends or
your teacher to get those questions answered right away, but I dont recommend that
you do this.

Its hard to explain things via text message, so youll end up wasting a lot of time. The
more effective approach is to batch your questions and talk to your teacher in person, as
soon as you have a chance to.

On a related note, go to class every single day.

Yes, your teachers might be boring. Yes, they might tell lame jokes. Yes, they might speak
in a monotone.

But nonetheless, theyll highlight the important areas to focus on, which will save you
time and effort down the line. Furthermore, youll probably find it easier to make sense of
your teachers explanation, than to figure things out on your own.

Thats why borrowing your classmates notes isnt a substitute for attending class.

Im proud to say that throughout my 17 years of formal education, I only ever skipped
one class.

(That class was a review session on a topic that Id already studied

several times.)

Another point to note: If you get to choose where to sit during class, grab a seat at the
front.Research shows that students who sit closer to the front get better grades.
The bottom line

Right now, you might be feeling overwhelmed. I can almost read your mind:

These rules all sound good, Daniel. But there are just so many habits I need to change. I
dont think I can do it.

Rest assured that Im not asking you to put everything into practice all at once. That
would be impossible.

Im asking you to start with just one tiny change.

If you want to start exercising regularly, dont set some huge, ambitious goal. Instead,
start with a 10-minute walk, once a week. After a month, increase it to 15 minutes. The
following month, increase it to 20 minutes, and so on. Eventually, youll be exercising
three times a week, for 30 minutes each time.

The same principle applies to all seven rules. Focus on one rule at a time, and stick with
it until it becomes a habit.

It took me more than 10 years to learn the rules, so dont rush the process.

One other thing

I mentioned it earlier, but I think its worth repeating: Straight As on their own
dont mean much. The process of becoming a straight-A student is what
counts.

As you implement the seven rules, youll become more disciplined, organized,
responsible, and self-motivated. These traits are vital for long-term success.

So start building the foundations of success, one day at a time, one habit at a time, and
one rule at a time.