Academic Success Checklist
The following checklist includes some key behaviours that are associated with academic success.
Instructions
For each item, indicate if this is a behaviour that you engage in regularly. If your score is 3 or less on any item, that indicates this is an area where more skill development might be needed.
How To Improve These Skills
For assistance in developing these skills:
- Make a Learning Development appointment
- In the Fall and Winter terms drop by the PAL Centre
- Attend Learning Development & Success presentations
The Checklist
| Want to be a better student? Start by assessing your behaviours: | No---Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I always go to class. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 2 | I take a good set of lecture notes. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 3 | In class, I monitor whether or not I am fully understanding the ideas. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 4 | I spend some time soon after class to read over my class notes, to improve them if necessary, to reflect about the ideas, and do any assigned exercises or homework problems. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 5 | After going through my class notes, if there are any ideas that I have difficulty understanding, I check in the textbook for clarification or with someone who can help (classmate, T.A., prof., course help centre) | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 6 | I read my text (or do other appropriate preparatory work) before going to class. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 7 | As I read my text, I pay attention to the text structure: marginal questions, text in bold or italics, headings, and the captions that accompany illustrative material in the margins. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 8 | As I read the text, I think about whether or not I will remember the ideas easily. If not, I think about ways to remember the information as the reading unfolds. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 9 | I use a system for summarizing the main points of the text: I highlight, make marginal notes, make summary notes, and/or use the study guide. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 10 | I do an occasional review of past text chapters and/or class notes even when I don't have a test looming. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 11 | I give myself enough time to review adequately for a test. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 12 | I find ways to self-test during my test review instead of just reading over the information. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 13 | I maintain a calm approach to test writing and get a good night's sleep before a test or exam. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 14 | I am able to manage my anxiety in tests or exams. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 15 | I plan my exam writing based on the amount of time and the value of individual questions. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
| 16 | I go over my returned exams to learn about the types of mistakes that I made. | 1-2-3-4-5 |
