--- title: Improving Academic Performance | grit description: grit | Here you will find blog posts with pertinent information on taking tests, studying, college admissions, and more. Be sure to read some posts today. --- # Improving Academic PerfORMANCE Learn how to improve yourself through targeted learning and improved study skills. Browse by All News study skills academic performance improve study habits improving academic performance online tutoring growth mindset how to improve my grades improve academic performance improve your grades online educational resources tutoring 1-on-1 tutoring GMAT Blog deliberate practice study tips motivation preparing for the initial tutoring session study help ACT/SAT IQ New tutors brain science college student grit online tutors personalized education private tutoring time management Brain Rules LSAT MCAT Reading Comprehension Uncategorized college prep coronavirus high school improve test scores improving grades mindset private tutors study habits working with an online tutor College Admissions GRE Grit drives academic performance Hiring a tutor Improving Writing Study Planning deliberate practice at school distance learning hard work how to study efficiently increase your academic performance malleable brain math skills online tutor tips organization skills set clear objectives share details share materials strategic study plan study strategies studying ACT/SAT study skills College Applications GMAT GMAT prep John Medina LSAT Prep Managing Stress New Partnerships Paul Tough Strategy Development calculus tutoring college admissions interview college advice college entrance education system gre test prep improving cognition memory techniques neuroplasticity note-taking online classroom online statistics tutor productivity remote learning study the right way test prep strategies tutoring skills tutoring tips undergraduate student ACT ACT study help Boston tutors CPS selective enrollment California tutors Carol Dweck Cognitive Skills College majors Customer service ELA ESL tutoring GMAT reading comprehension GMAT testimonials Heidi Grant Halvorson How to Study for standardized exams Key Factors v. 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It’s a busy time of year in general, and the mounting strain of a large looming test can feel outright agonizing! Fear not. Here is a list of go-to tips to help you be your most prepared and confident self going into those final exams (or any tests, at any time!) [study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/study-skills) [improve your grades](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/improve-your-grades) [improve study habits](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/improve-study-habits) [grit](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/grit) [Grit drives academic performance](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/grit-drives-academic-performance) [improving academic performance](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/improving-academic-performance) ![grit-1.jpg](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/grit-1.jpg?width=320&name=grit-1.jpg)Failure ain’t what it used to be. Or, at least, failure is *understood* differently today, as we examine more closely how much it actually helps us in the long run. When we allow failure and setbacks to be learning experiences and jumping off points for the development of resilience and grit, our lives transform. We refine our character all the more, but like a fine work of art that benefits from revision and reframing. Nowhere is such an experience in growth more valuable and applicable than education. [growth mindset](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/growth-mindset) [deliberate practice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/deliberate-practice) [grit](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/grit) --- [![grit.jpg](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/grit.jpg?width=117&name=grit.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1501111108/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=myg096d-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1501111108&linkId=e1d6d7f1f53c73146940140736171cca)Over the past five years, I’ve done a fair amount of secondary research (reading articles, books, etc.) on academic performance. Two of the most interesting and actionable discoveries I’ve made are that A) a student’s mindset is far more important in explaining academic success than I would have imagined and B) a concept called Grit is what seems to power the performance of a student with the right mindset.   The “[Growth Mindset](https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-The-New-Psychology-Success/dp/0345472322/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=myg096d-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=6KEYIWLORGVCJILI&creativeASIN=0345472322)” is a concept invented by Dr. Carol Dweck, a Standford Psychologist. Her research shows that individuals can generally be placed into one of two buckets: a) those that have a growth mindset and b) those that have a fixed mindset. [academic performance](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/academic-performance) [IQ](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/iq) [growth mindset](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/growth-mindset) [grit](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/grit) --- ![3-steps-to-performing-well-on-standardized-tests.png](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-22397167-png/images/3-steps-to-performing-well-on-standardized-tests.png "3-steps-to-performing-well-on-standardized-tests.png")Anybody that reads this blog knows that we like to write about how mindset, effort, deliberate practice, proper study habits, organization and time management skills, strategic planning (and many other concepts that have more to do with “what you do” than “what you are born with”) are critical drivers of academic success. And, importantly, they are firmly under the control of any student. In our view, these concepts as a group easily trump IQ or talent when it comes to explaining success in and outside of school. At the same time, we know that genes do matter. IQ is a metric that does help explain academic and other types of performance, and it is, for example, correlated with performance on standardized tests (even though I must stress again, hard work and structured practice will help you improve dramatically on standardized tests whatever your starting point). **So, is there a framework that can be used to think about the relationship between effort and talent in explaining academic and other types success? Which is more important?** It's a tough question, but while listening to a recent episode of [the Psychology Podcast hosted by Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman,](http://thepsychologypodcast.com/about/) I think I may have found an answer. [intelligence](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/intelligence) [IQ](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/iq) [deliberate practice at school](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/deliberate-practice-at-school) [deliberate practice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/deliberate-practice) [grit](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/grit) [hard work](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/hard-work) --- ![3-steps-to-performing-well-on-standardized-tests.png](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-22397167-png/images/3-steps-to-performing-well-on-standardized-tests.png?width=250&name=3-steps-to-performing-well-on-standardized-tests.png "3-steps-to-performing-well-on-standardized-tests.png")If you ask a random collection of people what is needed to be successful in school, you’ll probably receive quite a few responses along the lines of “hard work” or “a high IQ.” I would never suggest that one shouldn’t work hard, or shouldn’t always try to continually build their intelligence. But I think there’s mounting research and evidence that hard work and intelligence really aren’t the fundamental drivers of academic, professional, interpersonal/social, athletic, or artistic success. Before introducing four more fundamental keys to success, let’s briefly discuss why hard work and intelligence don’t really lead to success, and might even lead to failure. ### Follow this blog