Qualities of an effective student By Shariq Shabir

 Qualities of an effective student

1. Intellectually curious

In order to be a successful student, it is fundamentally important that you are interested in and engaged with your subject. All of the other characteristics here depend upon you caring about your studies and your specific topic. Of course, everyone finds some topics more interesting than others, but the willingness to find something worthwhile in whatever issue you are currently studying will help to keep you on form during your studies.

                            

2. Self-driven

Unlike in school, at university you are expected to manage your own workloads, attendance, and engagement. If you start to miss classes or assessments, you can quickly find your grades slipping or even be failed. You need to be able to motivate yourself – you want to attend university and you want to learn, so great students will push themselves to engage in class and to do the best that they can in their assignments.

                                           

3. Good time management

Another facet of motivation is the ability to take control over your own time and schedule. Successful students need to be able to plan their weeks and semesters so that they can attend all the classes that they need to, and also have enough time for researching and working on assessments. And it's important to give yourself time for hobbies, socializing, and fun too. If you struggle with time management, you need to start using an electronic or paper day planner to make sure you're attending everything you should be and that you're hitting all of your deadlines.

4. Capable of admitting uncertainty

One quality of great students which is often overlooked is the ability to admit when they don't understand something. Often you may feel embarrassed to admit the gaps in your knowledge, but in fact this is the only way to learn. It's fine to say that you don't know something, or that you don't understand it – this way, the teachers or other students around you can help by explaining the topic more clearly, and you will benefit in the long run.

5. Creative and original

The ability to come up with new ideas or new ways of thinking about a problem is a characteristic of an exceptional student. So don't be afraid to give your own opinion on a topic or argument, even if it contradictory to what others have said. As long as you can justify your view, teachers and other students should welcome your input.

                                                              

6. Thinking broadly and seeing the big picture

Great students need to be able to take their knowledge and fit it in to a broader picture of their subject. It helps to stay well informed about a range of topics, even those which are not directly related to your specific area of study. This will allow you to put what you know into a larger context.

7. Solid reading, writing, and analysis skills

Whatever subject you study, there are some skills that you will always need. The ability to read materials and glean the relevant facts, the ability to write up your findings in a clear and engaging way, and the ability to critically analyze the material you find will be needed at every stage of your academic career.

8. Communication skills

A further set of skills which are often overlooked for students are communication skills. Being able to present the information you know to both a lay audience and an expert audience is vital for demonstrating your grasp of the material. You should get in practice at presenting orally, making slides, and engaging in debates in order to get the most from your studies.

9. Capable of performing under pressure

There are times when you need to perform under pressure, particularly in written or oral exams. Being able to keep calm and not panic will help you perform to the best of your ability. Fortunately, this is something which tends to come with practice. The more exams you do, the more comfortable you will become with them.

10. Able to listen and understand other perspectives

Finally, one characteristic which you may not realize that you need is the ability to listen to and understand other people. Academic success is not only about putting forward your own views; it is also about being able to engage productively with people who have a different perspective. Learn to listen, to argue constructively, and to not be defensive about your own ideas, and you'll be a better student and you'll encourage others as well.