How do you save your grades after failing every test and quiz?
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That was me. First-quarter at UCSB and I was already failing classes in college. I literally FAILED every chem quiz and midterm leaving me at 45%, or an F, going into the final.
The average on the final was 65%. Yet somehow, I got an 83.5% on the final and a B in the class. For those who don’t believe me, here’s the actual proof:

Failed Every Quiz

Failed Every Midterm

Despite starting off failing my classes in college, especially all my midterms and quizzes in chem, I made this insane comeback on my final!
As I said, I failed LITERALLY every midterm and quiz. I even did WORSE! So what made the difference?
Don’t worry, no Adderall or photographic memory is required to save your grades. In fact, you don’t need to do anything crazy. If you’re failing your classes in college, all you really need is a plan.
This step-by-step guide shows how I saved my grades and how you can save your grades too.
How To Save Your Grades: CheatSheet
This guide is insanely detailed but I understand college students are running on 3 shots of espresso and whatever’s leftover in your Hydroflasks. So I made a summary.
BUT I highly recommend you read the entire guide. If not, that’s cool too but do me a favor and share this article with one of your friends who need it. It’ll help them out and help me out too.
The Adjustments To Made:
- Set up your calendar to include tests, quizzes, and assignments
- Studied Like a Straight A Student: did all book problems, homework, practice exams, essays, and anything outlined in the syllabus
- Do extra problems or prompts assigned by on-campus tutorial services.
- Find and Do More Practice Problems and Old Tests from your class or from sites like CourseHero.
- Stop zoning out (reduce your screen time and get more sleep) .
- Find a Mentor and asked for help!
- Get used to going to office hours!
- Learn How To Take Effective Notes and developed a Study Game Plan.
Okay, there were 8 steps instead of 5 but HEY, I summarized this whole guide for you!
Chris Landeros
My name is Christopher Landeros but you can call me Chris. I started this website after struggling to find relatable and relevant info for first-gen college students. I kept learning the ropes and was wondering why there wasn't a resource to show you how to practically navigate college. So here I am, creating the most in-depth content for College Lighthouse.
I'll send you an academic planner and more of these awesome articles!