Every student wants to improve their grades, but too often we get caught up worrying about things outside of our control like our IQ or believing that simply working harder is the key to success. As a researcher who has spent over a decade studying the habits of tens of thousands highest achieving students around the world, I have discovered the real keys to academic excellence have little to do with innate ability and everything to do with mastering a few fundamental skills and strategies. In this post, I will breakdown the 3 most important yet overlooked habits of top students that when implemented, guarantee to boost any ambitious learners marks dramatically.
Don’t Overestimate the Role of raw Intelligence
One of the greatest myths perpetuated among students is the idea that intelligence alone leads to success. For years, over 90% of students surveyed believed their IQ was the primary driver of their grades. However, extensive research has debunked this assumption. While IQ relates somewhat to achievement, factors within a students control like practice exams have 13 times more influence over outcomes.
Through benchmarking top Asian, Australian, African, European and North American high-achievers, my colleagues and I found IQ plays virtually no role in separating top students from their peers. Some of the smartest kids we’ve encountered ended up with average results due to poor approaches while seemingly less gifted individuals outperformed due to strategies. The emphasis on innate smarts is misguided – with the right techniques, any motivated student can beat expectations regardless of preconceived limitations.
Don’t Rely on Blind Effort Alone
Most underachievers believe if they just work harder next term things will improve. However, effort is necessary but not sufficient for excellence. Top students work equally hard as average peers yet leverage their hours in highly productive ways average students do not. For example, over 50% of kids rewrite notes endlessly or cram before tests but the smartest 11% consistently practice prior exams – boosting performance multiple times over.
Putting in random extra work rarely leads anywhere. You must work diligently on proven drivers of results. My research identified small set skills statistically tied to top marks across all high-achieving nations studied. Two important ones are regular practice testing and carefully structured study timetables. Practice exams were so predictive that you could rank an entire year group based on test-taking frequency alone. With intelligent effort applied strategically, even average students can rapidly overtake peers working no smarter.
Develop Self-Regulated Learning Skills
To sustain success all year, self-motivation, discipline and grit are as vital as smarts. Studies Show these soft qualities often outperform IQ in predicting life accomplishments. While intelligence helps grasp concepts, you need self-control to focus without distractions and bounce back from setbacks. The highest flyers follow personalized schedules but fill them with balanced activities they enjoy to feel fulfilled working hard.
Most timetables emphasize random studying and fall apart within days. The secret is thoughtfully constructing schedules around hobbies and relationships you value before cramming in academic tasks. This prevents burnout and sustains long-term enthusiasm. With self-regulated habits, even complex subjects become enjoyable through consistent daily engagement rather than last-minute cramming and stress.
You now hold the tools to liberate your natural potential from outside influences. There may be limits to what any one person can achieve through talent alone, but no student need stay capped by perceived deficiencies or conventional means if armed with an empowering growth mindset and strategy. Your future is determined not by what you can’t control but by how intelligently you channel your efforts each day. I wish you the very best in raising your game to new heights through dedicated mastery of evidence-backed approaches to success.
In summary, the three core habits outlined can be summarized as:
1) Don’t Overemphasize Raw Intelligence – IQ plays a tiny role. Focus on proven performance enhancers within your control like practice testing.
2) Use Strategic Effort Intelligently – Working blindly harder rarely works. Focus effort on small set of high-impact skills like practice exams and personalized study schedules.
3) Develop Self-Regulated Learning Skills – To sustain success long-term requires self-motivation, resilience and discipline. Fill balanced schedules with enjoyable activities to feel fulfilled and engaged in studies.
By integrating these fundamental yet commonly overlooked strategies, you can optimize your approach and liberating your natural potential from perceived limitations or average means of others. Your future performance depends far more on leveraging intelligent effort each day than factors beyond your influence. I hope these insights equip and inspire you to new heights of achievement through dedicated mastery.
