Here are some simple things you can do this year to help get better grades in school.

1. Go to class. If you don't go to class you are completely on your own and you are far less likely to do well in class.

2. Sit near the front of the class. This forces you to pay attention while in class.

3. If taking notes helps you to learn, take them. If not, don't. If you are following in a book (that you own), try taking notes in the book or highlighting important sections as you go through the lecture.

4. Ask questions of your teachers and TA's. If they have office hours, go to them. Make sure you are getting this free assistance to help you in areas where you are stuck. You can try for hours to try and get a concept by yourself whereas a good one-on-one explanation from someone who knows the material well can enlighten you in a minutes time.

5. Stay up to date with homework. This is a big one. If you stay up to date with the homework, then you will be well prepared for tests and this will make your studying more of a review than a learning process and you'll do better on tests as a result.