25 Factors That Can Cause Academic Failure and How Students Can Avoid Them
Academic success is not a measure of natural intelligence. A student may be naturally gifted but end up being a failure in school due to poor study and time management, peer pressure, and unachievable academic goals.
The good news is, several of these causes can be avoided.
Academic failure is often a byproduct of a series of decisions and bad habits. Missing a class may seem like a trivial matter, and leaving studying for last may have little effect on one's overall progress. However, the accumulation of these errors can create a large set of problems that are too overwhelming to handle right before examinations.
The following are some common factors that can affect students and practical ways they can avoid them.
1. Lack of Clear Academic Goals
A student without goals is like a soldier without a battlefield; they do not know where to aim.
Having goals provides a sense of direction and serves as a reminder of what one is working towards. Instead of having an umbrella statement such as I want to do well in school, the student can define what doing well entails. Is it a certain grade? A particular performance in a difficult subject? Whatever it is, make sure to write down your academic goals and ensure that you meet them by studying smart.
2. A Careless Attitude Toward Studies
The lazy side of us all can, at times, prevent us from doing what we need to do for school.
We put off assignments, skip revisions, and assume that we will understand everything just in time. Regrettably, learning is a continuous process. Skipping some lessons in mathematics can affect our ability to learn subsequent topics that build on the foundation of the skipped lessons.
Start studying seriously from day one instead of leaving everything till the end.
3. Too Much Time on Non-Academic Activities
Sports, entertainment, social activities, and hobbies are all very important facets of human life. However, they need to be given a certain amount of time. If you spend four hours watching videos and only dedicate twenty minutes to studying, you may feel that you are not making any progress.
Make sure to allocate enough time between your schoolwork and your other interests.
4. Choosing the Wrong Subjects
The choice of subjects can significantly impact a student in school. Sometimes, we are not very particular about the subject combinations that we choose, especially if it is based on the choices of our peers. Other times, we may choose based on societal expectations, despite our own inclinations.
Whatever your reason, make sure to do your research before choosing your subjects. Speak with a teacher, school counsellor, or other qualified academic adviser. Consider your own capabilities and what you hope to achieve with the chosen combination of subjects.
5. Lack of Confidence
A student with a consistent stream of self-defeating statements in their mind such as I cannot do this or This is too difficult for me will give up faster than an optimistic peer.
Confident students are not those who think that they are perfect in everything that they do, but those that are willing to attempt and put in the effort needed in difficult tasks. They do not believe that it will always work out, but they are willing to try.
If a subject seems very challenging, start small. Five correctly answered questions today can be twenty tomorrow.
6. Overconfidence
Unfortunately, the reverse can also be true.
Overconfident students will believe that they know everything, so they decide to revise nothing for an examination. Often, they will assume that the examination questions will come directly from the book or that they will be able to explain everything that they know on the spot, only to discover too late that they do not completely understand the material.
Confidence should not be blind. Test your knowledge and stop assuming that you know more than you do.
7. Poor Study Habits
Some students study a lot for school but do not seem to improve. This can be due to poor study habits.
Studying entails doing more than reading from a book for hours while frequently checking social media. Or, studying can be done by reading the same piece of information over and over again without testing your understanding.
To study smart, make sure to engage in active study. Some ways to do so include taking notes, practising questions, explaining difficult concepts in your own words, and reviewing past topics and lessons.
8. Procrastination
Procrastination is the continuous act of delaying work that needs to be done right away. For example, a student may receive an assignment on Monday and decides to complete it on Friday. However, by Friday, there are other assignments, classes, and personal responsibilities to attend to, and the initial assignment is left undone.
Avoid procrastination by starting your work right away. Even thirty minutes of focused work on an assignment can be better than trying to complete it all day.
9. Excessive Playfulness and Distractions
It is important to have fun while in school as it helps in balancing out the loads of responsibilities that students have. However, too much play can affect performance, as illustrated by frequent distractions during class.
Chatting with friends, talking on the phone, playing games, and using social media are all distractions that reduce the amount of time that could have been spent studying.
Avoid distractions, especially during study periods. A simple way to do this is to place your phone in another room for an hour and really focus on your schoolwork.
10. Poor Memory and Retention
Some students believe that they are naturally poor at retaining information. They read something once and forget everything come examination time.
Learning is a skill. It can be trained and mastered just like any other skill. To improve your learning capabilities and memory, start by reviewing your notes immediately after lessons. Practice questions. And when practising questions, do not simply read the questions and answers.
Review notes as if you are studying for the first time. Study smart and close the book to write what you remember.
11. Poor Attention in Class
Many students have a habit of skipping important parts of class, thus missing out on a significant amount of information. Sometimes, this is done deliberately such as when it involves chatting with friends or sleeping in class. Other times, it can be due to a wandering mind.
Be in class and pay attention. Write down everything that is said. If a concept is not understood, ask clarification.
12. Poor Time Management
As a student, it can be very challenging to juggle between multiple activities: attending classes, completing assignments, going to revision school, helping with chores at home, socialising, and sleeping. Without proper time management, a lot of these important tasks can be forgotten.
Create a weekly timetable. Ensure to block time for your classes and other responsibilities. For the free time, allocate sections for reading, completing assignments, revision, eating, and sleeping.
13. Poor Self-Concept
Self-concept refers to how we see ourselves. It can sometimes be a stumbling block in our academic lives. Some students believe that they are not intelligent and so refuse to attempt challenging activities such as difficult subjects because it will only prove them right.
The truth is, self-concept is not set in stone; it can change depending on what we do and how we do it. Academic capability is also not set in stone. Being a failure in one's academics is not a permanent condition, but a state that can be changed.
A poor result does not define how intelligent one is. It speaks of how prepared one was for the situation.
14. Lack of Personal Motivation
Sometimes, we are motivated to do things not for ourselves but for others. It can be very difficult to find personal reasons for doing something when we are tired and ready to give up.
Personal motivations are the reasons why we decide to do one thing over the other. What drives one student to study may be very different from what drives another student.
When thinking about studying, remember that education can open a lot of doors and create many opportunities.
Knowing the personal motivations for studying can make it a lot easier to approach difficult subjects and topics.
15. Dislike of Certain Subjects
It is almost a certainty that, at some point, every student will come across a subject that they will find very challenging or dislike doing.
The challenge comes when the dislike turns into a conscious decision to not attempt the subject, thereby leading to poor results, especially if it is a compulsory subject.
Always identify the source of your dislike for a subject. Is it how it is taught? Is it because you find it difficult? Are you lacking the required foundation?
Once you identify the source, it becomes a lot easier to resolve your difficulties.
16. Conflict With Teachers
It is very common for students to find some teachers more difficult to deal with than others. Sometimes, we do not like certain teachers that we have to work with, thus affecting our learning capabilities.
This should not be a problem as long as you are able to learn what is being taught, regardless of the teacher. However, we do occasionally come across situations where we feel as if we have misunderstood our teachers more than we understood the lessons.
If this occurs, it is important to address the concern directly or seek help from a counsellor or the appropriate school authority.
17. Absenteeism
Missing classes regularly can create weaknesses in your learning, especially if you are absent for more than one day at a time. You may return to class only to realise that the entire class has moved on while you were away.
Attend classes and take notes if you are absent. Ask your classmates for any assignments or explanations that you have missed.
18. Truancy
Truancy is the deliberate absence from school or class without permission. The effects can be immediate if it is a short-term absence, but it can also have devastating effects if it is a regular occurrence.
As students, it is important that we understand that attending school is not a form of punishment but a form of education.
19. Rote Learning Without Understanding
Some students memorise information and believe that they are learning without understanding. Unfortunately, rote learning can be inadequate for many subjects.
When a student memorises definition, they do not understand its meaning and thus will not know what to do when they are asked to apply that knowledge.
After learning something, ask yourself these questions: Can I explain what I have learned without referring to my notes? Can I give an example? Can I answer related questions?
These questions are very important in ensuring that rote learning does not become a barrier to understanding.
20. Negative Peer Influence
We often associate friends with joy, but they can also be a source of frustration, especially when they are unwilling to allow you to focus on your priorities.
Some students choose to spend their time hanging around with a group of people who encourage them to skip classes, waste valuable studying time, and break school rules. Sometimes, it can be difficult to identify these people as friends due to their toxic friendship styles.
Avoid toxic friends. Choose friends who will encourage you to focus on your studies first before enjoying themselves.
21. Lack of Discipline
It is very easy to feel like studying hard or doing more when we are motivated, but we find it very difficult to do so when we are not.
Discipline allows us to get things done even when we do not feel like doing them. You may not feel like studying at 6pm, but it is your disciplinary nature that will remind you that you have scheduled revision time at that time. It may not feel like much, but a little bit of discipline goes a long way.
22. Inadequate Practice
As discussed earlier, rote learning or understanding without grasping concepts can often be inadequate. This is especially true for subjects such as mathematics, accounting, chemistry, physics, and language studies.
It is important to practice questions, especially past examinations, where appropriate. Practising questions enables you to apply what you have learned. It also helps you to spot areas of weaknesses, thus enabling you to revise specific topics.
23. Lack of Textbooks and Learning Materials
Learning requires the right tools for the job. Unfortunately, students sometimes do not get the right resources, especially when the required textbooks or learning materials are not easily available.
Wherever possible, ensure to obtain learning resources from the appropriate channels. This may include school libraries, legitimate educational websites, and materials provided by the teachers. Students can also form study groups to discuss difficult topics and help one another understand one another.
24. Laziness
Laziness is almost always a very easy excuse for anything that is not done to one's satisfaction. While there may be certain physiological reasons for it, it is still good to understand what is happening.
Sometimes, we do not study because the subject is difficult. Sometimes, we do not study because we do not know where to start. Sometimes, it is simply a matter of bad discipline.
Breaking things into smaller, more manageable segments can be very effective. Instead of saying I need to study biology tonight, decide to look at a topic and attempt ten questions. Everything starts somewhere, and making things smaller is a great way to do that.
25. Relying on Examination Malpractice
Some students find it very challenging to prepare for examinations and resort to malpractice, especially expo, to pass.
Unfortunately, it is a very common occurrence and can be both dangerous and stressful.
The best way to avoid examination malpractice is to prepare well for the examinations: attend class, revise, complete questions, and seek help whenever necessary.
How Students Can Improve Their Academic Performance
Improvement is a gradual process and is not something that can be achieved overnight. However, here are some ways that students can begin the process:
- Create a study timetable and stick to it. Decide on what and when you will study instead of waiting for the right time.
- Attend classes: every missed lesson is a potential gap in your knowledge.
- Practise questions or attempt active study instead of reading.
- Ask for help.
- Avoid distractions and give yourself allocated time to enjoy yourself.
- Learn from your mistakes. A wrong answer can tell you a lot.
- Ensure to get enough rest and sleep. You will not be able to revise effectively if you are constantly tired. Sleep plays an important role in memory formation and can affect your ability to memorise and retain information.
- Keep your goals in sight. Having a constant reminder of what you are working towards can be important.
Note
Academic failure is not a function of natural intelligence but of bad habits that can be easily avoided. A student who procrastinates can learn to start earlier. A student who finds a subject challenging can choose to seek help. A student who wastes time on fun activities can choose to limit their duration.
The first step to solving any problem is identifying it. If your grades are not where you want them to be, ask yourself these questions: Am I attending my classes? Do I study? Do I practice enough? Do I manage my time well? Am I allowing my friends or distractions to control my schedule? Do I ask for help if I need it?
Your answers can tell you where to start.
Academic success is a product of repeated actions. While one focused study session will not bring your results up, hundreds of them can. Start with one, improve it, and then move onto the next one. Your academic future is dependent on what you do now.
