Why You Study So Hard and still get BAD results (and how to FIX IT!)

You study for 6 hours on end, nonstop. You do that every day, with no breaks in between. But when exam season comes and your results come out, your grades are nothing to write home about. Even the people who didn’t seem like they “read” as much as you did had better grades than you.

This has happened to you every semester without fail, and at this point, you even feel…you may be cursed.

I’m going to be telling you 8 reasons why this keeps happening to you and how you can get yourself out of that mess. Let’s get started:

But if you’d love to listen to this in a video format which is definitely MORE INTERACTIVE (I recommend ☺️), you can watch it by clicking the link below, it’d take you straight to YouTube where you can do that:

1. You’re Trying to Do Too Much at the Same Time

Success is not in doing too much—it’s in doing the most important things with all of your effort and time. Studying physics, mathematics, and psychology all at the same time? Chill. You’re overwhelming yourself, and in the end, you don’t retain much of anything. Slow down. Section your study time into blocks of hours or minutes and pick just one thing to study at a time. Don’t let being “productive” be the reason you fail.

2. You’re Not Using Effective and Well-Tested Study Methods

You keep doing the wrong things consistently. Have you ever reflected on why you failed that test? Reading your notes over and over, highlighting textbooks, copying out entire lecture slides—if these methods worked, you wouldn’t be struggling right now. Seek feedback. Use the right study methods—active recall, spaced repetition, teaching others. Nothing is fixed in stone. You can change that ineffective study routine.

3. You’re Waiting to Be ‘Motivated’

Motivation is a myth. You can have it today and by tomorrow, it’s gone. Motivation isn’t the end all, be all—it’s not what will transform your grades. It’s just another feeling. And you know something about feelings? They’re very labile. Instead of waiting to be in the mood, just start. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Small, consistent actions will always beat waiting for motivation to strike.

4. You’re Studying with a Wrong Motive

Yes…there can be a wrong motive to study. For example, are you studying just to prove to people that you’re smart? Are you doing it out of fear of being called a failure? If your motive is external pressure rather than genuine learning, studying will always feel like punishment. Shift your focus—study to improve yourself, to learn, to grow, not just to meet other people’s expectations.

5. You’re Trying So Hard to Be Perfect

Waiting for the perfect time. Waiting for the perfect study group. Waiting for the perfect materials. You keep waiting, and before you know it, time has gone. There’s never going to be a ‘perfect time.’ The earlier you stop waiting for ideal conditions, the faster you’ll actually start making progress.

6. You Leave Everything for Last Minute

Be honest—do you always wait till exams are one week away before you start reading seriously? Cramming does not work. You may think you remember everything, but once the exam is over, it all disappears from your brain like magic. Start early. Even if it’s just 30 minutes a day, reviewing your notes consistently will always beat last-minute panic studying.

7. You’re Getting Distracted

You say you’re studying, but every 5 minutes, a notification pops up on your phone. You check TikTok “for just 2 minutes” (which turns into an hour). You randomly start scrolling Instagram. At the end of the day, you’ve spent 6 hours “studying”, but in reality, you barely did anything. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Use apps that block distractions while studying. Use Pomodoro Technique (study for 25 minutes, rest for 5). Your ability to focus deeply will make or break your results.

8. You’re Not Truly Putting in Your Best

Studying for 6 hours is not the same as studying effectively for 6 hours. Are you actually focused when you study? Or are you just staring at words without really processing them? Be honest with yourself. Stop wasting time in the name of studying. Set clear goals for each study session and make sure every minute counts. When you truly put in your best, you’ll see real results.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, it’s not about how long you study, but how well you study. If you’re making any of these mistakes, fix them now. Small changes will completely transform your results. And if you need help staying on track, you should consider joining my community, where I encourage you every Sunday by 7 PM.

Also, you should watch this video on how I memorize and remember everything I study for my essay exams. Your grades can improve. You just have to start studying smarter.