Unlocking Potential: 20 Proven Ways to Boost Student Performance

As a teacher, you always aim to impart the best knowledge and values to all your students. But no two students learn at the same pace or in the same manner. Some students are more inclined towards sports than academics, and some like technology or painting.
You often find yourself in a tight spot when everyone in the class is performing well except for those two or three kids who seem to be in their own world. Then, you would wonder how to improve those students’ performance in school and ensure they are learning and enjoying the classroom.
A student’s performance in school is a result of many factors, and this article will help you understand the reasons for the poor performance of some students and how to improve the same.
How to Identify When a Student Is Not Performing?
The first step in helping a student perform better in school is to identify which students are unable to achieve academic success and require extra help and attention.
Sometimes, a class topper suddenly stops scoring well or seems very distracting. Or there are a few students who never seem to be able to understand any concepts and are always lost or causing some mischief. So, if you know which signs to look for and how to tackle them, you can use them to improve the student’s performance in class. A few signs of a student who is struggling to perform well are:
- Unable to score well on tests and quizzes.
- Does not submit assignments on time.
- Seems uninterested in the class and takes very long bathroom breaks.
- Makes less or slower progress in class as compared to his peers.
- Gets frustrated very easily by academic material and resources.
- Never takes class notes and, is often unorganised and forgets textbooks or materials.
- Usually, they appear irritated or angry at their teachers or classmates.
20 Ways to Improve Students’ Performance
Once you have identified students who do not perform well in school, these tricks will come in handy to rectify the situation and help students improve their performance.
- Set Specific Learning Objectives And Goals: When students know what they’re expected to achieve, it will help them work towards it better. Make the students write their own goals and ensure they are achievable, precise, and time-bound.
- Teach Students The Right Way to Learn and Study: Many students just mug the notes or textbooks instead of understanding the concepts. You should teach students how to learn correctly and encourage them to keep practising.
- Improve Communication Between Teachers and Students: As teachers, you should always try to break the barrier between you and your students. Students who feel safe and free around you will open up and ask relevant questions and doubts. They will also be encouraged to share where they are facing problems and why they are not able to perform well in class.
- Use Different Teaching Techniques: If you teach in a regular and traditional manner all the time, students may lose interest. But if you incorporate fun activities, quizzes, games, etc. in your class, the students will enjoy learning and become more active. Many times, real-life examples, stories, and relevant videos also become very helpful in teaching concepts.
- Always Give Students Healthy Feedback: Giving students timely and honest feedback is very important, as it helps them understand their strengths and weaknesses.
Did you know that 92% of Teachers claim Extramarks help identify students’ weak areas directly and give precise feedback?
- Regularly Hold Anonymous Doubt-Solving Class: Many times, students do not ask questions because they fear their classmates will judge them or they will come across as weak. So, asking all the students to write their questions anonymously will help them solve their doubts without the fear of judgment.
- Conduct Personal Classes For Students Who Are Not Performing Well: If you conduct personal sessions for students who are struggling academically, it will help them understand the concepts. In personal classes, they will feel freer to ask questions, and you can also teach them according to the student’s requirements and level.
- Encourage Students to Revise Lessons Regularly: When students form a habit of revising their lessons regularly, it is easy for them to remember and retain everything they are learning. Students can revise lessons on learning apps.
As many as 81% of students prefer the Extramarks Learning App for revision.
- Appreciate Students’ Efforts: It is very important to acknowledge students when they put in efforts to improve their performance and scores. Efforts are more important than scores, and when students feel appreciated by their teachers, they are encouraged to work even harder.
- Make Learning More Interactive in the Classroom: When you teach interactively, students feel more connected and engaged. The best thing is that you do not need to worry about how to make a session more interactive.
82% of Teachers claim Extramarks content interactivity enhances pedagogy, and 90% of teachers say Extramarks’ interactive modules make classes come alive.
- Constantly Motivate students: This is a very important way to improve students’ performance. Regular encouragement and motivation improve children’s performance and have a positive impact on their scores.
- Encouraging Students to be More Involved: You should ensure that all students are actively participating in the class. This helps with their conceptual clarity and comprehension of the lessons.
- Promote Students’ Collaboration and Teamwork: By collaborating and working with their classmates, students learn better communication skills and teamwork and solve problems together. Sometimes, students can also become mentors for their fellow students and help them learn.
- Give Regular Homework and Assignments: Giving students regular assignments helps them revise their lessons and become more responsible by requiring them to finish the homework on time.
82% of Teachers find homework assignments & assessments easy owing to Extramarks templates & automatic grading.
- Regular Communication Between Parents and Teacher: Communicating regularly with parents is essential so that they are updated on their child’s performance, strengths, and areas for improvement. Parents can also help you understand some of the areas the student may be struggling in.
- Use Technology For Teaching and Learning: A Fun Fact –71% of Principals and 89% of Teachers prefer EM Smartboard (IFP) in class, eliminating the need for projectors, blackboards, and workbooks. Adopting technology in classes helps students access more learning resources and learn in an interactive way.
- Give Students a Stimulating Environment to Study: Students should have access to required study materials and resources in the classroom. By providing a positive educational environment, you can positively impact and improve the student’s performance.
- Enhancing the Teacher’s Skills: Regularly training and updating teachers’ skills and knowledge helps them teach better. They should also be encouraged to use the latest technology and resources to teach.
- Encouraging Physical and Mental Well-Being: Students’ mental and physical health also impacts their performance. So, schools should provide mental-health awareness programs, encourage regular breaks, and encourage participation in various activities to ensure a balanced overall development of each child.
- Keep a Minimum Mandatory Attendance: A sure sign of a student not performing well is if they regularly miss classes or school days. You need to identify the reason for their absences and address it. Encouraging students never to miss school will help them stay updated with their academics and perform well.
Engage, Interact, and Learn with Extramarks Teaching App!
Unlock the power of interactive 2D & 3D content, real-time assessments, and seamless classroom management. Teach anywhere, anytime with a laptop and mobile compatibility.
Start Teaching Today!Conclusion
When any student does not perform well or up to their potential, we always feel a little disheartened. While these tips and tricks will be very helpful for you to improve the performance of students in school, you are the best judge of what strategy to use when.
You interact with your students daily and know their requirements better than anyone else. So, identify the factors affecting students’ performance in school and address them to your best ability.
Last Updated on February 26, 2025
Reviewed by

Prachi Singh | VP - Academics
Prachi Singh is a highly accomplished educationist with over 16 years of experience in the EdTech industry. Currently, she plays a pivotal role at Extramarks, leading content strategy and curriculum development initiatives that shape the future of education...read more.

