A crucial element of student success is setting goals and mapping out a plan to achieve them.
Most students set goals that aren’t effective; they may be too unrealistic or vague. Hence, it’s often too easy to lose fuel and suffer from poor performance.
Are you a student who needs to improve your academic skills, such as study habits and learning abilities? Not sure how to set effective goals for these areas?
Fortunately, this post will cover essential tips and examples for setting SMART goals for students. Let’s dive into it.
What is a SMART Goal?
SMART goals are targets you seek to accomplish. They should fulfill these 5 criteria:
- Specific: Be as precise as possible when goal setting. To illustrate, instead of saying, “I want better grades,” specify what type of grade you want to aim for. Your specific goal could be “get an A- in my math class.”
- Measurable: How will you check your progress toward goal achievement? You could have smaller milestones to show that you’re on track.
- Attainable: Make sure your goals are challenging. But at the same time, ensure they aren’t outside the realm of possibilities.
- Relevant: The goal should make sense for your overall mission and values. Don’t choose a goal that doesn’t support your long-term ambitions.
- Time-based: Set a deadline for your goal that pushes you to take action.
SMART goals are one of the best kinds of goals to set for yourself. As a student, you’ll ensure that academic success is closer than ever.
Why is it Important for Students to Set SMART Goals?
Any student who wants to achieve success in school should start by setting SMART goals. Take the time to sit down and identify what you hope to accomplish. You’ll develop a clear roadmap for your academic journey.
SMART goals can range from big-picture objectives like earning a degree to more immediate aims like acing an exam in class.
No matter what your goals may be, setting them is an important first step in reaching success. When you have something specific to strive for, you are more likely to stay motivated and on track.
Furthermore, by periodically revisiting and adjusting your goals, you can ensure they remain relevant and achievable. With well-defined goals, you’re on the way to accomplishing your academic objectives.
9 Examples of SMART Goals for Students
Want to set better goals at school? Below you will find 9 key examples of SMART goals for students of all ages:
1. Discuss Class Material With the Teacher
SMART Goal: For this semester, I will meet individually with my teacher during office hours once every two weeks. I hope to discuss class materials to clarify any of my confusion.
- Specific: This specific goal is to meet one-on-one with the teacher to discuss class materials.
- Measurable: Progress can be determined by meeting with the teacher once every two weeks.
- Attainable: By freeing up time after classes, the student will have a high chance of reaching this goal.
- Relevant: Regularly meeting with your teacher keeps you on course to learning the concepts in class.
- Time-based: Expect goal completion by the end of the school semester.
2. Read More Books
SMART Goal: For an entire school year, I will read one book from the school library every week to improve my reading comprehension skills. I want to track my reading progress by filling out a reading log.
- Specific: The statement is specific because the student is expected to read one book weekly.
- Measurable: You will know you’re on track to meeting your goal by completing a reading log.
- Attainable: The student should be able to set aside time each week to visit the library and check out a book.
- Relevant: Reading books from the school library will help you expand your knowledge.
- Time-based: Complete the goal by the end of the academic year.
3. Improve Math Grade
SMART Goal: To improve my math grade, I will complete 100 math problems from my textbook every Sunday for two whole weeks. I’ll check my work using the answer key to ensure accuracy.
- Specific: This is specific because the person wants to complete 100 math problems every Sunday.
- Measurable: You will keep measuring your progress by checking the number of problems completed against the goal of 100.
- Attainable: The goal is achievable if the student commits uninterrupted time on Sundays to work on the math problems.
- Relevant: This is relevant to the student’s academic success since it helps them better understand the material.
- Time-based: The student should set a time limit of one hour to complete this goal.
4. Attend Every Class
SMART Goal: I’ll attend all four classes for the entire semester. If I miss a class, I will make up the work so I don’t fall behind.
- Specific: There is a SMART goal of attending all four classes without missing a single one.
- Measurable: The student may decide to track the number of classes they have attended or missed.
- Attainable: If the student is committed enough to attend their classes on time, this is manageable.
- Relevant: A major part of academic success is staying on top of your coursework.
- Time-based: This statement will continue until the end of the semester.
5. Turn in Assignments
SMART Goal: I would like to turn in all my assignments on time for three months. If I can’t submit an assignment on time, I will notify my professor beforehand.
- Specific: The individual wants to submit all their assignments on time for three months.
- Measurable: You can measure their progress by checking how many assignments they have turned in on time.
- Attainable: This is achievable if the student is dedicated and committed to submitting the assignments before the due date.
- Relevant: Completing the assignments on time will help you achieve a higher grade.
- Time-based: There is a three-month deadline for this certain goal.
6. Get Passing Grades
SMART Goal: I want to get at least a B- passing grade in all my classes for the whole school year. If I am struggling in a class, I’ll seek out help from my professor or a tutor.
- Specific: The student wants to get a passing grade in all of their classes for the entire semester.
- Measurable: Make sure you get at least a B- grade in each course.
- Attainable: Having passing grades can be done by studying and receiving help from your teacher or tutor.
- Relevant: Getting passing grades in your classes will ensure you graduate and achieve student success.
- Time-based: The student will have the school year to meet this goal.
7. Study for Exams
SMART Goal: I will study for my exam, which is two weeks from now. To stick to my study schedule, I want to turn off notifications on my phone and try to stay focused.
- Specific: The student wants to study for their exams by removing distractions like phones.
- Measurable: This goal can be measured by the number of days they have studied before their exams.
- Attainable: This is absolutely reachable if the student can commit to strong study habits.
- Relevant: This goal is related to academic success because it allows them to better prepare for their exams.
- Time-based: You must study for your exams two weeks in advance.
8. Prepare for Class Discussions
SMART Goal: Over two months, I will read the assigned chapters for my classes before each lecture. I’ll take notes on the readings to prepare for class discussions.
- Specific: The student wants to read the assigned chapters before the class lectures.
- Measurable: You could find how many chapters they have read before each class.
- Attainable: Making proper preparation by reading the assigned chapters is doable.
- Relevant: Doing better in your classes is important for academic success.
- Time-based: There is a two-month end date for goal attainment.
9. Practice Writing Skills
SMART Goal: In the following month, I’ll write a paper each week for my writing class to improve my writing abilities. I want to revise and edit my work before submitting it.
- Specific: The statement has the precise action of practicing your writing skills by revising and editing a paper weekly.
- Measurable: Ensure the student is writing at least one paper every week.
- Attainable: This goal simply requires better time management and directed effort.
- Relevant: Boosting your writing skills will encourage academic success in many areas.
- Time-based: You have a one-month timeline to be accomplished.
Final Thoughts
Most students often don’t know how to set efficient goals. They end up stumbling throughout their academic years, failing to take hold of opportunities to encourage success.
But the SMART goal framework is a game changer. As mentioned earlier, SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based.
Students can establish well-defined goals by following this framework. When they reach their goals, they’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that will motivate them to keep going.
So if you strive to reach your full potential, start creating SMART goals. It could make all the difference in developing new skills and improving your overall performance in school.
