There’s so much more to being smart than just getting good grades. Whether it’s who you hang out with or how much you snooze, tons of factors go into the marks you make. So, are you ready to soar straight to the top this year? Take this quickie quiz to find out.

1. School starts in exactly two weeks. When it comes to your looong summer reading list, you..

A) Got through each book. Duh. Now you’re going back and highlighting key passages to get ahead.

B) Have one more to get through, but you’d rather hit the pool with your pals than read 181 pages of The Great Gatsby. You’ll start tomorrow....

C) Still have a pile of unread books on your desk. Looks like you’ll Wiki your way through the first paper.

OUR MINI REPORT CARD
A little procrastination is OK in the summer, but try to get a leg up on your work from here on out. Putting off tasks ups the stress factor, so craft a timeline of to-dos and get going as soon as possible.

2. It’s midnight on any given Tuesday. How are you spending your time?


A) Sitting at your desk with your PSAT book cracked. Sure, you’re not taking it for a few months, but there’s still vocab to memorize.

B) Zonked out in bed. Your gadgets are powered down and your head’s been on the pillow for two hours.


C) Not doing a heck of a lot. Mostly texting with your BGF while (kinda sorta) watching an America’s Next Top Model marathon for no real reason.

OUR MINI REPORT CARD
Late nights and cramming lead to poor performance... and too-few zzz’s can zap motivation, too. Getting plenty of sleep is one of the easiest things you can do to feel better and watch those grades inflate.

3. Summer means loads of extra time to exercise…maybe.  So what has your workout sched looked like lately?


A) You’re in preseason training, so it’s all mile-repeats and gym time for you. Soon, Coach will keep you active. Daily.

 
B) It depends. Some days you’ll swim laps in the pool or kayak in the local pond with your bro. Lots of times, though, you’ll do some YouTube Pilates or yoga in your room. It’s good for the body and the soul.

C) If walking from your towel to the water counts, you’ve been way active.

OUR MINI REPORT CARD
Exercising clears your head and releases feel-good hormones in your bod. Plus, vigorous workouts have been linked to higher GPAs.

4. You and your three BFFs have teamed up to work together on a bio project. When it comes
 to getting down to business, they...


A) Flip through their already-edited and polished PowerPoint slides in a flash. Now, you guys are gonna work on a video to really wow your teacher.

B) Are sort of split. Ava and Brooke are happy to help with your poster, but Elle keeps reminiscing about the cute guys at camp. (“Remember Josh?” Sigh....)

C) Are hard to wrangle. Everyone’s super busy with jobs and BFs this year, so you’re left to wrestle with the assignment alone. Ugh.

OUR MINI REPORT CARD
The kinds of friends you chill with majorly influence your behavior. If your girls are committed to doing well in school, they’re more likely to support you on the straight ‘n’ narrow (even if it means studying instead of hanging).

5. Last year, you floundered in French. You’re set to take it encore this term, so you’ve already...

A) Asked your parents for a tutor. Plus, you’ve been reviewing your flashcards weekly to help with the toughest conjugations. You’ll master it soon.

B) Flipped through your text from last year to jog your memory of key vocab words and tricky concepts. Hopefully, it’ll all come back to you.

C) Resigned yourself to the fact that languages aren’t your strong suit. No one’s perfect—and neither is your French.

OUR MINI REPORT CARD
Being born with it isn’t everything, but believing you’re bad at a subject can hold you back. Working hard and asking for help as soon as you’re struggling is key to succeeding in tough subjects.

6. You’re normally starving by the time school ends. When it comes to your standard snack, you...


A) Refuel the healthy way. An apple with PB and water never fail you.

B) Are sometimes a slice and soda kind of gal (hey, it’s the student council special), but you’re usually happy with a DIY yogurt parfait, too.

C) Hit up Wendy’s with your besties, but not daily. Occasionally, you mix it up with a Starbucks Frapp.

OUR MINI REPORT CARD
Sorry, junk food junkies: A recent study linked fast food with depression, and sugar- and fat-laden eats can make you sleepy. But healthy treats will keep you totally energized. It def makes a difference.

7. Well, vacation’s officially over. It’s the night before school starts, and you’re getting your stuff ready for the big day. As you consider the next morning, you’re feeling...

A) So stressed. Of course, you’ve been waiting for this day for a while, but you’re taking on a serious workload this year, including plenty of honors classes. Basically, there won’t be a single moment to relax after tonight.

B) Excited. This year is looking pretty promising, between your new schedule and fun extracurrics with your friends. What can you say? You’re an optimist.

C) Anxious. Your summer work is far from done, so you’re starting the year with an all-nighter. The rest of your classes can be summed up in one word: hard. Is it too early to fake the flu?

OUR MINI REPORT CARD
Learning how to look on the sunny side and manage stress is critical. Before you freak out or get totally flustered, take a few deep breaths. Then jot down a few things you’re excited about or are grateful for this year. You have the power to banish a bad mood.

So, how’d you do?
Exhale...this might be the easiest test you’ll take all semester!

Mostly A’s...
You might be on the fast track to a stellar GPA—if you don’t crash and burn first. Putting lots of pressure on yourself to be A+ perfect is never a good idea, so cut yourself some slack. Make time to relax...and don’t think of every grade as the one that will make or break the rest of your life. A little more balance and you’re sure to do brilliantly—while staying sane.

Mostly B’s...
You know getting good grades is key, but you’re not going to freak if you falter on one test. This kind of level-headedness is fab for staying motivated all year long. Keep it up by setting a couple of achievable goals, like volunteering weekly or learning to play an instrument. Pursuing what you love will take you from well-rounded chica to total school standout.

Mostly C’s...
You’re just not the biggest fan of school— or any routine for that matter. Here’s the good news: It’s not too late to change your ways. Start by signing up for a club that sounds fun (you gotta like something...) and cut the procrastinating by sticking to those deadlines. Extra credit for talking with your teachers to make a plan to stay on track.
A for effort, right?

What did you get? How do you think you'll do this year? Let us know!

by Katie Abbondanza | 2/1/2016