OK...this method is not proven for all students...YET!  BUT...it is proven to work for me and a select group of classmates of mine.  I would like to share with you a few breakthrough ideas that I have picked up while trying to crack the code of how to consistently get A's in college level courses.  This guide is not intended to change the world by any means, although it might save the average college student some time and we all know that is extremely valuable.  I have used this method in all of my classes and found that the overwhelming majority of them I have received A's as a result.  I don't consider myself a genius or any more capable of performing well in the college setting than anyone else who has been there or plans on going!  I do think that what I have come up with is worth a shot for people who are crunched for time and tired of coming up a few points shy of that A. 

The Syllabus

The first thing one must consider is that each course is set up like a game.  The rules to the game are handed out on the first day in the form of the syllabus.  People have got to realize how important each syllabus is to their chances of succeeding.  Inside the syllabus is a framework of goals, and evaluation guidelines that must be read and taken to heart.  Sit down with the grading scale and figure out exactly how many points it will take to receive an A by finding 90% (up to 93% in some classes)of the total number of points possible.  Write that number at the top of your syllabus and circle it.  The name of the game...whether you like it or not, is "ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY."  Regardless of what the instructor might say, if you look hard enough in each syllabus, you will find a small section which will describe to you how class attendance is not required, but essential to the understanding of the class material.  This foriegn code is interpreted by most college students as "read further down to the test days and only come to those classes." 

Attendance

"HERE!!!!"

The reason why attendance is so important is because MOST of the test material will come from the lectures.  Many people think that they can get away from reading the book and showing up for tests only and have a fair shot at passing.  Remember...this guide is not labeled "how to simply GET BY in college by doing the least amount of work," we're aiming at the A.  Attendance alone will not get you the A, but this needs to be established early so people are aware of its importance.  Class attendance is providing the student with an initial exposure to the material.  That way when he or she hits the book and the notes before the exam, most of the material will see familiar to them.  This is the first step in saving time.

Time Saving Techniques

It is in this section that the art of getting A's really shines brightly.  Many people are under the false illusion that getting an A means studying the material so you know it inside and out.  Again, our college student translator converts this statement into...spend HOURS on studying for tests and quizzes by reading all of the material and taking additional notes on the subject after spending days in the library.  All I have to say is...NOOOO!!  Take a look at my method of studying to achieve a full understanding of the material in a matter of a couple of hours...TOTAL.  The method is based on mathematics and breaking down the final grade into realistic terms.

• The average class uses 4 exam scores to evaluate the individual, along with some other assignments along the way which I am assuming that students will complete on time.  Most of the time, homework assignments or short reports score high if the student understands the assignment.  These assignments are used as exercises and are intentionally made to be easy and fully depict the class material that has been discussed.  Let's assume that our homework assignments average out to be between 98-100%. 
• Never feel the need to read the chapters IN FULL before the test.  Why? Because all of that material is NOT going to be on the test!  Most books are around 16 chapters long.  This means that on average each test will cover 4 chapters.  We'll just use this number as a guide. 
• You never want to over study for a test.  Statistical bell curves will show low results for those who understudy and those who over study.  The best range to be in is the range where you feel about 90% confident...and a little pressure to perform well on the tests.  People always perform their best when they have to.  You want to be in this position for the test day.  You might be a little more nervous, but you will have plenty of think and react blood pumping to the decision portion of the brain and this is good! 
• Most college exams will consist of 50 multiple choice questions...and here's how the system works.  In order to receive an A test average, one must average a 45 out of 50 on each test.  This number is guarenteed to get the A in the class if you can average a 45.  But what if you don't?  It's still ok!  Here's how...
• You should focus your study time on the main ideas of each chapter.  Get your notebook out and open the book and find out what sections overlap the most.  Star those sections in the book and read them first.  Most of the material on the test will come from these sections because they were stressed the most in class. 
• Vocabulary words are the best bet to show up on tests.  I have found that the tests are usually broken down into a very predictable layout.  You will have between 17-23 (average of 20) concept questions over the sections that you have stared and discussed in class.  You will have between 17-23 (average of 20) vocabulary questions- mostly over the sections you have already studied hard.  Study the concept questions by looking for patterns and memorizing the main points of the sub topics as they are presented as subtopics in the book and in your notes.  Make a mental outline of the key concepts instead of a mental book of information that will only get confusing to you.  For vocabulary study, I like to say the vocabulary word and find a unique word within the definition that you can use to associate with the vocab word.  For example-  HYPOGLYCEMIA- A BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATION THAT IS BELOW NORMAL.  HYPERGLYCEMIA- A BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATION THAT IS ABOVE NORMAL.  Instead of committing both of these full sentences to memory, control your brain capacity and just remember HYPO-BELOW, HYPER-ABOVE.  You will see the answers in a multiple choice format and thanks to the psychology class that you took last semester,  you will know that the word association will lead your eye to the correct answer.  If you can get a score around 37 out of these 40 questions (give or take a few on both numbers) you are in prime position to receive an A. 
• Once you have studied the vocabulary words and the main topic sections, you have completed the requirements of the "how to consistently receive B's in college level classes" guide.  Now let's move into the A bracket.  If you cross off these sections in the book and your notes that overlap in content, you are left with a few isolated pages of material that are either leading up to the main concepts that you have studied, providing you with background information on the topic,  or using the main concepts in context in an application light.  This material might not be worth reading because of 2 reasons.  First of all...we are down to 10-12 questions left to round out our 50 after the main concepts and vocabulary are done.  The chances of all 12 of these questions being over this secondary material is low.  There might be a question or 2 on these but we're not going to worry about them...you will find out why in a second!  The other reason we're not concerned with reading these sections is because the chances are higher that the remaining questions will come from the lecture notes or from class discussions, films, or any other supplementary means such as a repeated homework/quiz question.  If you've attended classes, these questions will be easy for you...well at least maybe 6 of the 12.
• That leaves us 5-6 questions left.  It's come down to this-the difference between the A and the B.  It's you and those 6 questions.  I'll be honest...I really don't think that these questions are on the test to be answered correctly.  Professors see them as the difference makers because to them that's what they are...the reward to the students who spent countless hours cramming every bit of conceivable knowledge about the topic into their brains for this moment.  Well...us regular folk have got to rely on luck.  Simple statistical logic will tell you that you have about a 25% chance to get each one correct.  I would say it's slightly higher because you can usually narrow each set of answers down to 2 in most cases.  Now you have a 50% chance.  Let's go with that and say we get half of them correct or even 2 of the 6 by using some serious educated guessing and a little luck.  From the 37 questions we got right from the main concepts and vocabulary part, we can now add 5-6 from the other sources of film, discussion, an end of the chapter test question, reading assignment question or a homework/ quiz repeat question.  We're sitting at a 42  before these "guesstimation" questions are factored in.  You add in the 2-3 questions that you answered from luck and you are sitting at what do you know...a 44-45. 
• If you look at this test from the eyes of the professor, you can clearly predict the largest sections to study to save you the time of reading other material.  If you skim the rest, you are sitting pretty for a high test average.  Say your average turns out to be a 43, or 44.  You have a 86-88% test average...you simply add in the homework scores, and any gimme points for group work and participation or small projects and you are well into that low 90's % bracket and on your way to an Dean's List Celebration Dinner Party!