“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” — Muhammad Ali

Let me tell you a secret: I wasn’t a math genius in school. Not even close. I never got an A on a math test. I went to the extra support classes all the way through to Grade 12. I even had a tutor on Fridays after school (yeah, Friday afternoons… not fun). But I was serious. I wanted good grades. I worked hard. And in the end? I got 62% on my final high school math exam, a C. Not terrible. A decent pass. But deep down, I knew I could have done better. For a long time, I wondered: What was I actually aiming for? What was I studying for?

Fast forward to my adult life. At 35 years old, I sat my own math exams again (by choice this time). But this time, things were different. I was a bit older, I’ve read a few books, I wrote a lot more exams (basically, I was more experienced). I was different, that’s what happens as you get older, right, you change all the time. The secret sauce, though, what did I do differently? I aimed for 100%. I didn’t aim to scrape by or just pass. I aimed for full marks. Did I get them? No. But I did get a distinction. And that was exactly what I needed.

That’s what this post is about. It’s not just about aiming high, it’s about adopting a mindset that sets you up for success. Whether you’re in Grade 10 or heading into your final DP exams, these strategies can change how you study, how you feel about school, and what kind of results you get.

Let’s be honest. School might not be your number one priority right now. That’s okay. Life is busy. You’ve got other things going on. But what if you did aim for 100% on every test? What if you tried to be at the top of your class every time? Even if you miss a few questions, run out of time, or make a mistake, aiming for the top means you’ll never fail. Worst case? You land on a B or a C. That’s still success (“Great success” – Borat).

So here’s how you do it – here’s how you get 100%:

Tip 1: Worship your notes.

Take a lot of notes. Write down what your teacher says, what they do on the whiteboard, the steps they follow, and the examples they give. When it’s time to study, don’t rely on memory; use those notes. Go over them again and again. Rewrite them. Make them neat. Organise them. Put them in a folder. Turn them into a study guide. Whatever works for you.

Your notes are your time with your teacher captured. Teachers have limited time to show you the most important stuff. If you take notes properly, you’re basically recording what they think is most important for your test. Don’t let the lesson just wash over you. Engage. Write. Pay attention. This is where the learning starts.

Tip 2: Do all your homework. (Then do it again.)

Homework is not a punishment. It’s not there to make your life miserable. It’s practice. It’s where you actually learn the math.

When I give you homework, I’ve picked those questions because they help you prepare for the test. I don’t give you pointless work – I give you the right work. So do it. Do it before the test. And if you really want to be ready, do it again. Once to learn. Once to lock it in (One more time because you like doing things in threes, maybe).

Homework is how you build confidence. It’s how you find your gaps. It’s how you figure out what to ask in class. Aim for 100% completion every week. That’s the kind of habit that leads to big results.

Tip 3: Take the review packet seriously – it’s basically the test.

When your teacher gives you a review packet, practice test, or study guide, don’t ignore it. That is your blueprint. That’s the test just in disguise. If you go through it carefully, understand every part, and ask for help when something doesn’t make sense, you’re setting yourself up for success.

Talk to your teacher. Email them. Ask questions. Show that you care. We want to help you. And here’s the bonus: when you start doing well, school gets easier. And honestly? It starts to feel good. When you succeed in school, it builds your confidence. It makes you feel valuable. It makes you enjoy learning, and that mindset can carry you through so much more than just exams.

So aim for 100%. Not because you have to be perfect, but because it puts you in the best position to succeed. Whether you land at 100%, 90%, or 75%, if you follow these steps, you’re going to do better than you ever thought possible.

Let’s go. You’ve got this.