How I Raised My CGPA from 1.8 to 3.5 in Final Year

Nexus July 16, 2025 1

Many students find themselves stuck with a low CGPA and feel there is no hope. I was in this same situation. I was in my third year my CGPA was just 1.8. I almost gave up but I told myself I must graduate with a good result. I want to share my true story and how I moved from 1.8 to 3.5 before I finished school.

When I realised my mistake

In my first and second year I was not serious. I was always playing football, hanging around with friends, missing some classes and sleeping during lectures. I thought university was all about enjoying freedom. My first results came out and I got 2.0. I did not care. Second year came and my CGPA dropped again. That was when I knew something was wrong.

What pushed me to change

One day I looked at my seniors who finished with low grades. They were looking for jobs and people were asking for their results. Some of them were hiding their certificates. I did not want to be like that. I wanted my parents to be proud. I wanted to be proud of my own certificate. So I made up my mind to change.

Understanding how my result works

The first thing I did was to understand how the CGPA works. I learnt that every course has units and each grade carries points. So I knew that to boost my CGPA I must get more As and Bs in the remaining courses. I checked how many units I had left and how many I had done. I calculated how much I needed to push my CGPA up. That made my target clear.

I changed my friends

One big thing that helped me was changing my friends. Before, my friends were people who did not care about classes or results. So I started sitting close to people who were serious. I joined a study group with three classmates who were very focused. Whenever I did not understand something they explained to me.

I started attending every class

I told myself no more skipping lectures. I sat in front so I could hear the lecturer clearly. I asked questions. I wrote down everything. Many times what the lecturer says in class is what comes out in the exams. Attending classes helped me know what to expect.

I made good notes

Before I used to borrow notes and copy anyhow. But when I started writing my own notes things became easy. I did not just write what the lecturer said. I summarised in my own words. After every class I read my notes that same day. This helped me remember things fast.

I read the real textbooks

Many students rely only on slides and handouts. I did that before too. But I found out that the main exam questions usually come from the main textbooks. So I borrowed textbooks when I could not buy. I read them page by page. I looked at examples and solved them myself.

I solved past questions

Past questions saved my life. I went to my department library and collected past questions for every course. I noticed that many questions repeat every year. I practiced them. I timed myself. I marked myself and checked where I was wrong.

I studied every weekend

I planned my time well. During the week I attended lectures and did assignments. On weekends I stayed in the library or hostel to read. I did not wait till exam week before I started reading. I covered all topics early and used the last weeks to revise.

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I was not shy to ask for help. If I did not understand something I met my lecturer during office hours. I also met my seniors who had passed the course. I begged them to explain how they passed. Many of them were happy to help me.

I avoided distractions

To boost my CGPA I reduced things that wasted my time. I stopped playing too much football. I reduced parties. I limited time on my phone. Whenever I wanted to read I put my phone aside. I also told my friends not to disturb me when I was busy.

I took care of my health

I did not joke with my health. Before I used to stay awake all night and feel sick. But I learnt to rest well and eat good food. When I was healthy my brain worked well and I could understand what I read.

I managed my time well

I wrote down what I wanted to do every day. I followed my plan. I used my small phone calendar to set reminders for tests and assignments. I did not wait for last minute. This made me submit assignments early and prepare for tests.

I avoided carry over

I made sure I passed any course I failed before. I did not leave any carry over behind. I gave extra attention to my tough courses so that I would not repeat them. Carry over can drag down your CGPA if you are not careful.

I believed in myself

Sometimes I felt like giving up. I felt my result was too poor to change. But I told myself that others have done it before so I can do it too. I prayed. I stayed positive. I removed fear from my mind. I told myself I can pass.

My exam tricks

When I entered exam hall I read all instructions very well. I answered the questions I knew first. I did not waste time on any question I did not know. I showed my workings for calculation courses. I wrote my answers clearly so the lecturer would not struggle to read.

I never cheated

Some people wanted to help me cheat. But I refused. I did not want trouble. If you are caught it can spoil everything you have worked for. I preferred to read and write what I knew. That gave me peace of mind.

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The first semester I tried this new way my GPA jumped to 3.1. I was shocked. It gave me hope. I worked harder. By the final semester my GPA was 3.5. I graduated with a result that made my parents proud.

After graduation

When I finished school people asked for my result and I was not ashamed to show it. I got a good chance for NYSC posting and I was not afraid to apply for jobs. I felt proud of myself. I learnt that hard work truly pays.

If you are in school and your CGPA is low do not lose hope. Accept where you are. Plan well. Remove distractions. Find serious friends. Study hard. Ask questions. Read past questions. Eat well. Believe in yourself. Your story can change like mine.

Conclusion

I shared my true story so that other students can learn. No matter your department or how poor your CGPA is now you can still boost it if you really want to. Start today. Your future self will thank you.