How to Become a Topper? A Complete Guide for Students

Achieving top ranks in academics demands more than innate talent; it requires deliberate strategies and consistent effort. Many wonder how to become a topper, and the answer lies in mastering proven habits that enhance focus, retention, and performance. This ‘How to Become a Topper’ blog is a complete guide for students who wish to reach the top of their class, board exams, or competitive exams. From creating the perfect study timetable to building confidence, managing distractions, and using the best revision techniques, we’ll cover everything you need to know to become a successful topper step by step.

11 Habits to Become a Topper for Students

Top-performing students don’t just study harder—they study smarter. They turn ordinary study sessions into focused, high-impact learning through strategic planning, effective techniques, and a balanced lifestyle. Achieving this requires cultivating habits that consistently enhance productivity, understanding, and retention.

Here are 11 powerful habits that can help any student become a topper, whether you’re in school, college, or preparing for competitive exams. These habits are followed by toppers worldwide and are proven to boost academic performance:

1. Set Clear Goals

Toppers begin their journey by setting clear and realistic goals. They don’t just aim for “good marks”—they break their academic targets into specific daily, weekly, and term-wise objectives. For example, they might plan to finish one chapter of Physics by Thursday or improve their score by 10 marks in the next mock test. Goal-setting gives direction, boosts motivation, and makes progress measurable. It also helps in managing time efficiently and maintaining focus throughout the academic year. Studies show that students with written goals are 42% more likely to achieve them.

Important Points:

• Use SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
• Write down your academic and personal goals
• Track progress weekly using a planner or app

2. Follow a Daily Timetable

Discipline is the backbone of a topper’s life, and it starts with a well-structured daily timetable. Toppers divide their day into focused study blocks with dedicated time for each subject, breaks, meals, physical activity, and revision. They balance tough subjects during peak concentration hours—like mornings—and keep lighter tasks for evenings. Instead of overloading, they follow realistic schedules and make room for flexibility. Most toppers study for 6–8 hours a day during exams, with more focus on quality than quantity.

Important Points:

• Study 6–8 hours daily during exams
• Include revision and testing time in your schedule
• Avoid back-to-back tough subjects

3. Understand Concepts, Don’t Cram

Top students focus on understanding rather than memorization. They know that cramming may help in passing exams, but conceptual clarity leads to long-term success. Whether it’s solving a math problem or learning a science theory, they ask “why” and “how” questions to build deep comprehension. Toppers use techniques like visualization, examples, and teaching others to strengthen their grasp of subjects. This approach helps them tackle application-based questions easily and improves retention.

Important Points:

• Relate concepts to real-world examples
• Explain topics in your own words
• Use visuals, animations, and analogies

4. Make Effective Notes

Toppers create personalized, organized notes while studying. These notes are not just summaries from textbooks but simplified versions written in their own words. They include key definitions, formulas, dates, examples, and diagrams. Some use colors, highlighters, or sticky notes to emphasize important points. These notes become powerful tools during revision and reduce the burden of going through entire textbooks at the last minute. Quality notes also aid in faster recall and boost confidence during exams.

Important Points:

• Use headings, bullets, and diagrams
• Highlight definitions and formulas
• Revise your notes weekly

5. Revise Regularly

Consistent revision is one of the strongest habits of a topper. Instead of revising only before the exam, they follow a structured revision cycle—revisiting topics after 24 hours, then again within a week, and once more before the test. This repetition helps transfer knowledge from short-term to long-term memory. Toppers often revise through mind maps, charts, flashcards, or summary notes. This habit ensures they don’t forget what they studied weeks or months ago, especially in subjects like History, Biology, or Mathematics.

Important Points:

• Follow the 1–7–30 Rule: Revise 1 day, 7 days, and 30 days after studying
• Use mind maps and flashcards
• Review mistakes from tests and correct them

Also Read: How to Control Sleep While Studying: Helpful Tips & Strategies

6. Practice Daily

Practice is what turns knowledge into performance. Toppers dedicate time every day to solve questions—be it textbook problems, worksheets, sample papers, or mock tests. They solve past years’ question papers to understand exam patterns and improve their speed and accuracy. Daily practice helps them identify weak areas and improve gradually. For competitive exams like JEE or NEET, toppers often practice 50 to 100 questions per subject per day during peak preparation periods.

Important Points:

• Practice 50–100 questions per subject during peak prep
• Focus on weak chapters
• Analyze mistakes after every test

7. Clear Doubts Without Delay

Toppers don’t allow doubts to stay unresolved. Whether it’s a small confusion or a major concept, they make it a habit to ask their teachers, use online resources, or discuss with friends as soon as possible. They understand that small gaps in understanding can lead to bigger problems later. By clearing doubts quickly, toppers build a strong foundation and prevent anxiety during exams. This habit also shows their willingness to learn, which is a key quality of successful students.

Important Points:

• Maintain a “Doubt Notebook” to track unclear topics
• Use trusted platforms like Doubtnut, Vedantu, or Khan Academy
• Ask your teacher without hesitation

“The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein

8. Use Time Wisely

Time management is a skill that every topper masters. Instead of wasting hours on mobile phones, video games, or social media, they invest their time wisely. Toppers prioritize their tasks, avoid procrastination, and study in distraction-free environments. Many use productivity tools like the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes study + 5-minute break) or apps like Forest, Stay Focused, or Study Bunny. Effective time management helps them finish the syllabus early, revise multiple times, and still have time for rest and hobbies.

Important Points:

• Turn off notifications during study hours
• Use timers or productivity apps
• Break tasks into manageable study blocks

9. Stay Physically and Mentally Fit

Toppers know that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. They ensure they get 7–8 hours of proper sleep every night, eat balanced meals, and take care of their physical health. They avoid excess junk food and screen time, especially during exams. To maintain mental calm, many practice yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises. These habits reduce stress, improve focus, and boost brain function. A student who is mentally and physically well can perform significantly better than a tired or stressed one.

Key Points:

• Sleep 7–8 hours a night
• Eat brain-friendly foods like almonds, eggs, fruits
• Practice yoga or deep breathing for 10 mins daily

10. Stay Positive and Confident

Positivity is a powerful habit that helps toppers overcome challenges. They trust in their ability to improve, stay calm during setbacks, and focus on solutions rather than problems. Even when they perform poorly in a test, they learn from their mistakes instead of getting discouraged. Their self-talk is supportive—they say things like “I will get better with practice” instead of “I can’t do this.” This mindset keeps them motivated and focused, especially during pressure-filled situations like board exams or entrance tests.

Important Points:

• Use self-talk like “I can improve this topic today.”
• Avoid negative comparisons with peers
• Celebrate small victories along the way

11. Track Progress and Improve

While inculcating all the key habits to become a topper, you must also keep yourself motivated. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself but also set goals that are realistic enough to achieve. Give yourself second chances whenever you fail and motivate yourself to be better than others.

Important Points:

• Use study trackers or syllabus checklists
• Maintain a test performance log
• Revisit weak areas every 2 weeks

Also Read: The Motivations and Benefits of Studying

Best Tips on How to Become a Topper

Now that you are familiar with the habits of a topper, let us go through some tips and tricks on how to become a topper:

• Work smart, not hard: This is one of the most important tips on how to become a topper. Reading and revising from limited sources is much more beneficial than reading from a multitude of sources because it will help you build a solid foundational base. 

• Making errors is human. The reason why this is an important tip on how to become a topper is that it reminds us of the fact that we are humans and humans do make mistakes. But only those who work on their weaknesses can make it to the top. 

• Prioritize: This is an art that can be mastered by only a few. Once you understand the difference between relevant and irrelevant tasks, only then will you be able to achieve your goals. 

• Apart from the basic tips on how to become a topper, you should also maintain a healthy lifestyle, take regular breaks, and practice the art of self-discipline. 

Tips to Write a Perfect Answer

To become a topper, it is essential that you know how to write perfect answers in the exam. Given below are some tips that can help you achieve better marks:

• Write to-the-point answers
• Use flow charts in your answer
• Underline or highlight important points
• Use tables and lists
• Label the diagrams
• Proofread your answers

FAQs

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Hopefully, the aforementioned tips and habits will contribute to your knowledge on how to become a topper. We at Leverage Edu believe in tapping your potential and bringing the best out in you. Thus, if you need any guidance on how to prepare for competitive exams, you can contact our counsellors, who will mentor you to ace various exams.