Sophomore year provides the opportunity for students to address any lingering concerns from freshman year and to continue working towards the rigorous classes and summative assessments that will be significant components of the college application process.

Academics in 10th grade are essential for all students. Students that did not perform to their academic potential as freshmen have limited time to build their grade point average, as only grades through the end of the junior year will appear on a student’s high school academic transcript at the time of college application. It is thus essential for these students to start the year strong and continue strong through the spring.

Take the PSAT/NMSQT® for valuable insight.

While 10th-grade students are not eligible for National Merit Scholarship recognition, they should still take the exam seriously as it provides important experience regarding the endurance needed to excel on a multi-hour exam and valuable data that can be used when preparing for the SAT® and the following year’s PSAT/NMSQT®.

Enroll in AP® classes, if possible.

Students who can demonstrate high, consistent academic achievement will be eligible to take AP (Advanced Placement) classes, which colleges weigh heavily when assessing academic transcripts.

Take SAT® Subject tests while the material is still fresh.

SAT® Subject Tests are required for many of the selective colleges. If ready, students should aim to take at least one SAT® Subject Test by the end of this year, focusing on a subject the student excels in.

Tenth grade is the perfect time to maintain a high GPA and become involved in clubs and community activities, strengthening college applications.

All sophomores should be taking classes in the following areas: English, math, science, social science, and foreign language. Most students will take algebra 2 or geometry for math, biology or chemistry for science, and world or United States history as their social science. The increased academic rigor in subject matter for all students makes the need for developing effective study habits and time management skills essential.

Students must identify and align their talents and their interests to ensure college and career success, and exposure to different extracurriculars is an essential part of this process. Becoming involved will this help to identify passions and interests, and it will also improve a student’s resume when the time comes to apply to college. Students who engaged in extracurricular interests as freshmen should begin to take the types of leadership roles that will allow them to serve in management capacities later in high school,  building social and leadership skills that portend future success.

Students have to be smart about their choices so they do not end up overwhelmed and exhausted.

Opportunities for Growth

A Students

Sophomores that have demonstrated content mastery to this point in time must continue to solidify their academic performance while considering the wider array of skills that will be necessary for later high school and collegiate success.

It is important to develop the types of study habits and time management skills that will allow for a smoother transition to the increased workload of Advanced Placement classes. It is also important for these students to enrich their college applications beyond academics. Involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, student government, and/or volunteering will allow high-achieving academic students to stand out.

B Students

Sophomores who have demonstrated the content knowledge to receive B grades, but not A’s, must work to identify weaknesses and develop the skills that are separating them from A students.

This is particularly essential since receiving the highest possible grades in the most competitive courses is the best argument students can make for why a college should accept them.

Therefore, students must develop a growth mindset – belief in their ability to overcome whatever challenges are holding them back.

C or Below Students

Sophomores who are receiving predominantly C grades or below still have time to build the skill mastery and content knowledge needed to improve their academic performance and GPA by the time they apply to college. In fact, many colleges will consider an upward trend in a student’s grades during high school when evaluating transcripts.

The most difficult content on the ACT® and SAT® generally aligns with 10th-grade math, writing, and reading skills, so developing this knowledge now will have benefits on the exams. Furthermore, if a student has been struggling academically, these assessments are weighed heavily enough in the college application process to atone for some academic shortcomings.

Many students begin to identify their status as a “C student” as a permanent condition, instead of one that can be changed with the appropriate individualized support. It is also necessary that students at this grade level develop a mindset that allows them to believe they can achieve academically.