50+ SAMPLE Student Checklist

What Is a Student Checklist?

A student checklist is a list that students use to keep track of requirements or reminders. It can be used for various types of purposes such as exams, research papers, or even study habits. 

The office of Federal Student Aid under the Department of Education shares several checklists on their website that are curated according to educational level. These include elementary school checklists, middle school checklists, high school checklists, graduate school checklists, adult student checklists, and last-minute checklists.    

Types of Student Checklist

There are different types of student checklists. Each can serve a different purpose. And since a student checklist would depend entirely on the needs of each individual student, its content can vary as well. The following are just some common examples of student checklists. 

New Student Checklist. It’s never easy being the new student on campus. Whether it is your first time entering a school or you are a transferee from another school, accepting and dealing with change can be quite a challenge especially for young students. The good news is that there are various ways and means to help you adjust and transition better into your new school. Keeping a new student checklist will help you stay on top of academic requirements as you slowly adjust to your new surroundings. Oftentimes, when young people are too preoccupied with fitting in or being accepted by their peers, their academic development may suffer. For a new student who is still trying to navigate their way through unfamiliar territory, a checklist can be a potent tool that can guide the student. Study Guide Checklist. Another kind of checklist that many students find helpful is a study guide checklist. If you want to do well in academics, then there really is no easy way around it other than to invest your time in studying. An average student juggles several subjects at any given time. Within a semester or an academic year, students are expected to take on various courses and subject matter. From Math, English, Science to History, it can be difficult to juggle classes and give each subject equal attention if you are not conscientious or diligent about your studies. Having a study checklist can aid you in keeping track of each subject and their corresponding requirements. Your attention can only retain so much; therefore, you need to initiate the right steps to avoid losing track or feeling overwhelmed by your school requirements. Research Paper Checklist. A research paper is one of the most fundamental requirements for any student. It tests one’s comprehension, communicative abilities, reasoning, and even diligence. Since a research paper is typically a heavy academic requirement that demands much time and effort, many students make the mistake of failing to prepare well for it. The right planning and preparation is needed when crafting a research proposal or paper. One way to plan for it is by keeping a checklist that will serve as a guide as you construct your academic paper. The content of the research paper checklist will depend on the student and his or her needs, of course. But for the sake of an example, a student may list down the sections in a research paper, next steps, deadlines, and other important reminders. Online Class Checklist. Since the global pandemic forced offices and schools to conduct their operations remotely and virtually, online classes have become the norm for a lot of students and teachers. This dramatic shift from face-to-face classes was not an easy one; a lot of adjustments and changes had to be made. The pandemic’s unprecedented consequences came with both problems and opportunities not just for students, but for educators and school administrators as well. With that being said, individuals need all the help they can get to adapt to the changing circumstances. An online class or distance learning checklist can be a simple yet powerful tool to help those affected ease into the transition better. To illustrate, a basic online class checklist might include a basic list of requirements such as devices, internet connection, designated study space, subject material, headphones, video call application software, etc.

Tips to Develop Good Study Habits

Being a good student goes beyond just earning passing grades. It involves structuring your academic life in a holistic way and forming habits that enable you to be more responsible and resilient. There is an abundance of tips for students on how to develop good study habits, but the following examples narrow it down to three of the most practical ones.  

Master the art of good note-taking. The ability to take good notes is an underrated skill. Especially for young students, the best time to hone one’s note-taking skills is while one is still in school. This important skill will be useful even long after you graduate. Various studies have shown that writing important concepts down or taking down notes help improve information retention and comprehension. So if you’re looking to form good study habits, a good start would be to take down notes in class. Also, it is not enough to simply jot everything down without thinking or without intention. It is important to keep your notes organized as well. Find a structure or process that will work for you. You’ll find that using notes helps you to study and prepare better for exams. Schedule study time. Educational institutions are highly structured organizations. Classrooms have certain rules that students are expected to follow as well. But when it comes to personal study time, there is a lot more flexibility and freedom involved. If you want to establish a routine study process, you need to carve out the time to do so. Forming good study habits requires discipline. And by setting a scheduled time to study, you are practicing discipline in committing yourself to your studies. Your dedicated study time does need to be solitary and serious all the time, one way to mix it up is by holding group study sessions with fellow classmates. Although it is optional, having dynamic conversations with your peers and bouncing ideas off each other might even increase interest and retention in the subject you’re studying. Create a checklist. Taking the first step is all it takes to establish better study habits. A simple way of taking the first step is by creating a checklist. It does not need to be a long or complicated list, for as long as you remain committed to it. Your study checklist can be a basic list of reminders, instructions, deadlines or even personal academic goals. Even if your checklist is your way of simply keeping record of academic requirements, just the act of intentionally reminding yourself is a positive step forward. The bottom line is that whatever way you approach it, a checklist can essentially mean nothing unless you have the discipline and commitment to implement the tasks and stay true to it.

How to Create a Student Checklist

To create a student checklist that works for you, you need to know what areas in your academic life need improvement. And if you are looking for quick and convenient ways to create a checklist, browse the sample templates above. Choose a sample template that suits your needs and keep in mind the following steps. 

Step 1: Establish the Objectives

If you want your student checklist to be sustainable and practical, you need to know the purpose of creating one. Why do you need to make a student checklist in the first place? What led you to decide that having a checklist can make a difference academically? The truth is that a simple checklist is merely a tool. Therefore, it must be used in order to be of any practical benefit. In other words, alone and in itself, a student checklist is like any other ordinary checklist. Unless it is applied to an area in your life, it is but a regular document. Incorporating objectives into your student checklist can help you focus on what really matters and at the same time, having objectives in mind can help you prioritize and help you avoid digressing on other tasks.    

Step 2: Pick a Format

A student checklist requires only a basic format. Obviously, the content of the student checklist would depend on the priorities and preferences of the student. So you need to make sure that the format you choose maximizes or presents the content of your checklist in the best possible way. If you are unsure of what format is best suited for you, choose from among dozens of editable templates above. Whether it is a simple table or a detailed list, weigh your options carefully and pick a format that you are comfortable with.     

Step 3: List the Items

The meat of your student checklist should be the items you list. Again, a student checklist can cover a range of different priorities, depending on the individual’s needs. For instance, a checklist can include detailed reminders on school projects and other academic requirements. It can also include deadlines, other reminders or even study tips to help the student stay on top of course requirements. This section requires you to exercise both prioritization and organization. An incoherent checklist can only cause confusion or do little to help your objectives. Therefore, it is important to arrange the items on your list in a manner that’s clear and efficient.      

Step 4: Install a Monitoring Tool

The last step is critical if you want to get things done efficiently. Establishing a task tracker in your student checklist can help promote better monitoring. This can be as simple as installing checkboxes next to the items or leaving decent space below an item to record any progress of a task. Whatever approach or method you prefer, the point is to foster a sense of responsibility, urgency and importance as you tick items off your checklist. Doing this also gives you an idea of how much progress was made and what other pending tasks need your attention.       

FAQs

What is a student checklist?

A student checklist is a list that serves as a guide or map to help students keep abreast or keep track of their various academic requirements.

How do I make a student checklist?

To make a student checklist, you need to establish your objectives and note down the different tasks or requirements expected of you in school. Refer to the instructions above for more details on how to create a student checklist.

Why should students use checklists?

Students can benefit from checklists especially when it comes to their academic needs and requirements. For a student, it can be hard to juggle everything all at once. Using a checklist to stay on top of things can prevent you from getting overwhelmed with school requirements.

A student checklist should be clear and straight to the point. Since each student is different and academic requirements may vary from pupil to pupil, the checklist should also be tailored to fit the needs of the student. Browse and download any sample template from the selection above and get started on your own checklist today!