How can I tell whether I am adjusting normally or genuinely falling behind?
The key question is not simply whether the material feels difficult, but whether your progress is recovering. If your understanding is gradually increasing and you can keep up with major assignments, you may still be adjusting. If unsubmitted work and gaps in basic knowledge are accumulating, and your understanding or results on assignments and quizzes do not improve despite studying, you may be falling behind. Check the syllabus or course goals, track your progress for several weeks, and ask the instructor or an academic support service for help early.
Key points
- Review your understanding, submission record, and assignment or quiz results over several weeks.
- Compare your current knowledge with the prerequisites and learning goals in the syllabus or course materials.
- If you may be behind, consult the instructor or an academic support service before the gap becomes larger.
Things to check
- Course pace and expected background knowledge vary by university, faculty, subject, and each student's prior preparation.