One of the most frustrating situations you can find yourself in as a student is being in a class with a teacher you don’t like, or who you don’t think is effectively teaching the subject. As a student, you do not have a lot of power - so what are you supposed to do?

1. Separate personality from impact on your learning

It’s easy to write off a teacher as “bad” or “annoying,” but that doesn’t really help your situation.

A more useful question is: How is this affecting my learning?

You might not like their style, but it’s important to identify the specific gaps. Are explanations unclear? Is feedback limited? Is the pace too slow or too fast? Identifying these issues helps you respond with more agency.

2. Adapt rather than waiting for them to change

Not every student can switch classes or teachers, which means adapting to the circumstances is often necessary.

  • If a teacher moves quickly → ask for slides or notes to review
  • If they are vague → rely more heavily on the syllabus and textbook
  • If they lecture heavily → focus on extracting key points

3. Take more control of your learning outside class

If you’re not getting what you need in class, there are plenty of resources available to supplement your learning.

  • Form a study group with classmates
  • Do practice questions and exams
  • Watch videos from tutors or lecturers on the topic

Of course, ATAR Notes has a huge range of free study resources, including student notes, lecture videos, and more.

There are many resources available, but remember: your teacher will still be the one marking your work. It’s important to pay attention to what they emphasise for assessments and exams, and to actively seek out their feedback.

4. Learn how to ask better, more specific questions

If you’re struggling with how content is presented but aren’t asking questions, you may be missing opportunities for support.

Specific questions often lead to more helpful conversations:

  • “Can you explain how you got from step 2 to step 3?”
  • “Is this the kind of analysis you’re looking for?”
  • “What language choices would better reflect my argument?”
  • “How many steps of working do I need to provide?”

5. Don’t let one teacher define your outcome

It’s easy to feel stuck in this situation, but there are still plenty of paths towards success.

The key is shifting ownership: your results come from your entire support system - not just one teacher.

Happy studying!