Take a risk to get a First

STUDENTS WHO want a first-class degree can skip the odd lecture but should avoid writing all their essays while drunk, according to a new guide.

But they do need dedication and perseverance, states How I got my First Class Degree, which is aimed at students, parents and academics.

Nineteen first-class graduates reveal the secrets of their success in the book, which will be published next week to coincide with the start of the university year.

In the book, Mark McArdle (first-class honours in management, Lancaster University) advises undergraduates: "Getting a degree is about learning, but it isn't just about learning biology, history, English or whatever. It is also about understanding what is needed to succeed ... You have to get a feel for the education market and really sell your aspirations."

Mike Barwise (first-class honours, combined sciences, University of East London) warns that there is no substitute for "humility and commitment". He writes: "To really learn, you must give your time, attention and effort."

But Donna Taylor (first-class honours, English, Edge Hill College) counsels against the ruthless quest for a First, and recommends that students "work, plan research and don't write everything while drunk".

She writes: "Set your sights high by all means, but do not start to write every assignment worrying that you have got to get above 70, otherwise your grade will slip."

Lancaster University sociologist Peter Tolmie, the book's editor, said: "People who get Firsts tend to take a little bit of a risk with things and are perhaps a bit more imaginative. They take things a bit further than the written material."