Understanding what helps a child succeed in school involves looking at more than just test scores. A large-scale review of previous studies found that student characteristics across several areas—including cognitive abilities, psychomotor skills, and positive emotions—all show a positive link to academic achievement.
While all these factors matter, the data shows that cognitive abilities have the strongest connection to success. Additionally, students in kindergarten showed the strongest links between their personal traits and school performance compared to those in elementary or secondary school. This suggests that early development is a critical window for student growth.
Even though emotions and personality traits had more moderate effects than pure cognitive skills, they still play an important role in a child's education. These findings suggest that schools should consider the whole child—including their emotional well-being and personality—when shaping educational policies and practices.
