Four Hacks to Improve Class Participation When You Have ADHD

When I was a student, I hated oral performance grades. They always seemed to be somewhat unfair. I was a natural talker and participated quite a bit. But I was also easily bored and liked to chat with my classmates. Consequently, my teachers wouldn’t give me the high grade I thought I’d definitely deserved because they felt I was a distraction to my peers and disrespected my teachers by not paying enough attention. So, when I became a professor, I decided to eliminate oral performance grades entirely and based my grading on more tangible tasks such as homework assignments or class projects.

Yet, I know that for many students, oral participation counts for a significant portion of their final grade. Whether in high school or university, teachers and professors often use class participation as a way to measure engagement, critical thinking, and contribution to the learning environment. But as we know for students with ADHD, participating in class discussions can be more challenging than writing an essay or acing a test.

If you have ADHD, you probably know what it feels like to want to contribute, but somehow you have trouble doing so. Maybe your mind drifts off halfway through class, or maybe you’re so bored that you physically cannot focus. Maybe you forgot to do the reading or left your book at home and now feel unprepared to speak up. Or you are like me and become chatty and slightly disruptive. And so the cycle continues: You’re quiet or too loud, you get marked down for participation, and your grade suffers. Not because you’re not smart or thoughtful, but because ADHD got in the way.

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to be the most vocal person in class or always have the “right” answer. With a few strategic tweaks, you can find ways to participate that work with your ADHD brain and not against it.

Why Oral Participation Matters

Let’s start with the obvious: oral participation can make or break your grade in many classes. Especially in humanities, social sciences, or seminar-style courses, participation may count for 10–30% of your final grade. That’s not something you can afford to ignore.

But beyond the grade, there’s another reason to care: speaking up in class helps reinforce learning. When you talk through a concept or ask a question, your brain engages more deeply with the material. And the more actively engaged you are, the more likely you are to retain what you're learning. And the more likely you are to not die of boredom.

Why It’s So Hard with ADHD

Let’s recap one more time: As we said, there are plenty of reasons oral participation is uniquely hard for students with ADHD. Here are three of the most common ones again:

1. You're too bored to pay attention.
   ADHD brains crave novelty and stimulation. If the class is slow-paced or the topic isn’t interesting, it’s incredibly hard to stay engaged, even if you want to. You either zone out completely or you occupy yourself with something else, be it chatting with your neighbors, reading comics under your desk or making a mental list of all the people you want to invite to your next birthday party.

2. You space out and miss what’s happening.
   You’re physically present, but mentally a million miles away. Without really noticing it you have drifted off into a different world that is not connected to school or the subject matter. Suddenly you realize someone just asked a question and you have no idea what it was.

3. You forgot your homework or materials.
   Maybe you meant to do the reading but got distracted. Or you left your book at home. Now you feel unprepared and anxious about being called on.

The result? Silence or inconsistent performance. Missed opportunities. And often, frustration with yourself.

Here’s the fix: Be Strategic about participation

The key to participating more in class isn’t doing more work. It’s about being smarter with your energy and attention. Here are some ADHD-friendly strategies to help you participate more, even when you’re not 100% prepared.

1. Set a Participation Goal Before Class

Before you walk into class, decide: How many times do I want to speak today?
Start small. Maybe just once per class means a great improvement for you. Having a clear goal gives your brain a target and makes it easier to track progress. Once you hit your number, you can relax and sit back.

Tip: If you tend to space out or get tired as class goes on, try to contribute early. That way, you’ve met your goal before your focus starts to drift.

2. Use Different Types of Contributions

Participation doesn’t have to mean answering a question perfectly. Here are a few ways you can contribute that work even if you don’t know the material that well:

• Ask a question. Skim the introduction or conclusion of the reading and ask about a term or idea that confuses you.

• Share a personal connection. Relate the topic to something from your life or another class.

• Summarize a key term or concept. Even a short comment like “So if I understand this right, X means…” counts.

• Build on someone else’s idea. “I agree with what Alex said, and I’d add…”

Even if you don’t feel “prepared,” you can usually find something to say. Asking a thoughtful question based on limited information is still a valuable contribution.

3. Participate Even When You’re Not Fully Prepared

Let go of the idea that you have to know everything before you speak. You can be honest about your confusion and still sound smart. Try phrases like:

• “I didn’t quite understand the second paragraph. Can someone explain what the author meant?”

• “I’m not sure if I got this right, but I think the main argument is…”

• “This reminds me of something we discussed in another class. Are there any connections?”

Remember, asking for clarification is a legitimate way to learn and to earn participation points.

4. Track and Celebrate Your Progress

Use a notebook, sticky notes, or your phone to keep a tally of how often you participate. After class, reflect: Did I meet my goal? What worked well? What made it hard? Did class seem a bit more interesting now that I decided to participate?

Celebrating small wins is essential for motivation, especially with ADHD. Even saying one sentence in class is a win if you usually stay quiet.

ADHD can make class participation harder, but it’s not impossible. By setting realistic goals, contributing strategically, and letting go of perfectionism, you can speak up more and improve your grade in the process.

You don’t need to be the most vocal or the most polished. You just need to show up, try, and find the strategies that help your brain engage on your own terms.

Start with one contribution per class. Then build from there. You’ve got this.