An academic goal is the educational objective a person sets for themselves; it may evolve over time, based on changing interests, financial feasibility, access to education and even the changing dynamics of a career, once a person enters the workforce.
For example, the student may want to get a high score on their next assignment or get help understanding a specific topic. Long-term academic goals may include something they want to achieve by the end of the semester, school year, or before graduating.
Goal setting is fundamental to long-term success. Goals help students to focus upon the journey to a collection of set achievements, meaning they allocate their resources and time more efficiently and can access motivation during times when they may feel like giving up.