成績を上げる

You use the object marker を after 成績. Then you add the verb 上げる, which means 'to raise'. You can use it in the polite form 成績を上げます. Or you can use the casual form 成績を上げる. It is a very versatile phrase. You can use it with 'want to' as 成績を上げたい. You can also use it with 'must' as 成績を上げなきゃ.

Use this when talking about school exams. It is perfect for parent-teacher conferences. You can use it when talking to a tutor. It also works in a business setting. In an office, it refers to sales figures or performance metrics. If you are a gamer, you might even use it for your rank!

Do not use this for physical objects. You cannot 'raise' a box using this phrase. Do not use it for general skill improvement. For example, you do not 'raise' your Japanese speaking. For that, use 上手になる. Also, avoid using it for things that do not have a score. You cannot 'raise' your personality or your kindness.

Japan is famous for its 'exam hell' or 受験地獄. Students spend years trying to 成績を上げる to enter top universities. There is a huge industry of 'cram schools' called 塾. These schools exist specifically to help kids raise their scores. Because of this, the phrase carries a lot of weight. It implies discipline, late nights, and heavy textbooks. It is a common goal for many young Japanese people.

A very common variation is 成績が上がる. This means 'grades go up' on their own. Use を上げる when you are the one doing the work. Use が上がる when you are just describing the result. You might also hear 成績を向上させる. This is a much more formal way to say the same thing. It is used in official school documents or business reports.