The focus of a mastery goal is to demonstrate comprehensive learning and confidence in applying a skill. This can be very important for subjects that are within and related to your primary field of study.

- In these cases, you may find it especially helpful to try to integrate the information that you are currently learning in your present class with your prior knowledge about the subject to help build that comprehensive knowledge base and increase your mastery of the subject material.

The focus of a performance goal is a bit different. A performance goal focuses on demonstrating competency in a skill, often within a prespecified method of measurement. In other words, this is when you know that you need to get a C or higher in this general education course in order to enter your major, even though you really do not care at all about mastering the content of Geology 101.

- In these cases, your focus will be more on identifying how your performance will be measured or how you will be graded and what the best strategies are for you to meet those expectations.

Identifying these goals at the beginning of a course or before you begin to study for a test can be very helpful in avoiding frustration.