What my top students had in common: they asked questions

I have been doing private tutoring of senior high school students and first-year uni students for the last 2 years. Out of about 30 tutees, I have had 3 top students. Those 3 had one thing in common: they were super-organised. And to make it even more challenging, two had jobs - one even had a child - that they had to organise their study around. I was simply in awe that they could get more done than others (like myself) who had less on their plates.

I'd guess they are just engaged in the subject enough and confident enough.

This could mean any of the following:

- the lecture has the right pace for them (too smart and they doze off, so I'd say it's smartness+pace)

- they are genuinely interested

- the teacher is a good match for them