I believe that students, when sufficiently motivated and prepared, can do more than they believe they are capable of. Students not only require material, but a feeling of confidence in their mastery of it. By allowing them to see that what they do know is part of a larger set of concepts, they can get up to speed and achieve.

I would likely ask what periods or material their class has covered thus far, what they can't seem to understand or remember, and what, if anything, they enjoy about what they're studying. If there's something that fascinates them, it may be possible to engender that same fascination in other areas of the subject when explored.

I can explain and propose different strategies to reinforce content and to simplify what may seem like endless memorization. By adjusting where necessary, a student may be able to embrace strategies better suited for them.

I would remind them of their progress so far and insist that, although they may have difficulty, that their successes indicate that they indeed are capable of learning. As with many things, learning is a process, with learning how to learn best more so; the calm, focus, and perspective of an invested partner will enable a student to remain motivated during moments of doubt.