My advice is to always look at the board a second time and if you are losing think for as long as possible and find a good move. Usually it works. Also do chessable.com to learn your openings so you know your openings completely.
How to get from 1650 to 1700 in 3 weeks. ( I want to break 1700 before I graduate)

Play a lot and have a lucky run, stopping whenever you hit your (conveniently near) target. All results are random samples like coin tosses, so the rating follows a random walk.
But make sure you don't play when feeling not up to it (ratings go up and down with state of mind, tiredness and suchlike).
[I see you mean OTB rating. Then you need to play a tournament and be well prepared!]

How to get from 1650 to 1700 in 3 weeks. ( I want to break 1700 before I graduate)