[Jkizer]

Starting on the 10th september with new subjects and obviously a new style of education

Any tips for getting a good start to your a levels from the adjustment of GCSE's?

[Damask-]

Remember the importance of independent study otherwise January results might come as a bit of a shock. It's a bit of a step-up from GCSE and most people can't get away with just doing the work set in class and most of the homework.

It's not all hard work though, make sure you get involved with people outside of the classes you take - there's always stuff going on.

[moorbre]

(Original post by Jkizer)
Starting on the 10th september with new subjects and obviously a new style of education

Any tips for getting a good start to your a levels from the adjustment of GCSE's?

What subjects are you taking ???

[Jkizer]

(Original post by moorbre)
What subjects are you taking ???

Maths, economics, computing and history/spanish/psychology

[Carrby]

Some people (like me) try and get away with doing the minimum and so I had to retake my AS year because I underestimated the amount of work I should've put in. Worked my butt off this time round and should do a lot better, but learn from my mistake and do it the first time round!

Oh, and I took psychology, maths, physics and ICT if you want any subject specific opinions/advice

[Helloworld_95]

For arts subjects you will have a lot of work, for sciences, not so much, but ideas are a lot more complicated than GCSE.

Realise that doing well at GCSE does not correlate with how well you'll do at A level, those students which got straight A*'s and A's may end up barely passing if they don't adapt to A levels which have a much smaller coursework content and are much more based on application rather than knowledge.

[Carrby]

(Original post by Helloworld_95)
For arts subjects you will have a lot of work, for sciences, not so much

If that were true, anyone taking three sciences and maths would have a cakewalk, which definitely isn't right. If you do art you've probably got a lot of coursework but no more work in general

[moorbre]

(Original post by Jkizer)
Maths, economics, computing and history/spanish/psychology

From what I did, for maths do EVERY past paper before the exam that pretty much will ensure an B/A depending how good you are.... for psychology/ most subjects learn the style they want the answers in early on
And don't make the same mistake I did, make sure you revise plenty before your exams, you won't regret it, i messed up my first set of exams because of that.

[AverageExcellence]

Keep on top of the workload, dont start cramming in the xmas holiday for january. Retakes start to become a pain in the ass

[Sarabande]

1) Don't revise. Study.
2) If you think you know all the course content. You probably don't.
3) Past papers, past papers, past papers.
4) Your attainment is 80% you, 20% the teacher. If you don't put in the work, regardless of how good your teacher is, you won't get what you're capable of.
5) Pick subjects you enjoy and/or are good at.

[noorul87]

OK so I'm starting as well in September, my parents want to go sixth form and straight after that (5pm), they want me to attend Islamic studies for a couple of hours. I also want a part time job...Am I planning to do too much and jam my brain or will it not be such a big problem. I also want a bit of rest as well (maybe play on xbox or ps3)...A levels I want to do Accounting, Business Studies, Economics....any opinions on these subjects would be greatly appreciated.

[bexlovescandy]

Treat the AS-levels seriously. Some people I know think they only have to work hard in A2 year which isn't true. It's easier to get marks at AS (I think) so get the highest ums score possible.

[Deigh..]

The biggest advice is although you generally drop a subject, don't start planning to drop it early and not revising as hard! Lots of people give up on the subject so if they fail any of the others they have nothing left to fall back on! And.. study study study, whatever you put in you will get out! Good luck!

[eimmas]

Keep up the independent study. If ou revise consistently throughout the year as you cover topics you will benefit so much more than if you were to only begin revising a few weeks before exams.

A levels are a pretty big jump from GCSEs, so be prepared to be expected to be a little bit more independent. At GCSE you're pretty much just given information and expected to regurgitate that in exams, whilst A levels require a little bit more understanding and assume a further interest in the subject (seeing as you're no longer in compulsory education).

Extra reading may seem like a bit of a drag and like you're putting extra work in that won't feature on the exam specifically, but seriously do not underestimate the value of deeper understanding. I took maths, and the reading I'm doing now definitely helps me understand why formulae work, rather than just using the formulae mechanically oer and over...

Good luck with your results too!

[eimmas]

(Original post by bexlovescandy)
Treat the AS-levels seriously. Some people I know think they only have to work hard in A2 year which isn't true. It's easier to get marks at AS (I think) so get the highest ums score possible.

THIS.

Plus the fact that, as far as I'm aware, AS levels do contribute towards your A2 grade... Also, the AS modules lay a solid foundation for A2 modules.

[Humanityy]

From the very first day start working, don't leave till late coz your aim in AS should be to get the highest grade possible.
Secondly, always go through your work because it will help you to remember. I know it sounds boooooring but if you want to do good then you need to work hard.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[chicforever_]

- Use your free periods wisely. I can't stress this enough. The amount of free periods I had that I didn't use efficiently was significant.
- Do extra reading in your own time. One of my teachers said you should be doing at least 3 hours of your own revision per subject per week.. Never got quite near to doing that but yeah.
- Exams/mocks are no longer like GCSE, if you don't revise for a test, you're screwed. There's no guessing when it comes to A Level exams, you either know the stuff or you don't. Writing nonsense gets you very little marks (and considering some papers are worth 100 marks, that's hardly anything.)

My last tip would probably be to take A Levels seriously and to work hard and try your very best.

[eimmas]

(Original post by chicforever_)
- Do extra reading in your own time. One of my teachers said you should be doing at least 3 hours of your own revision per subject per week.. Never got quite near to doing that but yeah.

Our Head of Sixth Form went as far as to suggest 3 hours of study per night as well as school during the day. I doubt many people actually adhered to that advice (more or less, instruction) but personally I tried atleast another hour and a half/two hours extra of work a night - whether that was doing exercises, rewriting notes, doing past papers, whatever.

Just be serious about your work.

But do remember you need time to relax as well.

[tufc]

The best tip is this: WORK!
If you work throughout your A-Levels, they'll be much easier. If you can get a couple of AS modules out the way in January, you'll have fewer to do in May. If you have fewer to do in May, you'll have fewer resits to do in the January of A2 year. If you have fewer resits to do in 'A2 January', you'll have fewer to do in the May of A2 year.

Thus, work will be spread out, and you'll get less stressed, and be able to do all the work necessary for each unit.

[DickDastardly]

bone some chicks