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What's the essential piece of advice you'd give to someone starting their A-levels?

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It's a MASSIVE leap from GCSE's, don't assume it's easy and fail like I did. I will now have to make up for it in year 2, which I cry about.
Time management is key to doing well in your A-levels. If you can plan your study time and stick to it as much as possible, you will make life much easier for yourself.
Making effective notes that you keep in good order makes life much easier when you are revising or looking for references for assignments. I colour coded certain phrases with a highlighter pen for ease of recollection.
As with anything, it's a game. You have to know the rules of the game. And the rules are plainly written in the examiners reports and in the mark schemes. If you want to do well in the A-Level examinations, exam technique combined with class knowledge is the key. If you want to be good at your subject, then just doing this won't be enough; you would need to add in external and wider reading.

In general, keep up with homework, make notes, go through important derivations and proofs for maths and physics. Keep your interest alive for the subject you're taking, no point studying something you don't enjoy. Most importantly, don't over stress. There is such a thing as too much revision especially at A-Level, unless you want to hit 100% in exams there's not much point in spending hours every day churning out past papers. Go slowly at first and build yourself up to the exam so you peak in performance at the exam. A common myth is that A-Levels take up a lot of time and effort and truth be told, it can if you study inefficiently. Study effectively, targeting weak spots all the time.
(edited 7 years ago)
It's true if you think about it. The exam board sets specific exams with specific targets a particular student needs to get in order to achieve a set band. Learn the rules to get the top band. It couldn't be simpler than that, the hard bit is learning the rules. But that is A-Levels in a nutshell.
I not really qualified to comment on the humanities side of things other than I did Economics which was a pseudo essay subject at best and I agree.

Much different picture for the sciences, you get given exactly what the examiner wants.
Agreed. But I guess they have to standardise it somehow.
If you can come up with a flow chart try and take a picture of it in your mind and jot it down the minute you can open that exam paper up will help you sail through even just picturing it in your head if you don't think you have enough time. Also don't stress, yea study but have a break go out and enjoy life. NOTE - my biology teacher last year gave us a hint for stress eating, allow yourself any snack you want WHILE YOU STUDY. That way you can stay focused while studying and when you aren't you can prepare a healthy meal so you get the best of both worlds. Stay motivated by thinking about that feeling on results day and eat well, good luck!!
I did all 3 sciences and maths - this is probably the combination that will give you the most work. However, I managed to keep om top of my work as well as having (a bit) of a social life. This combination is doable, but if you aren't a science nerd like me then it will find it harder to keep up with the work load

However, if you work hard, keep on top of homework, do lots of past papers, you should pass A levels in these subjects, The thing is, doing past papers is always a good idea, as you get a feel for what the examiner wants to see when marking papers,

Make sure you remember key formulas, as many will not be given to you in exams, unlike GCSE. (Physics is an exception, you get a formula booklet will most of the formulae you need, plus some you won't use in AS).

Finally, make sure you get a load of stationary! You get through a lot of paper and ink in A level, especially if you do essay-based subjects (I can't offer a great opinion there). Also, you may want things like flashcards to remember the formulas that you are not given, plus some definitions. I think that was what helped me in the exams.
Reply 148
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TSRPAV
7
Math and physics are subjects that you can ace by one simple way... Don't ever leave work or reading for later!! Even in the first month of the course when it's 'easy' as its essential you are confident with the basics because later you will be expected to know these basics and they won't be taught. They will then deeply expand on these so I recommend that you should spend an hour everyday just for summarising your notes and consolidating concepts.This should be done from day 1. Then do ALL Homework and possibly a few practice questions, strongly recommend doing this in your frees so you have more chill out at home.

Many seem like effort and everyone will want to do nothing and chill in frees or go to town but it's worth it, you'll be less stressed when it comes to exams and will ace them.Also mocks will be more relaxed for you. I know this because I failed AS then redid the year and was more mature but still was chilled,even though I passed AS it wasn't all A or B (think about uni! These results help them decide when choosing) so in my A2 I revised from day 1 and even read ahead of the class for maths(strongly recommend for trig and integration in c3/c4 as there is not enough time to master the whole course)

Do NOT leave revision 1 month before your exams or less like GCSE.Alevel will Wrek you.Start past papers as soon as you finish a module as they are the best revision resource for the exam. Christmas time is the latest you should start past paper questions. Good luck and this is just advice if you want top grades, do whatever you wish and suites you best :smile:
(edited 7 years ago)
Only choose subjects that you actually enjoy.
Just really think them through, it also helps if you've studied the course at GCSE, too.
Reply 151
Avatar for Reda2
Reda2
14
Original post by She-Ra
Your A-levels are done, you're now officially a little bit older and a little bit wiser :moon:

So what's the essential piece of advice you'd give to someone starting their A-levels?

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Biggest advice would be to start revising as early as possible, like start from week 2 for example because revising is what it all comes down to, not how well you pay attention in class or if you do your homework, the advantage of starting early is that hopefully after a few months you would have tried many revision methods and found out what works best for you. Once you have found that you need to start revising exam by exam do not mix up revision, that is a mistake. Finish revising an exam, then move on to the next making you closer to the top of the mountain. A tip for revision is identify your weak topics and then after do everything in your power to make those topics your strenghts rather your weaknesses, that is what its all about.
Revise little and often to keep your memory in check and so you don't stress out and get overloaded before exams! I wish I was reminded of this
If you're planning on doing a science, make sure you know what's on the syllabus beforehand. (This might be a good idea for other topics, but I can't say, I only did sciences). If you don't, it'll be much harder to come to the lessons prepared.
Advice: drop out and do a BTEC
Stay ahead and on top of the workload no matter what, and yes revision notes and sessions as you go along is a good idea.
Reply 156
Avatar for alow
alow
19
Original post by Exceptional
Advice: drop out and do a BTEC


Only if you suffer a traumatic head injury.
Throughout Year 13 I really struggled with my mental health which was exacerbated by the general stress of A Levels. Thankfully my Head of Sixth Form was really supportive and put many measures in place which helped me to cope, such as early study leave and special exam arrangements. I honestly couldn't have got through my exams without her. Therefore my main piece of advice for anyone starting A Levels is, if you're struggling with anything whether it be health or time management, definitely speak to someone about it. Don't suffer in silence!
Quit and put up an ad on craig's list looking for a sugar daddy.... But seriously read through your syllabus before hand or before you choose your subjects. Before you choose your subject talk to lecturers or older students about the subject. Don't take subjects just cuz (I did that with math, I couldnt fit into the accounting class because my other two subjects clashed times).
Work hard, learn from the course textbook and do past papers.

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