Offering Sixth form advice for anyone entering Year 12 this September.
I'm recently finished year 12 and entering year 13. Reflecting back I would have done a lot of things differently. So I've decide to help others have a good start to sixth form. Just ask any questions ( from Academic to social) you may have about sixth form and i'll answer it for you. I may need help from former sixth formers so please contribute
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Original post by TheAlphaParticle
I'm recently finished year 12 and entering year 13. Reflecting back I would have done a lot of things differently. So I've decide to help others have a good start to sixth form. Just ask any questions ( from Academic to social) you may have about sixth form and i'll answer it for you. I may need help from former sixth formers so please contribute
What subjects did you do and how did you find them individually?
What would you have done differently academically and socially?
What were the first lessons of your subjects like?
Original post by Rajive
What subjects did you do and how did you find them individually?
I did Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Psychology.
Maths- I was never good at maths, never really tried hard in GCSE ended up getting a B. I wasn't going to choose it for A-levels but I wanted to prove people wrong by doing good. I found it so hard at the start but that was mainly due to the teachers absurd methods and strictness. I started watching videos online and really consolidated my learning and did lots of past papers. I was still pretty inconsistent with the revision but and i did quite bad in mocks and other tests. As the exams got nearer I found C1 and C2 the core modules easy. But was never able to master S1 until days before the exam (especially the probability). I came out with a B in AS and was quite happy but I knew I could have easily got an A. I was only 9 UMS away. I didn't ask for a remark as it would have been too risky and hard to gain 9 UMS from a remark.
Biology- This was my favourite subject and still is. Came in with an A from GCSE. Started off good but then the first pre-mock came back and it was a shocker- Got a D. Then I started concentrating and prioritising Biology and Got an ABB in the remaining mocks. The exams were frankly much easier than the specimen papers and the mocks. I ended up getting a B, I was quite happy with that because there is always room for improvement.
Chemistry- When i started off I found it really hard because it went from defining Relative atomic mass to filling Orbital shells in seconds. The rest of the year was much better due to some actual effort (reading ahead and doing homework). I found Organic Chemistry much more interesting and easy compared to Inorganic. I found the mocks really hard and they were getting progressively worse got BDCC in the mocks. When the Exams came it felt like a godsend because it felt so easy, i was going around saying how easy i found it to everyone. Come results day I was so shocked to find that I got a C. I felt like a absolute fool. I thought that it might be my only A but it was my worst. I still dont' know what happened!
Psychology- I chose this subject to drop it pretty much. It started off with research methods and it was so boring. Then it got really interesting and fun when we were learning Memory, Psychopathology and Attachment. But it was a lot of work to remember all the studies and content. And all my friends were dropping their 4th subjects and had so many free periods. It made me so jealous and was wondering why i was still doing it, but it was worth it in the end. I never really put much work into it until a month before the exams because I didn't want it to distract me from my other subjects. I got a B in AS was really close to an A but I never revised a whole topic in the end so that cost me.
Original post by loginrunner
What were the first lessons of your subjects like?
Maths was really mixed: One of the teachers got us doing GCSE work so that was dead. Other just talked about his holiday in thailand and we didn't learn anything. I never really liked my maths class because in the first lesson people loads of people already knew each other and I was external. So I found it hard to break in to any groups but I did have 1 girl from my old school and her friends who I quickly became friends with but there was just 4 of us in a class of 15, 11 of them i probably said like 5 words to in the whole year.
Chemistry- Loads of practicals. Again did some GCSE work and asked to introduce ourselves (prepare yourself a few lines beforehand so you don't embarrass yourself like me)
Biology- Played a fun introduction game with skittles it was nice but we started straight off into some practical work (like graphs, IV,DV, Acuaraccy etc. very few actual practicals).
Psychology- This was the largest and most diverse class but I never really mingled with like half of them. The first lessons were interesting. talking about first impressions and perceptions.
Original post by simply_a_ Δ
What would you have done differently academically and socially?
Academically- start early and consolidate as you learn (This is the secret to A-levels actually) if I've known it at the start of the year!
Socially- Go to common room more often. I probably only been there 3 times the whole year because we hang out in the park nearby but it would have been nice to hang out nd meet new people.
I am planning to do the 4 subjects you did along with physics. Do you think it will be too much? I am a hard worker and I am prepared to put the hours in, I don't have a part time job, any hobbies, no social life and I don't do sport. Do you think I could cope with the work load if I dedicate all my time to my studies? At GCSE I got 8A*s, 4As and a C.
Original post by OwlOfFire
I am planning to do the 4 subjects you did along with physics. Do you think it will be too much? I am a hard worker and I am prepared to put the hours in, I don't have a part time job, any hobbies, no social life and I don't do sport. Do you think I could cope with the work load if I dedicate all my time to my studies? At GCSE I got 8A*s, 4As and a C.
Are you doing 5 or physics instead of Psychology? If you are doing 5 then you would have no free periods (or at least in my sixth form) and trust me free periods are the best thing about sixth form (you can use them to do all your homework, socialise and Eat!). 5 AS is never a good idea you don't really get anything extra, you can start with 5 but you will find yourself dropping at least 1 soon. I also suggest going to the common room at breaks and lunch with someone and meet new people you need friends and social life to keep your sanity, because it can be horrible to be so stressed and no-on to talk to and help you out. Also with 8A* and 4A's you can defintley do well!
Original post by TheAlphaParticle
Maths was really mixed: One of the teachers got us doing GCSE work so that was dead. Other just talked about his holiday in thailand and we didn't learn anything. I never really liked my maths class because in the first lesson people loads of people already knew each other and I was external. So I found it hard to break in to any groups but I did have 1 girl from my old school and her friends who I quickly became friends with but there was just 4 of us in a class of 15, 11 of them i probably said like 5 words to in the whole year.
Chemistry- Loads of practicals. Again did some GCSE work and asked to introduce ourselves (prepare yourself a few lines beforehand so you don't embarrass yourself like me)
Biology- Played a fun introduction game with skittles it was nice but we started straight off into some practical work (like graphs, IV,DV, Acuaraccy etc. very few actual practicals).
Psychology- This was the largest and most diverse class but I never really mingled with like half of them. The first lessons were interesting. talking about first impressions and perceptions.
Chemistry- Loads of practicals. Again did some GCSE work and asked to introduce ourselves (prepare yourself a few lines beforehand so you don't embarrass yourself like me)
Biology- Played a fun introduction game with skittles it was nice but we started straight off into some practical work (like graphs, IV,DV, Acuaraccy etc. very few actual practicals).
Psychology- This was the largest and most diverse class but I never really mingled with like half of them. The first lessons were interesting. talking about first impressions and perceptions.
What school did you go to?
Original post by Arya150
What school did you go to?
Wait sorry just realized that might not be appropriate to ask. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. What were the entry requirements were you went?
Original post by Arya150
Wait sorry just realized that might not be appropriate to ask. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. What were the entry requirements were you went?
That's fine you need a B in maths and english. B in each subject you want to do.
Original post by TheAlphaParticle
I'm recently finished year 12 and entering year 13. Reflecting back I would have done a lot of things differently. So I've decide to help others have a good start to sixth form. Just ask any questions ( from Academic to social) you may have about sixth form and i'll answer it for you. I may need help from former sixth formers so please contribute
What's the main thing you wish you could have done differently?
Hey
1) What was the teaching like across your subjects?
2) How helpful were the teachers if you didn't understand something in lesson/wanted extra help?
3) Best revision techniques at A Level specifically?
I'm doing the same subjects as you but instead of Maths im doing English Lit mainly because i got a B in the former and an A* in the latter. Plus, I enjoy English and essay writing.
1) What was the teaching like across your subjects?
2) How helpful were the teachers if you didn't understand something in lesson/wanted extra help?
3) Best revision techniques at A Level specifically?
I'm doing the same subjects as you but instead of Maths im doing English Lit mainly because i got a B in the former and an A* in the latter. Plus, I enjoy English and essay writing.
Original post by Arya150
What's the main thing you wish you could have done differently?
Definitely starting early and consolidating as i learn, so learn it in lesson take vague notes- come home take detailed notes from textbook and other sources and file it away. Read it all again and do some past paper Q's before any tests.
Original post by GCSEStudent903
Hey
1) What was the teaching like across your subjects?
2) How helpful were the teachers if you didn't understand something in lesson/wanted extra help?
3) Best revision techniques at A Level specifically?
I'm doing the same subjects as you but instead of Maths im doing English Lit mainly because i got a B in the former and an A* in the latter. Plus, I enjoy English and essay writing.
1) What was the teaching like across your subjects?
2) How helpful were the teachers if you didn't understand something in lesson/wanted extra help?
3) Best revision techniques at A Level specifically?
I'm doing the same subjects as you but instead of Maths im doing English Lit mainly because i got a B in the former and an A* in the latter. Plus, I enjoy English and essay writing.
1) Teaching is generally good some teachers you like some you hate but the last thing you want to do in a-levels is depend on just the teachers! Sure listen in lessons and ask questions but u need to stay ahead of the lessons and consolidate yourself.
2)This is dependent on your teacher of course but they highly advise you ask questions if you don't understand. Some teachers offer lunchtime boosters or equivalent but some don't.
3) If you like what you used at GCSE then stick with it. You can experiment with new techniques but do make sure you start early so you know if it is right for you.
Original post by _Hafsa
Hi. Thanks for making this thread.
How did you manage your social life and academic life?
I've been told by many that the independency in sixth form can make you loose the balance between school and social life.
How did you manage your social life and academic life?
I've been told by many that the independency in sixth form can make you loose the balance between school and social life.
Don't work through your whole week.So work for like 5-6 days a week. Leave an Evening in the weekdays and either Sat/Sun to go out of just chill at home. Obviously it will change when exam season starts.
1) What can I do to get ahead in class as I was always behind during GSCE times
2) How many hours did you revise
3) How do I talk and meet new people I'm very shy.
2) How many hours did you revise
3) How do I talk and meet new people I'm very shy.
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