[beansprouts]

If you're doing A Levels then the best advice I would give is to sacrifice those 2 years of your life and revise your butt off. Honestly you'll feel like crap when on a Saturday night you're stuck at home revising and all your friends are at a house party. But it's completely worth it in the end when you get those A/A* and the uni you want

[StUdEnTIGCSE]

Be extremely attentive in class. Repeat all what the teacher says and ask questions. That's helps a lot.

[sufyan112]

I like making little revision cars with mind map's
i have kept em with me for the last 2 weeks, on the train or bus i just keep going through em
but past papers is a big MUST
I did RS in year 11, got a B but haven't done a resit, i did Sikhism and utilitarianism

[sufyan112]

AS RE*

[Siddhu33]

The way I see it, is to finish all revision, with a ton of past papers (from every exam board, most topics are similar) and just relax on the day before the exam. Too much stress ruins the exam for you.

[ReMos]

forcing yourself to revise is far less productive than revising at will. (if i really need to revise, i will do it, but i wont overdo it. if i feel like revising i will, and 1 hour doing revision out of will is the same as 10 of forcing myself to revise)

Learning that extra bit over the syllabus allows one to ''tie all the loose ends'', or ''make everything click together'' and when everything connects, and seemingly unrelated topics become connected as one and are a continuation of one another almost, it makes it incredibly easy to remember them. By better understanding the matter, it is made easier to remember, and the time spend better understanding it is far less than the time spent memorising it without understanding.

BULLET. POINT. EVERYTHING. (within reason.) as long as i am confident that i can string all my facts into sentences and paragraphs and then essays, flow charts and one liners are far more easy to remember and process than big scary chunks of text.

the PHYSICAL ACT OF WRITING almost 'etches' the notes in my brain, i find that others think it too. i will often rewrite my notes in different formats (flash cards or different orders and classifications of bulletpoints etc) without any need to simply because needing to write something is much more taxing than just reading it in your head, it forces you to read letter by letter, and is better i believe.

if you dont enjoy something you need to revise, at (almost) all cost, make it enjoyable somehow. look at it from a different approach, make it humorous.

these are my tips. hope they help i guess?

[dark-blue]

First - find out what kind of learner you are: visual, auditory or kinasthetic (not sure if that's the right spelling). Some people are a combination of both. It sounds to me like your revision was very visual based, when you might actually learn better through other means.

Visual learners like things like mind maps and colourful notes. Another way is using visual pegs/ method of loci which I learnt during psychology - "hanging" or linking pieces of information on established images, maybe combining them. My friend used the latter for biology, using her house to "store" information. For example, say you had to learn the process of digestion, you could link each room to an organ/stage. You could try pneumonics, like the whole Richard of York thing for the colours of the rainbows. However, I find this is better suited to "simple" facts rather than really broad topic areas.

Auditory learners might prefer recording themselves talking through key points or almpst giving a speech about different topics and then playing them in their sleep etc. I have a friend who plays music whilst going through notes, that way she remembers them through thinking back to what song was playing. That's another way - you could make up little songs or rhymes to help you remember stuff. Having a group discussion is another option.

The last type of learning is hard for me to describe as it's type I prefer least. From what I remember, though, it's all about movement and "active" learning - sort of like the little games teachers sometimes get you to play, e.g. card matching exercises, races etc.

Generally visual revision is pushed more in schools. probably because it's the most straightforward method, and it makesit easier for teachers to check you're actually doing something. However, if you're not a visual learner at heart, you're unlikely to benefit - i believe this is why the so-called "trouble" children have a hard time in academic subjects, even though they have the potential.

I'll quickly run through some basic points which people have probably already mentioned: revise in regular short bursts; it's not neccessary to totally abandon your social life as it will just make you more stressed - take breaks. Well done for doing past papers, this will definitely help - ensure some are done under timed codnitions to help you get to grips with exam technique. Also practise writing quick essay plans for things like Sociology. Talk to your teachers, they can help you if you let them. Get plenty of sleep, eat well, etc. and START EARLY! It's better to make your notes as you progress through the course rather than find you have an entire subject to do two weeks before the exam - which is kind of what I did...

My personal tecniques - I've recently started using Post-It Notes to more effect - this is especially good for learning things like vocab for languages, put them in places you visit frequently, take them down once you've repeated them enough times and learnt them. They're also good for essay based subjects, if you organise chunks of information in a mock essay plan, drawing arrows to link different ideas and adding criticisms, it will help you to organise information more clearly once you're in the exam hall.

Last point - what do you class as a "bad" grade? Sometimes if you have high predictions it's easy to beat yourself up if you don't quite hit them, but remember, your other modules can bring your grade up, and sometimes, it might just be the day/ paper and resits generally tend to go better (not that I'm advocating taking every single papertwice). If you do not know where you went wrong,I'd suggest getting your paper back, or possibly remarked.

[Natasha A*]

Hi, I'm currently studying in college and I'm predictied mostly A's for my A levels but I just know that I may not achieve this as recently I've started to become so unmotivated and end up eating/watching tv online. What could I do to help me reach my targets, I'm currently using mind maps/posters/revision cards and sticking post it notes all over doors so before I enter that room I re-revise them. I really want to study hard but I have a short attention span and end up taking way too many breaks. Any information would be much appreciated to what myslef and anyone else in a similar situation as me can do to improve our grades Thankyou x

[YB101]

I need some help!

For AS I got the following

B in Psychology (very high B)
C in Biology ( B/C/D)
C in Chemistry ( B/D/C)

In my Jan 2012 resits I:

Resat the F212 exam and went from a C to and A
Redid the F213 practicals and went from a D to a C (I missed one because my teacher didn't tell me when it was -.- )
Redid the Chemistry F322 exam AND GO THE SAME GRADE even though I got 20 marks higher
So that left me with AS Grades of BBC

So in the summer I'm resitting the F211 exam to bring my overall biology grade to an A
Ressiting the F322 to get an A (determination)
Sitting 6 A2 Exams.
I have an offer to study biomedical science @ Manchester with the offer being AAB
I do believe I am putting in the hours but what can I do to make sure I maintain a high level of work in each exam! 9 is so many !?

[monica95]

(Original post by YB101)
I need some help!

For AS I got the following

B in Psychology (very high B)
C in Biology ( B/C/D)
C in Chemistry ( B/D/C)

In my Jan 2012 resits I:

Resat the F212 exam and went from a C to and A
Redid the F213 practicals and went from a D to a C (I missed one because my teacher didn't tell me when it was -.- )
Redid the Chemistry F322 exam AND GO THE SAME GRADE even though I got 20 marks higher
So that left me with AS Grades of BBC

So in the summer I'm resitting the F211 exam to bring my overall biology grade to an A
Ressiting the F322 to get an A (determination)
Sitting 6 A2 Exams.
I have an offer to study biomedical science @ Manchester with the offer being AAB
I do believe I am putting in the hours but what can I do to make sure I maintain a high level of work in each exam! 9 is so many !?

Hi just wondering, (I'm still doing GCSEs at year 11 atm) but considering taking psychology, chemistry, biology and maths. Are u aspiring a career in medicine by the way? Because those a levels seem to suit it. Anyway! Do you find those 3 subjects alone overwhelming that you feel a fourth MATHS one would be too difficult? And how is psychology? Is it really hard? ..I've heard there's impossible amount of case studies and coursework

Thanks

[monica95]

(Original post by monica95)
Hi just wondering, (I'm still doing GCSEs at year 11 atm) but considering taking psychology, chemistry, biology and maths. Are u aspiring a career in medicine by the way? Because those a levels seem to suit it. Anyway! Do you find those 3 subjects alone overwhelming that you feel a fourth MATHS one would be too difficult? And how is psychology? Is it really hard? ..I've heard there's impossible amount of case studies and coursework

Thanks

But I may drop the psychology or maths one, so I have just the A/S instead

[Jackarii]

Here's my blog with my Top Ten Tips on Revising - I hope it helps! http://wiserevise.blogspot.co.uk/

[Sammy95]

honest to God, im just cramming because i never started early revision. i hope i pull it off

[Jackarii]

(Original post by monica95)
But I may drop the psychology or maths one, so I have just the A/S instead

I'm doing Psychology AS now and yes there is an unlimited amount of Case studies etc... however in the exam, you will only need to refer to two or three withing each topic mentioned.
There isn't much coursework, just a reasonable amount of note taking!

My Unit 1 for Psychology AS Level exam is tomorrow at 9:00AM so wish me luck :-)

[YB101]

(Original post by monica95)
Hi just wondering, (I'm still doing GCSEs at year 11 atm) but considering taking psychology, chemistry, biology and maths. Are u aspiring a career in medicine by the way? Because those a levels seem to suit it. Anyway! Do you find those 3 subjects alone overwhelming that you feel a fourth MATHS one would be too difficult? And how is psychology? Is it really hard? ..I've heard there's impossible amount of case studies and coursework

Thanks

No I'm not an aspiring medic, I just really like science. From what I believe (my dad is a medic) EVERYBODY applying for medicine has the bog standard Chem/Bio/Math/Psychology combination so if you have something different to separate yourself they like that like Chem/Bio/Maths and say a Language or English. Psychology isn't hard at all but it does require a lot of work and you should be careful not to neglect it because your others are hard

[monica95]

(Original post by YB101)
No I'm not an aspiring medic, I just really like science. From what I believe (my dad is a medic) EVERYBODY applying for medicine has the bog standard Chem/Bio/Math/Psychology combination so if you have something different to separate yourself they like that like Chem/Bio/Maths and say a Language or English. Psychology isn't hard at all but it does require a lot of work and you should be careful not to neglect it because your others are hard

Thanks, I'll remember that I do like english but I feel it would be too hard for me at college standard. And in a way, pyschology involves a bit of english I've been told, due to writing lots of essays? :L Is that right? lol

[YB101]

(Original post by monica95)
Thanks, I'll remember that I do like english but I feel it would be too hard for me at college standard. And in a way, pyschology involves a bit of english I've been told, due to writing lots of essays? :L Is that right? lol

Yes! It does at A2. I'm writing up 3 essays right this minute! AS though, not too many essays. A lot of writing and explaining studys and findings and such. If you are doing the AQA board you will be learning about attachment, studies and explanations for it. Memory aswell, the models or studys also. Then you learn about research methods which I think is really easy.

[LifeIsGood]

Gene Technology doesn't seem to be as bad as I had thought. It's ok to understand but the exam questions are confusing

Will get it done by this weekend though.

[Unkempt_One]

In case anyone still has exams, which I'm guessing are mostly over now, I would just like to punctuate the importance of past papers (where available) and practice questions. There is no faster way to attain understanding of the material. Also, check if there is a specification document on the exam board website so you can cover any particularly weak areas you are worried about. When I did A level Chemistry, I ignored most areas of the textbook and focused on areas I had difficulty remembering, and I usually found the best way to remember those was to summarise the key points and attempt over and over to repeat from memory. My advice mostly applies to Science A-levels.

[Welbeck]

Past papers are the key, and think of questions that you won't be able to answer in an exam and then work on answering it as it may come up. Also get other people to test your knowledge. Remember, exams are not remembering stuff but applying it