[Alex-Torres]

I'm getting scared by the rumoured work load for year 12, hearing people revising in excess of 3-4 hours of night, I'm slightly worried about Sixth Form. Will I have time to relax and general stuff (obviously with an acceptable level of work, eg working from 4 till 6-7?) or will I be inundated in work. I'm going to a Sixth Form, so maybe it'll be slightly harder? How much revision did you do in Year 12 per night (in exam season and just generally in the year like in November, when exams aren't coming up)

Thank you very much.

[MorrisseyForever]

Don't be too worried! It really does depend on you're subject but yes the workload is usually big. You will have time to socialise but you do have to spend A LOT of time revising. It is ten times harder than GCSE so you need to focus more on lessons than friends. You will get stressed in exam season so keep all notes organised in folders, that makes it a lot easier.


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[momanium]

I, like you am also going into sixth form and am doing biology, chemistry, maths and politics. To be honest I think that it will be very difficult and a huge step up from GCSE. But you must realise there are many others who have done it and so why cant we as long as we put in a lot of effort and show determination.

From what I have read, it seems like most people underestimate AS and dont use free periods effectively. I will spend an extra hour for each lesson at home/in frees. This is so I dont fall behind, and although it wont be fun it will be worth it.

Of course it will be WAY harders than GCSE and there will be less social time but effective time management will mean enough social time. Use your frees effectively and make sure you give yourself breaks and use time well. TSR is a great resource for advice and this is what I have read.

Hope I helped!

Thanks for the neggs. Really makes sense!

[a10]

prepare for hell you'll be sick of college after 2 years

[Damask-]

In study leave, I did around four hours of revision a day on days when I didn't have exams, and one or two on days when I did. Before the January exams when we didn't have study leave, I did around two most nights. Sometimes it's easier to think "how many past papers am I up to doing today?" which gives you something to aim for instead of "how long can I sit staring at these notes before I give in and go back to TSR?"

On average in regular term time, I do an hour or so of homework but sometimes a lot more or a lot less. Some days I won't have anything to do at all but I'll skim through notes if I need to recap anything. I'm not entirely sure how people do so much work in year 12 unless they take all essay subjects or are ridiculously good at procrastinating.

You can cut the amount of time you spend revising by making sure you have good, concise notes from lessons (dated and ordered so you can find them when you need to, not just the night before exams) and doing homework as soon after the lessons as possible. Don't panic, you still have time to socialise and relax or get a part time job, and that's from someone who took five subjects.

[XxelliexX]

Higher than year 11, not as high as year 13.

If you can balance work with your social life it'll be fine. I barely did any revision in year 12, but then I did the IB so I didn't have any exams until year 13.

[SnoochToTheBooch]

nah, nobody revises 3-4 hours a night, not unless it's the exam period. It's pretty much just school plus a bit extra homework, nothing extreme - look at how many people get good grades every year, it's ****ing LOADS of people. A-levels aren't that tough really, you'll get through it fine if you just don't **** about too much.

[placebo24]

It's not as bad as you'd think, but it can be pretty intense at times. As long as you're organised and don't blow off your work for the increased social life then you should be okay.

[DeemzBeamz]

(Original post by Alex-Torres)
I'm getting scared by the rumoured work load for year 12, hearing people revising in excess of 3-4 hours of night, I'm slightly worried about Sixth Form. Will I have time to relax and general stuff (obviously with an acceptable level of work, eg working from 4 till 6-7?) or will I be inundated in work. I'm going to a Sixth Form, so maybe it'll be slightly harder? How much revision did you do in Year 12 per night (in exam season and just generally in the year like in November, when exams aren't coming up)

Thank you very much.

As a year 12 resit, I guess I can help.
Don't underestimate the difference between GCSE and A level, it is a huge gap, in terms of amount of independent work and revision technique etc.
You don't have to revise 3 or 4 hours daily, ill be doing 2 daily hopefully, just make sure you revise ATLEAST 8 hours per week outside of school if you're aiming for A's start hardcore revision 2 or 3 months before the exams, especially if all your modular exams are crammed in on May/June, this is what happened with me. Do your own research on the subjects you're studying, stuff that you still haven't studied yet, just to be ready for later on. And make sure you go through your notes weekly atleast. Also when revising in free periods don't sit next to friends -.- I know it may sound rude, but this is your future.
Work load depends on how many subjects you chose and whether you enjoy them or not. If you picked a subject you don't even enjoy then you'll find year 12 more stressful. Make sure your motivation is high for the subjects you pick, make sure you have an interest in them and genuinely believe they will allow you to get the degree you dream of.

All the best

[Alex-Torres]

Thanks for the replies. I plan to revise from about 4PM till about 6-7, with about one working day off, is this too much?
My A-level options are in my signature.

[ummm]

I'm not going to lie, I had to put in quite a lot of work. That being said, I didn't really mind because I actually kind of enjoy studying, and making notes, etc. And I liked being ahead of my class mates. I'd say I did about four hours a night, and maybe a bit more at weekends. However, there was still lots of time to see friends, and just generally chill and watch TV and films, and procrastinate on the internet. It's all about managing your time. Also, I really didn't like one of the subjects that I was doing, so studying it the whole year was absolute hell - it bored me to death. Make sure you do subjects that you enjoy! Makes the whole experience much easier!

But seriously, people make out as though AS is soooooooo much harder than GCSE, but it isn't really. It just required more independent study, organisation and better time management. At GCSE it's possible to cram for exams in the few days before, but if you try that at A level, you're screwed basically. Just make sure you stay on top of your work - keep up in class, make some of your own notes and make sure to do past papers in the run up to the exams and you'll be absolutely fine.

Also, just wanted to say that I did virtually no work at school everyday, either because my teachers were bad, I was too busy chatting to friends or just couldn't be bothered. If I had made the most of frees and lesson time, then I wouldn't have had to do so much outside of school. I just can't work properly at school.

Good luck, don't worry!

[Alex-Torres]

(Original post by ummm)
I'm not going to lie, I had to put in quite a lot of work. That being said, I didn't really mind because I actually kind of enjoy studying, and making notes, etc. And I liked being ahead of my class mates. I'd say I did about four hours a night, and maybe a bit more at weekends. However, there was still lots of time to see friends, and just generally chill and watch TV and films, and procrastinate on the internet. It's all about managing your time. Also, I really didn't like one of the subjects that I was doing, so studying it the whole year was absolute hell - it bored me to death. Make sure you do subjects that you enjoy! Makes the whole experience much easier!

But seriously, people make out as though AS is soooooooo much harder than GCSE, but it isn't really. It just required more independent study, organisation and better time management. At GCSE it's possible to cram for exams in the few days before, but if you try that at A level, you're screwed basically. Just make sure you stay on top of your work - keep up in class, make some of your own notes and make sure to do past papers in the run up to the exams and you'll be absolutely fine.

Also, just wanted to say that I did virtually no work at school everyday, either because my teachers were bad, I was too busy chatting to friends or just couldn't be bothered. If I had made the most of frees and lesson time, then I wouldn't have had to do so much outside of school. I just can't work properly at school.

Good luck, don't worry!

Thnks, it doesn't seem too bad now! How long did you revise for in one sitting? Ie 1 hour then short break

[Javilionaire]

Honestly, I did literally nothing in year 12, I personally found it very easy. However, I did find year 13 a big step up from year 12. The step up from year 11 to 12 wasn't very big IMO.

I took, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

[JOR2010]

(Original post by Alex-Torres)
I'm getting scared by the rumoured work load for year 12, hearing people revising in excess of 3-4 hours of night, I'm slightly worried about Sixth Form. Will I have time to relax and general stuff (obviously with an acceptable level of work, eg working from 4 till 6-7?) or will I be inundated in work. I'm going to a Sixth Form, so maybe it'll be slightly harder? How much revision did you do in Year 12 per night (in exam season and just generally in the year like in November, when exams aren't coming up)

Thank you very much.

No. Most days I decided to play on the Xbox or go on Facebook. And I had a part-time job. I still got AAAAAA.

[Pinkhead]

Just revise 2 hours a week for each subject and you should be fine. I didn't even do that and I had to cram for all my subjects before exams.

I had to complete c3 in one week (7-8 hours a day of constant maths questions lol) and c4 in 5 days (even more work) and LUCKILY managed to finish the entire textbooks in that time. However, that did not leave enough time for me to perfect my maths and resolve doubts/ reduce silly errors and I missed out on an A* by 1 ums. I really regret it now as I'll have to retake one module, something that I wouldn't have had to do if I had studied properly.

I strongly recommend you do the 2 hours a week for each subject (or however long it takes you to keep on top) from the beginning. It WILL save you a lot of trouble.

[Appeal to reason]

3 to 4 hours a night?! I think I did that for my first week (I thought the exercises we were suggested for maths were compulsory, when I realised they were optional practice and not marked, I stopped).

It really isn't that bad. The homework I got was about an hour's worth when I got it. I had loads of nights where I had no homework. For the first term we got a piece a week from each subject, sometimes 2 for maths, after the january exams physics stopped giving homework, and maths stepped it up so it was always 2 pieces a week.
I also recommend using your frees to do your homework (not nescessarily all of it - I still liked to sit around and do nothing in my frees like everyone else).

In exam times I revised easily 3 hours a day, but this was by no means compulsory, I just wanted to secure my grades. (In the form of past papers, I'd aim to do 2 a day)

The AS Levels themselves aren't that much harder than GCSEs. I actually found Physics AS easier than GCSE. (This is probably because I liked my teachers more)

[Pinkhead]

(Original post by Alex-Torres)
Thanks for the replies. I plan to revise from about 4PM till about 6-7, with about one working day off, is this too much?
My A-level options are in my signature.

I would say that is too much. 10 hours a week is plenty imo.
Remember that you should be consolidating your learning, not learning new topics at home. Don't make the same mistake I did. Pay attention in class and ask questions if you have doubts. MAKE NOTES!
That way, you can just go over your notes a few times at home.

[ummm]

(Original post by Alex-Torres)
Thnks, it doesn't seem too bad now! How long did you revise for in one sitting? Ie 1 hour then short break

I was so worried before starting year 12 because everyone on here made out that everything would be impossibly hard, but it's not. Just make sure you don't fall behind! Umm, it depends. Sometimes I'd go for a couple of hours straight, but most of the time I used to make short 5-10 minute internet breaks every hour or so. It depends on my stress levels when you panic you can study for aaages (as long as it's something you don't mind!)

[Alex-Torres]

(Original post by JOR2010)
No. Most days I decided to play on the Xbox or go on Facebook. And I had a part-time job. I still got AAAAAA.

Either you're being sarcastic or you are really clever!

[Appeal to reason]

(Original post by Alex-Torres)
Either you're being sarcastic or you are really clever!

He really isn't being sarcastic. This is all I did when I'd finished my homework.