[soph-a-loaf]

Hi guys,

Don't know if this is in the right thread? Apologies if it isn't.

I need some motivational advice desperately, I'm in Year 12 doing my AS exams for English Literature, French, Biology, Spanish and Dance. I've done English, that was okay, but next Monday is my Biology exam and I cannot stop crying about it! I have revised so much, even to the point where I am neglecting my other subjects to try and understand it. Biology is my weakest subject, as I am more of a linguistic sort of person aha, but my school are still expecting me to get an A which seems impossible. I got a B in January, and personally aiming for a solid B this year, but for my last Biology exam I only had that one to focus on and not 7 others. The pressure is just getting too much.

Everything has just suddenly got on top of me and I can't stop crying! I just don't know what to do, I am trying so hard but I just can't seem to get the right exam technique and have just hit a wall where I feel that I know nothing. I'm panicking even more today because I work Saturday and Sunday, so I literally have no time left. It isn't a case of where I haven't revised until the week before the exam, because I have, I started revising in March. I am just so so worried that I am spending too much time on Biology, and I don't want my other subjects such as French (what I want to study at Uni) to suffer because of it.

If anyone could give me any advice/motivation I would appreciate it so much, I am so stressed at the moment, does anyone else feel like this?

Sorry for boring you with a huge essay aha, thank you so much if you took the time to read it! x

[Scatach]

First of all, why are you taking 5 AS levels? If you feel that you simply cannot cope with taking five, you should speak to your school about dropping one, as I'm assuming that means you're pushing for 4 A2 levels next year. If you can't cope with 5 this year, you certainly can't cope with 4 next year.

Also, why are you working this weekend? It's not uncommon for AS and A2 students to book time off work or even quit their job because of the demand of both work and revision. Quitting at this stage may be drastic (as your exams will soon be over) but you should negotiate some time off.

If your issue is with exam technique, have you tried practising papers for biology? One of the great things about taking a subject that is more objective in its mark scheme is that you can practice and then have a teacher or yourself look over it quickly for you, just to make sure you're on the right track. It's not a good idea to neglect your other subjects if you haven't got time to revise in between exams - if they are on consecutive days, for example, you'll need to spend some time on each of them this weekend.

I'll be completely honest, you're not alone in being in such a panic over these exams. The step up from GCSE to AS level is incredibly steep, and a lot of other people feel exactly the way you are. The best thing to do is to make sure that you are getting enough sleep (as hard as that may be right now) and that you divide up your revision so that all subjects are having some time spent on them, even if you weight one subject more than another.

Breathe, stay hydrated and don't over-think things.

[SparksInTheSky]

Try and remember that you got through your GCSEs and you were doing about 15 exams then. I agree, don't work Saturday and Sunday. If they try and make you work, just quit your job. Your exams/peace of mind are more important. Then try and break the work you have coming up into smaller bits. Make a plan for what you are going to do for the next few weeks. None of your grades are likely to go up drastically from now on so the important thing is that you focus on making sure you know the things you want to know and have done enough past papers. Chat about it with a parent/friend and make the plan together. It will help you feel more supported and more in control. You can always re-take. Ignore what the school wants from you, just do your best.

[LiveToSki]

Don't worry.. you must have given your school reason to think you would get an A i.e. by being very good at it

[chinaberry]

You can cope with this OP, really, a B in Biology in January sounds pretty damn good...how's your revision timetable looking? Can you skip any lessons? Can you talk about this to a parent?

There's a girl in my sixth form who's been crying a lot from stress, on and off for about a week, you're definitely not alone!

[steadmusic]

With you're Biology exam being on Monday it's okay to solely focus on that.
Just take your time and make sure you stay hydrated and fed.
In regards to the weekends, do some light studying. Just go over what you already know swiftly and then take spend a little bit of time trying to fill in the gaps.
As long as you got your basics set with a few extras, you will do fine.
Cheer up. Just take a second to listen to someting lovely and smile

[bahjat93]

(Original post by soph-a-loaf)
Hi guys,

Don't know if this is in the right thread? Apologies if it isn't.

I need some motivational advice desperately, I'm in Year 12 doing my AS exams for English Literature, French, Biology, Spanish and Dance. I've done English, that was okay, but next Monday is my Biology exam and I cannot stop crying about it! I have revised so much, even to the point where I am neglecting my other subjects to try and understand it. Biology is my weakest subject, as I am more of a linguistic sort of person aha, but my school are still expecting me to get an A which seems impossible. I got a B in January, and personally aiming for a solid B this year, but for my last Biology exam I only had that one to focus on and not 7 others. The pressure is just getting too much.

Everything has just suddenly got on top of me and I can't stop crying! I just don't know what to do, I am trying so hard but I just can't seem to get the right exam technique and have just hit a wall where I feel that I know nothing. I'm panicking even more today because I work Saturday and Sunday, so I literally have no time left. It isn't a case of where I haven't revised until the week before the exam, because I have, I started revising in March. I am just so so worried that I am spending too much time on Biology, and I don't want my other subjects such as French (what I want to study at Uni) to suffer because of it.

If anyone could give me any advice/motivation I would appreciate it so much, I am so stressed at the moment, does anyone else feel like this?

Sorry for boring you with a huge essay aha, thank you so much if you took the time to read it! x

I'd recommend you cry your eyes out! Eventually you will run out of Tears . (You might feel a bit dehydrated)
At this point you will have no choice but to REVISE
Pull a couple all nighters if your really worried

[ballroombabe]

Its so easy to say but really try not to get stressed about it all! By allowing it to get on top of you you'll get even more panicked at the amount of time you've spent getting so worked up and crying! It's difficult if you have to work as well but perhaps you could just take one day off at the weekend? That way you'd have a little bit of extra time..

I suffer from lots of stress during the exam period - maybe try making mindmaps? That seems to work for me It's not worth getting so worried about if you have other, more important subjects to study for as well - if you are really unhappy with the grade there are always January resits when you're unlikely to have any other exams to revise for and will be able to focus solely on biology

Make sure you have regular breaks from revision as that will help everything go in and you'll feel better for taking even just a few minutes out to do something different!

Feel free to pm Good luck on Monday!! Remember it's not the end of the world if you don't get an A or B xx



ALSO: I wouldn't try and pull any all-nighters if I were you - you'll just end up tired and more stressed because it will take longer to focus etc

[la-penseur]

Stop revising for it now! You don't like it and you don't want to do it at uni so whhyyy are you freaking out about this? Most universities only ask for 3 A Levels.

[The Count Olaf]

I once was under immense pressure to perform, namely as part of my theatre troupe. I decided therefore it was more worth my while switching to seeking out rich orphaned children, such as the Baudelaire orphans, or the Quigley triplets, both of whom have evaded my clutches.

[oli_G]

Personally, I think the state that you've got yourself (which is entirely understandable) in is the main problem here. I'm also taking 5 subjects but I'm approaching/have approached these exams in the most calm way as possible. You've been working all year in lessons and have probably done a good amount of revision so THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP YOU GETTING THE GRADES YOU DESERVE.

It doesn't sound like they're a disaster and remember biology exams can seem to be weird and difficult but you may end up with a great grade - I find they're unpredictable in that sense.

Good luck

[roh]

(Original post by soph-a-loaf)
Hi guys,

Don't know if this is in the right thread? Apologies if it isn't.

I need some motivational advice desperately, I'm in Year 12 doing my AS exams for English Literature, French, Biology, Spanish and Dance. I've done English, that was okay, but next Monday is my Biology exam and I cannot stop crying about it! I have revised so much, even to the point where I am neglecting my other subjects to try and understand it. Biology is my weakest subject, as I am more of a linguistic sort of person aha, but my school are still expecting me to get an A which seems impossible. I got a B in January, and personally aiming for a solid B this year, but for my last Biology exam I only had that one to focus on and not 7 others. The pressure is just getting too much.

Everything has just suddenly got on top of me and I can't stop crying! I just don't know what to do, I am trying so hard but I just can't seem to get the right exam technique and have just hit a wall where I feel that I know nothing. I'm panicking even more today because I work Saturday and Sunday, so I literally have no time left. It isn't a case of where I haven't revised until the week before the exam, because I have, I started revising in March. I am just so so worried that I am spending too much time on Biology, and I don't want my other subjects such as French (what I want to study at Uni) to suffer because of it.

If anyone could give me any advice/motivation I would appreciate it so much, I am so stressed at the moment, does anyone else feel like this?

Sorry for boring you with a huge essay aha, thank you so much if you took the time to read it! x

No one cares about your 5th AS, so don't stress it. Try and do well in all your others and do your best in Biology, but there is no point getting BBBBB with a high B in Bio with masses of revision rather than AAAAB with a low B in Biology or AAAAC, it's the first four that really matter.

If you want to study French work on the past papers for that. Seeing you want to do Law with French excellent course choice ), just as a bit of reassurance not as a reason to slack, outside of Oxford (where admittedly the stats make grim reading for Law with LSE applications) it seems to be a bit less competitive than straight Law and they won't give a flying proverbial about your grade in your 5th AS.

You started revising in March which is well before most people, you're clearly intelligent and you'll be fine. Take a few minutes to do something different to take your mind off the exam and remember that ultimately one exam, and an additional one you don't need at that, is not going to ruin your life.

[drummer]

Taking five AS will be hard. The truth is your AS levels will be much more important and will affect your final A Level outcome but there are plenty of opportunities to resit if you have to. Forget what the school expects of you because that will put much more pressure on you to do well. If you've done your best both revision and exam wise then you are good. I was in the exact situation you're in now but I took 4 subjects. English, Music, Maths and Further maths. needless to say Further maths took over my life because it was hardest out of all three.

[helenacharlotte]

Firstly- breathe!!

I'm doing biology on Monday as well, and don't let yourself get in a state about it, it is a complicated unit and I don't know anyone who's feeling completely prepared! Just relax- you know your stuff, the worst thing you can do is to panic, because then you'll get yourself into a state and won't be able to write down what you do know. When you get into the exam and see the paper I guarantee you will be fine!
Also, don't let your school pressurise you; it sounds like you're putting enough pressure on yourself as it is. I know it can feel like everyone's expecting you to do well and you feel like you're letting them down if you don't- but these are YOUR a levels, and you're doing them for YOU just try your best- if you get a B then that's fantastic, and if you happen to get an A then that's even better, but don't let this become the be-all and end-all, if linguistics is your passion, focus on those!
Maybe talk to your school after exams are over, and see if you can drop one, or even two a levels for next year? As you don't want to have to go through this again.
And GOOD LUCK for Monday! (sorry for the long post, hope some of this rambling might be helpful! )

[Craming Revision]

cry me a river