[Safiya122]

I've come to realise many GCSE members of TSR find it quite insane when some other TSR members, alongside I, admitted that we were going to get a head start of A-levels but now I wan to know the debate as to why it's a good idea - from others besides myself - and why some think it's not.

My first reason at this moment in time, is because the weather has been rubbish in England, and so I feel there's really nothing 'exciting' for me to do now that my early summer has begun. I feel I spent my time on the IPad searching away or simply watching MTV. I feel like I should do something worth while if I find myself free everyday waking up at a time I please knowing that I'm not really scheduled to do anything..



But I just wanted to point out that those students who do decide to take a proactive approach to A-levels are not stupid because I really don't think a stupid person would even take a proactive approach, not really anyways.


Prepared for the negs

[Flyteryder]

(Original post by Safiya122)
I've come to realise many GCSE members of TSR find it quite insane when some other TSR members, alongside I, admitted that we were going to get a head start of A-levels but now I wan to know the debate as to why it's a good idea - from others besides myself - and why some think it's not.

The point is if you teach yourself some of your A-levels over summer, you'll probably do it wrong. Then when you start A-levels with all the 'knowledge' you think you have, you're in a big mess when everything you thought was right turns out to be wrong. It takes more effort to erase your wrong knowledge with the right knowledge, rather than just learning the right knowledge from scratch when you properly start your A-levels.

For example there's no point teaching yourself diving polynomials for Maths over the summer, then get into school and be told you've done whatever steps wrong all summer and now you've totally confused yourself. Depending on how much of the course you've taught yourself and gotten wrong, the more confused you're going to be when you start your A-levels at school.

[Emrys141]

(Original post by Flyteryder)
The point is if you teach yourself some of your A-levels over summer, you'll probably do it wrong. Then when you start A-levels with all the 'knowledge' you think you have, you're in a big mess when everything you thought was right turns out to be wrong. It takes more effort to erase your wrong knowledge with the right knowledge, rather than just learning the right knowledge from scratch when you properly start your A-levels.

For example there's no point teaching yourself diving polynomials for Maths over the summer, then get into school and be told you've done whatever steps wrong all summer and now you've totally confused yourself. Depending on how much of the course you've taught yourself and gotten wrong, the more confused you're going to be when you start your A-levels at school.

That's what I got told. Plus, I think we should enjoy the freedom we have now while we have it. Once the A levels start, we probably won't have time to sit and watch MTV. Anyway, it's good to take a break from studying

[Deziah]

It really depends. If you're planning on studying for hours a day, like when we were revising for our GCSEs, then it's not really advisable. You run the risk of learning it wrong, and you really should grant yourself some freedom. After all, I doubt we are going to have much in September. ;D
But, I guess you can't go wrong with a bit here and there. I'm going to be doing French in September, so I'm just going to go over all my grammar and tenses, make sure they're good. I also started doing a-level maths a year early, so I'll just go over everything my teacher taught me.
Preparation is good. Trying to self-teach isn't. ;D

[hasan-1-]

I think it's a good idea , nothing wrong with self teaching . I thought myself two sociology topics before an exam ..

[+ polarity -]

Do you even know what exam boards your respective A-levels will be with? I don't see the point in using a long holiday to work. Are you all right?

[Above.The.Empyrean]

This is the only time we have left to actually ENJOY ourselves. Once you've finished Uni (which will not be all hunky dory as people say), you'll either be working or be unemployed. Two months of freedom are all you have left.

[21stcenturyphantom]

I think a little light introductory reading over the summer would not harm anybody. However it's important to maintain the correct rest/study balance. Do you not perhaps feel that you've earned yourself some leisure time over the summer; after all the hard work studying, revising and sitting exams?

[iSoftie]

(Original post by Safiya122)
I've come to realise many GCSE members of TSR find it quite insane when some other TSR members, alongside I, admitted that we were going to get a head start of A-levels but now I wan to know the debate as to why it's a good idea - from others besides myself - and why some think it's not.

My first reason at this moment in time, is because the weather has been rubbish in England, and so I feel there's really nothing 'exciting' for me to do now that my early summer has begun. I feel I spent my time on the IPad searching away or simply watching MTV. I feel like I should do something worth while if I find myself free everyday waking up at a time I please knowing that I'm not really scheduled to do anything..



But I just wanted to point out that those students who do decide to take a proactive approach to A-levels are not stupid because I really don't think a stupid person would even take a proactive approach, not really anyways.


Prepared for the negs

(Original post by Flyteryder)
The point is if you teach yourself some of your A-levels over summer, you'll probably do it wrong. Then when you start A-levels with all the 'knowledge' you think you have, you're in a big mess when everything you thought was right turns out to be wrong. It takes more effort to erase your wrong knowledge with the right knowledge, rather than just learning the right knowledge from scratch when you properly start your A-levels.

For example there's no point teaching yourself diving polynomials for Maths over the summer, then get into school and be told you've done whatever steps wrong all summer and now you've totally confused yourself. Depending on how much of the course you've taught yourself and gotten wrong, the more confused you're going to be when you start your A-levels at school.

It's called a tutor. Go get one.

[britchick]

Have a break while you still can! A-levels are 2 years of pretty much non-stop hard work, you'll regret not taking this time to just relax and recharge your batteries

[Swords N Thorns]

I don't see why not. I'm in the same boat.

Sure, enjoy yourself while you're off, but you're not going to be busy EVERY DAY for the next two months. If you know your exam boards, there's nothing wrong with going over bits of revision for your subjects every now and then. Obviously you don't mean hours and hours everyday, but if you're bored you'll probably find it more interesting/productive than just sitting around doing nothing.

[iSoftie]

(Original post by britchick)
Have a break while you still can! A-levels are 2 years of pretty much non-stop hard work, you'll regret not taking this time to just relax and recharge your batteries

Problem is this break is pretty boring :/

[RandomPeopleDancin]

(Original post by iSoftie)
Problem is this break is pretty boring :/

I would give anything for my holidays to be boring! Over the summer I have A2 stuff to be reading as well as preparing my UCAS statement for when i come back in September.
Have fun and spend your time wisely.

[Tomcrease]

(Original post by iSoftie)
It's called a tutor. Go get one.

Excellent advice for people with a nice amount of spare money. However not everyone can afford a private tutor.

On topic again: I don't think you should self teach fully, maybe look over some things so you don't just forget everything you ever learnt, and maybe do a little reading over the subject. However, you have nothing to gain by doing the syllabus. You will learn it anyway, just wait until you start A levels. Have the summer off. I've just finished my A2s, last exam tomorrow, and i've been waiting for a proper break for 2 years now. Don't waste the one you have!

[bluemax]

you'll never get such vacations again. No matter how boring.

[BVahid]

I'd suggest something deeper: why do you feel you have to study in the summer?
Most students only do that, or want to do it, because of parental pressure.
If that is the reason for it - dont do a single minute of work before term starts. You DONT want to burn out. And, then you're just sitting exams to please your parents, not yourself, and that motivation tends to make life harder, not easier.

Here's the thing: aside from learning things wrong, you don't need the extra time. You will learn just find when school starts again.

Also - if you DO want to learn for the sake of learning, which is always great, read books! Ask your teachers for alevel type books e.g. if you are doing history, see if you can get an idea of what periods you are studing, and read that. It will be far more interesting to you, it won't be stressful and it will be good practice for university. OR, just read books in general. OR teach yourself a language this summer, for fun. Building up one's knowledge doesn't just have to be formal.

In reality, however, just have fun. Alevels are really stressful, not worth starting early.

[xoxAngel_Kxox]

There's nothing wrong with having a look at some past papers and model answers, and if you can get hold of the appropriate revision guide for the subjects and exam boards that you're sitting then you could have a read through, but like others have said, don't get too clever, as it might be hard to correct anything that you've done wrong then.

[willbee]

(Original post by Safiya122)
I've come to realise many GCSE members of TSR find it quite insane when some other TSR members, alongside I, admitted that we were going to get a head start of A-levels but now I wan to know the debate as to why it's a good idea - from others besides myself - and why some think it's not.

My first reason at this moment in time, is because the weather has been rubbish in England, and so I feel there's really nothing 'exciting' for me to do now that my early summer has begun. I feel I spent my time on the IPad searching away or simply watching MTV. I feel like I should do something worth while if I find myself free everyday waking up at a time I please knowing that I'm not really scheduled to do anything..



But I just wanted to point out that those students who do decide to take a proactive approach to A-levels are not stupid because I really don't think a stupid person would even take a proactive approach, not really anyways.


Prepared for the negs

As someone who has already completed A-levels, I don't think you can start studying for them unless you already know what parts of the syllabus you are going to be doing (e.g History or Eng Lit) and if you are studying things like Science or Maths you may learn a way of doing things different to the one your teacher uses.

I remember in GCSE being told that we were being taught simplified versions of the truth, and when people began learning it at A-level they complained that everything they'd learnt had been wrong and they were having to "unlearn" it all. It's fine to educate yourself, but I wouldn't tailor it to your A-levels if I were you, otherwise when summer is over, you'll be just as bored, as you study in class what you've already learnt. Why don't you make some friends and hang out with them this summer?

But your post is misleading. You start by asking "Is this stupid?" as if you were genuinely posing the question and wanted to know what TSR thought. But then you go onto essentially say that the real reason for this thread is to point out that "those students who do decide to take a proactive approach to A-levels are not stupid because I really don't think a stupid person would even take a proactive approach, not really anyways."

And the way you gleefully say "Prepared for the negs" suggests you're simply using this forum as a way to gloat "I'm better than you, I'm not stupid at all".

To which I say: stupid thread, stupid point, stupid little GCSE student.

[GuitarWorm]

I think it's a good idea as long as its not done obsessively ( if you know what I mean). I've been doing a bit of revision for psychology and it's unlikely I'll teach myself the wrong thing. I'm also doing biology and chemistry. I'm doing a bit of revision for those but I intend to mainly go over gcse stuff.




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[lilyrawstorne]

(Original post by Safiya122)
I've come to realise many GCSE members of TSR find it quite insane when some other TSR members, alongside I, admitted that we were going to get a head start of A-levels but now I wan to know the debate as to why it's a good idea - from others besides myself - and why some think it's not.

My first reason at this moment in time, is because the weather has been rubbish in England, and so I feel there's really nothing 'exciting' for me to do now that my early summer has begun. I feel I spent my time on the IPad searching away or simply watching MTV. I feel like I should do something worth while if I find myself free everyday waking up at a time I please knowing that I'm not really scheduled to do anything..



But I just wanted to point out that those students who do decide to take a proactive approach to A-levels are not stupid because I really don't think a stupid person would even take a proactive approach, not really anyways.


Prepared for the negs

The only thing I did in the run up to starting college was read recommended texts for English Lit ... I did Psychology and History of Art as well so background reading / TV / film watching on those subjects was pretty interesting and didn't feel like 'real' work.

If your doing maths or sciences though there's no way I would bother! Mind you I never gave a damn about maths, was lucky to get a C in AS really ....


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App