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A* in AQA A2 Chemistry and Biology - my tips.

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Reply 60

username1078181

Original post by Nav_Mallhi

Nope, the AQA site only goes back until 2010 but those questions go way back. :smile:

YES! That's exactly what I needed! Thank you SO much :h:

Reply 61

Trainz

Everyone is different so not everything OP said will apply to you. Do spend time to see what works with you.

Reply 62

username984585

Original post by Trainz

Everyone is different so not everything OP said will apply to you. Do spend time to see what works with you.

Which is why I clearly said "This is by no means a guide. . .". They are just my tips.

Reply 63

Trainz

Original post by Nav_Mallhi

Which is why I clearly said "This is by no means a guide. . .". They are just my tips.

I guess my reading skills have gotten worse. Oh well, no harm done.

Reply 64

Itsmonique

Can I use the past papers from the 1990s for the edexcel exam board?

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Reply 65

username984585

Original post by Itsmonique

Can I use the past papers from the 1990s for the edexcel exam board?

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As long as the questions are relevant to your syllabus and you have the time then I do not see any reason not to.

Reply 66

Itsmonique

Original post by Nav_Mallhi

As long as the questions are relevant to your syllabus and you have the time then I do not see any reason not to.

Ok thank you! I just can't seem to find any of those papers for AQA

Reply 67

Rubicon1

Original post by Nav_Mallhi

As long as the questions are relevant to your syllabus and you have the time then I do not see any reason not to.

Hi!

thanks for all the great tips. In terms of past papers for AQA chemistry how far back did you go? Also when do you recommend is the best time to do past paper questions as they are obviously limited- do you recommend doing them throughout the year or near exam time?

Reply 68

username984585

Original post by Itsmonique

Ok thank you! I just can't seem to find any of those papers for AQA

Have you tried Xtreme papers?

Original post by Rubicon1

Hi!

You're welcome. :smile:

I went as far back as the 90s. I don't know if you can get access to them online because our teacher used to print them off for us. He had been teaching for a very long time and had a whole collection for them.
I started doing past papers as soon as I had covered the whole syllabus and was sure that I fully understood it. This was around Feb/March time. I also re-did some papers especially the recent ones.

Original post by Jatyization

When did you start past papers Nav? :smile:

See above. :smile:

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Reply 69

username984585

Original post by Jatyization

Oh wow that sounds good! So did you start newer past papers then or just the older ones? Is it possible you can upload some 90s papers if you have access to them... it would meen a lot. And thanks for all your help :biggrin:

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At first I started the older papers just to get a hang of the types of questions and to test my understanding. Older questions tend to be more straightforward, by that I mean there is less if any, application. They are just straight forward knowledge questions.
I'm at university now so I don't have any of my A level things. When I go home I'll check to see if I have them. I will apologise in advance if I haven't got them because I did throw a lot of things away after results day. :biggrin:

Reply 70

cocopopsrocks

Your wonderful thank you! very much I'm using your tips and advice even though my exam board is OCR, the content is similar in many areas. May I ask what your doing now?

Reply 71

zed963

Would you recommend memorising mark scheme answers for some questions?

Reply 72

zed963

Original post by cocopopsrocks

Your wonderful thank you! very much I'm using your tips and advice even though my exam board is OCR, the content is similar in many areas. May I ask what your doing now?

She's doing dentistry.

Reply 73

JamJam87

I am so late to this thread! But thank you soo much! :biggrin:

Reply 74

username984585

Original post by zed963

Would you recommend memorising mark scheme answers for some questions?

Yes definitely! Particularly for definitions and questions that require textbook, word-for-word answers. :smile:

Reply 75

username984585

Original post by JamJam87

I am so late to this thread! But thank you soo much! :biggrin:

You're very welcome. :smile:

Reply 76

Thereisnospoon!

Original post by Nav_Mallhi

YES! I cannot stress how important past papers are. If you have done them once, do them again! And don't limit yourself to only your exam board. Do papers from other exam boards. I did OCR and edexcel papers as well as AQA - it's extra practise. Do the old past papers too. I did papers dating back to the 90s. Note down the questions that come up year after year and memorise their answers thoroughly. Memorise the exact phrase that they want and make sure you write that, word for word. This particularly applies to definitions in chemistry and short answer questions in biology.

Best of luck. :smile:

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where did you get these papers (for chemistry) from the 90s? thanks

Reply 77

Jennn1

Hi. I'm really struggling woth grasping application questions in biology they r the reason I keep flopping. I need minimum A to get into dentistry so please please please help on how to answer application

Reply 78

username984585

Original post by Thereisnospoon!

where did you get these papers (for chemistry) from the 90s? thanks

All the links are in the first post. Knock yourself out. :biggrin:

Reply 79

username984585

Original post by Jennn1

Hiya!

Many people struggle with application questions, you are not alone. The trick is to do as many practice questions as possible. I have provided a few links in the original post to some great websites with practice questions. Make sure you take time to think through the answers to questions. Don't just do questions for the sake of doing them, make sure you understand them too! If you don't get something, ask someone. A lot of people freak out when they see application questions when really there isn't that much to worry about. It's just a little thinking-out-of-the-box coupled with a lot of common sense and basic scientific knowledge. As I said, take your time to figure out the answer - perseverance is the key! Don't give up. :smile: