Self-teaching A-levels AMA

Seen a lot of people posting about possibly taking their exams externally, thought I'd make a thread so anyone on the fence can gain some insight.

I'v done a lot of research about self-teaching and external exam processes, as well as practical assessments and coursework. I'm currently in my second year of independent learning with no tutors etc, just textbooks and the internet. I achieved AAA AS in Physics, Maths and Biology.

So any questions, belt away

Why did you decide to self teach?

Seen a lot of people posting about possibly taking their exams externally, thought I'd make a thread so anyone on the fence can gain some insight.

I'v done a lot of research about self-teaching and external exam processes, as well as practical assessments and coursework. I'm currently in my second year of independent learning with no tutors etc, just textbooks and the internet. I achieved AAA AS in Physics, Maths and Biology.

So any questions, belt away

How did you carry out the practical assessment for Physics and make sure your coursework was to a high standard? Well done btw

How do you learn so effectively without assistance from a tutor?
What revision methods do you mostly use?
How do you organise your studying/revision?
How many hours do you spend each day studying in a typical week?

I find it easy for the stuff I'm learning to go in because I chose 3 subjects that I already found very interesting. All it takes is constant practise and determination, and not letting frustration get the better of you.

With Maths, I use examsolutions.net and do past paper after past paper. With Physics and Biology I just use the textbooks doing one topic at a time. When I don't quite understand a topic I will open up a word processor and copy the entire page in my own writing. Then do a heap of past papers.

Organisation is pretty non-existant for me, which is actually something I hope to change for my second year lol.

I probably spend between 2-3 hours studying in one day but I don't study on weekends unless I know I've been lazy with it in the week. Also when I know I'm behind (I allow myself 1 month to master 1 unit) I will sit down for 5+ hours in a day and just work.

who does your predicted grades and reference for you? also, when do you start doing past papers or is it just a continuous ongoing process throughout the year?

I've mentioned briefly in my personal statement that since I have noone to do an academic reference for me, my line manager at work will be doing me a character reference. As far as predicted grades go, all I've said is that I will be aiming for at least AAA.

I do past papers once I've completed a module. I'll try to get one module done in 20 days and then spend the remaining 10 days of the month doing past papers. Ocassionally I'll spend an entire day doing past papers of all my subjects, just to make sure I'm not forgetting what I've learned

Awesome that's a really good method and I'm doing something similar in regards to learning module by module which unis are you applying for btw?

Gcse grades?

Recommendation in self teaching AS maths Edexcel?


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With Maths, I use examsolutions.net and do past paper after past paper.

Birmingham, Warwick, Leicester and Nottingham wbu?



English Language A, Literature B, Maths B, Additional Maths B, Triple Science B, and an assortment of D's and E's

Go for it, honestly can't see anyone have problems with just the one subject, as long as they're willing to put the effort in.

Any other sites you use for maths? I love examsolutions but was wondering if there were any equally as good alternatives, for a change of scenery - per se.

I know of m4ths and hegartymaths but haven't got round to using them yet (maybe they could be of use to you in fact)

Did you not do A levels in school? I wanted to but got bad GCSE results in school, all C's and D's because I was so lazy lol.

How socially awkward are you on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being very socially awkward and 10 being not remotely socially awkward?

5. Why?