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umar39's GCSE Journey

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Reply 40
Ok, that's fine. Thanks for the common structure. I've never considered this method before and I'll be sure to try it out!

Thanks for all the help! :smile:
Original post by umar39
Ok, that's fine. Thanks for the common structure. I've never considered this method before and I'll be sure to try it out!

Thanks for all the help! :smile:


By the way the way don't forget to buy the revision guide. : )
Reply 42
Wow Umar, you've done quite a lot in the space of a week. I've been busy lately dealing with the private family business which has been quite stressful and this might carry on next week.
Reply 43
Original post by JTran38
Wow Umar, you've done quite a lot in the space of a week. I've been busy lately dealing with the private family business which has been quite stressful and this might carry on next week.


I have been quite busy, yes! :u:
Oh, it'll be great seeing you back on TSR posting as usual soon! As for now, I wish you all the best with your family business! :smile:

You'll soon get back into the stress and worry soon, don't worry! :evil:

Spoiler

Reply 44
Quick Update (July 30th, 2016)
I should update my blog tomorrow but I will be away so I will do it now.
Since the official last update, I have completed:
My Biology B2 Notes

So now in the remaining 5 days I will need to complete:

C2 Notes (2 days)

Complete a Past paper for Maths (1 day)

Make notes on Jack and Ralph (LoTF) for English (1 day)

Write a paragraph about my holiday so far and what I will do next (Perfect, Present and Future) (1 day)

I have started some leisure reading as well, which I'm really enjoying. I've signed up to https://www.goodreads.com/ so that I can look at recommendations and provide my opinions on books that I have read. My focus is to read at least 4 books (mainly from the 19th and 20th century). Reading really helps me expand my vocabulary and improve my critical analysis skills, strongly recommend for those that want to achieve great marks and a great grade in their English GCSE's.
Original post by umar39
Quick Update (July 30th, 2016)
I should update my blog tomorrow but I will be away so I will do it now.
Since the official last update, I have completed:
My Biology B2 Notes

So now in the remaining 5 days I will need to complete:

C2 Notes (2 days)

Complete a Past paper for Maths (1 day)

Make notes on Jack and Ralph (LoTF) for English (1 day)

Write a paragraph about my holiday so far and what I will do next (Perfect, Present and Future) (1 day)

I have started some leisure reading as well, which I'm really enjoying. I've signed up to https://www.goodreads.com/ so that I can look at recommendations and provide my opinions on books that I have read. My focus is to read at least 4 books (mainly from the 19th and 20th century). Reading really helps me expand my vocabulary and improve my critical analysis skills, strongly recommend for those that want to achieve great marks and a great grade in their English GCSE's.


Is that for German writing/speaking out of interest? Have you already done any German CAs?
Reply 46
Original post by _gcx
Is that for German writing/speaking out of interest? Have you already done any German CAs?


This is not for CA, just to improve my bad German! :biggrin: It's just so hard revising for a foreign language as you have to understand so many grammatical concepts and vocabulary. It also does not help that German has some ridiculously long words. For example calculator is Taschenrechner! :s-smilie:

I've done 3 speaking and 1 writing assessment
Speaking (A)
Speaking (C) :frown:
Speaking retake (Receiving September)
Writing (A)
I need to maintain these grades so I can achieve an A grade in German GCSE (my weakest subject by far!)

Spoiler

Original post by umar39
This is not for CA, just to improve my bad German! :biggrin: It's just so hard revising for a foreign language as you have to understand so many grammatical concepts and vocabulary. It also does not help that German has some ridiculously long words. For example calculator is Taschenrechner! :s-smilie:

I've done 3 speaking and 1 writing assessment
Speaking (A)
Speaking (C) :frown:
Speaking retake (Receiving September)
Writing (A)
I need to maintain these grades so I can achieve an A grade in German GCSE (my weakest subject by far!)

Spoiler



Yes, that is correct. :smile:

I'm sitting on a high B in writing, and a high C in speaking, with French. :frown: Foreign languages are hard :frown:
Reply 48
Weekly Update- (August 4th, 2016)
Hi TSRians
It's been a busy week and I want to update you on what I've done so far! :smile:

Biology- Completed my B2 Notes. This took me a few hours over the course of two days. I tried using the Pomodoro technique and it worked wonders! Not only did I complete my notes in a fairly short amount of time I realised that I could concentrate for much longer!

Chemistry- Again, I used the Pomodoro technique and was able to complete my C2 notes. I had to teach myself the Instrumental analysis section (which includes Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry because my teacher taught it pretty poorly! :angry:). Apart from that nothing to pressing/difficult.

Maths - I completed one of the new specification math papers for AQA nad found it quite difficult probably because I hadn't learnt most of the curriculum. (it required me to know the values of tan/cos/sin at certain degrees which I haven't come round to doing yet!)

English- Unfortunately I haven't completed all the notes i wanted to complete on Jack and Ralph from LoTF. I should complete in this in the coming week.

Spoiler


German- German!! Writing a paragraph using all three main tenses is no easy feat so I will carry this task on into the next week. I want my German teacher to mark it so it has to be good. :biggrin:

Questions
Is anyone else reading Lord of The Flies and Macbeth? It would be interesting to know! :smile:
How well should I be able to understand and manipulate sin/cos/tan graphs?
What's everyone else doing in terms of chill/relaxation?

On another note
I'm working my way through Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Even though it is a play script it's still a great read.
Watched Lord of the Rings all over again because who doesn't love LoTR, am I right??!
Nearly got stung by a wasp when I was in the garden.
Reply 49
Plan for Next Week (August 4th, 2016-August 11th, 2016)
Over the next week I plan the following:

Complete Notes on Jack and Ralph (half day)

Complete the German Holiday paragraph (half day)

Complete Notes on Macbeth (outstanding Act 1 and Act 2) (2 day)

Complete Physics Notes (P1) (2 day)

The weather seems to be a bit better now so I will try and not be a total anti-socialist :biggrin:.
Reply 50
Weekly Update (August 11th, 2016)
HI TSRians,
My week has been busy but more relaxed. Here is my week in review:

English- Completed my notes on Jack and Ralph from Lord of The Flies (I think I'm the only person doing WJEC EDUQAS :/). This included the characteristics of Jack and Ralph at the beginning middle and end of the prose. I also picked out the themes that they would be associated with at each point (B/M/E). I also made notes on how Ralph and Jack interact with the other characters as this would allow me (when writing essays) to identify what groups each character belongs to (savages, non-savages and young children).

Macbeth notes have been completed for both Act 1 and Act 2 (this took so long as the text is not put into modern English XD)

German- completed the remaining part of the paragraph (this was done in the present tense). Now I will write the same thing but in the past and future tenses.

Physics- Completed my P1 Notes. I did this by using the following subtitles

key points (the essentials that I need to know by using the specification)

extra points (information that will enrich my knowledge and may have a chance of appearing on the test)

further points/exam technique (further points include interesting facts that I may want to have on a topic because wider reading is important. Exam technique includes model (full mark) answers and the key points I will need to include to receive all the marks.

At the end of the chapter (P1.1 P1.2 etc) I will have a key words bank where I identify all the key words in the topic. When I come to review my notes I make a sentence with each word to refresh my memory.
Reply 51
If you ever need help in maths or physics just message me. In Sha Allah you Smash your GCSEs
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 52
Plan for Next week (August 11th, 2016 - August 18th, 2016)
My plan for the next ween includes:

Complete my P2 Notes (2 days)

Complete German paragraph in the past and future tense

Might do some more maths/further maths in preparation for next year ( I completed the old spec AQA H Maths papers and I wasn't happy with my performance, i'll get my mark and grade this September so we'll see. I'll be happy with an A as I dropped at least 11 marks)

(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 53
Weekly Update (August 18th, 2016)
Hi TSRians
Here is my weekly academic review:
Physics
I completed my Unit 2 notes for physics using the specification and my textbook. Having not covered P2.6 and P2.7 I decided to make some very detailed notes on these sections.
German
Completed my paragraphs on my Summer Holidays so far (past, present and future)
Maths
I read through the CGP book and OCR Add Maths book. For Add Maths I looked at Algebra I (review) Algebra II (techniques) and Algebra III (polynomials).

PS I'm still pretty annoyed about my maths performance.... we'll see what I get :crossedf:
Original post by umar39
Weekly Update (August 18th, 2016)
Hi TSRians
Here is my weekly academic review:
Physics
I completed my Unit 2 notes for physics using the specification and my textbook. Having not covered P2.6 and P2.7 I decided to make some very detailed notes on these sections.
German
Completed my paragraphs on my Summer Holidays so far (past, present and future)
Maths
I read through the CGP book and OCR Add Maths book. For Add Maths I looked at Algebra I (review) Algebra II (techniques) and Algebra III (polynomials).

PS I'm still pretty annoyed about my maths performance.... we'll see what I get :crossedf:


Is that for this FSMQ, out of curiousity?
Reply 55
Original post by _gcx
Is that for this FSMQ, out of curiousity?


Yes it is :biggrin:
Original post by umar39
Yes it is :biggrin:


That looks quite high-level for GCSE students. Wish I was taking it :P (although I am looking at A-level stuff in Maths)
Reply 57
Original post by _gcx
That looks quite high-level for GCSE students. Wish I was taking it :P (although I am looking at A-level stuff in Maths)


I suppose it is pretty advanced although I would much prefer taking it after 2 years..

The jump from this textbook to AS is still going to be quite big although the textbook does introduce you to some concepts...
Original post by umar39
I suppose it is pretty advanced although I would much prefer taking it after 2 years..

The jump from this textbook to AS is still going to be quite big although the textbook does introduce you to some concepts...


Well, the introduction to stuff like differentiation, integration, etc., will narrow the jump to A-level. Looks like it's mostly C1 and C2 topics. (Core 1 and Core 2, both AS Maths modules) The jump isn't **too** big with AS, but it really depends on your ability. The first AS module is made up of a mix of new knowledge, and A* GCSE knowledge, when you get to topics like simulataneous equations and surds. (even the stuff that isn't GCSE knowledge still builds upon A* concepts)
Reply 59
Original post by _gcx
Well, the introduction to stuff like differentiation, integration, etc., will narrow the jump to A-level. Looks like it's mostly C1 and C2 topics. (Core 1 and Core 2, both AS Maths modules) The jump isn't **too** big with AS, but it really depends on your ability. The first AS module is made up of a mix of new knowledge, and A* GCSE knowledge, when you get to topics like simulataneous equations and surds. (even the stuff that isn't GCSE knowledge still builds upon A* concepts)


I suppose it will help if I decide to take Maths further (which is quite likely).
You certainly know your stuff about A-Level!! :biggrin:
My maths ability is probably (just) above average so I think i'll cope with Add Maths. Maths is generally great until you get onto probability which is so boring :yawn:

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