• The A2 journey to A*A*A* •
So I had started a study blog thing for grow your grades, but I didn't really update it and it would be fab if I was actually organised for Year 13. 
Last year my goal was to get AAAA, I ended up not taking an exam for History because it's linear and I'm just gonna take exam at the end of next year instead. It's ~seemingly~ meant to be less stressful haha. But in the end, I managed to get AAA for AS which I was not expecting at all - so the sky's the limit. I hope everyone got what they wanted on results day!
The goal is a tad ambitious, but why not ya know, I always seem to underestimate myself so I've decided it's time to mix it up a bit. Hopefully I am able to motivate others along the way!
Grades
AS English Literature (Edexcel): A
AS Mathematics (OCR MEI): A
AS Government and Politics (Edexcel): A
GCSEs: 2 A*, 8 A's, 2 B's
I'm *officially* currently taking all 4 subjects into A2, but I am pretty certain I am going to drop English Lit since I don't think I can improve on that grade haha, gotta keep it real. Oh and I'm taking on an EPQ as well which is going to be so much work eek!
I'm going to get ahead of the game and start doing some EPQ reading etc tomorrow at the library.
In terms of uni I'd really like to study a Politics degree, I initially wanted to do Maths but I'm not sure I could enjoy it for 3 years straight
I'm really indecisive and so haven't really chosen what unis I want to apply to yet, but at the moment my thoughts are:
Cambridge (A*AA) - (mostly bc of pushy parents, but I know my grades aren't really good enough)
Warwick (AAA)
Exeter (AAA)
Nottingham (AAB)
King's College London (AAA)
Loughborough (ABB) - not sure yet, probs just a safe option
LSE (AAA)
Inserting an inspirational yet slightly cringy study quote, butttttt I need all the motivation I can get. 
Last year my goal was to get AAAA, I ended up not taking an exam for History because it's linear and I'm just gonna take exam at the end of next year instead. It's ~seemingly~ meant to be less stressful haha. But in the end, I managed to get AAA for AS which I was not expecting at all - so the sky's the limit. I hope everyone got what they wanted on results day!
The goal is a tad ambitious, but why not ya know, I always seem to underestimate myself so I've decided it's time to mix it up a bit. Hopefully I am able to motivate others along the way!
Grades
AS English Literature (Edexcel): A
AS Mathematics (OCR MEI): A
AS Government and Politics (Edexcel): A
GCSEs: 2 A*, 8 A's, 2 B's
I'm *officially* currently taking all 4 subjects into A2, but I am pretty certain I am going to drop English Lit since I don't think I can improve on that grade haha, gotta keep it real. Oh and I'm taking on an EPQ as well which is going to be so much work eek!
I'm going to get ahead of the game and start doing some EPQ reading etc tomorrow at the library.In terms of uni I'd really like to study a Politics degree, I initially wanted to do Maths but I'm not sure I could enjoy it for 3 years straight
I'm really indecisive and so haven't really chosen what unis I want to apply to yet, but at the moment my thoughts are:Cambridge (A*AA) - (mostly bc of pushy parents, but I know my grades aren't really good enough)
Warwick (AAA)
Exeter (AAA)
Nottingham (AAB)
King's College London (AAA)
Loughborough (ABB) - not sure yet, probs just a safe option
LSE (AAA)
Inserting an inspirational yet slightly cringy study quote, butttttt I need all the motivation I can get.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by Infamous*
Good luck!
Thank you very much!
Interesting... Goodluck! ^-^
Original post by Babs Posh
Okay so obviously I didn't keep this up, given that A levels are actually manic and hell-ish. BUT if anyone is actually interested I did manage to achieve A*A*A* - I thought I was being so unrealistic but I can't believe it!
Well done!!!
How did you do in EPQ?And any tips for history?
Original post by Babs Posh
Okay so obviously I didn't keep this up, given that A levels are actually manic and hell-ish. BUT if anyone is actually interested I did manage to achieve A*A*A* - I thought I was being so unrealistic but I can't believe it!
ahhh well done on all your hard work paying off, that's such a great accomplishment!!
Original post by Babs Posh
Okay so obviously I didn't keep this up, given that A levels are actually manic and hell-ish. BUT if anyone is actually interested I did manage to achieve A*A*A* - I thought I was being so unrealistic but I can't believe it!
So, where are you going?
Original post by dlaws.
Well done!!! How did you do in EPQ?
And any tips for history?
How did you do in EPQ?And any tips for history?
Thank you!
I actually dropped the EPQ in the end, the workload became a bit much and it wouldn't affect the offer of my firm choice (Warwick). For history, exam technique is absolutely crucial, you've probably heard that a million times but I cannot emphasise it enough. There was one exam where I genuinely thought I was screwed for in terms of own knowledge and the content I needed to remember, and it was a bit lacking, yet I must have turned out fine because I knew if I followed my usual exam technique I had a chance. Look online for any examiner reports that have marked past papers, I did Edexcel and they are really good on this. Find a good answer and print it out - highlight what the report says is good and identify in the mark schemes what is actually required for the top grades. Eg for me it was a criteria, to constantly compare events to something that the question should be judged by.
You've probably gathered this already but there is A LOT of content for history. The way to combat this is to keep up with your notes throughout the year. Write your notes in lesson, go home that day - rewrite them, type them up, write them out in flashcard form and make a mindmap for that lesson to all go into your folder (which you must must have!). When it came to exam periods, I looked back at all this and put events and dates on post-it notes and scattered them round the house such as in the bathroom and on the fridge (a frequent destination for me
). Sorry if that's too in depth but I'm happy to help!
Original post by GradeA*UnderA
So, where are you going?
I got into my firm choice Warwick, but I'm going to withdraw and take a year out so I can apply to universities like Oxford etc. I actually want to change course and do PPE rather than Politics, so I will try my best getting an interview and apply to other unis that I like such as UCL and LSE.
Original post by Babs Posh
Thank you! I actually dropped the EPQ in the end, the workload became a bit much and it wouldn't affect the offer of my firm choice (Warwick).
For history, exam technique is absolutely crucial, you've probably heard that a million times but I cannot emphasise it enough. There was one exam where I genuinely thought I was screwed for in terms of own knowledge and the content I needed to remember, and it was a bit lacking, yet I must have turned out fine because I knew if I followed my usual exam technique I had a chance. Look online for any examiner reports that have marked past papers, I did Edexcel and they are really good on this. Find a good answer and print it out - highlight what the report says is good and identify in the mark schemes what is actually required for the top grades. Eg for me it was a criteria, to constantly compare events to something that the question should be judged by.
You've probably gathered this already but there is A LOT of content for history. The way to combat this is to keep up with your notes throughout the year. Write your notes in lesson, go home that day - rewrite them, type them up, write them out in flashcard form and make a mindmap for that lesson to all go into your folder (which you must must have!). When it came to exam periods, I looked back at all this and put events and dates on post-it notes and scattered them round the house such as in the bathroom and on the fridge (a frequent destination for me).
Sorry if that's too in depth but I'm happy to help!
I actually dropped the EPQ in the end, the workload became a bit much and it wouldn't affect the offer of my firm choice (Warwick). For history, exam technique is absolutely crucial, you've probably heard that a million times but I cannot emphasise it enough. There was one exam where I genuinely thought I was screwed for in terms of own knowledge and the content I needed to remember, and it was a bit lacking, yet I must have turned out fine because I knew if I followed my usual exam technique I had a chance. Look online for any examiner reports that have marked past papers, I did Edexcel and they are really good on this. Find a good answer and print it out - highlight what the report says is good and identify in the mark schemes what is actually required for the top grades. Eg for me it was a criteria, to constantly compare events to something that the question should be judged by.
You've probably gathered this already but there is A LOT of content for history. The way to combat this is to keep up with your notes throughout the year. Write your notes in lesson, go home that day - rewrite them, type them up, write them out in flashcard form and make a mindmap for that lesson to all go into your folder (which you must must have!). When it came to exam periods, I looked back at all this and put events and dates on post-it notes and scattered them round the house such as in the bathroom and on the fridge (a frequent destination for me
). Sorry if that's too in depth but I'm happy to help!
Not too in depth at all thank you so much! really helped
Original post by Babs Posh
Okay so obviously I didn't keep this up, given that A levels are actually manic and hell-ish. BUT if anyone is actually interested I did manage to achieve A*A*A* - I thought I was being so unrealistic but I can't believe it!
Congrats!!!
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