STARTING AS LEVEL IN 3 DAYS - any last minute advice?

I start my first day of AS level on Monday and I just wanted to ask fellow A level/ex - A level students for some pointers on how to do really well in my first year. I just received my GCSE results and I did relatively well, but I know the gap from secondary school to sixth form is huge. :smile:

Also I want to go into medicine in university so tips related to that would be much appreciated.

The subjects I am doing:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Maths
- Psychology

If you've got any advice on how to smash those subjects, please let me know :smile:

Read my thread: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4197729

Reply 21

OHH_MY_DAYZ:b

6

Original post by Simran04

physics and maths tutor has lots of papers that you can use as practice. It has papers by each module, each topic and it has solomon papers.

thanks much appreciated :smile:

Reply 22

SugarCoatedCart

7

Original post by AspiringUnderdog

I'm starting year 12 on Monday too. I'm taking maths, further maths, physics and chemistry. From what I've heard we need to make sure to do the same amount of revision as we have lessons e.g. 3 hours of lessons a week = 3 hours of revision a week. Also, study periods should actually be spent STUDYING instead of messing about.

I did those subjects at AS, doing 20+ hours revision is way too much

Reply 23

Loopy91

16

It's hardly last minute advice. Last minute would be the day before your AS exam.
I crammed for my subjects, expected C's/D's and came out with AAB for AS, but that is because I did essay subjects probably. It was very stressful nonetheless so I definitely do NOT recommend this way regardless !!!
Since you picked really hard A Levels, If I did your subjects and I crammed for that I'd have failed lol, so you have to work exceptionally hard for them if you want the top grades.

All of your subjects except Maths are linear, so when/if (schools have the option now) you sit your AS exam in Bio, Chem and Psych it wont count towards the final A Level and you have to do the AS content again in Year 13, so you need to bear that in mind.

Reply 24

Dec019

2

Past Examination papers are a gift from above!

Reply 25

harry_16

2

I'm doing the same subjects as you minus Psychology :smile:

I'm sure you've got all of this but I've got myself an individual folder for each subject as well as one extra folder which is for the notes I take in class, separated with dividers so that I can just put the notes into each folder when I get home because I don't want to be carrying four folders plus textbooks etc. Make sure you buy a memory stick in case you want to make some notes using the computer as it can be much quicker and effective.

Reply 26

M14B

18

Original post by khatx

I start my first day of AS level on Monday and I just wanted to ask fellow A level/ex - A level students for some pointers on how to do really well in my first year. I just received my GCSE results and I did relatively well, but I know the gap from secondary school to sixth form is huge. :smile:

Also I want to go into medicine in university so tips related to that would be much appreciated.

The subjects I am doing:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Maths
- Psychology

If you've got any advice on how to smash those subjects, please let me know :smile:

Advice?
Good luck!

Reply 27

123chem

17

People scare you too much. Its not as hard as it seems. I spent my frees playing diep.io/CAH. As long as you got the right revision guides, you will be fine. I did math/physics/chem/bio. For chem, get the year 1 aqa (looks like:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-2015-A-Level-Chemistry-for-AQA-Year-1-AS-Student-Book-with-Online-Editio-/391511664589)
For bio, get the textbook, and a smaller revision guide. CGP AQA worked for me. Ofcourse, it depends on exam boards, if you dont do aqa, dont listen to me :P

Reply 28

babitajades

3

So many people will say the same things but seriously- begin revising from the beginning!!!! The earlier u the better!

Reply 29

khatx

OP

9

Original post by Simran04

Thank you! I say start revising from day 1 even if it is 30 mins after school. Maths is a subject that requires a lot of practice so make sure you start early and do a lot of past papers.

Yes, Maths is the subject I struggled with the most at GCSE but I enjoyed it and I've practised key skills over the summer so I'm confident I won't do too badly, haha. At least I hope not!

Reply 30

khatx

OP

9

Original post by Funnycatvideos

Start revising now. Seriously.

Straightforward af :tongue:

And I will take this on board as tomorrow is my first day! The revision cards are already out, haha!

Reply 31

khatx

OP

9

Original post by Bella909

At the start of year 12 I re-wrote all my notes from each lesson but found this was too time consuming. Instead I made sure to make neat efficient notes which I then memorised at the end of each day (important for bio and chem especially!), so when it came to revision I didn't have loads at once to do because I had been revising through out the year.

Personally, I regret not taking enough time to socialise and go out with different people, hopefully I can find more of a balance for yr 13 but that is easier said than done!

Hope you enjoy yr 12 :smile:

btw, past papers are v important but I wouldn't bother with them too much until you have learnt at least half of the curriculum otherwise it gets confusing.

This is so helpful, thanks! Tomorrow is my first day, slightly dreading it as I'm recovering from a stomach bug but I refuse to miss the first day of school. And thanks for the tip about past papers, everyone is recommending to do them but I completely forgot the fact that if I did a past paper tomorrow, I'd be so confused haha!

Also, good luck for year 13, I'm sure you'll do amazingly, it sounds like you are completely prepared for the year ahead. Don't forget to take some time out, I do too much of this and not enough of revising LOL.

Reply 32

khatx

OP

9

Original post by Dhanny

'Suffer now and then live the rest of your life as a champion'.

Basically work your socks off for these 2 years because they are so goddamn important and the work you put in will deeply positively impact your life forever.

Posted from TSR Mobile

I love that quote! And yes that is quite true, I'm glad I made this thread because I'm feeling motivated for tomorrow!

Reply 33

khatx

OP

9

Original post by jamestg

Revise for mocks, in class tests, quizzes - everything. It'll make April-June that bit easier!

Also remember to use past papers, YouTube videos, textbooks and find some extra reading - especially for psychology

Thank you! I've made a note of that and stuck it on my desk haha. Which part of psychology do you reckon is the hardest to get into grips with?

Reply 34

khatx

OP

9

Original post by kevinchan1

For Chemistry:

1) Get the calculations nailed from the start.
2) Make sure you make your own notes that you understand using teachers resources or notes.
3) Avoid doing past papers right now, use textbook questions. Start doing past papers nearer to the time.
4) Ditto the last guy, revise NOW.

:biggrin:

Thanks Kevin! Hope I will nail Chemistry with all these tips. :smile:

Reply 35

khatx

OP

9

Original post by Simran04

physics and maths tutor has lots of papers that you can use as practice. It has papers by each module, each topic and it has solomon papers.

Sounds great, I'll be sure to check it out! Thanks dude :smile:

Reply 36

3121

21

Get some sleep while you still can xx

Reply 37

DeafeningSilence

9

Original post by khatx

I start my first day of AS level on Monday and I just wanted to ask fellow A level/ex - A level students for some pointers on how to do really well in my first year. I just received my GCSE results and I did relatively well, but I know the gap from secondary school to sixth form is huge. :smile:

Also I want to go into medicine in university so tips related to that would be much appreciated.

The subjects I am doing:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Maths
- Psychology

If you've got any advice on how to smash those subjects, please let me know :smile:

Honestly, everyone gets told this and everyone ignores it, but START EARLY!! Especially with your subjects, you will have a lot of content. Make some good notes, and start memorising it- if it gets stored in your long term memory you will find exams a lot easier.
For maths in particular, make sure you understand things during the lessons. If you don't, make sure you ask for help, or you will be lost at home. Keep going over things throughout the year or you will forget. When it comes to the end of the year, just keep doing past papers. Exam solutions is an amazing resource and got me through the year!
Most of all remember the year goes a lot quicker than you think! So have fun, and the stress will be painful but over soon enough.
Experience- 4 A's at a level including Maths (:

Reply 38

somevirtualguy

2

Last minute advice: calm down.

Honestly in my first year I gave in to all of the hysteria around needing to spend a huge amount of time revising and it just ran me to the ground and I'm 99% sure I would have done better doing about a quarter of the work I did...

Second year I learnt my lesson and had a much more relaxed revision protocol (about 6/7 hours a week when exams were around the corner, for the first half of the year just doing homework which was about 1/2 hours) and honestly my second year felt like a breeze compared to the first. I mean it comes down to the person but seriously you don't need to be putting in 2/3 hours of revision in your first month or two in addition to homework you'll receive.

Unless you're that keen 😂

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 39

username1208193

20

Try and stay organised. Use folders, books and what not. Make clear, concise notes and transfer them in a way you'll remember them. Perhaps do further reading around the subject. If you're stuck with something, ASK YOUR TEACHER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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