The Student Room Group

Journey to A*A*A*A*


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(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 1
16-October-2016
Biology:
Progress is pretty average so far this year. I got an A (87%) in the first class test (Homeostasis and The Kidney) and the other two people in the class failed the test. Very happy with that result. But, I got a B (78%) in my second class test (Immunity). The questions were extremely difficult but no excuses. Our teacher is giving us another immunity test so hopefully I can get 90+% in it on Thursday!
The pace is okay-slow this year and the content isn't that much harder. Pleased so far.

Chemistry:
This is one of my best subjects but it was my lowest UMS at AS-Level (89.7%), despite putting so much time into it. We have no textbook this year which makes things so difficult. It won't be out for about a month... Anyway, we have had two class tests so far and I have gotten a B in both. Not very pleased with that result. Going to try put my head down in the next month and bring my scores up and be on top of the work.

Mathematics:
I done work during summer for C3 so I was ahead when we started the year but I have just finished C3 today and will spend the next day revising the content and doing exercises in the textbook before maybe starting some past papers. I think Ill do past papers for other boards (like OCR, WJEC, AQA) since I don't want to start my own exam board's now and run out of resources wayyyy before the exam. So I'm around 8-10 weeks ahead of my class right now. Ill might tone down the work for it since it isn't a priority right now.

D&T:
FYI: I HATE THIS SUBJECT. It is pure torture, but I have some natural ability in it. I got 97% UMS in it at AS-Level despite basically leaving it all to the day before the deadline and only revising 2 days for the exam. Well anyway, for A2, we have nearly covered the exam material for this year and the exam itself is worth 50% - the exam isn't overly difficult but there is a lot of reading this year. I am making flashcards as we go along though which will make revision A LOT easier. We should move onto coursework shortly, but I'm not looking forward to that because the project this year is huge.
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<--"currently on course for:" - This is something I will post now and again with my updates to keep track of what grades I'm currently progressing towards so I can see which subjects need more work etc.-->
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Currently on course for:
A,A,A*,A - Biology, Chemistry, Maths, D&T
Reply 2

20-October-2016

Biology:
Ehh, I had a repeat of my immunity test today. It was ok, but some questions were very hard because they're suggest questions and it can be hard to apply your knowledge. The recall parts were fine. I spoke too soon on the difficulty of the content haha - Neurones are pretty hard to get at first, but I am working on it. I'm trying to make flashcards as I go along which should help in the long run. I think they would become my main revision method.

Chemistry:
We're doing equilibria at the moment which isn't hard at all, happy to say. Need to finish that up tomorrow and then move on the acid-base equilibria. I hope we start moving a little faster to leave that little bit more time for revision nearer exam season.

Mathematics:
My teacher has entered our class for the senior maths challenge which should be good fun. I might actually do some preparation for it - it would be nice to get a gold... We're getting through the differentiation content pretty quick in class, glad to say. We should start C4 in November, yayyy:redface:

D&T:
I am yet to do any work for this subject:p:

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Planning a VERY productive week and I will post an update soon to cover my plans for work.
And tomorrow, Ill be sending my application off for a month long volunteering program in Spain for summer 2017 - What an amazing way to kick off an gap year, if I got in...

(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 3
Original post by NatSci99
20-October-2016
Biology:
Ehh, I had a repeat of my immunity test today. It was ok, but some questions were very hard because they're suggest questions and it cam be hard to apply your knowledge. The recall parts were fine. I spoke too soon on the difficulty of the content haha - Neurones are pretty hard to get at first, but I am working on it. I'm trying to make flashcards as I go along which should help in the long run. I think they would become my main revision method.

Chemistry:
We're doing equilibria at the moment which isn't hard at all, happy to say. Need to finish that up tomorrow and then move on the acid-base equilibria. I hope we start moving a little faster to leave that little bit more time for revision nearer exam season.

Mathematics:
My teacher has entered our class for the senior maths challenge which should be good fun. I might actually do some preparation for it - it would be nice to get a gold... We're getting through the differentiation content pretty quick in class, glad to say. We should start C4 in November, yayyy:redface:

D&T:
I am yet to do any work for this subject:p:
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Planning a VERY productive week and I will post an update soon to cover my plans for work.
And tomorrow, Ill be sending my application off for a month long volunteering program in Spain for summer 2017 - What an amazing way to kick off an gap year, if I got in...


are you participating in the senior team maths challenge?
Reply 4
Original post by NoahMal
are you participating in the senior team maths challenge?


Our school doesn't normally enter us for the team one, just the individual one.
Reply 5
22-October-2016
To do list for today:

C3 papers - June 06 and January 2007

Finish notes for Biology A2.1 chapter 3 then do flashcards for that chapter

Do all the textbook questions for chapter 3

Revise chapter 4 and start flashcards

To do list for tomorrow:

Revise Chemistry notes to date

Watch YT videos on Kc and Kp for better understanding

Read ahead on Kd and work on with acid-base equilibria

D&T - Start first page of coursework

Let's see how much of this I can get done..
Also, I've been thinking about medicine again, as a career. I have a feeling it will be what I end up applying for, because it is the one thing i always come back to. Saving lives is like nothing else.
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 6
28-October-2016
Finally off for Halloween break!!!:biggrin:
Biology:
Our class had a test on control in plants (phytochrome, different plant growth substances, phototropism and experimental evidence). I got an 86% which is an A (yay!) We also had a repeat of our immunity test. Not sure of my exact mark but my teacher said I got near full marks so an A*, so I am definitely pleased with that. We have covered neurones and synapses so I just need to make some notes and flashcards then work on with some past paper questions.

Chemistry:
I have been neglecting this subject for a while now and progress has been slow. We have only finished 4/11 sections of unit 1 which scares me. Hopefully my teacher can get through organic much faster (she did specialise in organic so I am really hoping...). No new test results but I can tell I'm no where near an A* right now. I really need to focus quite a bit on chemistry over the halloween break and maybe work on. I am putting more effort into Biology in comparison, which is a shocker to me.

Mathematics:
I completed two C3 past papers - in one I got 95% (A*) and in the other I got 83% (A). The second one was so low because I lost 8 marks on the last question for misreading. I am really happy with these results though. In class, we have exponentials and logs and integration to do so we are almost finished and ready to start C4 which I'm so eager to do already.
I also want to revise of the senior challenge so Ill do that over halloween.

D&T:
We have now started coursework and have a deadline for the day we start back after halloween break. I need to prioritise this work for now because it's a lot and it needs to be of a crazy standard if I am serious about an A* in this subject. I probably have around 11,000 words to write for my deadline, which is a lot with my other subjects and making time for myself. No one in that class (in fact in my whole year) is doing 4 A-Levels so I have it harder than everyone in terms of workload... but I should be able to handle it.
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Currently on course for:
A*,A,A*,A - Biology, Chemistry, Maths, D&T
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by NatSci99
I will be taking a gap year after I have finished my A-levels and hoping to travel to as many countries as possible and to gain loads of real life experience. I will keep track of my plans for my gap year below inc. traveling, any further study, things I'm applying to do etc. I will hopefully update this shortly.

I'm hoping to take a gap year too:smile: What organisation are you hoping to go with?
Reply 8
Original post by Defraction

I'm hoping to take a gap year too:smile: What organisation are you hoping to go with?


I haven't got anything set in stone just yet, but there is a company that do camps in Spain and I want to volunteer there in July. I also want to do interrail around Europe and then maybe head to Australia for one or two months. I hadn't picked an organisation to do these other things with because I found they were quite expensive and wasn't sure which ones were reputable enough etc.

What about you? Any plans for your gap year and where/who with?
Reply 9
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(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 10
17/2/17

Finished biology controlled assessment
Finished stats homework and further work given on Wednesday.
Finished all the past paper questions on differential questions.

Today I want to revise A2 Biology Unit 1 and then work on with genetics from Unit 2.
Also researching interrail for plans during my gap year.
Reply 11
23/2/17

Been doing more work for Unit 2 biology - finished a chapter on protein synthesis now working on with gene technology. Need to read the whole chapter for the next class. Also working on with respiration which we are doing in class at the moment. Biology overall going very well. Need to continue revision in the coming weeks of unit 1.

For chemistry we are finished the organic section of Unit 2 - so glad! I have a test tomorrow (Friday) on it which will hopefully go well. Then we are starting NMR and working on with inorganic and physical stuff. Going well also.

Maths - We have vectors and functions to finish for C4 and that is all. We are moving through S1 very slowly though.. Would like to speed up a bit. Starting standard deviations in the next class which Ive already covered.

Technology and Design - I am massively behind in the subject. I need to start manufacturing my final piece next week otherwise i will fall drastically far behind. I need to get my act together here.

Current grades: A*A*A*B I would say - B in T&D.
(edited 7 years ago)
Hello there

I am also doing some subjects that you do.
Its really nice to see your blog!

Goodluck on your journey
:top:
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Reply 13
26/3/17

I am trying my absolute best to get my act together right now and its not quite working.
Biology:
Revised all Unit 1 the past 2 days. All's good - really need to start past papers now.
Unit 2 - its fine so far but the lack of notes and questions I've done is worrying me. I have a test on gene technology on thursday and want to get >80%.

Chemistry:
Ugh I need to do loads of work here. Need solid unit 1 revision and past papers done. Unit 2 is going quite bad because I haven't been revising as time is moving on. We are rightly through the spec though so I should have a lot of revision time.

Maths:
We are done C3 and C4 and half way through S1. Maths is going great I just need to find the time to start past papers.

D&T:
DISASTER! OH my days i hate this subject with a passion haha. So far behind. I have a little over a month to manufacture my product and its huge and I don't see it possible. Uhh I should have dropped this subject when I had the chance. Oh, and I haven't started exam prep yet! haha failing so bad.

Current grades: A*AAC kill me
lol sort of fell off the wagon a bit didn't you..
Why not just drop D&T? No point of torturing yourself
Reply 16
Original post by queenofswords
Why not just drop D&T? No point of torturing yourself


Because I should have walked through this subject. Update: Got my coursework submitted and all- I need a U in the exam to get an A overall, so Im glad i didn't just drop it
Reply 17
Original post by chazer154
lol sort of fell off the wagon a bit didn't you..


That was a while ago. Ive since gotten back on it lmao:biggrin:
Reply 18
Update:
Im on course for A*A*A*A which isn't what I originally wanted but I think I will be very pleased if I achieve this come summer. I never bothered updating as I was always too busy and Ive been working very hard again, and it is paying off.

Good luck to everyone in your exams - I hope you all achieve the grades you want so you can start the next chapter of your education/career!

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