How am I going to learn it all?
Discussion for GCSE students, including those studying for IGCSEs and O Levels.
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How am I going to learn it all?I have started revising properly, but I don't know how I am ever going to remember everything. I don't know whether anything is sinking in at all. I mean, in 2 months time, am I going to remember that iron is the catalyst in the Haber process or what denitrifying bacteria do? I am organised, have all but 1 revision guide I need, have some practice papers (limited though), and make notes and diagrams, but as nobody as helped me so far in what to expect, I just feel that I am on my own, and I am worried that I am not revising enough. I did 2+ hours yesterday, and have probably done 1.5 at least today. I just don't know how I am going to remember everything...
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It always feels at the start like you're not taking anything in and you're not remembering anything, but you'd be surprised how much actually sticks. The amount of revision you're doing sounds fine, and it depends on the person anyway, so ignore what your friends are saying- what works for them won't necessarily work for you. Just concentrate on doing at least an hour a day of revision for now, and later you should have time left over to go through it all again.
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Yes, make a thread! I know some of my weaknesses, my friend (A* in Maths, Gold on maths challenges etc.)'s mum is going to help me with some Maths. Then I am going to ask my Chemistry teacher who also does Physics about Physics. Thanks for the advice.
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mmm, i'm in a similar boat to you, but i'm not really that worried. I'm just hoping that in the end it will all come together.
honestly, i reckon you can learn evrything the night before and remember it, in such cases as maths and sciences, where it's just facts of processes you need to know. languages and the like on the other hand may take a bit longer, since you need to know more than what they're gonna test you on.
The big problem for me though is that i have 10 exam in four consecutive days, hence i really can't learn everything for three exams the night before
this means i have to put in a greater amount of revision at earlier times?
oh, and about knowing about iron in the haber process, etc, i wouldn't even bother with it. if you're doing chem for a-level or looking for a top x mark, then i would, but otherwise no. you can get an a*without that kind of detail, and i personally don't plan wasting my time over it. -
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Actually, the Haber process was a really hot topic last year. It came up more than once and they were asking for details....(Original post by chewwy)
oh, and about knowing about iron in the haber process, etc, i wouldn't even bother with it. if you're doing chem for a-level or looking for a top x mark, then i would, but otherwise no. you can get an a*without that kind of detail, and i personally don't plan wasting my time over it. -
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the best thing to do is not panic! believe me if you've tried throughout the year you'll have most of it at the back or your head anyway it just needs refreshing, and then you need to pay attention to the tiny details which the examiners can catch you out on ( the questions which seperate the A* from the A's and B's etc.). Also what i found worked last year is to memoriswe things then write them down, then the next day try writing them down straight away, or looking over it then writing it down...until after a few days i could just write it down or say it without even thinking twice-that is the sort of revision which has helped me remember things i did at gcse and yet i'm doin AS at the moment!
good luck dudes! -
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I remember having to label a diagram, and I'm pretty sure they asked for the balanced equation as well. Then right at the end of the paper, ie the A* questions, there was a written question worth about 6 or 8 marks where you had to describe it. You might be lucky and escape it this year though, since we got it last year.(Original post by NickiM)
What kind of things did they ask? -
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everyone gets an A or above(Original post by NickiM)
I am predicted an A or above for all my subjects so I need to know the higher details. And, I would never go into an exam unprepared, I wouldn't be able to handle it. I have about 10 exams in a week, and 2 on my birthday :-z . what i am saying is that i don't plan spending my time learning the intricacies of science subject, where it would be better spent building an absolutely solid foundation of core knowledge, and focussing more in the detail of writing subjects.
but, who am i kidding, it's not hard to remember what catalysts do what and the like i have a way of remembering all that useless stuff...
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What i did, for GCSE and AS Level was draw up great big brain storms/spider diagrams. Obviously this isn't as easy to do for subjects like maths, but for subjects like history, geography (etc.) and maybe even some sciences it's great!
Just draw up a new spider diagram on each of the topics you're doing within the subject and go over them in your head, and also use them when you're answering practice questions - it'll really help! In your exams you'll be able to 'follow' the diagrams in your head...after all, people generally remember pictures and diagrams better than pages and pages of notes.
It really helped me in my AS History; i was getting Cs but in the actual exam i almost got full marks! You could also try things like turning numbers into 'mini stories' (which also helped me a lot), but there's more on that here:
http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...ber/index.html
Hope that helped!
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(Original post by Sabrosa)
What i did, for GCSE and AS Level was draw up great big brain storms/spider diagrams. Obviously this isn't as easy to do for subjects like maths, but for subjects like history, geography (etc.) and maybe even some sciences it's great!
Just draw up a new spider diagram on each of the topics you're doing within the subject and go over them in your head, and also use them when you're answering practice questions - it'll really help! In your exams you'll be able to 'follow' the diagrams in your head...after all, people generally remember pictures and diagrams better than pages and pages of notes.
It really helped me in my AS History; i was getting Cs but in the actual exam i almost got full marks! You could also try things like turning numbers into 'mini stories' (which also helped me a lot), but there's more on that here:
http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...ber/index.html
Hope that helped!
Oh I love doing spider diagrams for history!!!
Erm, well not love, but I like that method. Very good.
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For science I am using the specification on the site (obviously I have revision guides as well), but for subjects like Sociology where there is almost no help out there it is hard. I do do a mix of notes, I write some down, do big colourful diagrams, write things on revision cards. For subjects like History, our teacher has given us a big book of past exam questions and I have been planning the answers. Maths is the worst though, there is just so much to learn.
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In my GCSE revision guides I remember that they set u little tasks like copying out the whole page until you can do it without looking at the book! I found that helpful. Also writing questions and answers on a sheet so that your mum or sister or whoever can test you and see whether you understand it. Good luck, just remember once they're over you will feel like you've really achieved something x
Erm, well not love, but I like that method. Very good.
