How should I prepare for my AS Levels?

For History, read up on some of the topics you're going to study so that you have more time to do extra reading/memorise in the actual academic year. But AS Levels aren't necessarily the monsters that people say they are if you're decently intelligent and have a good work ethic so if you consider yourself academically intelligent and a good worker I really don't see the point of you doing extra prep. But if you get by in exams only by swatting for your life, do some of the reading beforehand to lessen your workload.

Buy the CGP head start books.

In all seriousness now though, I'm in the same boat and intend to buy the CGP AS level guides relevant to the exam board. My chosen college has a reputation for being sh*t, so I intend to use college as my revision as opposed to my bulk key learning.

They for sure do one for Biology, although I'm not 100% on History. Not heard about those head start guides either but I don't intend to use them, I'm going straight for gold (AS level guides). Good luck

Okay, thanks!

Some people told me not to bother purely because my sixth is in the top 20 in the UK but I don't think that matters to be honest... I might buy the head start guide for Biology. I won't go straight in with the AS guides because I don't want to get too far ahead of myself and to be honest I bought them at GCSE and barely used 3 of them. Some I never even looked at so it was a waste of storage space in my house and money.

In September 2014, I'm studying AS Level History, Biology and Philosophy (I'm also doing AS English Literature but I am already preparing for that in the right way, so I don't need advice on it) and I'd really like some advice on preparing for them.

I don't care for comments about how I don't need to bother, I want to, so what do you recommend? I don't really want to buy the CGP Head start books because I heard that they're OK but not really worth the money.

I'd appreciate all suggestions, thank you!

How are you preparing for Literature out of interest? Great choices btw! I'm taking the same subjects.

I used the CGP guides myself for GCSE are they were a godsend. I learnt next to nothing at school, the school classroom environment is one I seriously struggle to learn in. If they are anything like the quality of the GCSE guides then we're in luck if you do decide to go for it.
I envy your situation, top 20 in the UK? The words formed by your teachers should be nothing short of gold dust, use them for all they're worth and soak up everything you can brah, not everyone is privileged enough to have hat luxury!
The biggest factor of academic success in my mind to date is that of interest in the subject, and you certainly seem interested. Judging by your post of the forum, anyway. I wish you all the success, good luck.

I'm just lucky. I have a flare for interviews, I got accepted during my interview. I like cried all the way home loooooooool.

I'm very interested! Biology will be my hardest in terms of academic rigour and I am completely besotted with it so I'm lucky. My hardest in terms of interest and the course for ME is probably English Literature.

Thank you for your good luck wish, you too<3

Wooooo, see we're obviously just epic students, you know. Aha!

I'm reading my set texts and reading books that follow the same sorts of themes and genres. You can also do yourself a huge favour by reading anything you're interested in. I personally find it useful to make notes in a small book about the ideas you have picked up and techniques of the writer and how he/she has illustrated the period and genre.

What do you want to do at university?

You got that right.
That sounds really good! Thank you, I've read a bit around the course we do but our set texts are quite restrictive. Have you got a favourite genre?

I'm hoping to to either Literature or History. What do you want to do?

Okay, thanks!

Some people told me not to bother purely because my sixth is in the top 20 in the UK but I don't think that matters to be honest... I might buy the head start guide for Biology. I won't go straight in with the AS guides because I don't want to get too far ahead of myself and to be honest I bought them at GCSE and barely used 3 of them. Some I never even looked at so it was a waste of storage space in my house and money.

Ooh, top 20? Where are you going?

Also, the CGP Head start book for biology is really, REALLY useful. I'm about 5 pages in and 90% of it is stuff I haven't covered at GCSE level. Their maths, chemistry and physics ones aren't so great, so I wouldn't bother with them.

What's your course and texts? I'll see if I can help you out a little with recommendations and such! I don't have a favourite genre but I have certain themes that normally captivate my interest when reading/studying a text.

I'm glad it helped !

I know right? We're fabulous humans.

I am applying for History at 3 or 4 of my universities (3 if I choose Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Cambridge) and then I may apply for Paramedical Science at one University but that's a maybe depending on what I drop at A2. I will probably just end up doing History/ASNC at all of them.

I'm applying for Harvard, Princeton, Amherst and UCLA in America too as well as McGill and University of Toronto in Canada to give me a little bit of variety and a better chance overall but I'd love to go to Cambridge! What about you?

I don't really want to say on here, which is why I generalised it to top 20 instead of the specific league aha. I hope you don't mind that?

Ooooh, okay, I will invest in the Biology one then I guess. If it isn't any good I can always just sell it on again. That's alright I cannot stand Physics or Maths and I am not doing Chemistry so that's fine for me aha!

Thank you xx

No, that's fine xD Just curious as to whether you were going to my newbschool next year- I've already found one person who is on here, so anything is possible

Glad to see that you didn't say that you couldn't stand Chemistry xD There are way too many chemistry haters in the world as it is

You're an absolute star. We follow this spec, our teacher briefly mentioned that we would study Pride & Prejudice with Othello so I assume it's something to do with romance. The literature department in my school aren't very helpful!

What exam board are you going to be doing?

That sounds really cool! You seem very intelligent so I would think you have a good (great) shot.
If I do end up opting for joint honours then I'll probably apply to Durham, as the course looks really good. I considered American universities but I doubt my parents would let me go! They were apprehensive about Durham when I mentioned it as it's over 4 hours away so I can't imagine America aha

Where are you going? Magdalen College, Oxford?

Oh no, I like Chemistry but it is just that bit too much for me... too hard and doesn't play to my strengths at all!