The Student Room Group

GMG Blog (featuring intermittent procrastination)

I've never made a blog on here before but I think's time I started.

Hello!
This year I take my AS Exams in Biology, Chemistry and Maths. I knew it was going to be a hard slog when I started but I'm sticking with those subjects. In fact, last year I was so intimidated by how hard A-levels were that I put them off and went to do a vocational course instead :frown:

Here's the targets I'm setting for the long term:
:bee: A - Maths
:bee: A - Chemistry
:bee:A - Biology

Here's the targets I'm setting for the short term:
--> Consistant Revision (AKA NO NIGHTS OFF!)
--> Thorough revision (nothing missing from notes etc.)
--> Improvement in small test grades over time

Wish me luck!
:evilbanana::evilbanana::evilbanana::evilbanana::evilbanana:

Scroll to see replies

28/01/2016

Okay, so I think its time for my first entry!
I've done quite a bit of revision this week and made some resources up that I hope are going to be of use to other people too :biggrin::albertein:
:bear:These Cell Structure notes
:bear:These notes on Atomic Structure
:bear:These notes on Halogens
:bear:2x Core 1 Maths papers (Jan07 & May07)

I'm also just about to go do some more chemistry notes on Redox reactions :colondollar:

Overall, I'm feeling good about what I've done.

My aims for the next week will be:

:bear:To complete another 2x Core 1 papers (Jan06 & May06)
:bear:Make notes on the biological molecules section of my text book
:bear:Make notes for Developing Fuels in Chemistry and do some questions/a paper

I've actually got a developing fuels test coming up soon so I'm hoping the revision will be put to good use! I got a D in my chemistry mock so really need to work to get my grade up :ashamed::banghead::bawling:

That's it from me for the week!
:bl::bl::bl::bl::bl:
You've got good clear goals.
Just remember that every now and again you've probably earned the right to have a break! Don't over work yourself :smile:


Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by briannafowlie
You've got good clear goals.
Just remember that every now and again you've probably earned the right to have a break! Don't over work yourself :smile:


Posted from TSR Mobile


Hiya Brianna,
I'm really pushing hard! :biggrin: I am taking little breaks but gotta stay determined! :smile:
How's your revision going?
Original post by Bhansongal98
Hiya Brianna,
I'm really pushing hard! :biggrin: I am taking little breaks but gotta stay determined! :smile:
How's your revision going?


I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to reply, it's been a crazy week!
Revision isn't bad. I managed to do a couple past papers this week and did pretty well in them too so I'm pleased.
Unfortunately my Uni work is piling up a little so I'm starting to focus more on that!
Original post by briannafowlie
I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to reply, it's been a crazy week!
Revision isn't bad. I managed to do a couple past papers this week and did pretty well in them too so I'm pleased.
Unfortunately my Uni work is piling up a little so I'm starting to focus more on that!


It's been a pretty hectic week for me to so don't worry about it :h: Glad you are doing well on your papers! I hope the Uni work isn't getting you down :colondollar:
05/02/2016

Out of the three goals I set last week I am disappointed to say that I've only done one of them properly :frown: and that one was making notes on biological molecules.

:clip:Those notes you can find here.
:clip:I also made Biology module on nucleic acids.
:clip:I started a core 1 maths paper (Jan06)
:clip:I started a biology paper on cells exchange and transport (Jan13)
:clip:I've done 3x chemistry for life papers (May12, May11 & May10)

I really need to set some more targets for myself now, especially in Chemistry as I got a U in the last homework I handed in and I'm really feeling the stress of the subject! Hopefully my Chemistry teacher is now organising for one of my class mates to tutor me weekly in it so I should (in theory) get better. :dumbells:

Homework for next week:

:eek3:Nucleic acids questions in book for bio
:eek3:Ibuprofen questions
:eek3:Bleach questions
:eek3:Graphing equilibrium questions
:eek3:Sustainable chemistry questions

Revision targets for next week:

:eek3:Revise for Developing fuels test
:eek3:Do another three chemistry papers
:eek3:Finish Jan06 core 1 paper and do May06 paper
:eek3:Complete the Bio paper I've started

All in all I'm really knuckling down but the week does look less than enjoyable. I'm going to start as soon as I've finished this post to try and get all my homework out of the way so that I can start on some hardcore revision.
But currently this is what I'm feeling :pwnd::pwnd:
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by Bhansongal98
05/02/2016

Out of the three goals I set last week I am disappointed to say that I've only done one of them properly :frown: and that one was making notes on biological molecules.

:clip:Those notes you can find here.
:clip:I also made Biology module on nucleic acids.
:clip:I started a core 1 maths paper (Jan06)
:clip:I started a biology paper on cells exchange and transport (Jan13)
:clip:I've done 3x chemistry for life papers (May12, May11 & May10)

I really need to set some more targets for myself now, especially in Chemistry as I got a U in the last homework I handed in and I'm really feeling the stress of the subject! Hopefully my Chemistry teacher is now organising for one of my class mates to tutor me weekly in it so I should (in theory) get better. :dumbells:

Homework for next week:

:eek3:Nucleic acids questions in book for bio
:eek3:Ibuprofen questions
:eek3:Bleach questions
:eek3:Graphing equilibrium questions
:eek3:Sustainable chemistry questions

Revision targets for next week:

:eek3:Revise for Developing fuels test
:eek3:Do another three chemistry papers
:eek3:Finish Jan06 core 1 paper and do May06 paper
:eek3:Complete the Bio paper I've started

All in all I'm really knuckling down but the week does look less than enjoyable. I'm going to start as soon as I've finished this post to try and get all my homework out of the way so that I can start on some hardcore revision.
But currently this is what I'm feeling :pwnd::pwnd:


What exam boards are you doing? What did you get in your mocks?
Original post by TheAlphaParticle
What exam boards are you doing? What did you get in your mocks?


I'm doing OCR Biology and Chemistry and AQA Maths
My mocks went okay for biology and maths but I got a D in Chemistry :frown: It's my worst subject at the moment! (BUT NOT FOR LONG MWAHAHA :medieval:)
06/02/2016

Hiya,
I know its only been a day but I thought I should share a couple of unit notes I've made today for my Developing Fuels test in chemistry. Hopefully by the day of the test I will have covered the entire unit and finished all the practise questions in the book so that I can feel fully prepared for it. I think I really got the hang of electrophilic addition during this session which has me rather proud :colondollar:

:suitc: 2.1 Developing Fuels notes on Enthalpy Changes
:suitd: 2.2 Developing Fuels notes on Hess cycles
:suith: 2.3 Developing Fuels notes on Organic Chemistry
:suits: 2.6 Developing Fuels notes on Electrophilic Addition

I've also done the first three homeworks I mentioned in the last post :smile: hopefully nothing will be late this week!
07/02/2016

Some more chemistry course notes for you! Only two topics today as I had work all day:

:charm:Developing Fuels 2.4 notes on bond enthalpies and lengths
:charm:Developing Fuels 2.5 notes on cracking and catalysts

Keep cheering for me! I WILL COVER ALL OF THIS MODULE BEFORE MY TEST!

:yay::yay::yay::yay::yay:
I love how your goals are set clearly! Wishing you luck!
Original post by anikachy
I love how your goals are set clearly! Wishing you luck!


Ta! :emog:
Original post by Bhansongal98
It's been a pretty hectic week for me to so don't worry about it :h: Glad you are doing well on your papers! I hope the Uni work isn't getting you down :colondollar:


All in all I'm surviving (just). Looks like you've had A LOT to do these last couple of weeks but your notes seem to be coming on well! Hope the next couple of homework assignments you hand in go well :smile:
Original post by briannafowlie
All in all I'm surviving (just). Looks like you've had A LOT to do these last couple of weeks but your notes seem to be coming on well! Hope the next couple of homework assignments you hand in go well :smile:


Hopefully they will but its so hard :bawling: Why did I take Chemistry?
08/02/2016

RIGHT!
So intense revision note taking is over and here are the last few topics in Developing fuels:
:fleurdelis: 2.7 Developing Fuels notes on polymerisation
:fleurdelis: 2.8 Developing Fuels notes on the ideal gas equation
:fleurdelis: 2.9 Developing Fuels notes on isomerism
:fleurdelis: 2.10 Developing Fuels notes on pollutants
:fleurdelis: 2.11 Developing Fuels notes on fossil fuel alternatives

:flutterby: :fluffy::flutterby: :fluffy::flutterby: :fluffy::flutterby: :fluffy:

Now onto practise questions!
Original post by Bhansongal98
Hopefully they will but its so hard :bawling: Why did I take Chemistry?


I don't why you chose Chemistry because to me Chemistry is a foreign language...BUT I'm sure you'll push through and get the hang of it eventually
11/02/2016

Hey! :h:

So I had my developing fuels test today! I got a B which was not quite what I was hoping for but still a massive step up from the D I got in the mock so I'm happy! :king1:

Here's what's gone down since last I posted:
:moo:Nucleic acids questions
:moo:Ibuprofen questions
:moo:Bleach questions
:moo:Graphing equilibrium questions
:moo:Sustainable chemistry questions
:moo:Completed the Bio paper I started
:moo:Finished Jan06 core 1 paper and started May06 paper
:moo:1.2 Elements of Life notes on Spectroscopy
:moo:1.3 Elements of Life notes on sub-shells and orbitals
:moo:1.4 Elements of Life notes on periodicity

Revision targets for half term:


:snoozing:Make notes on Biology topics 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6
:snoozing:Do the questions at the back of each section
:snoozing:Watch the exchange and transport biology videos and make notes
:snoozing:Make notes on Elements of Life and Elements of the Sea
:snoozing:Do some questions in the textbook on developing fuel
:snoozing:Type up my assessed practical 3 work
:snoozing:Do the Chemistry activity book questions (page 44?)
:snoozing:Make revision resources for D1
:snoozing:3x D1 papers
:snoozing:3x Core 1 papers

So that's all from me for now! I'll blog again when I've finished all the tasks I've set myself :groovy::groovy::groovy:

:hello:
Good luck with all your goals! Very motivating thread :smile:
21/02/2016

Well my half term wasn't as productive as I'd hoped :frown: but I still got some things done :redface: I'm in the process of making a revision timetable to fix this!

:piggy:I made notes on 2.4 Enzymes
:piggy:I made notes on 2.5 Biological Membranes
:piggy:I started notes on 2.6 Cell Division (I will link this when I'm actually finished -possibly Wednesday)
:piggy:I did Jun14 D1 paper
:piggy:I did Jan13 D1 paper

I did not do ANY chemistry :nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo::nooo:
AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! And now I'm panicking because I've probably forgotten everything and I'm going to struggle really badly again :cry2::cry2::cry2:

Oh bother...

On the positive side of things, how did everyone else's half term revision go?
How do you stay focused on revision?

Quick Reply