My Road to A* everywhere
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Original post by brainzistheword
Nerves are my worst enemy but I was certainly a bit more confident for my second one, compared to the first. My last writing was 4 pages (A4) long and I think it was a bit excessive but I managed it (somehow). Do you get a sheet for 40 hint words or anything like that - do you use it? 
I've just finished writing my speaking - 703 words!
Yeah we're allowed a task planning sheet and 40 words, I use them for my writings but never for my speaking, I find looking down to read uses up valuable time and I'm better off learning it thoroughly instead. Do you use one?
Original post by brainzistheword
Hi Everyone,
I'm in year 11 so I will be sitting my GCSEs in less than 100 days (eek). I also have mocks on the 22nd Feb so keeping this thread will make sure I have kept up with my revision. At the moment my targets and grades are:
English Language: A*
English Literature: A*
Maths: A*
Biology: A*
Chemistry: A*
Physics: A*
German: A*
History: A*
Geography: A*
ICT: A*
Some of you may look at this and wonder how I can improve, but I set really high standards and in some of my mocks I have been getting 84/85 and scores like that, so I am working towards getting as high a mark as possible, and not just securing the grade.
Hopefully, if I can get the grades, I want to go on to college and study Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Geology.
Personal bits:
If you want a bit of background I've always been quite good academically (though I genuinely hate to admit it) but I believe it is down to the fact that I have severe Atopic Eczema (that the specialist said was the worst in 30 years) and because of this, I have found studying to be a worthy distraction. I also can't see out of my left eye which makes life interesting but I like it that way. If I can work hard enough, and get into University, I will be the first person in my family to do so, and considering my parents have barely any qualifications, this is definitely something I aspire to.
A few last words:
I am open to any advice or constructive criticism and I am happy to help anyone too.
If you want to find out more about me as a person I would be happy to post info and along the way, I will be detailing revision I have done, so if you would like to see pictures of it just let me know and I'll be happy to upload
WELCOME!
School bits:Hi Everyone,
I'm in year 11 so I will be sitting my GCSEs in less than 100 days (eek). I also have mocks on the 22nd Feb so keeping this thread will make sure I have kept up with my revision. At the moment my targets and grades are:
English Language: A*
English Literature: A*
Maths: A*
Biology: A*
Chemistry: A*
Physics: A*
German: A*
History: A*
Geography: A*
ICT: A*
Some of you may look at this and wonder how I can improve, but I set really high standards and in some of my mocks I have been getting 84/85 and scores like that, so I am working towards getting as high a mark as possible, and not just securing the grade.
Hopefully, if I can get the grades, I want to go on to college and study Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Geology.
Personal bits:
If you want a bit of background I've always been quite good academically (though I genuinely hate to admit it) but I believe it is down to the fact that I have severe Atopic Eczema (that the specialist said was the worst in 30 years) and because of this, I have found studying to be a worthy distraction. I also can't see out of my left eye which makes life interesting but I like it that way. If I can work hard enough, and get into University, I will be the first person in my family to do so, and considering my parents have barely any qualifications, this is definitely something I aspire to.
A few last words:
I am open to any advice or constructive criticism and I am happy to help anyone too.
If you want to find out more about me as a person I would be happy to post info and along the way, I will be detailing revision I have done, so if you would like to see pictures of it just let me know and I'll be happy to upload
Hi...i m currently in year 10 and am going to do the real exam in may for chem,bio and physics unit 1.I would really really like to get an A* in each and I am working hard for it..So can u plz give me some revision tips.. e.g how long should i spend on each subject everyday..or should i learn just the book or will i have to do some extra reseach....I would also like to know what you got in these exams in year 10....looking forward to ur reply.
Original post by NiamhM1801
I've just finished writing my speaking - 703 words!
Yeah we're allowed a task planning sheet and 40 words, I use them for my writings but never for my speaking, I find looking down to read uses up valuable time and I'm better off learning it thoroughly instead. Do you use one?
Yeah we're allowed a task planning sheet and 40 words, I use them for my writings but never for my speaking, I find looking down to read uses up valuable time and I'm better off learning it thoroughly instead. Do you use one?
Wow 703! I've never actually used one before, especially not in the speaking because if I happen to glance at a word I may think I've not included it and get all confused.
Original post by Milzime
best of luck man, seems like you've got it down though
look forward to seeing what we get on results day ey
look forward to seeing what we get on results day ey
Cheers - I look forward to results day too
Good luck to you too
Hey,
Great blog!! Haha which exam board are you on for ICT?
Great blog!! Haha which exam board are you on for ICT?
Original post by brainzistheword
Wow 703! I've never actually used one before, especially not in the speaking because if I happen to glance at a word I may think I've not included it and get all confused.
Yup, and it's my edited version, starting to think I won't fit it all in to 6 minutes...
And yeah, the 40 words sheet is just a major distraction for me.
So I'm doing the same sciences as you are and I don't really know where to start(revising)! So I need to know the 3s 4s and 5s (6s we've only just began in school) but I feel like I keep doing bits and pieces of each (in the rush for end of unit tests etc) but overall I dont know every sing thing! Today I have been concentrating on revising for a 5 past paper that I'm setting myself to do and I had a realisation that everything is actually about memory so I have just memorised about 3 pages of P5 and I feel much more confident!
But my question is that when you set yourself past papers in science do you look through it before to check you know everything/do some revision straight up or do you just sit down and do it? Because I think the second one is better because obviously before the real thing you need to be sure to know everything.... but my dad(lol) says that exam boards repeat questions and so if I get used to it and revise after looking at topics that come up it will be better.
And also (sorry so long) but you said you wrote down a model answer, do you get it from the revision guide or from the mark scheme?
But my question is that when you set yourself past papers in science do you look through it before to check you know everything/do some revision straight up or do you just sit down and do it? Because I think the second one is better because obviously before the real thing you need to be sure to know everything.... but my dad(lol) says that exam boards repeat questions and so if I get used to it and revise after looking at topics that come up it will be better.
And also (sorry so long) but you said you wrote down a model answer, do you get it from the revision guide or from the mark scheme?
Original post by tayybaf
Hi...i m currently in year 10 and am going to do the real exam in may for chem,bio and physics unit 1.I would really really like to get an A* in each and I am working hard for it..So can u plz give me some revision tips.. e.g how long should i spend on each subject everyday..or should i learn just the book or will i have to do some extra reseach....I would also like to know what you got in these exams in year 10....looking forward to ur reply.
The ways I have been revising for the sciences is by making revision cards with questions and answers. I used the revision guide and class notes to make as many as possible. (I probably have about 250 cards for unit 1) It's not necessarily actually going through them that is the most important, but the making them that helps the information stick.
Also, doing a past paper and looking at the mark scheme afterwards is great. You can add every possible answer to your answers so that you can see what sort of things gain marks.
In terms of how long you should spend...I would say about 2 or 3 hours per subject, per week. This way you can spend at least an hour on each module in the subject. Obviously, you can do much more if you want - I'd say 1 or two hours per module per subject should be enough if you use the time effectively.
Sometimes the revision guides do not give all the details the exam board want - which exam board is it by the way? Because of this, doing the past papers will give you chance to see where the revision guides lack detail, so you can add more notes and fill in the gpas.
You could also make summarised notes of every topic, and mind maps if you like colourful and creative methods.
Finally, if you are concerned about missing information, you could do what I do, and gather as many sources as possible, because each website may explain something slightly diffferently. There are some websites that make notes booklets and you could combine them with your other info to make larger notes so you get every detail.
I hope this answers your questions but if you ever want to know more, then just leave a comment again and I'll get back to you
(Apologies for this being so wordy
)I will go and look for my Year 10 results (although they would be mocks, as I haven't sat the Unit 1 yet - we do them all in the summer or year 11) and I will put them in a post later
Original post by Do it Right
Hey,
Great blog!! Haha which exam board are you on for ICT?
Great blog!! Haha which exam board are you on for ICT?
Thanks and we are on OCR Nationals for ICT
Original post by NiamhM1801
Yup, and it's my edited version, starting to think I won't fit it all in to 6 minutes...
And yeah, the 40 words sheet is just a major distraction for me.
And yeah, the 40 words sheet is just a major distraction for me.
Ah, I'm sure you will find a way
I hope it goes really well for you and you get the best grades you deserve. Let me know how you get on and, well I would say have fun revising it, but I know that is not quite how language coursework is! Original post by veganavb
So I'm doing the same sciences as you are and I don't really know where to start(revising)! So I need to know the 3s 4s and 5s (6s we've only just began in school) but I feel like I keep doing bits and pieces of each (in the rush for end of unit tests etc) but overall I dont know every sing thing! Today I have been concentrating on revising for a 5 past paper that I'm setting myself to do and I had a realisation that everything is actually about memory so I have just memorised about 3 pages of P5 and I feel much more confident!
But my question is that when you set yourself past papers in science do you look through it before to check you know everything/do some revision straight up or do you just sit down and do it? Because I think the second one is better because obviously before the real thing you need to be sure to know everything.... but my dad(lol) says that exam boards repeat questions and so if I get used to it and revise after looking at topics that come up it will be better.
And also (sorry so long) but you said you wrote down a model answer, do you get it from the revision guide or from the mark scheme?
But my question is that when you set yourself past papers in science do you look through it before to check you know everything/do some revision straight up or do you just sit down and do it? Because I think the second one is better because obviously before the real thing you need to be sure to know everything.... but my dad(lol) says that exam boards repeat questions and so if I get used to it and revise after looking at topics that come up it will be better.
And also (sorry so long) but you said you wrote down a model answer, do you get it from the revision guide or from the mark scheme?
Hi, it's nice to hear from you.
When I do a past paper I always set it for the weekend and do the revision notes during the week, therefore some of the revision has covered some of the questions, however I do not look at the paper beforehand. I feel that if I do not know it when I do the paper, I know where my weaknesses better and focus more heavily on it for revision the next week.
Your dad is right, they do repeat questions quite often, but the best way to get used to them is by doing the past paper and this is most effective if you go into it blind, not knowing what will appear, as will happen in the summer. I have set myself a target to do every single past paper at least twice before my exams in every subject which equals a lot of work, but at least I will have a solid understanding of the questions and their phrasing - this may be something you want to consider if you haven't already
.As for the model answer, I used a combination of the revision guide (so that I could see how reliable my notes would be) the mark scheme (so that I am aware of what actually gains marks) and the examiner reports (which explain where candidates of that year may have gone off on tangents i.e. what not to include - this helps me refine the answer).
I hope this helps and if there is anything else let me know - good luck with your studies, I look forward to hearing how you get on
Original post by brainzistheword
Hi, it's nice to hear from you.
When I do a past paper I always set it for the weekend and do the revision notes during the week, therefore some of the revision has covered some of the questions, however I do not look at the paper beforehand. I feel that if I do not know it when I do the paper, I know where my weaknesses better and focus more heavily on it for revision the next week.
Your dad is right, they do repeat questions quite often, but the best way to get used to them is by doing the past paper and this is most effective if you go into it blind, not knowing what will appear, as will happen in the summer. I have set myself a target to do every single past paper at least twice before my exams in every subject which equals a lot of work, but at least I will have a solid understanding of the questions and their phrasing - this may be something you want to consider if you haven't already.
As for the model answer, I used a combination of the revision guide (so that I could see how reliable my notes would be) the mark scheme (so that I am aware of what actually gains marks) and the examiner reports (which explain where candidates of that year may have gone off on tangents i.e. what not to include - this helps me refine the answer).
I hope this helps and if there is anything else let me know - good luck with your studies, I look forward to hearing how you get on
When I do a past paper I always set it for the weekend and do the revision notes during the week, therefore some of the revision has covered some of the questions, however I do not look at the paper beforehand. I feel that if I do not know it when I do the paper, I know where my weaknesses better and focus more heavily on it for revision the next week.
Your dad is right, they do repeat questions quite often, but the best way to get used to them is by doing the past paper and this is most effective if you go into it blind, not knowing what will appear, as will happen in the summer. I have set myself a target to do every single past paper at least twice before my exams in every subject which equals a lot of work, but at least I will have a solid understanding of the questions and their phrasing - this may be something you want to consider if you haven't already
.As for the model answer, I used a combination of the revision guide (so that I could see how reliable my notes would be) the mark scheme (so that I am aware of what actually gains marks) and the examiner reports (which explain where candidates of that year may have gone off on tangents i.e. what not to include - this helps me refine the answer).
I hope this helps and if there is anything else let me know - good luck with your studies, I look forward to hearing how you get on
Yes, thank you it did help! That's such a good idea revising for them during the week, I will definitely do that next week and so on and I really love this thread thank you for creating it! And good luck on your mocks I'm sure you'll ace it!
Original post by veganavb
Yes, thank you it did help! That's such a good idea revising for them during the week, I will definitely do that next week and so on and I really love this thread thank you for creating it! And good luck on your mocks I'm sure you'll ace it!
Glad to hear it!
Keep me updated and I'm so glad I created this too, I never thought I could be helpful to others by offering study advice 
.Thanks for that too, I will try my best next week, though I have set myself high targets which I will post up here later on tonight.
Original post by brainzistheword
Yay! A fellow physics lover! I will upload links below to the cards - however, We appear to be on completely opposite exam boards as I am on:
Edexcel:
Maths (luckily the same)
WJEC:
English Lit
English Language
OCR:
History
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
ICT
AQA:
Geography
I will send you the links anyway and you can have a look to see if we cover any of the same material:
Physics: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874190/invitation?referrer=1904487
History: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874382/invitation?referrer=1904487
Please be aware that you may have to sign up - it's completely free and just needs an email. Also, the history ones are still a work in progress but after my mocks on the 22nd-27th I will be definitely expanding these. If you would like the links to the other science subjects let me know - but just remember we are on different exam boards
Edexcel:
Maths (luckily the same
)WJEC:
English Lit
English Language
OCR:
History
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
ICT
AQA:
Geography
I will send you the links anyway and you can have a look to see if we cover any of the same material:
Physics: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874190/invitation?referrer=1904487
History: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874382/invitation?referrer=1904487
Please be aware that you may have to sign up - it's completely free and just needs an email. Also, the history ones are still a work in progress but after my mocks on the 22nd-27th I will be definitely expanding these. If you would like the links to the other science subjects let me know - but just remember we are on different exam boards
hey! i've just been reading through all the posts and this has been the most helpful forum so far! you're target grades, organisation and revision techniques are awesome, totally inspiring for me lol because I'm also aiming for all A*'s
I noticed that we have similar exam boards for some subjects so i was wondering if it would be possible for you to give the link for them? sorry to be a bother
my exam boards are:
OCR Gateway
Physics (the same
)Biology (the same
)Chemistry (the same
)(it's triple science so all the way up to the unit 6's)
Additional Maths (not sure its its gateway but its definitely OCR)
AQA
Geography b (not geography a) (Maybe the same?
)Computer Science
English literature (i've already done my english language exam in nov xD)
Edexcel
French
Maths (the same luckily
)ICT
hope this isn't too much of a hassle for you, i noticed you gave the link for the physics already and i had a look at them. great stuff and i've discovered a new revision app!
Original post by hals
hey! i've just been reading through all the posts and this has been the most helpful forum so far! you're target grades, organisation and revision techniques are awesome, totally inspiring for me lol because I'm also aiming for all A*'s
I noticed that we have similar exam boards for some subjects so i was wondering if it would be possible for you to give the link for them? sorry to be a bother
my exam boards are:
OCR Gateway
Physics (the same)
Biology (the same )
Chemistry (the same)
(it's triple science so all the way up to the unit 6's)
Additional Maths (not sure its its gateway but its definitely OCR)
AQA
Geography b (not geography a) (Maybe the same?)
Computer Science
English literature (i've already done my english language exam in nov xD)
Edexcel
French
Maths (the same luckily)
ICT
hope this isn't too much of a hassle for you, i noticed you gave the link for the physics already and i had a look at them. great stuff and i've discovered a new revision app!
I noticed that we have similar exam boards for some subjects so i was wondering if it would be possible for you to give the link for them? sorry to be a bother
my exam boards are:
OCR Gateway
Physics (the same
)Biology (the same
)Chemistry (the same
)(it's triple science so all the way up to the unit 6's)
Additional Maths (not sure its its gateway but its definitely OCR)
AQA
Geography b (not geography a) (Maybe the same?
)Computer Science
English literature (i've already done my english language exam in nov xD)
Edexcel
French
Maths (the same luckily
)ICT
hope this isn't too much of a hassle for you, i noticed you gave the link for the physics already and i had a look at them. great stuff and i've discovered a new revision app!
Heya, thanks for taking the time to read all my posts - I know some of them are very long! And it's great to see you want A* too!!
When you say the links, I presume you mean the links to my revision cards?
(If it isn't then just let me know but I will post them here just in case, and so anyone can access them
)Links to my revision cards (may require an email sign up to view):
Physics: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874190/invitation?referrer=1904487
Biology: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874189/invitation?referrer=1904487
Chemistry: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874183/invitation?referrer=1904487
ICT: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/7054183/invitation?referrer=1904487
Geography: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874191/invitation?referrer=1904487
English Language: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874384/invitation?referrer=1904487
English Literature: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874383/invitation?referrer=1904487
History: https://www.brainscape.com/packs/6874382/invitation?referrer=1904487
Can I just make you aware that I have not had much chance to add to some of these, but I can assure you that after my mocks next week, I will get my head down and get them completed before the exmas, hopefully by Easter. If there is something I have missed or a subject you would like me to try and add just let me know on here and I will see what I can do
I hope this helps with your studies
Your dedication and work ethic is both mesmerising and impressive! I wish I could do so much. I'm sure you'll be pleased on results day. Good luck! (not that you'll need it!)
Thank you so much!!! You're right I did mean the other links to your other revision cards. This will be extraordinarily useful. Also, don't worry about adding other subjects or anything, you seem to be working hard enough as it is heh and there'd be no point if it didn't benefit you ;p
Also how much have you revised for the sciences so far?
I wish you luck with your upcoming mocks and basically all your studies, I'm sure you'll fly though it xD
Also how much have you revised for the sciences so far?
I wish you luck with your upcoming mocks and basically all your studies, I'm sure you'll fly though it xD
Original post by MersennePrime
Your dedication and work ethic is both mesmerising and impressive! I wish I could do so much. I'm sure you'll be pleased on results day. Good luck! (not that you'll need it!)
Thank you I really hope so. I'm glad to see your revision day went well for you
With the effort you are putting in, I'm sure you will be very happy with your grades too.
Original post by hals
Thank you so much!!! You're right I did mean the other links to your other revision cards. This will be extraordinarily useful. Also, don't worry about adding other subjects or anything, you seem to be working hard enough as it is heh and there'd be no point if it didn't benefit you ;p
Also how much have you revised for the sciences so far?
I wish you luck with your upcoming mocks and basically all your studies, I'm sure you'll fly though it xD
Also how much have you revised for the sciences so far?
I wish you luck with your upcoming mocks and basically all your studies, I'm sure you'll fly though it xD
Ah I'm glad they were what you wanted - as I say some of them are blank yet, until I get chance to add some cards to them.
Well, for the sciences so far, that's a bit difficult to judge. In terms of making notes and actual content I have not got as far as I would have liked. I have made about 30 draft pages of notes with about 12 of those being typed up (which is really not a lot compared to the 100 pages in each revision guide x3 for each science) but in terms of past papers and practice I have done all the Triple science past papers for all the sciences once already. I am going to use the questions I got wrong in the last mock to help with this one, although that may be tricky for the likes of Physics and Chemistry where I dropped only 1 mark in Physics and 3 marks in Chemistry but for these I am going to make more notes.
The next few days up until Thurday night are going to be completely science focused for these mocks and despite the marks I somehow managed to achieve I am going to aim to get all the draft notes done by Easter.
How is your science revision going?
And thanks for the luck, I think I need it right now
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