Advice for GCSE students from AS student :)

Original post by FailingBadly

Hi,

I'm currently an AS student studying biology, chemistry and Theology (Religious Studies) and I was wondering if anyone want any tips on GCSE'S, or on sixth form in general. I achieved 5 A*s and 6 As last year so hopefully I can give you some helpful advice!

How do you revise for RE?

Reply 2

mintchocchip

20

I know the content for chemistry and biology but when I do papers I do badly (for me) I’m predicted grade 9s and was getting an A (I was doing some old A*-G papers)!!! How do you get more familiar with the questions and mark scheme? I know the only thing to do is practise but there are only so many papers I can do.....?

Reply 3

If you're taking AQA like me this year, I could suggest practice the 12 mark questions and by this stage of the year you should be just checking up on your knowledge. As we are doing the first new GCSE exams for RE, there are limited resources but as seen throughout the specimen papers there is a pattern throughout: like in the style of the questions.

Original post by lydiarutharnold

How do you revise for RE?

Reply 4

FailingBadly

OP

7

Original post by lydiarutharnold

How do you revise for RE?

Hiya,

I actually did my RE GCSE in year 10 and it was the old GCSE so bear with me. RE was coincidentally also the first GCSE exam I ever took so I excessively revised and obsessed over it lol. But, I'd say my best advice for any essay based subject is know the structure of the exam, the mark scheme and plan! If you know the structure of the exam back to front and know what they are looking for you're pretty much guaranteed marks in my opinion (knowing the amount of time to allow for each question is also important).

In regards to planning, after choosing the question you're going to do, write little bullet points of what you're going to talk about in each question and always have a religious reference/quote to back it up (assuming you're doing the higher mark questions).

I'm not sure if they still do key word meaning questions in the new GCSE but I wrote revision cards for each key word and wrote the key word on the front with the definition on the back. However, if you're quite good at remembering things a certain word to associate the key word with the definition will help you remember.

I hope my advice helped, I'm sorry I can't remember what I did more specifically I do recall making mind maps for each topic aswell but only use revision techniques you know work for you and adapt them to fit others advice :smile:

Reply 5

Original post by profytofficial

If you're taking AQA like me this year, I could suggest practice the 12 mark questions and by this stage of the year you should be just checking up on your knowledge. As we are doing the first new GCSE exams for RE, there are limited resources but as seen throughout the specimen papers there is a pattern throughout: like in the style of the questions.

true, thank you, i know the structure of the questions is: 1,2,4,5,12 so that’s a start :smile:

my school have given us exam plans for 4/5/12 markers so i will try and use those. thank you and good luck

Reply 6

Original post by FailingBadly

Hiya,

I actually did my RE GCSE in year 10 and it was the old GCSE so bear with me. RE was coincidentally also the first GCSE exam I ever took so I excessively revised and obsessed over it lol. But, I'd say my best advice for any essay based subject is know the structure of the exam, the mark scheme and plan! If you know the structure of the exam back to front and know what they are looking for you're pretty much guaranteed marks in my opinion (knowing the amount of time to allow for each question is also important).

In regards to planning, after choosing the question you're going to do, write little bullet points of what you're going to talk about in each question and always have a religious reference/quote to back it up (assuming you're doing the higher mark questions).

I'm not sure if they still do key word meaning questions in the new GCSE but I wrote revision cards for each key word and wrote the key word on the front with the definition on the back. However, if you're quite good at remembering things a certain word to associate the key word with the definition will help you remember.

I hope my advice helped, I'm sorry I can't remember what I did more specifically I do recall making mind maps for each topic aswell but only use revision techniques you know work for you and adapt them to fit others advice :smile:

Thank you, some aspects have changed in the new exams as they’re 1 mark multiple choice, 2 mark naming, 4 mark contrasting views and 5 mark contrasting views with quotes. As always the 12 marker is there tho 🙄 thank you for your advice, it will really help :smile:

Reply 7

What A-Levels are you thinking of doing?

Original post by lydiarutharnold

true, thank you, i know the structure of the questions is: 1,2,4,5,12 so that’s a start :smile:

my school have given us exam plans for 4/5/12 markers so i will try and use those. thank you and good luck

Reply 8

Original post by profytofficial

What A-Levels are you thinking of doing?

Maths, further maths, politics and sociology

You?

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 9

Cool ;-) Im doing...
Biology, Physics and Chemistry and maths

Original post by lydiarutharnold

Maths, further maths, politics and sociology

You?

Reply 10

Original post by profytofficial

Cool ;-) Im doing...
Biology, Physics and Chemistry and maths

Best of luck in your exams, I need a GCSE average of 7 to do all four :smile:

Reply 11