Starting Gcse in yr 9

OP

I think you need to ask your school whether they sell books or revision guides. Mine did and it's likely to be cheaper than buying on your own as the school probably buys them in bulk.
Anyway, I got the higher tier maths Collins revision guide(the first link you put), and I think it was really good. Are you going to do foundation or higher?
Don't buy science revision guides untill you know if you're doing dual/separate, or you'll end up buying more than you need!

I'm doing higher maths but as i'm on a D in year 8 now it would be useful for year 9

Reply 21

Mia1001

6

My school didn't give the option of selling the revision books.
So maths i had http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revise-Edexcel-Mathematics-Revision-Workbook/dp/1446900150/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405533245&sr=1-3&keywords=edexcel+maths+gcse this was a great book as it had each topic you needed and was also edexcel. I believe there is more than 1 edexcel route though, so double check.
Science, it's best to wait until the term starts. If you buy the core science and additional books, you will miss the p3, c3 and b3 modules. If you buy them and only do double science, you will be paying more unnecessarily.
English, I'm not sure about IGCSE, so wait until term. Just read regularly if you need to improve grammar and spelling, especially newspaper articles. Your school may only be doing one of the English exams, but most do both. Language will consist of some coursework and then a final exam (I assume it will be analysing). Literature with AQA is studying books and novels. Wait for the new term to see which books you will be studying. The coursework shouldn't start until year 10 anyway, or at the earliest end of year 9 like me. I wouldn't be able to say for geography, so read the reviews and decide which one seems best for you. Most of my revision did not rotate around the revision guide but the past papers, for geography. I would say the first history book looks good, but also look at reviews. History is hard to revise for, and I personally preferred reading text books instead of the revision guides. When the term starts, see which book the teachers use and ask if you should get that one.
Oh ICT, is it compulsory ICT? I did that and didn't need a revision guide. If its optional, and it isnt your whole school doing it, maybe buy one, but with ICT a lot of stuff can just be googled.
I think I might have given the impression that the revision guides were a necessity. Just focus in lessons and have your own books with notes, these seem to be best for revision. Maybe buy revision guides in year 10 for exams you'll take in summer year 11.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 22

Black Rose

21

Original post by celiex99

thanks when he is the new 2014 -15 thread coming out??

If it was made, it would be around the 14th of August. However, there isn't anyone to make it as we haven't found many Year 8's yet. But, I and a few others will be looking out for some :tongue:

If there was enough Year 8's, I think a Year 9 thread can be made :yep:

Would you like to do it? I could help you out with it if you want me to :smile:

Reply 23

Black Rose

21

Original post by celiex99

Like another user said, you should see what your school recommend or provide. They could get the books for you cheaper or even for free and it may be better if they provide you as they'd have used it before on other year groups and would know which would be best.

Maths- I'd really suggest that you get MathsWatch CD. It's really good, I've used it and I know many others who have used it and think the same :biggrin:

If you want to get one of those revision guides, I'd suggest you show them to your teacher and see what they recommend. I have mymaths too but I don't use it much nor like using it and I don't think it would be helpful much because I've got mathswatch :h:

English- I am doing the same English Language course as you. Have only started the coursework so I'm not completely sure what the exam would be about. I'd recommend SparkNotes for Eng Lit. It gives you notes on many pieces of Literature, I'm sure a text you will be studying will be on there. Differences: Lit - Studying people's writing (novels, poems, plays) Lang - Creative (descriptive/imaginative) Persuasive/Argumentative writing. Non fiction. Newspaper articles, letters etc and speech too (speaking + listening)

So for science, you've got a Collins revision guide there for add + core. I have that too and tbh it's pretty crap, it's quite vague compared to the CGP ones which are more helpful and easy to understand. I know many people in my year who prefer using CGP than Collins (which school provided for us) Not sure about the workbook, I don't really use workbooks (i guess I cbb) and the revision guide has questions you could answer + you can try exam papers which is enough for me and I'd rather use my time studying another subject.. up to you though :smile:

See what your teacher recommends for the revison guide :smile:

I'm doing triple btw and we only got that Collins add + core book, I'm guessing we get a separate one for triple bit :dontknow:

Can't really give as much detailed advice on the other subjects (don't do history + different exam boards for geog) But, Pearson (I have edexcel geography with this) I find is really helpful, it's colorful, presented clearly, easy to understand. I've used Letts before too though that was in KS2/3 so can't remember what they're like :tongue:

Hope that helped some :h:

Sorry for all the writing :colondollar:

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 24

celiex99

OP

4

Original post by Black Rose

If it was made, it would be around the 14th of August. However, there isn't anyone to make it as we haven't found many Year 8's yet. But, I and a few others will be looking out for some :tongue:

If there was enough Year 8's, I think a Year 9 thread can be made :yep:

Would you like to do it? I could help you out with it if you want me to :smile:

sure

Reply 25

Black Rose

21

Original post by celiex99

sure

Great, I'll update you with who we find :smile:

I've found one other Year 8 (waiting for a reply) and another who I think might be in Year 8 (waiting for a reply there too)

Reply 26

celiex99

OP

4

Original post by Black Rose

Like another user said, you should see what your school recommend or provide. They could get the books for you cheaper or even for free and it may be better if they provide you as they'd have used it before on other year groups and would know which would be best.

Maths- I'd really suggest that you get MathsWatch CD. It's really good, I've used it and I know many others who have used it and think the same :biggrin:

If you want to get one of those revision guides, I'd suggest you show them to your teacher and see what they recommend. I have mymaths too but I don't use it much nor like using it and I don't think it would be helpful much because I've got mathswatch :h:

English- I am doing the same English Language course as you. Have only started the coursework so I'm not completely sure what the exam would be about. I'd recommend SparkNotes for Eng Lit. It gives you notes on many pieces of Literature, I'm sure a text you will be studying will be on there. Differences: Lit - Studying people's writing (novels, poems, plays) Lang - Creative (descriptive/imaginative) Persuasive/Argumentative writing. Non fiction. Newspaper articles, letters etc and speech too (speaking + listening)

So for science, you've got a Collins revision guide there for add + core. I have that too and tbh it's pretty crap, it's quite vague compared to the CGP ones which are more helpful and easy to understand. I know many people in my year who prefer using CGP than Collins (which school provided for us) Not sure about the workbook, I don't really use workbooks (i guess I cbb) and the revision guide has questions you could answer + you can try exam papers which is enough for me and I'd rather use my time studying another subject.. up to you though :smile:

See what your teacher recommends for the revison guide :smile:

I'm doing triple btw and we only got that Collins add + core book, I'm guessing we get a separate one for triple bit :dontknow:

Can't really give as much detailed advice on the other subjects (don't do history + different exam boards for geog) But, Pearson (I have edexcel geography with this) I find is really helpful, it's colorful, presented clearly, easy to understand. I've used Letts before too though that was in KS2/3 so can't remember what they're like :tongue:

Hope that helped some :h: