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What's the essential piece of advice you'd give to someone starting their A-levels?

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GCSE performance in a subject \ne A-Level performance in a subject
Original post by Nimrahk123
Don't listen the teachers that say you're stupid.


So agree on a deep level
Be independent! Know that your grades are your own responsibility. If your teachers bad, go the extra mile and teach yourself. Splash out (if you can) on fab folders and use dividers and keep a past paper tracker on each folder for each subject. Having a career dream was a big player for me too
Reply 104
Don't let mocks fool you into thinking you are doing fine. You probably have a lot you need to do.
Original post by ProbablySmart
Social life, sufficient sleep, good grades. Select two.

Also, start revising around about now if you want to keep your sanity during study leave next year.


you can do all 3 you know, its just about managing your time
Don't stress too much because whether you slack off or work hard day and night you'll be screwed either way by your exam board :rofl: enjoy yourself and enjoy your subjects!
I'd say..Don't let yourself slip in the first term - you may think you have plenty of time to revise after Christmas, but it's best to start smartening your notes and finding which are your best revision tips early. It will be invaluable to you later in the year. As soon as you encounter any issue, talk to someone straight away. Don't let the problem become a bigger one, and sort it while it's still manageable! Make sure you enjoy yourself as well as studying. Use free time to revise, and late evenings and dinner breaks to relax and socialise. It's all about striking a balance. :smile:
Remember those textbooks you bought? Read them. After every lesson.
Also revise properly for mocks - it's useful for the summer and can highlight things you seriously struggle with.
Dont do general studies
if your friends try to drag you to the shops when you should be studying, don't go (at least not for more than a 5 min break)

the grade is what gets you into uni, consider giving yourself a break and choose subjects you like and maybe one easier one

if youre worried about your prospects gradewise, do a bunch of volunteering, some online courses - theyre fun, you learn a lot, and back you up when your grades can't
If you're struggling, talk to your teachers. They're there to help you with your subjects!

(Alternatively use TSR's Study Help forum. It's magical).
Original post by Airmed
If you're struggling, talk to your teachers. They're there to help you with your subjects!

(Alternatively use TSR's Study Help forum. It's magical).


Or God

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I went to a snooty private school which tried to convince everyone that if you didn't get into Oxford or Cambridge, your degree was poinltess. So when it came to choosing my A-Levels, I chose the ones that I thought would be best suited for an Oxbridge application rather than ones I truly enjoy.

Let's just say the next two years of maths were absolute hell... Thankfully I managed to get the grades I needed for my course (not Oxbridge tho lolz) but I did not enjoy those maths lessons at all. I really regret not picking a language instead, which in hindsight would have been MUCH more enjoyable for me, not to mention more useful for my current degree - medicine - as I'm highly interested in volunteering abroad.

So my advice is don't listen to the stupid adults surrounding you telling you what you should and shouldn't study. Just pick what you naturally enjoy and what you are naturally good at, and you'll be grand!
Original post by Bezoar
I went to a snooty private school which tried to convince everyone that if you didn't get into Oxford or Cambridge, your degree was poinltess. So when it came to choosing my A-Levels, I chose the ones that I thought would be best suited for an Oxbridge application rather than ones I truly enjoy.

Let's just say the next two years of maths were absolute hell... Thankfully I managed to get the grades I needed for my course (not Oxbridge tho lolz) but I did not enjoy those maths lessons at all. I really regret not picking a language instead, which in hindsight would have been MUCH more enjoyable for me, not to mention more useful for my current degree - medicine - as I'm highly interested in volunteering abroad.

So my advice is don't listen to the stupid adults surrounding you telling you what you should and shouldn't study. Just pick what you naturally enjoy and what you are naturally good at, and you'll be grand!


Hobbyist language learner studying medicine here. You totes still have the time to learn a language while studying medicine: maybe even better, because you can study the language of wherever you want to go, rather than just one of the core European languages that you'd have to do at A-level!

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Original post by Hype en Ecosse
Hobbyist language learner studying medicine here. You totes still have the time to learn a language while studying medicine: maybe even better, because you can study the language of wherever you want to go, rather than just one of the core European languages that you'd have to do at A-level!

Posted from TSR Mobile


Yes thats the plan for me, I think I'm going to sign up for french lessons this year. The only problem is that at my uni it's not free for students to do extra courses - its going to cost me ~£150 for 20 weeks I think, so due to financial reasons I won't be able to study as many as I'd like :frown:
Original post by Bezoar
Yes thats the plan for me, I think I'm going to sign up for french lessons this year. The only problem is that at my uni it's not free for students to do extra courses - its going to cost me ~£150 for 20 weeks I think, so due to financial reasons I won't be able to study as many as I'd like :frown:


No need to spend so much money on courses either. Every uni will charge you for evenings classes and the like; but self-study is free!
Original post by Hype en Ecosse
No need to spend so much money on courses either. Every uni will charge you for evenings classes and the like; but self-study is free!


I find self study so difficult though... I need to be able to talk to someone and be in that immersive environment to learn! How do you do it on your own?
It helps to actually, properly, focus during class. Believe me, it's underestimated how much it helps, but it makes revising so much easier, and you just remember stuff better!

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