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SELF STUDY - A-Levels - Big'ol general thread!
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Bow Tie
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#1
SELF STUDY - A-Levels - Big'ol general thread!
Couldn't find any kind of general thread for people self teaching AS or A2s so I thought I'd make one!
Use the thread for discussing your trials, tribulations and successes of self study!
Also use the thread to help anyone who needs help of any kind in the subjects they mention as I'm pretty sure I might need help later on! And for anyone doing Physics, Chemistry and Maths, I might be able to help for AS and A2 work.
Oh and any techniques people have to say would be gratefully appreciated!
I'm self teaching Biology OCR AS (With prep set by a biology teacher at school) and its proving to be so far ok with the revision guide and big text book but I can see in module 2 some rough roads ahead...
Post away!
Couldn't find any kind of general thread for people self teaching AS or A2s so I thought I'd make one!
Use the thread for discussing your trials, tribulations and successes of self study!
Also use the thread to help anyone who needs help of any kind in the subjects they mention as I'm pretty sure I might need help later on! And for anyone doing Physics, Chemistry and Maths, I might be able to help for AS and A2 work.
Oh and any techniques people have to say would be gratefully appreciated!
I'm self teaching Biology OCR AS (With prep set by a biology teacher at school) and its proving to be so far ok with the revision guide and big text book but I can see in module 2 some rough roads ahead...
Post away!
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vichu
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Bow Tie
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riashat
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riashat
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Flauta
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#6
I'm teaching myself Further Maths, I thought that was pretty bad aha. Can't imagine the later Mechanics and Stats units, they look dreadful. How are you finding it?
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riashat
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#7
(Original post by Flauta)
WHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYY
I'm teaching myself Further Maths, I thought that was pretty bad aha. Can't imagine the later Mechanics and Stats units, they look dreadful. How are you finding it?
WHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYY
I'm teaching myself Further Maths, I thought that was pretty bad aha. Can't imagine the later Mechanics and Stats units, they look dreadful. How are you finding it?
I've grown on mechanics lately. I'm finding them ok. But its decision modules that Im worried about. Im afraid that they'l be boring as hell to learn l0l
Atleast in mech and stats and further pures its quite fun
Waht modules are you doing?
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Flauta
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#8
(Original post by riashat)
On gap year and thought I might try it for fun, since I know I can get decent grades during self teaching, I thought, why not?
I've grown on mechanics lately. I'm finding them ok. But its decision modules that Im worried about. Im afraid that they'l be boring as hell to learn l0l
Atleast in mech and stats and further pures its quite fun
Waht modules are you doing?
On gap year and thought I might try it for fun, since I know I can get decent grades during self teaching, I thought, why not?
I've grown on mechanics lately. I'm finding them ok. But its decision modules that Im worried about. Im afraid that they'l be boring as hell to learn l0l
Atleast in mech and stats and further pures its quite fun
Waht modules are you doing?
Decision was boring af, but it can be learnt quite quickly, just need to memorise a bunch of algorithms, 10 minutes reading through them every night was enough for me to get an A. Would agree that all the other modules are fun, decision just feels really mundane.
FP1 FP2 D1 last year, FP3 M2 S2 this year. Did S1 and M1 for core too. Which ones did you do/are you doing now?
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riashat
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#9
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#9
(Original post by Flauta)
Oh fair enough, are you applying to university this year then? Guess it's something to keep you busy
Decision was boring af, but it can be learnt quite quickly, just need to memorise a bunch of algorithms, 10 minutes reading through them every night was enough for me to get an A. Would agree that all the other modules are fun, decision just feels really mundane.
FP1 FP2 D1 last year, FP3 M2 S2 this year. Did S1 and M1 for core too. Which ones did you do/are you doing now?
Oh fair enough, are you applying to university this year then? Guess it's something to keep you busy
Decision was boring af, but it can be learnt quite quickly, just need to memorise a bunch of algorithms, 10 minutes reading through them every night was enough for me to get an A. Would agree that all the other modules are fun, decision just feels really mundane.
FP1 FP2 D1 last year, FP3 M2 S2 this year. Did S1 and M1 for core too. Which ones did you do/are you doing now?
gna do s3-4, m3-5, d1-2, fp2-3
Im applying for Chemistry at uni
work experience is unheard of and unis dont require it, so i thought id jus do something i like 
what are you applying for? are you in year 13 now?
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Flauta
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#10
(Original post by riashat)
iv done c1-4, s1-2, m1-2, fp1
gna do s3-4, m3-5, d1-2, fp2-3
Im applying for Chemistry at uni work experience is unheard of and unis dont require it, so i thought id jus do something i like 
what are you applying for? are you in year 13 now?
iv done c1-4, s1-2, m1-2, fp1
gna do s3-4, m3-5, d1-2, fp2-3
Im applying for Chemistry at uni
work experience is unheard of and unis dont require it, so i thought id jus do something i like what are you applying for? are you in year 13 now?
Yeah I haven't ever heard of anyone doing work experience for chemistry, it's an academic course. Are up to to much else?
In year 13 now, applying to study maths. My school decided not to offer it so to get a chance of getting into decent unis I took it
Where're you looking at?
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riashat
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#11
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#11
(Original post by Flauta)
Ah, so you're doing further maths A2 too?
Yeah I haven't ever heard of anyone doing work experience for chemistry, it's an academic course. Are up to to much else?
In year 13 now, applying to study maths. My school decided not to offer it so to get a chance of getting into decent unis I took it Where're you looking at?
Ah, so you're doing further maths A2 too?
Yeah I haven't ever heard of anyone doing work experience for chemistry, it's an academic course. Are up to to much else?
In year 13 now, applying to study maths. My school decided not to offer it so to get a chance of getting into decent unis I took it
Where're you looking at?
leme guess yours: Warwick/Imperial/Bath/Bristol?
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L'Evil Fish
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#12
Self taught Maths A Level in year eleven. Got an A, resitting C3 wjec.
Self teaching further mathematics this year, hopefully FP1, M1-3, S2 and FP2-3 next year.
Also self taught History AS in year eleven, got a B, remarking though... Hopefully an A.
Self teaching further mathematics this year, hopefully FP1, M1-3, S2 and FP2-3 next year.
Also self taught History AS in year eleven, got a B, remarking though... Hopefully an A.
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Flauta
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#13
(Original post by riashat)
Bristol/Durham/ York/ Warwick maybe Imperial and UCL
leme guess yours: Warwick/Imperial/Bath/Bristol?
Bristol/Durham/ York/ Warwick maybe Imperial and UCL
leme guess yours: Warwick/Imperial/Bath/Bristol?
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L'Evil Fish
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#14
(Original post by riashat)
Bristol/Durham/ York/ Warwick maybe Imperial and UCL
leme guess yours: Warwick/Imperial/Bath/Bristol?
Bristol/Durham/ York/ Warwick maybe Imperial and UCL
leme guess yours: Warwick/Imperial/Bath/Bristol?
I'm in Year 12 but hoping to do chemistry as well Imperial, Durham and York were three choices I had in mind too! Along with Cambridge NatSci and somewhere (Edinburgh?) Else...
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Bow Tie
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#15
(Original post by riashat)
On gap year and thought I might try it for fun, since I know I can get decent grades during self teaching, I thought, why not?
I've grown on mechanics lately. I'm finding them ok. But its decision modules that Im worried about. Im afraid that they'l be boring as hell to learn l0l
Atleast in mech and stats and further pures its quite fun
Waht modules are you doing?
On gap year and thought I might try it for fun, since I know I can get decent grades during self teaching, I thought, why not?
I've grown on mechanics lately. I'm finding them ok. But its decision modules that Im worried about. Im afraid that they'l be boring as hell to learn l0l
Atleast in mech and stats and further pures its quite fun
Waht modules are you doing?
Still maths isn't much needed in medicine
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Navo D.
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#16
(Original post by lisa96)
I'm not self teaching, but I may as well be since my A2 teacher's don't even know how to teach
I'm not self teaching, but I may as well be since my A2 teacher's don't even know how to teach
Pretty much self teaching maths and chem, should be done with c1-2 and s1-2 in about a week. Anyone else self-teaching AS math and chem?
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Bow Tie
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#17
(Original post by lisa96)
I'm not self teaching, but I may as well be since my A2 teacher's don't even know how to teach
I'm not self teaching, but I may as well be since my A2 teacher's don't even know how to teach
(Original post by Navo D.)
same case here
Pretty much self teaching maths and chem, should be done with c1-2 and s1-2 in about a week. Anyone else self-teaching AS math and chem?
same case here
Pretty much self teaching maths and chem, should be done with c1-2 and s1-2 in about a week. Anyone else self-teaching AS math and chem?
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ozzyoscy
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#18
Need this thread, it seemed external candidates were rare and topics on the subject can be like blood from a stone.
I'm going to do full A-Levels in Maths (Pure Core, Further Pure and Mechanics 1-5), Further Maths and Physics (with Astrophysics unit 5) as well as AS Chemistry. AS this year, A2 next year.
I started the big search for colleges/schools in September and kinda finished in October. Then I had to decide which board to go with, I think it'll be AQA. Now I have to choose between Campbell Harris, which is £1,000 cheaper but that's not taking into account train tickets to London, or locally which is £1,000 more but I can pay for AS now and A2 next year (think CH wants full payment). I emailed both again yesterday to ask if their sessions involve practice and learning or if it's stictly examination.
My method of learning is first just loaning the books from the library and reading them. I do it while playing Football Manager, what with its loading and processing screens. I found OCR GCSE Chemistry and Physics books in a charity shop for just £1.50 each, so I read them. I guess I'll be learning Physics and Chemistry first, since the practicals will be only in a few months, while Maths exams will be a couple of months after. Also I guess I'll put less emphasis on Chemistry since it's the fourth AS subject and the grade for that isn't all that important. I'm only officially doing it because doing the 3.5 norm means questions aren't raised.
Other than not understanding everything quickly enough, my main worry is about Mechanics 3-5, since info on that seems incredibly rare. I'd have to hope that the rare books on it make sense.
How are you preparing for M3-5, given that there seems to be so little help on it?
I'm going to do full A-Levels in Maths (Pure Core, Further Pure and Mechanics 1-5), Further Maths and Physics (with Astrophysics unit 5) as well as AS Chemistry. AS this year, A2 next year.
I started the big search for colleges/schools in September and kinda finished in October. Then I had to decide which board to go with, I think it'll be AQA. Now I have to choose between Campbell Harris, which is £1,000 cheaper but that's not taking into account train tickets to London, or locally which is £1,000 more but I can pay for AS now and A2 next year (think CH wants full payment). I emailed both again yesterday to ask if their sessions involve practice and learning or if it's stictly examination.
My method of learning is first just loaning the books from the library and reading them. I do it while playing Football Manager, what with its loading and processing screens. I found OCR GCSE Chemistry and Physics books in a charity shop for just £1.50 each, so I read them. I guess I'll be learning Physics and Chemistry first, since the practicals will be only in a few months, while Maths exams will be a couple of months after. Also I guess I'll put less emphasis on Chemistry since it's the fourth AS subject and the grade for that isn't all that important. I'm only officially doing it because doing the 3.5 norm means questions aren't raised.
Other than not understanding everything quickly enough, my main worry is about Mechanics 3-5, since info on that seems incredibly rare. I'd have to hope that the rare books on it make sense.
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riashat
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#19
(Original post by ozzyoscy)
Need this thread, it seemed external candidates were rare and topics on the subject can be like blood from a stone.
I'm going to do full A-Levels in Maths (Pure Core, Further Pure and Mechanics 1-5), Further Maths and Physics (with Astrophysics unit 5) as well as AS Chemistry. AS this year, A2 next year.
I started the big search for colleges/schools in September and kinda finished in October. Then I had to decide which board to go with, I think it'll be AQA. Now I have to choose between Campbell Harris, which is £1,000 cheaper but that's not taking into account train tickets to London, or locally which is £1,000 more but I can pay for AS now and A2 next year (think CH wants full payment). I emailed both again yesterday to ask if their sessions involve practice and learning or if it's stictly examination.
My method of learning is first just loaning the books from the library and reading them. I do it while playing Football Manager, what with its loading and processing screens. I found OCR GCSE Chemistry and Physics books in a charity shop for just £1.50 each, so I read them. I guess I'll be learning Physics and Chemistry first, since the practicals will be only in a few months, while Maths exams will be a couple of months after. Also I guess I'll put less emphasis on Chemistry since it's the fourth AS subject and the grade for that isn't all that important. I'm only officially doing it because doing the 3.5 norm means questions aren't raised.
Other than not understanding everything quickly enough, my main worry is about Mechanics 3-5, since info on that seems incredibly rare. I'd have to hope that the rare books on it make sense.
How are you preparing for M3-5, given that there seems to be so little help on it?
Need this thread, it seemed external candidates were rare and topics on the subject can be like blood from a stone.
I'm going to do full A-Levels in Maths (Pure Core, Further Pure and Mechanics 1-5), Further Maths and Physics (with Astrophysics unit 5) as well as AS Chemistry. AS this year, A2 next year.
I started the big search for colleges/schools in September and kinda finished in October. Then I had to decide which board to go with, I think it'll be AQA. Now I have to choose between Campbell Harris, which is £1,000 cheaper but that's not taking into account train tickets to London, or locally which is £1,000 more but I can pay for AS now and A2 next year (think CH wants full payment). I emailed both again yesterday to ask if their sessions involve practice and learning or if it's stictly examination.
My method of learning is first just loaning the books from the library and reading them. I do it while playing Football Manager, what with its loading and processing screens. I found OCR GCSE Chemistry and Physics books in a charity shop for just £1.50 each, so I read them. I guess I'll be learning Physics and Chemistry first, since the practicals will be only in a few months, while Maths exams will be a couple of months after. Also I guess I'll put less emphasis on Chemistry since it's the fourth AS subject and the grade for that isn't all that important. I'm only officially doing it because doing the 3.5 norm means questions aren't raised.
Other than not understanding everything quickly enough, my main worry is about Mechanics 3-5, since info on that seems incredibly rare. I'd have to hope that the rare books on it make sense.
How are you preparing for M3-5, given that there seems to be so little help on it?
Don't worry if you're finding them slightly hard to cope with, the exams are in june now, and chances are, you will be much better at thinking through maths problems after a couple months of just maths practice.
The more maths you do (whether its stats decision or pure), the more technique you develop, and you can just spot the start of a solution to a question upon glancing at it for 1 minute or 2 (sometimes quicker).
good luck
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DannyYYYY
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#20
Also self studying A-Level maths to take all 6 exams (C1, C2, M1, C3, C4, M2) in May/June next year. Need a C overall for the university course I want. All I can do is my best I guess!
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