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Emduck trying to motivate herself

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About Me
I am currently in year 13, and I didn't work as hard as I should have in my AS Levels I was looking at all A* predictions but I slacked off in my maths and screwed up a physics internal exam (got a too low an A). I hope this will provide me with some motivation to work harder, as I seriously lack a work ethic and dedication to a cause. I enjoy a challenge and I hope this will help change me as a person.

My Grades

Spoiler


My Aim
To achieve at A2:
A*- Chemistry
A*- Maths
A*- Physics
I am working at an average of about 90% in physics, though I have been getting mainly A*'s in tests (as in SHM and fields in the old system you needed less marks for an A* compared to nuclear physics, so only like 80%). In maths I am resitting core 2, and currently in core 3 I have an average score of about 85%, which can be improved on vastly, but these things take time. In Chemistry I have been getting A*'s since September, I got an A* in my year 12 mock, but messed up an end of year exam and got a B, so I really had to persuade a teacher to give me an A* predicted.
I also would like to improve my ability to focus on work and to become more self-motivated, if I achieve that alone this would have been a success!

UCAS Application Status

Spoiler


Mock Exam Results
I haven't done as well as I have liked but here is the list so far:

Physics Paper 1- 57/85 - 67%

Physics Paper 2- 39/62 - 63%

Overall Physics- 96/147 - 65% - B (7 Marks from an A, 8 marks to a C, so middle ground)

Maths Core 3 - 53/72 - 74% - B (3 Marks from an A)

Chemistry Paper 1- 52/64 - 81% - A (6 marks from an A*)

Chemistry Paper 2 - 42/61 -69% -C I presume (Though it should be really out of 59 as we weren't taught some of the stuff on the paper)

Overall Chemistry- 94/125 - 75% - B (I think)


I performed poorly due to the lack of revision I did during my Christmas holidays, as by the time I got started it was too late. In chemistry they aren't sure of the grade boundaries at all- they are guesses. They said they could be up to 10% out- or even more they honestly are that unsure.
Past Paper Checklist
https://1drv.ms/x/s!Aila-uDCFlUJj35M1PCoTqqTgkyR

Outro
If anyone has got any good ideas on how to help me stay focused on work, they would be much appreciated. :smile: I am trying to limit my time on TSR as I find it distracts me from work so if I don't respond for a while- that'll be why. I will try and update as often as I can- but if nothing is going on then I won't. I will update this first post with my mock exam results once I have done them. Thanks to anyone who has read this far! :smile:
(edited 6 years ago)

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Original post by emduck
About Me
I am currently in year 13, and I didn't work as hard as I should have in my AS Levels I was looking at all A* predictions but I slacked off in my maths and screwed up a physics internal exam (got a too low an A). I hope this will provide me with some motivation to work harder, as I seriously lack a work ethic and dedication to a cause.

My grades

Spoiler



My Aim
My aim is to get all A*'s, which will require me to focus more on maths as that is where I am weakest. I also want to be able to work hard, as I find I struggle with focus. I would like to be able to prove my physics teacher wrong because she predicted someone an A* even though I have been doing better all year and got the same mark as them in the internal exam. (If one thing can motivate me, it is proving people wrong). I don't quite know yet if I would take a year out and apply to Cambridge next year if I achieved my aim, but that is something I have time to consider.

UCAS Application Status

Spoiler



Outro
I think that is pretty much it, I now need to go tidy my room because I can't focus on work if my room is untidy. If anyone has any good tips on focusing other than turning off social media, I would be glad to hear them. Thanks :smile:


What course have you applied for?
Reply 2
Original post by HopelessMedic
What course have you applied for?


Wow I forgot that whoops, Chemical Engineering. :smile:
Original post by emduck
Wow I forgot that whoops, Chemical Engineering. :smile:


Nice, best of luck this year I'm sure you'll do well:smile:
Reply 4
Original post by emduck
Wow I forgot that whoops, Chemical Engineering. :smile:


I'm applying for ChemEng too. Good luck with your application!!!
Reply 5
Original post by HopelessMedic
Nice, best of luck this year I'm sure you'll do well:smile:


Best of luck to you too! :smile:
Reply 6
Original post by LivToBe
I'm applying for ChemEng too. Good luck with your application!!!


Thanks! Good luck to you too :smile:
Reply 7
Update #1
Today
I have discovered that I have two tests in just over a weeks time, on the 12th (physics) and on the 13th (chemistry). The physics test is on Gravitational Fields and Electric Fields, the chemistry is on pH. I feel this is a good time to prove myself. Today I had no lessons all morning so I did some past papers on pH, however soon discovered I had already done most of them. Unfortunately I got increasingly demotivated and distracted by 11am... But I guess you can't suddenly be motivated.
Over this weekend I have to do the following homework:
-Chemistry Carbonyl Compound Reactions
-Physics Synoptic Paper
-Chemistry Lattice Enthalpy Questions
-Maths Mechanics Questions (Vertical Motion)
Which isn't actually that much so hopefully I can get it done tonight and tomorrow, as I am out Sunday.
What Else?
I plan to look through my past physics notes from AS to get ready for my mock exams which start in late January/ early February in the next couple of days also, though really I need to do past papers.
(edited 7 years ago)
are you doing the whole of physics and chemistry a level?
Reply 9
Original post by samantham999
are you doing the whole of physics and chemistry a level?


I don't quite get what you mean but I am in my second year of A levels and I take both chemistry and physics. I have done half of the course last year (the AS- but as it is linear I didn't do AS levels) and I am now currently doing the other half of the course. My exam for A2 will contain topics from both the first year and the second year.
Reply 10
Update #2
Today
I managed to get one thing done that was on my list to do... It is partially my own fault for getting distracted when I should have been working, but I find it hard when my parents expect me to do housework for them and I can't really say no. I guess it is a slow and steady start, though not a good start. As a positive though hopefully I don't need to do much housework during the week.
Tomorrow
I am going to be out tomorrow, but I hope to finish my other chemistry homework when I get home in the evening- this time I am not going to set myself too hard a target to meet. I am out shopping (probably wasting time more like) whilst my sister is looking around a university. It is good to have some relax time, but not when that is all you do.
What else?
I don't really know how else to format this, I can't quite establish what direction this is going to go in yet, but I guess time will tell. My hardest battle is not yet won- I need to keep this up for longer than a week as I struggle with commitment. Now it's time for bed as I gotta be up at 6am tomorrow.
(edited 7 years ago)
Is physics necessary for Chemical engineering? Sorry for disturbing.
Reply 12
Original post by Samosa and Vada
Is physics necessary for Chemical engineering? Sorry for disturbing.


No physics isn't generally necessary, most universities ask for chemistry and Maths but they don't tend to care too much about the third subject. Some do require it to be a science subject or further maths though, but this depends on the university.
Original post by emduck
No physics isn't generally necessary, most universities ask for chemistry and Maths but they don't tend to care too much about the third subject. Some do require it to be a science subject or further maths though, but this depends on the university.


Thank you so much, and I hope you get that 3A*s.
Reply 14
Update #3
What I have been doing
Well, "the best laid schemes of mice and men, go often askew", and I ended being ill for the last couple of days. Still fighting it off now. I did eventually get the work done so I have no homework due in at current, but I am sure I will get a lot tomorrow and Friday to make up for it. This evening I plan to tidy my room again and hopefully go to bed early so I am not exhausted tomorrow afternoon when I plan to get some work done.
Any news?
I wish. Some people I know at school have had interviews for medicine and Imperial. Pretty standard. To be honest half of my chemistry class have applied to either medicine, dentistry, Cambridge or Imperial this year. No wonder I feel inadequate.
So tomorrow?
Well tomorrow I hope to go through some AS physics again- as I have established I can't remember it and I have mocks in just under 2 months time. Also I would like to look at some core 2 and 3 maths papers again because I have forgotten that too... (whoops)
Kinda feeling down at the minute, I have off days, and today was one of them. I think I need to focus more, and work harder than I am currently, my teachers think I work hard but honestly I don't put enough effort in. Like right now I could be doing work, instead I am writing this.
I am looking forward to Christmas- I am exhausted.
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 15
Update #4
Well I am trying
Seems I can't really keep this daily- I keep on forgetting. Just like I forgot that I hadn't quite finished my chemistry homework so handed it in uncompleted and now I will have to face the consequences next week >.<
And what am I gonna do this weekend?
I have some chemistry homework, and a maths paper to do, but that is it. My main focus is the two tests I have, a physics test on gravitational and electrical fields, and a chemistry test on acids, bases and pH. The chemistry test will be easy, physics not so much. Did some multiple choice questions today and I couldn't answer half of them- I did use my notes and the issue was my notes were too brief. I gotta read up on it tomorrow night. I am out all of tomorrow with friends and then on Saturday with family (gotta hate Christmas- I have to socialise which is a mega time waster).
Anything Else?
I think that's it for me, I did loads of work this morning, did all of my physics homework (Two loads of summary questions and some gas law questions) and I did some maths revision. My current concern is that I can't remember much core 2 or 3, and I am struggling with one half of the physics course. I can do all of the AS fine, I can do half of the A2, just one of my teachers is just a bit too brief, and you never feel prepared, and they don't actually want to help you if you don't understand... Chemistry is chill though, but because I left off a couple of questions on my homework my teacher might be concerned... Whoops. (Probably didn't help that I just wrote not sure because I didn't want to get into trouble for not doing it...)
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 17
Update #5
Maybe Physics is hard?
I have discovered my knowledge of gravitational and electrical fields is severely lacking. I mean I get the basic concepts, and I can do basic calculations but the papers go beyond the basic textbook questions. I think what doesn't help is that in lessons people keep on messing around so my teacher just gives up teaching, and isn't doing a very good job. When I try and ask for help, someone else in front of me is constantly asking questions and I never get the chance to ask for help. I constantly get distracted by this kid who keeps on making random noises and it is very irritating. I will accept my faults, I should have revised sooner for this. I should have done more past papers. The questions don't look hard after the fact, just before and some- they just don't make sense to me. I find with this one teacher I just don't get what is going on. Every other teacher I get everything just fine- even my other physics teacher. Interestingly in my physics GCSE my other physics teacher taught half of the course (which I got full marks on) and the half the other teacher taught I got an A.. Maybe I am thinking too hard on this, maybe I am just stupid.
What about Chemistry?
I decided to sideline my chemistry test because pH is infinitely easier, just gotta look at buffer solutions tomorrow evening and all should be good. My chemistry teacher is good at explaining and I feel it could be well.
Thinking...
I need to get my head around the fact that I cannot get an A* in every subject overnight, it takes time. All I can do currently on tests is try and do as well as I can. I need to try and get ahead of homework, so I have time to revise for tests. I actually had time for these tests to revise, but I got distracted. This is my downfall. As I was doing physics revision my sister kept on coming into my room and asking me questions, distracting me. I need to focus but I just get interrupted. Maybe I need to make a sign for my door.
Plans
I plan to do some physics notes on electrical fields tonight, after doing two past papers, and failing at them. Tomorrow morning first thing I have a free, so I will do the June 2013 past paper, and then at lunch I will go over the definitions and maybe talk to my physics teacher about the annoying students. Tomorrow evening is going to be busy full of revision, and I also need to do a maths paper for Tuesday which is going to be interesting to fit in. (Maybe I shouldn't have gone out yesterday...) I have my mocks in January, thankfully late January. I want to get full marks in my chemistry, and at least 90% in my physics and maths. I managed to get a 92% average in maths and physics last year (weirdly 86% in chemistry which is where I am predicted an A*) so I am hopeful.
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 18
Update #6
Busy Day!
I managed to get in some last minute revision, and I think it really paid off. Shame I didn't revise sooner though. In maths today we were doing mechanics and I was the only one who actually understood what was going on. (We were only resolving forces though- it isn't actually hard...) I am currently revising for a chemistry test tomorrow, and I have to also fit in two core 3 papers at some point...
Plans
After Wednesday I have no work to do as such, I probably will get some homework on Thursday though. I need to start focusing on my mocks though, as they are going to come fast, and then it will be my actually exams. (My maths teacher went and wrote on the board all the months and how long we had and then it finally clicked.)
Tomorrow
I think tomorrow evening I might let myself relax a little bit, though I need to do one core 3 paper in the evening. I have already started it, but I am only on question 3. Thank god I did my physics homework last Friday. I feel like I am going down with yet another illness (I just pray it is just a cold and nothing serious). This year it seems I am getting everything.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by emduck
Update #6
Busy Day!
I managed to get in some last minute revision, and I think it really paid off. Shame I didn't revise sooner though. In maths today we were doing mechanics and I was the only one who actually understood what was going on. (We were only resolving forces though- it isn't actually hard...) I am currently revising for a chemistry test tomorrow, and I have to also fit in two core 3 papers at some point...
Plans
After Wednesday I have no work to do as such, I probably will get some homework on Thursday though. I need to start focusing on my mocks though, as they are going to come fast, and then it will be my actually exams. (My maths teacher went and wrote on the board all the months and how long we had and then it finally clicked.)
Tomorrow
I think tomorrow evening I might let myself relax a little bit, though I need to do one core 3 paper in the evening. I have already started it, but I am only on question 3. Thank god I did my physics homework last Friday. I feel like I am going down with yet another illness (I just pray it is just a cold and nothing serious). This year it seems I am getting everything.


Hey! If you feel that you are going to fall sick, get some medicines before it aggravates like panadol

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