Revisio for AS

I am starting my revision for AS tomorrow and was wondering in order to get high grades (A-A*), can you just revise from your textbook and get these grades?

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 1

Michiyo

It depends on the subject, but mostly yes. That is what I did with 3 out of my 4 AS levels.

Unless it is something like English Literature, in which case you would need to read around the subject.

Thankyou

Original post by Michiyo

It depends on the subject, but mostly yes. That is what I did with 3 out of my 4 AS levels.

Unless it is something like English Literature, in which case you would need to read around the subject.

I'm doing government and politics, communication and culture and sociology. Do you think I will be able to revise for these subjects just from textbooks?

Reply 4

username2560671

Original post by jgt811

I am starting my revision for AS tomorrow and was wondering in order to get high grades (A-A*), can you just revise from your textbook and get these grades?

There's no A* in AS... btw your school still does AS Examinations?

Reply 5

Rexar

Original post by jgt811

I am starting my revision for AS tomorrow and was wondering in order to get high grades (A-A*), can you just revise from your textbook and get these grades?

Yeah, textbooks are all I use to revise. I got AAAA at AS so its entirely possible

Reply 6

Michiyo

Original post by jgt811

I'm doing government and politics, communication and culture and sociology. Do you think I will be able to revise for these subjects just from textbooks?

OMG I did Government and Politics and Sociology too! :five:

Yes, it is entirely possible. That is how I studied for my AS exams (I got A in both of these). However, I did have a bit of outside knowledge for politics, though, but overall, the books should be more than enough. :smile:

Here are some tips for politics. :h:

1. General

a) Check the time. Both exams are a mark a minute, but manageable.

b) In each unit, you have four topics. DO NOT REVISE ALL FOUR TOPICS. In school, you will obviously be taught them all, but learning them all when you only need two or three topics for the exams is ridiculous. Choose two main topics per unit and focus on them. Choose a reserve topic which you will also revise, but not in as much depth as your two main topics. In the exam, go for your two main topics unless one of the questions is absolutely evil (hint: the June 2016 government and politics paper 1 had a TERRIBLE democracy question, though democracy is an easy topic in itself). If one of your main topics has a question that is terrible/evil/you have a hard time understanding and you think you can do a better job with your reserve topic's question, choose the question on your reserve topic. For the first unit, I chose democracy and pressure groups as my mains with elections as my reserve since these are the ones I found easiest; of course, you may have a different opinion, so choose your own main and reserve topics.

In the first exam, you can get away with revising only two topics (I started revising so late I did not have the time to give my reserve topic the attention I should have but got 90% UMS anyway, although I would have got more if I had the time to complete the 10 marker), but in the second exam, you pretty much need those three topics since your two main topics may be questions 1 and 2 (you can only do one) and questions 3 and 4 (which carry 40 marks, again you can only do one) may be your reserve topic and the one you did not revise. This is what happened to me; for the second paper, my main were the constitution and the Parliament with the Prime Minister as my reserve, but questions 1 and 2 were on my main topics and questions 3 and 4 were on my reserve topic and the topic I did not revise.

c) Follow the news! This is way more important than it seems since your teacher may ask you about the news in class and important changes may happen. This is especially important for political parties and perhaps pressure groups.

d) Use examples that are as recent as possible. The EU membership referendum of 2016 is a much better example than the 1975 EC referendum.

e) For 25 and 40 markers, you are not allowed to stand on the fence with whether something is good or bad or if you agree or not. You can only acknowledge the other side has a point but that your side is better for/because -insert reasons here-.

f) If you can do it without using up more than ~20 seconds, write TWO examples. This is not exactly feasible in every single question, but when it is (e.g. when just mentioning the name of two secondary political parties is enough to count as two examples in a paragraph), do it.

2. 5 markers

Start with a definition of any specialist terms (ex: Political parties are groups of people with similar ideologies who aim to hold political power and become the government). Add in an example or two (two only if possible; keep in mind you are very tight on time, e.g. do not go into detail about what the Countryside Alliance and WWF did, but do mention the name of two pressure groups if naming them is enough to count as two examples). End with a small explanation. This should not be too long; about 7 lines and 5 minutes should be enough to get you full marks. In fact, you may even finish this question in less than five minutes, thus buying you a bit of time.

3. 10 markers

You just need three paragraphs. Follow a typical PEA (point, example, analysis) format. Usually, you can find the point with a relevant example in the book. The analysis does not need to be very lengthy, but should be there. In paper 2, take a single point from the source and two from your own knowledge, but this is not a must and you can do just fine with two points from the source and one from your own knowledge. About 5-7 lines per paragraph and 10 minutes are enough.

4. 25 and 40 markers

a) Start by defining any specialist terms if applicable. Show the two opposing sides of the question if there is one. If needed, show a continuity instead of two opposing sides (e.g. from Thatcher to Blair). End the introduction with your judgement. 4 lines is enough, but a longer introduction (6 lines) is acceptable if you need it. I myself did need a longer introduction; there is no shame in that.

b) - For 25 markers, you always need five PEEL paragraphs that need to confer a balanced view while still supporting your argument. My favourite structure is to use an argument that supports my judgement, one against, followed by another one in favour, then another one contra, and to end with one more argument that is pro whatever I think. I stole this structure from a past student whose structure was praised in an examiner's report. I like this structure most since it shows both sides of the argument while still maintaining a strong start and ending that supports my thoughts. That being said, any structure will do as long as you put three paragraphs for your point and two against.

- For 40 markers, this is basically the same, the only difference being that for 40 markers, you may need either four or five paragraphs. If you only need four paragraphs, my favourite structure is to start with a paragraph supporting my view, continue with two against, and finish with one that supports my view. Of course, any structure works, but starting off and ending with paragraphs against what you think does not really sit right with me and does not make for that strong an argument. In 40 markers, it may actually be a better idea to use more than one detailed example in order to support your argument, create a continuity or show a trend since you need to write a lot about little material. Your analysis needs to be bigger and more detailed than in 25 markers too.

c) Your conclusion is basically a short summary. Just say that although you see the opposing sides has a point because -insert whatever points the other side support which you included in your essay-, you think your side is better/more accurate/whatever since -insert the points you included in your essays-. This should take 4-5 lines, 6 at most.

d) The examples and analysis are VERY important. Some recent examples and a good analysis will get you the top marks

As for sociology, I cannot help that much with it as I never understood the mark scheme completely, but I would only memorise what I need (e.g. if I need five points, I will only memorise five examples, not all the 6-11 examples they give me in the book).

Reply 7

username2199397

Original post by Rohit_Rocks10

There's no A* in AS... btw your school still does AS Examinations?

my school still does them :l And they base our predicted grades on the grades we get at AS and no higher :frown:

(e.g if i got a d at as then my predicted grade on ucas is a D.)

Reply 8

username2560671

Original post by shohaib712

my school still does them :l And they base our predicted grades on the grades we get at AS and no higher :frown:

(e.g if i got a d at as then my predicted grade on ucas is a D.)

That's technically not fair... coz some people improve after their AS exams... so basically this means u don't get predicted an A* as there is no A* in AS?

Reply 9

Michiyo

Original post by Rohit_Rocks10

That's technically not fair... coz some people improve after their AS exams... so basically this means u don't get predicted an A* as there is no A* in AS?

I was in the same situation. You can be predicted A*, but only if you got enough for A* in an old A-level (like government and politics) or showed how outstanding you are during your AS year (e.g. I would have got an A* prediction for psychology since I got full marks a few times when I solved specimen papers).

Reply 10

username2199397

Original post by Rohit_Rocks10

That's technically not fair... coz some people improve after their AS exams... so basically this means u don't get predicted an A* as there is no A* in AS?

If you get above 90%at AS you can be predicted for an A*.

Reply 11

munchjin

I am also in year 12 and have started revising for my AS exams.

I would say that just the textbook is gonna get you nowhere because I have failed multiple tests just reading from the textbook.

However, my subjects are biology, chemistry, psychology and economics. All of which, in my opinion, require past paper practice to get good grades. But possibly less for psychology and economics.