The Student Room Group

How did you get a 1st or 2:1 in your 1st year?

Advice thread.

I did it by isolating myself so there was nothing to do except study. This was fine until the last half-term where I started binge-watching tv series's rather than studying and unsurprisingly my grades declined. Luckily I worked hard early for long enough for it to not matter.

Obviously there was some kind of emotional deficit where I needed entertainment. I think the only thing I will do next year differently is to read some enjoyable fiction throughout the year to keep me entertained. Also I will try harder to socialise as this keeps me happy. Maybe also buy a console and games and play regularly but not too much.
Original post by Pagan91
Advice thread.

I did it by isolating myself so there was nothing to do except study. This was fine until the last half-term where I started binge-watching tv series's rather than studying and unsurprisingly my grades declined. Luckily I worked hard early for long enough for it to not matter.

Obviously there was some kind of emotional deficit where I needed entertainment. I think the only thing I will do next year differently is to read some enjoyable fiction throughout the year to keep me entertained. Also I will try harder to socialise as this keeps me happy. Maybe also buy a console and games and play regularly but not too much.

I binge watch TV all the time still got 92%
Reply 2
Original post by niteninja1
I binge watch TV all the time still got 92%


I watched all 7 seasons of Mad Men straight through :biggrin:
Erm I got a pretty low 2:1 but it wasn't too hard, I mean for exams I think I did quite a bit of work, basically wrote out all my notes several times but I only revised like a few days before each exam, I had a lot of coursework modules though like for labs and some coursework was easier than others.

I am going to aim for a first next year and might actually put a lot more effort in.
Reply 4
Got a first by doing further research that extended the syllabus of my course. That and persistent nagging of tutors to tell me what was needed to get a first for the coursework.

When it came to exam time, I just revised with my best friend.

Meant I didn't have a social life but it was Computer Science so hardly anyone did...
Original post by Pagan91
I watched all 7 seasons of Mad Men straight through :biggrin:


Oh no I ran out of decent to shows in the first month
Binge watching is practically mandatory for surviving student life lol. I watched more TV at university than at any other point in my life. Box sets, movies, comedies. I think it went hand in hand in hand with my low amount of contact hours tbh. I remember skipping lectures, and watching breaking bad with KFC at times, that was a low point :wink:. I know what you mean about needing entertainment as an emotional deficit, I always had to have TV on in the background when doing assignments, or just to substitute for having a crap social life at times.

I got a 2:2 is first year. Think it was mainly adjusting from BTEC to university style work, since I hadn't done exams and large projects since school.

I got a 2:1 is second year after taking it much more seriously, but binge watched loads of TV and got more involved with societies, so made lots more friends and was generally happier.

I'm on the brink of a first for third year, and third year has more weight, so hopefully when my results come in on the 29th it should say 1:1 on my record, finger crossed! :biggrin:
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by UWS
Got a first by doing further research that extended the syllabus of my course. That and persistent nagging of tutors to tell me what was needed to get a first for the coursework


can you do that? scared I will come across as awkward lol
Reply 8
Original post by loveleest
can you do that? scared I will come across as awkward lol


That's what they're there for :biggrin: A lot of students don't take the opportunity tbh. That's why my tutor was usually available to help me, they hardly ever had a queue :lol:

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Also, what's with this subforum, pretty sure this thread was in chat...

@Doonesbury one for University life?
Original post by UWS
Got a first by doing further research that extended the syllabus of my course. That and persistent nagging of tutors to tell me what was needed to get a first for the coursework.

When it came to exam time, I just revised with my best friend.

Meant I didn't have a social life but it was Computer Science so hardly anyone did...


The amount of gems under your name could have told us that tbh
Reply 10
Original post by UWS
That's what they're there for :biggrin: A lot of students don't take the opportunity tbh. That's why my tutor was usually available to help me, they hardly ever had a queue :lol:

-------------

Also, what's with this subforum, pretty sure this thread was in chat...

@Doonesbury one for University life?


That looks sensible... moving now :smile:
I got a high first in my first year. I didn't attend majority of my lectures and about 4-5 weeks before exams did hardcore revision got all the recommended books and just learned the content, did some past papers to practise and got 77% in my first year lol

I just watched movies in my spare time and went gym + went out with friends occasionally :lol:
(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 12
Original post by Dwarf-Shortage
The amount of gems under your name could have told us that tbh


I wish that was the case back then but it was really due to the workload :redface:
Original post by UWS
I wish that was the case back then but it was really due to the workload :redface:


Fair enough
I worked as hard as I have ever worked.
Started my first year on an honours degree in electronic engineering as a part-time day release student accredited by the I.E.E.
Held down a full time job in a medium sized engineering company. The job was largely related to the degree so I had a lot of practice on much of the practical aspects of electronics.
Networked with people from my company and with tutors extensively.
Bought my first flat in the February of my first year.
Fully refitted the kitchen from scratch including electrics and plumbing - on my own, moved in during July.
Used my holidays for revision and took unpaid leave for exams.

Whatever your mind is focused on doing and if you have enough discipline, tenacity and stamina, nothing is unachievable.
(edited 6 years ago)
I achieved a First in Psychology during my first year.

I would say a key factor that contributed was my lack of friends/social anxiety. In lab classes we would often be required to work in groups to learn about statistical tests, when to apply them and how to conduct them using a program. When a lot of people did this sort of group work, it would be one (maybe two) people doing the work while the rest of them nattered and didn't pay attention. However, since I sucked so badly around people I almost always ended up on my own and therefore I had to learn how to do everything by myself. Ultimately this meant that in this module's assignments and tests I achieved well above average. Er, I wouldn't recommend this as a strategy though, at least the 'not-having-friends' part.

For exams I prepared about a month in advance and it was basically just rewriting notes on small cards and rehearsing over them. This year (second year) I also added in writing question prompts on the topics I had gone over and answering these prompts out-loud, as well as simply talking about the topics I had gone through with my family. I don't have my results yet, but I felt fairly confident during the majority of my exams so hopefully it worked out.

The final piece of advice I would give is to not aim for just 40%. So many people in first year had the attitude of 'eh I only need 40% to pass so I'll just aim for that so let's get smashed lol'- that's not a good attitude! That sort of mentality should only really be used as a means of calming you down if you're feeling really stressed and genuinely worried about progressing, at least in my opinion.
Original post by Claros
I achieved a First in Psychology during my first year.

I would say a key factor that contributed was my lack of friends/social anxiety. In lab classes we would often be required to work in groups to learn about statistical tests, when to apply them and how to conduct them using a program. When a lot of people did this sort of group work, it would be one (maybe two) people doing the work while the rest of them nattered and didn't pay attention. However, since I sucked so badly around people I almost always ended up on my own and therefore I had to learn how to do everything by myself. Ultimately this meant that in this module's assignments and tests I achieved well above average. Er, I wouldn't recommend this as a strategy though, at least the 'not-having-friends' part.

For exams I prepared about a month in advance and it was basically just rewriting notes on small cards and rehearsing over them. This year (second year) I also added in writing question prompts on the topics I had gone over and answering these prompts out-loud, as well as simply talking about the topics I had gone through with my family. I don't have my results yet, but I felt fairly confident during the majority of my exams so hopefully it worked out.

The final piece of advice I would give is to not aim for just 40%. So many people in first year had the attitude of 'eh I only need 40% to pass so I'll just aim for that so let's get smashed lol'- that's not a good attitude! That sort of mentality should only really be used as a means of calming you down if you're feeling really stressed and genuinely worried about progressing, at least in my opinion.


Well done mate, achieving a First in your first year is great, in fact I don't think I know anyone personally who did achieve that!

The whole 40% rule, that was used at my university as well, but I think for most people it was to 'fit in'. They'd be aiming for higher than 40% really, but getting involved in the banter and setting their expectations lower was clearly to make them likeable and more of a 'class joker'.

I never agreed with it tbh, and always tried my best from second year onwards.
Original post by thatguy170296
Well done mate, achieving a First in your first year is great, in fact I don't think I know anyone personally who did achieve that!

The whole 40% rule, that was used at my university as well, but I think for most people it was to 'fit in'. They'd be aiming for higher than 40% really, but getting involved in the banter and setting their expectations lower was clearly to make them likeable and more of a 'class joker'.

I never agreed with it tbh, and always tried my best from second year onwards.


Thank you :smile: Yeah that's true, they probably did say it to fit in. The fact that that's the general attitude people feel the need to give off is slightly irritating though, but in the long run it has no effect on me so I guess I shouldn't care so much!

It's good to always try your best and I've tried my best to maintain my performance from last year. Overall I've done better on assignments, achieving all firsts with the exception of one assignment. However during that assignment (and the majority of that term) I was quite ill so I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about it.
To be fair, I partied most of semester one and got a first in everything. Semester two partied more than I did in semester one and it took its toll. Probs gonna end up with a 2:1 overall.

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Claros
Overall I've done better on assignments, achieving all firsts with the exception of one assignment. However during that assignment (and the majority of that term) I was quite ill so I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about it.


Yeah, don't beat yourself up about it, there's not many people getting mostly 1st's in all their assignments!

No one's ever at 100% (and for those who are, teach me your ways :yep:) and it would be inhuman to always be constantly motivated and nailing everything .

Keep doing what you're doing :yy:

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