How do you actually go about getting a first?

I got a first and I didn't need to sacrifice my social life at all. I was on my hall JCR and was a treasurer on one society and a secretary in another. I didn't do much sport though (unless you count the drinking olympics).

No such thing as a 1:1 - it's either a First or it's not. Second class is the only one that's split.

Yes there is such thing as 1:1, its a double 1st, 1:2 is a 1st, 2:1 is a 2nd etc.

I got a first and I didn't need to sacrifice my social life at all. I was on my hall JCR and was a treasurer on one society and a secretary in another. I didn't do much sport though (unless you count the drinking olympics). It's all about being able to work effectively and having a genuine interest in the subject. There is no substitute for hard work, but you have to realise when it is best to take a rest otherwise you will burn out.

Yes there is such thing as 1:1, its a double 1st, 1:2 is a 1st, 2:1 is a 2nd etc.

I've got a few mates here from Nottingham who got 1sts in their first and second years in Economics, and say they've had to do hardly any work; doss around for a year and then cram for 2 weeks. Do you think thats true, or is this a typical "I did no work whatsoever, honest" response?

Hey you're at Nottingham uni right? Please tell me you really are a black guy with a massive afro, I just love massive fro's.

Sadly I have no 'fro like Samuel in my avatar, I am also lacking in blackness too.




It is all about efficiency, doing what you need to achieve your goals. If you want to do sports at university then go and do them, that's what it's for. You'll work out your priorities once you get to uni.

Cramming could work for you. I never started revision for any of my exams until the week before the exam session started, but I worked hard during term so it was revision, not learning stuff for the first time. I'm afraid it's different strokes for different folks and you have to develop a method that suits you (that's what first year is for).

I'd of failed everyone of my exams if i'd of not revised starting about 5 weeks before them for 5-7 hours a day. didn't help i had my final project report to be handed in too, poor planing on my part

Different strokes. You could argue (quite rightly) that I started studying for my exams from the first week of term - I just looked over the stuff again the week before. Didn't work all the time I got a 2:2 and a couple of 2:1s.

Yup! Problem with me was i had some dire final year course work from the first semester back, seriously important stuff too worth lots of marks. All my exams were 2:1's but the bad course work took the over all degree result down to a high 2:2, a 2:2 none the less. Like i said, seriously dodgy course work!

I won't bother you with what I got in my final year project then .

I mean is it that much of a sacrifice to your social life? I hear you have to have new ideas or develop new theories and stuff like that. Does anyone have any tips or things they've picked up on what exactly it takes to get a first? I mean I'm aware that aiming for a first may be a little unrealistic but it's good to aim high right?

Another thing, you absolutely must have a passion for your subject if you intend to get a first. It must be something which really excites you and enthuses you to really understand what it is you're supposed to be learning. It's this higher depth of understanding which will allow you to tackle those questions which require that little extra thinking come the exams.

Obviously you don't go out at all in the exam period.

Another thing, you absolutely must have a passion for your subject if you intend to get a first.

Woops. Couldn't resist, night before final exam. D'oh...

D'oh again...

How about engineering - any idea how hard it is to achieve a first?

How about engineering - any idea how hard it is to achieve a first?