A*A*A*A*A* student

OP

Original post by Itsmepoppy

How much time a day did you / do you spend studying?

During A-levels: depends, I would probably study quite a lot, whenever I wasn't doing anything. I wasn't too into TV or anything like that. Especially around exam time I would put in 6-10 hours a day probably.

10 would be a very good day when I am really into my work.

I would say most important thing is probably consistency across the year. A little bit regularly - as in every day

Reply 3

MFTV

8

When did you start properly studying for your A levels ( as in doing more than a little bit each day) ?

Reply 4

leahnj

15

which subjects were they in and what do you study now?

Reply 5

OP

Original post by MFTV

When did you start properly studying for your A levels ( as in doing more than a little bit each day) ?

I would say - I was revising consistently throughout the year e.g. before a mock test or a module test I would prepare seriously like spend a fully day revising and then, say around March I really stepped up my game and made sure I was doing work a lot more deliberately every day with lots of exam questions etc...

Reply 6

sammyj97

19

Did you do all 5 A-levels at the same time?

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 7

OP

Original post by leahnj

which subjects were they in and what do you study now?

Biology, Chemistry, Maths, History and a politics EPQ

I study Medicine now :smile:

Reply 8

username4832702

12

Original post by HumblyBumbly

Biology, Chemistry, Maths, History and a politics EPQ

I study Medicine now :smile:

Wow! Good for you! :smile:

Reply 9

leahnj

15

Original post by HumblyBumbly

Biology, Chemistry, Maths, History and a politics EPQ

I study Medicine now :smile:

wow goals! which studying techniques did you find the most effective?

Reply 10

username4832702

12

Original post by HumblyBumbly

Biology, Chemistry, Maths, History and a politics EPQ

I study Medicine now :smile:

How do you motivate / discipline yourself to actually sit down and start working?

Any tips? :smile:

Reply 11

Muttley79

Original post by HumblyBumbly

Biology, Chemistry, Maths, History and a politics EPQ

I study Medicine now :smile:

So FOUR A levels - isn't the title a bit misleading?

When did you take your A levels?

Reply 12

OP

Original post by leahnj

wow goals! which studying techniques did you find the most effective?

I would say it depends on the subject

For biology and chemistry very similar: go through a module, do questions from legacy papers even relating to that module and there are lots of sites that split the questions into modules e.g. physics and maths tutor. A level chem revise was great too. I made sure I understood the concepts thoroughly. It isn;t enough to know them in class. You need to be able to explain it to other people and that's something I used to do. I used to talk to people all the time about things and sometimes go beyond the specification. Even now doing medicine on weekends I will meet with friends and discuss pathophysiology of diseases etc... I will try to do the teaching whenever I can. It helps me think and get my head around things.

Then maths my method was always: questions in textbook, all of them and then ... past papers , past papers, past papers.

History is reading and practicing essays.

I would say since A-levels I have adopted new methods e.g. using Anki and working with others to practice stuff (v. important in medicine)

Reply 13

OP

Universities Forum Helper

I think sometimes it is hard to keep motivated, but it is just a case of getting into habits. Sometimes a change of atmosphere or working with a friend (making sure you are focused) can give you an extra bit of energy. I wouldn't work with others too often though. Revise in a way you find enjoyable e.g. I like doing questions and forcing myself to think. :smile:

Original post by Muttley79

So FOUR A levels - isn't the title a bit misleading?

When did you take your A levels?

Yes - I was aware I should have done a small a* for the final letter after I posted. That is a fair point and I should have been more careful.

Reply 14

mnot

Original post by HumblyBumbly

Biology, Chemistry, Maths, History and a politics EPQ

I study Medicine now :smile:

Congrats!
why medicine? Did you consider anything else if so what?

Reply 15

OP

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by mnot

Congrats!
why medicine? Did you consider anything else if so what?

Yeah I actually considered History and PPE for a while. I was pretty set on doing History until around August of AS!!

Reply 16

Itsmepoppy

14

Original post by HumblyBumbly

During A-levels: depends, I would probably study quite a lot, whenever I wasn't doing anything. I wasn't too into TV or anything like that. Especially around exam time I would put in 6-10 hours a day probably.

10 would be a very good day when I am really into my work.

I would say most important thing is probably consistency across the year. A little bit regularly - as in every day

Thanks for your response, congrats for your grades btw :smile:

Did you have a revision timetable? I have been trying to have a revision timetable, and saying I'll do maths then, english then. However I'm wondering if it's best to have aims for the day? Ie complete X for maths and Y for English. But it's hard to gauge how long things will take

Reply 17

mnot

Original post by HumblyBumbly

Yeah I actually considered History and PPE for a while. I was pretty set on doing History until around August of AS!!

Wow thats quite late to make the switch, what made you choose medicine on UCAS.

Reply 18

Muttley79

Original post by HumblyBumbly

I think sometimes it is hard to keep motivated, but it is just a case of getting into habits. Sometimes a change of atmosphere or working with a friend (making sure you are focused) can give you an extra bit of energy. I wouldn't work with others too often though. Revise in a way you find enjoyable e.g. I like doing questions and forcing myself to think. :smile:

Yes - I was aware I should have done a small a* for the final letter after I posted. That is a fair point and I should have been more careful.

So you did modular A levels then? Four linear A levels are much more work and need different exam technique.

Reply 19

OP