Learning4Fun - the blog.

Update 1:

Today has been comprised mostly of maths, with a heavy emphasis on "tough" grade 9 GCSE papers. Interestingly, I find the algebra a lot easier than the other topics, although that is most likely from all the additional exposure I have had to it.

Alternatively, I took an interest in grade 9 french phrases today, but I still need to ensure I am comfortable with all the tenses before I start learning them.

My goals over the next month or so is to work on Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as those subjects are probably my weakest at the moment due to a lack of revision.

It would be great if anyone could share any A Level resources for Maths, Further Maths and Physics, and perhaps advice for French and English as well.

Thank you for reading!

- Learning4Fun

A-level Maths, Further Maths:
Exam Solutions - https://www.examsolutions.net/a-level-maths/
Good for tutorial, introduction to concepts, and teaching (it's pretty good).
underground mathematics - https://undergroundmathematics.org/
It's a decent bridging tool between A-level Math/FM and STEP/MAT exams.
NRICH - https://nrich.maths.org/post-16
You could look at those questions as an extension of A-level math.

A-level Physics:
A Level Physics Online - https://www.alevelphysicsonline.com/
Good tutorials, past paper questions (going through), Isaac Physics - https://isaacphysics.org/

Advice for French: memorise the vocab and practice with native speakers?
Advice for English: Not very good at it, but refer to the passage and use context?

Extension material: STEP Support Programme - https://maths.org/step/assignments
Look at the other links there, that's a lot of enrichment maths

SMC shouldn't be too difficult, I got Gold in SMC back in Y11, didn't practice much.
Practice material: https://www.ukmt.org.uk/shop to buy
DrFrostMath - https://www.drfrostmaths.com/page.php?id=6 (Riemann Zeta).

You could attempt to practice the content. If you still find the enrichment relatively easy, you can consider going to university a year early (but then you'd need to finish all your A-levels a year early)

Thank you!

I doubt I'll consider going to Uni a year early, although if I learn the majority of the content there is a high possibility...

-Learning4Fun

You seem to have more support than me when I was your age. If you actually study an hour or two a day, and keep it up, it's amazing what you can do.

I found school really easy even with enrichment, so many of my classmates were much more stressed than me. I decided to skip a year. Despite my lack of planning, not great executive function etc. I'd probably still get decent grades, decent supercurriculars and some extracurriculars, so the bottom line is probably fine.

-justlearning1469

It is interesting how much stress levels vary depending on intellect, although I would say correct preparation and hard work will have a greater influence than natural talent in the long run. Thank you for the STEP link - I am doing some of the questions right now.

-Learning4Fun

When your IQ is 130+ school is usually **** easy, unless you have some learning disabilities. School + enrichment is meant to cover the mainstream 95% (~2SD from average, more or less).

It's at this point when you have the intelligence to skip a year. Maybe even 120s IQ if you work really hard and your profile is even. Some prodigies have IQs in the average range, they just work very hard (think hours and hours every day or nearly every day).

Remember, you got quite lucky. When I was your age I didn't have this guidance, nor this STEP link. Take this opportunity to improve your maths beyond what you've ever imagined.

As long as you use the Pomodoro Technique (25 mins study/5 min break) and revise at least an hour a day, you'd actually be solid. You're already getting 7-9 predictions without even trying. If you put the effort in, maybe sacrifice some GCSE grades, and maybe lower your expectaions of uni prestige, I think you could skip a year. While many say skipping a year shouldn't take effort, I disagree - if you're so blatantly out of place skipping to the next year takes no effort whatsoever, maybe you should skip another year.

-justlearning1469

Thank you, I've only recently decided to take the initiative and start working harder outside of school (despite working hard inside of school). Luckily, I've previously done lots of extracurriculars that involve additional work, like teaching lessons to lower years and helping out with clubs, so I think I'll be able to avoid burn out.

- Learning4Fun

In that case, I think you can start properly revising, start 15 minutes. Eventually you could do two hours a day, and as exams approach you could approach 4, even 5 hours a day.

However it depends on your executive function. Often times very strong students find it's very difficult to revise outside of school because their executive function is too weak.

You can achieve your academic dreams, trust me. You just need to work hard, I think you're bright enough for the job. You might even achieve beyond expectations and skip a year.

P.S. these are supercurriculars (extension beyond curriculum), extracurriculars are for hobbies, sports etc.

Thank you, I've only recently decided to take the initiative and start working harder outside of school (despite working hard inside of school). Luckily, I've previously done lots of extracurriculars that involve additional work, like teaching lessons to lower years and helping out with clubs, so I think I'll be able to avoid burn out.

- Learning4Fun

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A few extension maths stuff around Y11/smc level
* Essence of mathematics (free) https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0168, its a very good one to work through as its problem based and focusses more on proof/basic results than typical gcse. Its not dissimilar to "ukmt focus".
* There are quite a few "pop" maths books and its worth delving into a few. So books by Simon Singh, Ian Stewart, Marcus du Sautoy. Similarly books like https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Geometry-Eli-Maor/dp/0691150990 have a greater geometry/greek focus than the gcse/a level syllabus and is more like (some) ukmt questions.
* Recreational maths books by Martin Gardner (many ...) for instance are worth working through. Similarly learning a bit of problem solving ideas (https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/9478#t=aboutBook) is worth it for smc++.
* The smc++ isnt that much more than gcse(++) but the questions can be posed in very different ways. If you do some practice papers/ukmt books, there are related questions in the extended solutions which are worth working through if you get the question wrong/unsure about it. Similarly browsing the drfrost slides for things like algebra, geometry (especially) and practising on harder (olympiad) questions (whether intermediate or senior) can be worthwhile/fun. The last year on parallel https://parallel.org.uk/ may be worth following as if you can do imc well then you can do a fair bit of smc.

Hello everyone!

Today, an idea struck me.

Revising is perfectly fine, but surely it's worth dedicating a chunk of your time to enhancing your revision resources, to maximise your efficiency...

Thus, I have to decided to create what I have decided to call my "Revision Protocol".

To put it simply, I will be using all of the resources available to me and the endless supply of videos online to create my ideal revision plan. It will include a retrospective revision timetable, utilisation of school websites (something I think isn't discussed about enough), and advice from countless notable tsr users on all of my different subjects. My goal is to complete the majority of this Protocol by the end of Year 10, and that will include links to sheets, anki, memrise, PMT, various youtubers and so much more, all compiled into one google doc.

Perhaps, I will post a summary of my Revision Protocol onto the student room upon completion, and definitely an in-depth guide once I have completed my GCSEs.

- Learning4Fun

Tag me, @justlearning1469 i'd like to see it

Maybe you can ppost a summary of the plan for skipping a year, maybe Y13.

Maybe... one step at a time though.

- Learning4Fun

You had much more planning than I did in Y10 equivalent. You'll do well enough to skip a year, as long as you work hard. I slacked off so much during Y11, summer (didn't get that much done), although my productivity was good enough for a few hours of study a day (on average).

You can do it! With your GCSEs, you'd be strong in maths. I'd say the year you should skip is Y13 if you wanted to skip a year, that way you can have your GCSEs and have a good intro to 6th form. Can always extend if you find things easy.

As long as you keep up a couple hours of day of efficient studying, you should be able to skip a year.

Thank you for the motivation!