How to Get an A

I’ve been there – wanting to make that final push to get my grades to an A, or even an A*. I’ve even transformed E grades to an A, so if I can do it – so can you! Let’s talk about some top tips that worked well for me…

1. The early bird catches the worm.

I won’t lie to you, getting A grades isn’t something you can necessarily achieve overnight. The sooner you start revising, the better. I found a slow and steady approach to revision worked best for me as I could chip away at my revision lists in short bursts, without the rush and panic of leaving revision to the last minute. Consistency really is key. You don’t have to sell your life away to achieve top grades. It’s how you use your time that’s important.

2. Organisation is your friend.

I love making lists, so I like to print out subject specifications and colour code the topics in a traffic light system to see where I feel confident, and which topics need more work. This means my revision sessions always have a purpose and end goal - to make sure all the topics turned green. You can then prioritize your revision, and get more work done in less time, giving you more time to have a break and some fun!

Yes, I said it! You can have fun and rest while achieving top grades! Remember to take breaks between revising, and even plan some activities for after your exams to boost your motivation to keep working hard.

3. Make sure you don’t just know the subject, but you understand it.

It’s all well and good to memorize flashcards, but I found I started to achieve my highest grades when I really understood the content. I would spend my day at school learning new content, making rough notes in class. Then at home, I would re-write my notes in a revision format like on flashcards or on a mind map and would make sure I understood everything I had just learnt. You can even test yourself later in the day with past exam questions to make sure you fully understand the content.

Now I’m not saying achieving top grades is easy as it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to get there. But I always reminded myself that if I must sit these exams, I want to give myself the best possible chance to succeed, and that meant focusing on my work and putting in as much effort as I could.

You can get more exams and revision advice: https://bit.ly/3uCzvZl

Or ask questions and comment your own advice here!

Good luck!

Emily
Student Rep at BCU

Reply 1

million.

hi! what alevels did u take?

Reply 2

emm4nuella

Debate & Current Affairs Helper, Study Forum Helper

Original post by BCU Student Rep

1. The early bird catches the worm.

2. Organisation is your friend.

I love making lists, so I like to print out subject specifications and colour code the topics in a traffic light system to see where I feel confident, and which topics need more work. This means my revision sessions always have a purpose and end goal - to make sure all the topics turned green. You can then prioritize your revision, and get more work done in less time, giving you more time to have a break and some fun!
Yes, I said it! You can have fun and rest while achieving top grades! Remember to take breaks between revising, and even plan some activities for after your exams to boost your motivation to keep working hard.

3. Make sure you don’t just know the subject, but you understand it.

It’s all well and good to memorize flashcards, but I found I started to achieve my highest grades when I really understood the content. I would spend my day at school learning new content, making rough notes in class. Then at home, I would re-write my notes in a revision format like on flashcards or on a mind map and would make sure I understood everything I had just learnt. You can even test yourself later in the day with past exam questions to make sure you fully understand the content.
Now I’m not saying achieving top grades is easy as it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to get there. But I always reminded myself that if I must sit these exams, I want to give myself the best possible chance to succeed, and that meant focusing on my work and putting in as much effort as I could.
You can get more exams and revision advice: https://bit.ly/3uCzvZl
Or ask questions and comment your own advice here!
Good luck!
Emily
Student Rep at BCU

this really helped thank you so much!!

Reply 3

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by million.

hi! what alevels did u take?

Hi @million.

I took History, German, Art and Drama - all of which I took as my options for GCSE. 🙂

Any questions or if you need any help, please ask away!
Emily 🙂