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went from 3s to 9s with (literally) night before revision - ask me anything

(I DO NOT ADVOCATE FOR NIGHT BEFORE REVISION - but we've all been there, and we've all had to cram, and i'd love to offer support where i can)

i'm an a level student and i did my gcses last year. i revised for about a week for my mocks and came out with 3s, 5s, and 6s. couple 7s here and there too.

in my final exams, i revised just the night before and morning of.

and i got 99988777776. and im now at a very selective sixth form hoping to get into good universities.

one of those 9s, which was simply night before revision and cramming, was history - a subject i got a 3 in the mock. and english literature, i achieved almost full marks, despite not reading one of the texts. (again, do not advocate, just here to offer non-judgmental support. yes it was stupid, i was dealing with loss and health struggles and was not in the place to start early).

this is to say anything is possible, it all comes down to smart work > hard work (though both are important). i understand it's very close to gcse season and if you feel underprepared or think you've left it too late, trust me you haven't. ask me anything! if you ask for tips, they may not be applicable / work for everyone but it's worth a go, isn't it 🙂 and i have loads of tips!

for more info:

english lit - 9
english lang - 9
history - 9
physics - 8
biology - 8
chemistry - 7
french - 7
drama - 7
rs - 7
maths - 7 (disclaimer i did revise for a few weeks for maths, the only one i did actually do some revision for)
computer science - 6

ama!
(edited 10 months ago)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
how did you revise for maths and physics??
so bad at physics just can't understand it and maths
Reply 2
Original post by fffhjtf
how did you revise for maths and physics??
so bad at physics just can't understand it and maths

for maths, you can watch videos with examples then do practice questions and mark them
physics, read the revision guide, watch videos and do practice
Reply 3
Original post by swiftielover22
(I DO NOT ADVOCATE FOR NIGHT BEFORE REVISION - but we've all been there, and we've all had to cram, and i'd love to offer support where i can)
i'm an a level student and i did my gcses last year. i revised for about a week for my mocks and came out with 3s, 5s, and 6s. couple 7s here and there too.
in my final exams, i revised just the night before and morning of.
and i got 99988777776. and im now at a very selective sixth form hoping to get into good universities.
one of those 9s, which was simply night before revision and cramming, was history - a subject i got a 3 in the mock. and english literature, i achieved almost full marks, despite not reading one of the texts. (again, do not advocate, just here to offer non-judgmental support. yes it was stupid, i was dealing with loss and health struggles and was not in the place to start early).
this is to say anything is possible, it all comes down to smart work > hard work (though both are important). i understand it's very close to gcse season and if you feel underprepared or think you've left it too late, trust me you haven't. ask me anything! if you ask for tips, they may not be applicable / work for everyone but it's worth a go, isn't it 🙂 and i have loads of tips!
for more info:
english lit - 9
english lang - 9
history - 9
physics - 8
biology - 8
chemistry - 7
french - 7
drama - 7
rs - 7
maths - 7 (disclaimer i did revise for a few weeks for maths, the only one i did actually do some revision for)
computer science - 6
ama!

how do u go from a 8 to 9 in english lang?
Reply 4
Do you have any tips for science revision? I'm doing higher and I'm struggling quite a bit on tests and I have a test on radiation on Tuesday after not having a lesson for two weeks because of Easter break, I do have my class book with me but reading through it only helps me memorise some of it.
Reply 5
Original post by fffhjtf
how did you revise for maths and physics??
so bad at physics just can't understand it and maths

hey, i really struggled with those as well but i found some helpful strategies. for maths i used this website called mathsgenie. started maybe around this time last year, maybe a bit earlier but i wasn't as religious with it as i perhaps should've been. i started right from the beginning and watched the videos on each topic for each grade then did the practice worksheets, then did full sets of questions, building up my confidence. it's a great way to familiarise yourself with the content and make sure you know how to answer every question, and put it into practice. the videos have examples and walkthroughs and he's very helpful (but you may want to put him on 1.5x speed!) you'll find yourself at an 8/9 level by the exams if you solidly work through them and invest time into it.

for physics, omggg same don't worry i was getting 6s through year 10 and pulled off the 8 with one revision tactic. ofc bear in mind this was the night before, but i watched the primrose kitten 1 hour summary of the full paper on youtube, so i knew broadly what was going to be in the paper, then i got the collins revision guide (though ngl cgp is better) and just typed up notes while saying them aloud. this filled in the gaps that the video didn't cover and helped me use the auditory and note writing skills to remember. i was moving pretty fast lol because i didn't have much time but this is definitely a good strategy for short-to-medium term memory. i didn't do any practice papers which i regret, but definitely try and get one or two in after you know all the content - i think it's really important to know before you test. you definitely have enough time to massively get your grades up high through using strategies like this. ik physics is complicated, but understanding it and taking time to know the topics is the making of a grade 8/9 student, and means you can respond to any question - but similarly, i think gcses (as opposed to a levels) are mostly a memory test and all i really did was memorise and got an 8, so try to understand, but if you can't, you should still be fine if you know everything on the spec.

hopefully this helped! lmk if you have any other questions 🙂 and good luck with the exams!
Reply 6
Original post by LoyalLion
for maths, you can watch videos with examples then do practice questions and mark them
physics, read the revision guide, watch videos and do practice

yep, second these for anyone wondering!
Reply 7
Original post by studyfor9s
how do u go from a 8 to 9 in english lang?

ahh an english related question, my favourite. okay, so my biggest saviour for english was a youtube channel called mr salles. he is a grade 8/9 level youtube channel, i found most of my top tips from there and i know nothing i say here will be able to be as hugely helpful as his tips, as he is actually an examiner. but as a student, my best eng lang tips are to have a list of language/structural features in my head, and highlight or underline any i find in the text we're given. then i think about the overall purpose of what the writer is trying to do, and i think about how those features can help with that. and it's really very adaptable - for example, say a writer is writing a lovely story about family and uses sibilance. i can argue that it creates a soothing atmosphere. conversely, say the writer is writing a scary story about a threat and uses sibilance. i can argue it creates a hissing sound and a menacing atmosphere. just adapt it and bear in mind what the writer is trying to evoke. and be evaluative in the 20 marker - really keep an open mind, weigh it up well, be judicious with your terminology - impress the examiners, your own research will really help. a level 9 piece of analysis will really delve deeper into analysis and meaning. but if you get some practice in now, it will come second nature. while i didn't revise, i did improve in every classwork eng lang assignment and built my practice up that way, so if you keep unpacking texts now as much as you can, you'll be totally sorted. general advice: read examiners' reports from past years to see what they want / what they don't. look at the markscheme. and for writing, try and be original! i got almost full marks in the writing section (dropped 1 mark) because i wrote something totally original. the prompt was "a human meeting an animal" and i wrote about a bride telling her fiance she didnt want to get married, and meeting the animal in him, using bestial imagery and really transforming him into an animal. it was a gamble, yes, and maybe you don't need to go so far out, but something that stands out will really catch an examiners' eye. use fancy words, and try and have a good structure - i know it's only a short piece so it's hard to do so, but a cyclical structure is always good. i used one where she touches a gun at the beginning "cool silver, and malevolent" and touches it at the end to shoot him "cool silver, and benevolent" so something that circles back round will always be good. plan it though!

i hope that helped, if you're working at an 8 level now im sure you'll achieve that 9 with a bit of smart work (and mr salles - cannot recommend him enough, watching him was my only revision before both lang and lit!). good luck for the exams, let me know if you have any further questions :smile:
Reply 8
Original post by swiftielover22
hey, i really struggled with those as well but i found some helpful strategies. for maths i used this website called mathsgenie. started maybe around this time last year, maybe a bit earlier but i wasn't as religious with it as i perhaps should've been. i started right from the beginning and watched the videos on each topic for each grade then did the practice worksheets, then did full sets of questions, building up my confidence. it's a great way to familiarise yourself with the content and make sure you know how to answer every question, and put it into practice. the videos have examples and walkthroughs and he's very helpful (but you may want to put him on 1.5x speed!) you'll find yourself at an 8/9 level by the exams if you solidly work through them and invest time into it.
for physics, omggg same don't worry i was getting 6s through year 10 and pulled off the 8 with one revision tactic. ofc bear in mind this was the night before, but i watched the primrose kitten 1 hour summary of the full paper on youtube, so i knew broadly what was going to be in the paper, then i got the collins revision guide (though ngl cgp is better) and just typed up notes while saying them aloud. this filled in the gaps that the video didn't cover and helped me use the auditory and note writing skills to remember. i was moving pretty fast lol because i didn't have much time but this is definitely a good strategy for short-to-medium term memory. i didn't do any practice papers which i regret, but definitely try and get one or two in after you know all the content - i think it's really important to know before you test. you definitely have enough time to massively get your grades up high through using strategies like this. ik physics is complicated, but understanding it and taking time to know the topics is the making of a grade 8/9 student, and means you can respond to any question - but similarly, i think gcses (as opposed to a levels) are mostly a memory test and all i really did was memorise and got an 8, so try to understand, but if you can't, you should still be fine if you know everything on the spec.
hopefully this helped! lmk if you have any other questions 🙂 and good luck with the exams!

thank you soooo much this really helps
im on a 5 rn for maths and physics but i really want at least a 7, but i see people saying you can only go up 1 grade by the exams in this amount of time :frown:
do u think it's possible for me to go up that much? i'm on 7s 8s and 9s for all my other subjects so it's really frustrating being on 5s for maths and physics lol
Reply 9
Original post by swiftielover22
ahh an english related question, my favourite. okay, so my biggest saviour for english was a youtube channel called mr salles. he is a grade 8/9 level youtube channel, i found most of my top tips from there and i know nothing i say here will be able to be as hugely helpful as his tips, as he is actually an examiner. but as a student, my best eng lang tips are to have a list of language/structural features in my head, and highlight or underline any i find in the text we're given. then i think about the overall purpose of what the writer is trying to do, and i think about how those features can help with that. and it's really very adaptable - for example, say a writer is writing a lovely story about family and uses sibilance. i can argue that it creates a soothing atmosphere. conversely, say the writer is writing a scary story about a threat and uses sibilance. i can argue it creates a hissing sound and a menacing atmosphere. just adapt it and bear in mind what the writer is trying to evoke. and be evaluative in the 20 marker - really keep an open mind, weigh it up well, be judicious with your terminology - impress the examiners, your own research will really help. a level 9 piece of analysis will really delve deeper into analysis and meaning. but if you get some practice in now, it will come second nature. while i didn't revise, i did improve in every classwork eng lang assignment and built my practice up that way, so if you keep unpacking texts now as much as you can, you'll be totally sorted. general advice: read examiners' reports from past years to see what they want / what they don't. look at the markscheme. and for writing, try and be original! i got almost full marks in the writing section (dropped 1 mark) because i wrote something totally original. the prompt was "a human meeting an animal" and i wrote about a bride telling her fiance she didnt want to get married, and meeting the animal in him, using bestial imagery and really transforming him into an animal. it was a gamble, yes, and maybe you don't need to go so far out, but something that stands out will really catch an examiners' eye. use fancy words, and try and have a good structure - i know it's only a short piece so it's hard to do so, but a cyclical structure is always good. i used one where she touches a gun at the beginning "cool silver, and malevolent" and touches it at the end to shoot him "cool silver, and benevolent" so something that circles back round will always be good. plan it though!
i hope that helped, if you're working at an 8 level now im sure you'll achieve that 9 with a bit of smart work (and mr salles - cannot recommend him enough, watching him was my only revision before both lang and lit!). good luck for the exams, let me know if you have any further questions :smile:

thanks for ur time!
Original post by Meio✨️
Do you have any tips for science revision? I'm doing higher and I'm struggling quite a bit on tests and I have a test on radiation on Tuesday after not having a lesson for two weeks because of Easter break, I do have my class book with me but reading through it only helps me memorise some of it.

hiya, yes i do! science was an interesting one as it was night before, but i did answer a previous commenter's question about physics and i'll adapt that for all sciences. i watched the primrose kitten 1 hour summary of the full paper on youtube, so i knew broadly what was going to be in the paper, then i got the collins revision guide (though ngl cgp is better) and just typed up notes while saying them aloud. this filled in the gaps that the video didn't cover and helped me use the auditory and note writing skills to remember. i was moving pretty fast lol because i didn't have much time but this is definitely a good strategy for short-to-medium term memory. i didn't do any practice papers which i regret, but definitely try and get one or two in after you know all the content - i think it's really important to know before you test. you definitely have enough time to massively get your grades up high through using strategies like this. ik the sciences are complicated, but understanding it and taking time to know the topics is the making of a grade 8/9 student, and means you can respond to any question - but similarly, i think gcses (as opposed to a levels) are mostly a memory test and all i really did was memorise and got an 8, so try to understand, but if you can't, you should still be fine if you know everything on the spec.

science is just genuinely a test of, do you know all these topics and can you answer a certain set of questions. it's more memorisation than practical application than other subjects. split it up by topic and don't passively read, read aloud or make notes or watch videos (there's so many helpful ones on youtube). it's good your test on radiation is only one topic, i know it's a struggle trust me i didn't get the best class grades, but spend the next few days watching videos and typing notes from a revision guide or textbook on it, and try and test yourself a bit the night before. and just repeat this for every topic! repetition is important. maybe even read aloud with a friend or fam member, and talk it through with them (my dad loves to discuss each topic with me which really helps). you've got this! make sure to learn the practicals as they are commonly 6 markers, and understand processes (especially in bio and chem) of anything as they can be large mark questions and you would want to be able to recall. also focus on things you aren't so strong on first, as it gets it out the way.

good luck for your test on tuesday, and good luck for your exams! i hope this helped - let me know if you have any further questions :smile:
Original post by fffhjtf
thank you soooo much this really helps
im on a 5 rn for maths and physics but i really want at least a 7, but i see people saying you can only go up 1 grade by the exams in this amount of time :frown:
do u think it's possible for me to go up that much? i'm on 7s 8s and 9s for all my other subjects so it's really frustrating being on 5s for maths and physics lol

of course, im glad i could help! and dudeeee of course you can, i mean hey i was getting 5s and 6s for maths and physics and ended up with a 7 and 8 with just a few hours revision, it really depends on how good your short-to-medium term memory is and how much effort you're willing to put in now. don't listen to those people, there's no one size fits all rule for going up grades. as long as you put the effort in and study smart, there's nothing to say you won't get 7s and above. like i said, with history i was failing - but i spent the day before committing myself to my work and ended up with a 9. and that was just a DAY of revision. only you know what you're capable of - don't listen to those people, block that out, and if you're already getting top grades in other subjects, you've defo got the capability to achieve a 7 or higher. do your best, start working, and believe in yourself 🙂 good luck!

i also responded to another commenter re: sciences in general, i included some other tips in my second paragraph so you may want to check that out!

but seriously, i was the same as you last year - frantically searching up if it was possible to get top grades with minimal revision. and everywhere told me it wasn't. but i powered through and did my best, and learnt from the mistakes i made. so i'm not going to diminish your hope, but tell you that practically if you put the effort in? there's nothing you can't do. it starts from you!
(edited 10 months ago)
Original post by studyfor9s
thanks for ur time!

of course! glad i could help, good luck :smile:
Original post by swiftielover22
(I DO NOT ADVOCATE FOR NIGHT BEFORE REVISION - but we've all been there, and we've all had to cram, and i'd love to offer support where i can)
i'm an a level student and i did my gcses last year. i revised for about a week for my mocks and came out with 3s, 5s, and 6s. couple 7s here and there too.
in my final exams, i revised just the night before and morning of.
and i got 99988777776. and im now at a very selective sixth form hoping to get into good universities.
one of those 9s, which was simply night before revision and cramming, was history - a subject i got a 3 in the mock. and english literature, i achieved almost full marks, despite not reading one of the texts. (again, do not advocate, just here to offer non-judgmental support. yes it was stupid, i was dealing with loss and health struggles and was not in the place to start early).
this is to say anything is possible, it all comes down to smart work > hard work (though both are important). i understand it's very close to gcse season and if you feel underprepared or think you've left it too late, trust me you haven't. ask me anything! if you ask for tips, they may not be applicable / work for everyone but it's worth a go, isn't it 🙂 and i have loads of tips!
for more info:
english lit - 9
english lang - 9
history - 9
physics - 8
biology - 8
chemistry - 7
french - 7
drama - 7
rs - 7
maths - 7 (disclaimer i did revise for a few weeks for maths, the only one i did actually do some revision for)
computer science - 6
ama!

hey how did you revise for history? because i’m currently at an 8 and i want to get a 9 but i’m not sure what to do and how to revise for it. What topics did u take for history and what examboard did u do?
Original post by angelina121517
hey how did you revise for history? because i’m currently at an 8 and i want to get a 9 but i’m not sure what to do and how to revise for it. What topics did u take for history and what examboard did u do?

hey! i did edexcel, and studied nazi germany and the weimar republic, medicine through time, cold war, and elizabethan england. if you're at an 8 already, i'm guessing you have a good grasp of exam technique, but definitely make sure you know how to write the different answers and especially 16 markers. that's really key. when it comes to how to revise - my one tip that i totally credit my 9 to, are the edexcel revision guides. each topic has its own 30 page revision guide, and as long as you know all the content in there, trust me, you're sorted. all i did the day before my exam was make notes on all 30 pages while reading aloud, and connected the dots in my mind. it's laid out really well and has all the necessary dates, etc. basically just use that as your bible, read through it, make notes, make mindmaps, flashcards, discuss it with your friends, family, whatever method you use (mine is just typing and reading aloud, that's what works for me). and it's great you have more time to learn it all! the textbook is way way too lengthy, and youtube videos like the history teacher are great, but won't cement themselves into your mind - use them as a revision method after you go over everything in depth. there are also practice questions in the book after each topic, definitely make good use of them. at this stage, try and write a couple full answers if you can, but when it gets closer to the exam, just write essay plans - you will be able to fill in the gaps during the exam. i did not do this but i did do a couple essay plans the morning of the exam, and while they didn't come up, it was so good to think through how i'd tackle a question. history is a bit of a memory exercise - but if you've memorised everything there is to know in those 30 pages, and know how it all links together and how it impacts other events, you've got a great shot at a 9. and don't be discouraged if your answers get marked and you're still at an 8 before the exam - you'd be surprised by how the actual thing goes if you've done everything you can. gcse history for me wasn't enjoyable (which is why i didn't take it as an a level and didn't do well previously), but if you enjoy it and you're already achieving well, then i'm sure these revision guides will really help you with the final boost. my history teacher and my dad recommend reading it like a story - mapping out the twists and turns as if it's simply fiction, and that's really great to get a grasp on the events (but it's not great for memorisation, so if you do that, do it early then start the process of memorisation and active recall and other study methods).

when it comes to the specific topics, feel free to ask about how i handled any of those topics and even if you want my email for scripts or anything to see how i structured my essays. i think the biggest challenge for me was the paper that focused on the cold war and elizabethan england, as it was two topics in one and obviously i had one day to revise, but the revision guide did help make it concise (but included all the relevant material needed for a grade 9) and i tackled it by finishing a question on each side, alternating between them, to make sure i didn't run out of time. time management is really important as well with gcse history, but if you stick to the guidelines you'll be fine. and a final thing, the history teacher on youtube (i forgot if that's her actual channel name but you might have seen her, she has a ginger viking lady as her thumbnails) has exam structure tips that are concise for right before the exam.

i have to say i'm not sponsored by edexcel lol i just love these revision guides because i don't doubt that if i'd used the textbook or youtube or any other revision method, i would have not been able to get that grade 9 and would likely be looking at smth much lower - it definitely worked wonders for me, at least, but i don't doubt that other people achieved solid 9s without it, so maybe test the water and try one and see if it works for you, or look at a preview. i'm gonna link one of them here, just so you know where you can get them and what they look like 🙂

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-History-Elizabethan-Revision-Workbook/dp/1292169710

not super bank breaking, it might add up with all of the topics though so if that's an issue maybe get the ones that you need help with the most or see if you have any older mates who would be willing to give it to you, but if you can, it's really really invaluable. you can find them on the edexcel website, amazon as above and other places like whsmith.

that's all, like i said let me know if you have any more questions, any topic-related questions, or any script requests🙂 good luck with your exams!
What do you recommend for revising chemistry? Because whatever I do, I can't seem to wrap my head around it.
Original post by NerdyPerson
What do you recommend for revising chemistry? Because whatever I do, I can't seem to wrap my head around it.

ahhhh i was just like you when it came to chemistry last year, i didn't understand it at all, and it was one of my lower predicteds. i have answered a couple other commenters' science related questions, and i'll share that here, then offer some more nuanced chem-specific tips: i watched the primrose kitten 1 hour summary of the full paper on youtube, so i knew broadly what was going to be in the paper, then i got the collins revision guide (though ngl cgp is better) and just typed up notes while saying them aloud. this filled in the gaps that the video didn't cover and helped me use the auditory and note writing skills to remember. i was moving pretty fast lol because i didn't have much time but this is definitely a good strategy for short-to-medium term memory. i didn't do any practice papers which i regret, but definitely try and get one or two in after you know all the content - i think it's really important to know before you test. you definitely have enough time to massively get your grades up high through using strategies like this. ik chemistry is complicated, but understanding it and taking time to know the topics is the making of a grade 8/9 student, and means you can respond to any question - but similarly, i think gcses (as opposed to a levels) are mostly a memory test and all i really did was memorise and got an 8, so try to understand, but if you can't, you should still be fine if you know everything on the spec.

chemistry is just genuinely a test of, do you know all these topics and can you answer a certain set of questions. it's more memorisation than practical application than other subjects. split it up by topic and don't passively read, read aloud or make notes or watch videos (there's so many helpful ones on youtube). repetition is important. maybe even read aloud with a friend or fam member, and talk it through with them (my dad loves to discuss each topic with me which really helps). you've got this! make sure to learn the practicals as they are commonly 6 markers, and understand processes of anything as they can be large mark questions and you would want to be able to recall. also focus on things you aren't so strong on first, as it gets it out the way. when it comes to understanding the topics, try and frame it as a discussion with somebody - a family member, friend, or a chemistry teacher. understand each aspect and really get your head around it, and spend enough time to make sure you have a grasp on it. at this stage, you don't need to know everything - just have a broad understanding, and then you can start taking detailed notes, reading revision guides, and filling in the blanks. take a look at the examiners' reports if you feel it will help as well, to help with answering the questions.

my biggest tip when you don't understand things yet - prioritise learning content over putting it into play with practice papers. aim to do those after you know things, so you are genuinely testing yourself. chemistry is confusing, yes, and it is daunting, but if you know common questions that usually come up, and if you have a good understanding of each topic and THEN an understanding of its nuances - you've got it. for me it was genuinely just trying to discuss the topics, then making notes, because at least i could understand bio and physics. i know it seems hard to wrap your head around it now, but be patient, take the time to unpack each topic well - for example, say you're struggling with organic chemistry. if i were you, i'd go through it with somebody first maybe. then (or if that's not possible), i would watch videos on youtube to fully flesh it out, probably freesciencelessons for a first run through. if you like making notes, defo do so with this. then i would use the revision guides and make notes, read through, learn the ins and outs and finer points of organic chem. then i would test myself, then come back to find specific videos or pages on things i struggled with. then i would try my hand at a physics and maths tutor set of questions on organic chemistry. you have enough time now to spend some time, maybe a few days per topic (idk how many other subjects you have on your plate at the moment) and you've totally got the time to smash it and get your head around it. it's definitely possible!

i hope this helped, please let me know if you'd like any other tips separate to these if these don't work as i'm sure i'll have other ideas, and good luck in the exams :smile:
Original post by swiftielover22
(I DO NOT ADVOCATE FOR NIGHT BEFORE REVISION - but we've all been there, and we've all had to cram, and i'd love to offer support where i can)
i'm an a level student and i did my gcses last year. i revised for about a week for my mocks and came out with 3s, 5s, and 6s. couple 7s here and there too.
in my final exams, i revised just the night before and morning of.
and i got 99988777776. and im now at a very selective sixth form hoping to get into good universities.
one of those 9s, which was simply night before revision and cramming, was history - a subject i got a 3 in the mock. and english literature, i achieved almost full marks, despite not reading one of the texts. (again, do not advocate, just here to offer non-judgmental support. yes it was stupid, i was dealing with loss and health struggles and was not in the place to start early).
this is to say anything is possible, it all comes down to smart work > hard work (though both are important). i understand it's very close to gcse season and if you feel underprepared or think you've left it too late, trust me you haven't. ask me anything! if you ask for tips, they may not be applicable / work for everyone but it's worth a go, isn't it 🙂 and i have loads of tips!
for more info:
english lit - 9
english lang - 9
history - 9
physics - 8
biology - 8
chemistry - 7
french - 7
drama - 7
rs - 7
maths - 7 (disclaimer i did revise for a few weeks for maths, the only one i did actually do some revision for)
computer science - 6
ama!

English Literature- I am TERRIBLE at it and I just don't know why!
I don't know how to revise for it or how to pick up marks

Assume I have never studied any English Literature, could you give me a plan to get a grade 7 or above?

Also, how and WHAT did you do to get such a good grade in English Literature?

Thanks!
Original post by swiftielover22
ahhhh i was just like you when it came to chemistry last year, i didn't understand it at all, and it was one of my lower predicteds. i have answered a couple other commenters' science related questions, and i'll share that here, then offer some more nuanced chem-specific tips: i watched the primrose kitten 1 hour summary of the full paper on youtube, so i knew broadly what was going to be in the paper, then i got the collins revision guide (though ngl cgp is better) and just typed up notes while saying them aloud. this filled in the gaps that the video didn't cover and helped me use the auditory and note writing skills to remember. i was moving pretty fast lol because i didn't have much time but this is definitely a good strategy for short-to-medium term memory. i didn't do any practice papers which i regret, but definitely try and get one or two in after you know all the content - i think it's really important to know before you test. you definitely have enough time to massively get your grades up high through using strategies like this. ik chemistry is complicated, but understanding it and taking time to know the topics is the making of a grade 8/9 student, and means you can respond to any question - but similarly, i think gcses (as opposed to a levels) are mostly a memory test and all i really did was memorise and got an 8, so try to understand, but if you can't, you should still be fine if you know everything on the spec.
chemistry is just genuinely a test of, do you know all these topics and can you answer a certain set of questions. it's more memorisation than practical application than other subjects. split it up by topic and don't passively read, read aloud or make notes or watch videos (there's so many helpful ones on youtube). repetition is important. maybe even read aloud with a friend or fam member, and talk it through with them (my dad loves to discuss each topic with me which really helps). you've got this! make sure to learn the practicals as they are commonly 6 markers, and understand processes of anything as they can be large mark questions and you would want to be able to recall. also focus on things you aren't so strong on first, as it gets it out the way. when it comes to understanding the topics, try and frame it as a discussion with somebody - a family member, friend, or a chemistry teacher. understand each aspect and really get your head around it, and spend enough time to make sure you have a grasp on it. at this stage, you don't need to know everything - just have a broad understanding, and then you can start taking detailed notes, reading revision guides, and filling in the blanks. take a look at the examiners' reports if you feel it will help as well, to help with answering the questions.
my biggest tip when you don't understand things yet - prioritise learning content over putting it into play with practice papers. aim to do those after you know things, so you are genuinely testing yourself. chemistry is confusing, yes, and it is daunting, but if you know common questions that usually come up, and if you have a good understanding of each topic and THEN an understanding of its nuances - you've got it. for me it was genuinely just trying to discuss the topics, then making notes, because at least i could understand bio and physics. i know it seems hard to wrap your head around it now, but be patient, take the time to unpack each topic well - for example, say you're struggling with organic chemistry. if i were you, i'd go through it with somebody first maybe. then (or if that's not possible), i would watch videos on youtube to fully flesh it out, probably freesciencelessons for a first run through. if you like making notes, defo do so with this. then i would use the revision guides and make notes, read through, learn the ins and outs and finer points of organic chem. then i would test myself, then come back to find specific videos or pages on things i struggled with. then i would try my hand at a physics and maths tutor set of questions on organic chemistry. you have enough time now to spend some time, maybe a few days per topic (idk how many other subjects you have on your plate at the moment) and you've totally got the time to smash it and get your head around it. it's definitely possible!
i hope this helped, please let me know if you'd like any other tips separate to these if these don't work as i'm sure i'll have other ideas, and good luck in the exams :smile:


Thank you so much you’re a life saver 😊🫶
Reply 19
do you find that in general you have a good short term memory or did this revision technique just click for you?

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