Are A Levels supposed to be easy?

6

I'm a bit confused because I finished my Year 1 Exams yesterday.
Throughout the year a lot of teachers have been emphasising on having a folder of notes, otherwise you'd not be ale to revise as good. I don't use my folders at all, or use my notes, so I've just been barely getting by with my exercise book, and I pretty much get by that way . A week before the exam I started doing flashcards and stuff, and trying to relearn the content, and it was pretty straightforward. For maths, I did a day-before revision to learn the content that I haven't. A lot of stuff in A level maths was ... easy to get but hard to remember, i guess? I found it fun.
I'm really confused as a lot of people say that A levels are sometimes harder than Uni, and without folders of notes you'll fail, can someone clarify?

Reply 1

flowersinmyhair

Volunteer Team

20

A-levels are not supposed to be easy, and you need to be putting in consistent effort throughout the course in order to maximise your outcomes. You do not necessarily need folders and folders of notes, that is just one way of revising, but the main thing is you need to be putting in consistent effort using whatever revision techniques you decide to use.

Reply 2

EdgeHillStudents

Official Rep

13

Original post by TheBurn

I'm a bit confused because I finished my Year 1 Exams yesterday.
Throughout the year a lot of teachers have been emphasising on having a folder of notes, otherwise you'd not be ale to revise as good. I don't use my folders at all, or use my notes, so I've just been barely getting by with my exercise book, and I pretty much get by that way . A week before the exam I started doing flashcards and stuff, and trying to relearn the content, and it was pretty straightforward. For maths, I did a day-before revision to learn the content that I haven't. A lot of stuff in A level maths was ... easy to get but hard to remember, i guess? I found it fun.
I'm really confused as a lot of people say that A levels are sometimes harder than Uni, and without folders of notes you'll fail, can someone clarify?

Hi @TheBurn,

I think a-levels are described as harder due to the shift from GCSE to A-Levels of rather than learning multiple subjects really at a base level of knowledge to learning usually three subjects to a much greater level and require greater knowledge of a subject. I think it can also be based on the subjects chosen of what you would then have to learn for example when I did A-Level geography there was quite a jump and a drop in my grades because rather than answering 5 or 9 mark questions which you just needed to know the material for. You then had to know how to write a good essay what that requires and knowing a lot more information than what was expected of you in GCSE. It wasn't just memorisiing it, it was being able to actually use this information correctly and understand it.

I think also people find the shift of not being in everyday and having to manage your time and how much work you have to do rather daunting and challenging.

Rebecca
3rd Year Geoenvironmental Hazards Student

Reply 3

username7144506

7

Original post by TheBurn

I'm a bit confused because I finished my Year 1 Exams yesterday.
Throughout the year a lot of teachers have been emphasising on having a folder of notes, otherwise you'd not be ale to revise as good. I don't use my folders at all, or use my notes, so I've just been barely getting by with my exercise book, and I pretty much get by that way . A week before the exam I started doing flashcards and stuff, and trying to relearn the content, and it was pretty straightforward. For maths, I did a day-before revision to learn the content that I haven't. A lot of stuff in A level maths was ... easy to get but hard to remember, i guess? I found it fun.
I'm really confused as a lot of people say that A levels are sometimes harder than Uni, and without folders of notes you'll fail, can someone clarify?

How you revise and whether it is effective matters most, and it depends on the subject. I found A and AS-Levels more demanding than my foundation year and second year at university.

Reply 4

arunas.callie

6

Original post by TheBurn

I'm a bit confused because I finished my Year 1 Exams yesterday.
Throughout the year a lot of teachers have been emphasising on having a folder of notes, otherwise you'd not be ale to revise as good. I don't use my folders at all, or use my notes, so I've just been barely getting by with my exercise book, and I pretty much get by that way . A week before the exam I started doing flashcards and stuff, and trying to relearn the content, and it was pretty straightforward. For maths, I did a day-before revision to learn the content that I haven't. A lot of stuff in A level maths was ... easy to get but hard to remember, i guess? I found it fun.
I'm really confused as a lot of people say that A levels are sometimes harder than Uni, and without folders of notes you'll fail, can someone clarify?

they're "easy" if you put in consistent work and effort, they're not supposed to be unachievable after all. "Easy" would qualify as something simple to understand, simple to recall and needing minimal attention, A-levels do not fit that bill. Of course some people are just talented beyond the average.

Are A Levels supposed to be easy?

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