Any tips, websites videos to have in mind when in Year 12

Hey!
I'm planning to do Maths , Chemistry, Biology, Maths and FM for upcoming Year 12. Is there any advise that you could give me and stated in the post title.
Anything will do!
Thank you in Advance :smile:

Reply 1

UtterlyUseless69

Original post by koolkhad

Which exam boards and which optional papers for FM?

Reply 2

UtterlyUseless69

In terms of advice I can offer:

Chemistry:

Practice, practice, practice! You can know the content like the back of your hand, but knowing how to apply it to an exam question is what really counts. You can get away with using both old and new spec past papers, but the old spec papers tend to have less topic overlap and a few topics from them have been removed entirely (or moved from one year of the A level course to the other), so have a copy of the (new) specification handy if using the older papers.

Chemistry is extremely repetitive at A level and there is a lot of memorisation to be done. As such, active recall methods of revision will be essential. You can find all sorts of quizzes on sporcle.com for reagents and conditions for organic reactions, colours of ions etc you need to memorise, for example.

Maths:

The first paragraph from the chemistry section is largely applicable, just don’t bother using the old spec papers for stats and mechanics (unless you happen to do either in FM) as they are just a complete mess and there is so much stuff in them that has been moved to FM.

Further maths:

Same as the above really. Just don’t be too daunted by FM. It is fascinating and the grade boundaries are set so that somewhere between 50% and 60% of candidates get at least a grade A. Enjoy it and get regular practice with it.

More generally:

If you are going to make notes and flashcards, start at the earliest possible opportunity and do not leave it until year 13 only to panic at the very end.

Have a routine and make sure you get adequate sleep.

Study sensibly- don’t overwork yourself by continuously studying for hours on end. Take 15 minute breaks every 45 - 60 minutes as productivity usually drops off after continuous study for periods of that sort of length. It also makes dividing your time between your subjects easier and so you don’t end up overcommitting to one and forgetting the others.

Reply 3

koolkhad

Original post by UtterlyUseless69

Which exam boards and which optional papers for FM?

I'm doing AQA FM
I know that Paper 1 and 2 is pure fm and Paper 3 is decision and statistics

Reply 4

UtterlyUseless69

Original post by koolkhad

I'm doing AQA FM
I know that Paper 1 and 2 is pure fm and Paper 3 is decision and statistics

For AQA FM, TL maths is your best bet. I presume you will also be doing AQA for ordinary A level maths, for which TL maths will also serve you well.

You may wish to use physics and maths tutor and the AMSP as well

TL maths:

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCCgGyPD6MYQcHuMIc-Kv-Uw

PMT:

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/maths-revision/a-level-aqa/

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/maths-revision/further-core-pure/

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/maths-revision/further-statistics/

(PMT has nothing for AQA decision, sadly)

AMSP:

https://amsp.org.uk/students/studying-a-level-further-mathematics/resources/

As for chemistry, my resource recommendations vary by exam board.

Reply 5

koolkhad

Original post by UtterlyUseless69

For AQA FM, TL maths is your best bet. I presume you will also be doing AQA for ordinary A level maths, for which TL maths will also serve you well.
You may wish to use physics and maths tutor and the AMSP as well
TL maths:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCCgGyPD6MYQcHuMIc-Kv-Uw
PMT:
https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/maths-revision/a-level-aqa/
https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/maths-revision/further-core-pure/
https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/maths-revision/further-statistics/
(PMT has nothing for AQA decision, sadly)
AMSP:
https://amsp.org.uk/students/studying-a-level-further-mathematics/resources/
As for chemistry, my resource recommendations vary by exam board.

Thank you soo much! 😀. For Chemistry A-level its AQA

(edited 5 months ago)

Reply 6

UtterlyUseless69

Original post by koolkhad

Thank you soo much! 😀. For Chemistry A-level its AQA

Eliot Rintoul, Chris Clay, Davies A level Chemistry and PMT are your best bets

https://m.youtube.com/@MrERintoul

https://drclays-alevelchemistry.com

https://m.youtube.com/@DocClay1978ALevelChemistry/videos

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCjnvQEEejEGQrPT4JVJgbyQ

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/chemistry-revision/a-level-aqa/

Reply 7

04MR17

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

My practice methods for A Level Maths revolved entirely around past papers. I made a spreadsheet, different sheet for each paper, all questions listed out with how many marks were available for each one - and were colour-coded by topic. As soon as you've done 80% of the content for one of the papers, you can start practicing. Timed conditions every time, be brutal in your marking - but mark it yourself every time so that you understand the mark scheme. I got an A in A Levels Maths, even though I really struggled to understand what was going on in year 13, but I did well not through much natural talent but through knowing how the questions would be marked and having done all of them myself in practice.

I was lucky - I had 12 years of stock in Maths papers to use. You've got around 6 years in each of your subjects, but there are also Sample Assessment Materials, Specimen papers and other mock papers created too.

My advice to you, to prepare over the summer, is make the spreadsheets. :wink:

Reply 8

koolkhad

Would it be reasonable if I just like go over some of the content for each subject right now before I enter Year 12?

Reply 9

04MR17

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by koolkhad

Would it be reasonable if I just like go over some of the content for each subject right now before I enter Year 12?

Look at the list of different topics covered in the units of the specification - sure.
I wouldn't start to learn stuff now though, give that brain a rest. Use your time to get organised, get some fresh air, get into a routine. Don't burn that brain in this heat :hide:

Reply 10

koolkhad

Original post by 04MR17

lol ok 🙂 cuz like I always have the want of needing to prepare so tht it is much easier for me to understand when in skl
I deffo need to relax

Reply 11

04MR17

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by koolkhad

lol ok 🙂 cuz like I always have the want of needing to prepare so tht it is much easier for me to understand when in skl
I deffo need to relax

Best thing to do for yourself is focus on wellbeing and organisation. That sets you up far better for A Levels than scrambling to learn content now, in early August.

Reply 12

UtterlyUseless69

Original post by koolkhad

Would it be reasonable if I just like go over some of the content for each subject right now before I enter Year 12?

If you are reading up on your subjects out of interest, then by all means. But it’s not worth spending too much time on it - after all, you have a fair bit of holiday time left to enjoy and protracted periods of time spent reading wouldn’t necessarily benefit you much academically.

Reply 13

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

Original post by koolkhad

Would it be reasonable if I just like go over some of the content for each subject right now before I enter Year 12?

I’ve been doing some stuff in the CGP head start books, only about an hour per day so I can try and make sure my brain doesn’t disintegrate over the summer!

Reply 14

koolkhad

How about for physics?

Reply 15

UtterlyUseless69

Original post by koolkhad

How about for physics?

Which exam board are you with?

I personally did OCR B back in the day and never quite got the hang of it (probably because I hated a lot of the material and had no motivation to actively try to get better at it), but still got an A (I don’t know how).

OCR B has few resources, but OCR A and AQA tend to be easier to find materials for. As such, I may be able to give you some recommendations for resources.

I reckon it’s more of the same - practice, more practice and even more practice.

Reply 16

koolkhad

Original post by UtterlyUseless69

Which exam board are you with?
I personally did OCR B back in the day and never quite got the hang of it (probably because I hated a lot of the material and had no motivation to actively try to get better at it), but still got an A (I don’t know how).
OCR B has few resources, but OCR A and AQA tend to be easier to find materials for. As such, I may be able to give you some recommendations for resources.
I reckon it’s more of the same - practice, more practice and even more practice.