The Student Room Group

Overwhelmed with A Levels

I'm currently in year 13, and I'm completely overwhelmed with work. My breaking point was today in Computer Science when we sat down to do an assessment(one day warning), and I had revised for 2 hours the day before (we had just finished the topic), and I could answer max 1 put of 15 questions. I started crying and now I'm really embarrassed because I hate crying infront of people, but I'm just so tired and frustrated because I've revised so much and I still am stupid
I was never the best revised and now I need to revise basically everything and I have no idea where to start and just want to leave the Earth quite frankly.
I also do English Lit and I have to force myself to write an essay, and I'm so unmotivated despite having mocks in 2 months.
Is anyone else feeling the same? I'm literally sat in the bathroom crying as I write this after that mockery of an exam and I feel so defeated. I need As and Bs to get into uni but i'm currently an ACC student and only have 2 months to fix it.
Any advice or moral support would be highly appreciated so I can stop ugly crying every time I fail a test

Reply 1

We all have moments like this where we’re struggling, you're really not alone. I think the first thing you need to do is be kind to yourself.

Try repeating a mantra to yourself, “this will pass” or “I am safe” because this is only a temporary feeling and it will help you regain control. And if you’re crying, it’s okay. It’s natural and actually a pretty effective emotional release. Let it out. Finally, take some deep slow breaths.

Now that you’re working on calming down, I do have a few tips to manage your studies better. Sounds like the subject matter of Computer Science is overwhelming you, so try this:

1.

Break tasks into smaller steps
Large tasks are daunting, so breaking them down into something more manageable feels more achievable. Eg instead of simply “studying for the assessment”, try a bitesized task like “review topic/area 1” and break them down even smaller if you have to. So you can fully understand and remember it. Then move onto the next.

2.

Focus on the “why” and “how” behind scientific principles.
Try to understand the underlying concepts instead of just memorizing facts or formulas. Use analogies or real-world examples to make abstract concepts more relatable.

3.

Use Active Learning Techniques
Practice retrieval: Test yourself frequently without looking at your notes. Use flashcards or explain the concepts aloud as if you’re teaching someone else. Teaching is a powerful way to reinforce your understanding.

4.

Divide the material into smaller, digestible parts.
Science subjects often build on previous knowledge, so ensure you grasp the basics before moving to more advanced topics.

5.

Work through practice problems regularly.
Start with simpler problems to ensure you understand the foundational concepts, then move on to more complex ones.

6.

Focus on progress
You’re not going to achieve perfection overnight. It’s ok if things aren’t flawless. A consistent effort over time leads to improvement. Remember that.

7.

Seek help if you need it
For tricky topics you’re struggling with, reach out to your teacher. A fresh perspective can make things clearer and easier to manage.

Listen, we all procrastinate (at any age!) so for your essay writing:

- Limit distractions
Find a quiet and organised space to study. Limit distractions like social media. There’s actually a setting on your laptop which can do this. Turn your phone on silent mode.

- Create a schedule
Plan specific times for writing and stick to them. Break your day into focused writing sessions (30 mins at a time) followed by short breaks (10 mins). This helps focus your mind without burning out.

Lastly, speak to someone you trust. Talking is good. Of course you have our community here (who I’m sure will jump in with more tips). But sharing your feelings with a friend or family can really help relieve the burden.

I hope this has helped you (and you’re out of the bathroom).

Take care of yourself.

Samantha - USW Social Team

Reply 2

Original post by USW Social Team
We all have moments like this where we’re struggling, you're really not alone. I think the first thing you need to do is be kind to yourself.
Try repeating a mantra to yourself, “this will pass” or “I am safe” because this is only a temporary feeling and it will help you regain control. And if you’re crying, it’s okay. It’s natural and actually a pretty effective emotional release. Let it out. Finally, take some deep slow breaths.
Now that you’re working on calming down, I do have a few tips to manage your studies better. Sounds like the subject matter of Computer Science is overwhelming you, so try this:

1.

Break tasks into smaller steps
Large tasks are daunting, so breaking them down into something more manageable feels more achievable. Eg instead of simply “studying for the assessment”, try a bitesized task like “review topic/area 1” and break them down even smaller if you have to. So you can fully understand and remember it. Then move onto the next.

2.

Focus on the “why” and “how” behind scientific principles.
Try to understand the underlying concepts instead of just memorizing facts or formulas. Use analogies or real-world examples to make abstract concepts more relatable.

3.

Use Active Learning Techniques
Practice retrieval: Test yourself frequently without looking at your notes. Use flashcards or explain the concepts aloud as if you’re teaching someone else. Teaching is a powerful way to reinforce your understanding.

4.

Divide the material into smaller, digestible parts.
Science subjects often build on previous knowledge, so ensure you grasp the basics before moving to more advanced topics.

5.

Work through practice problems regularly.
Start with simpler problems to ensure you understand the foundational concepts, then move on to more complex ones.

6.

Focus on progress
You’re not going to achieve perfection overnight. It’s ok if things aren’t flawless. A consistent effort over time leads to improvement. Remember that.

7.

Seek help if you need it
For tricky topics you’re struggling with, reach out to your teacher. A fresh perspective can make things clearer and easier to manage.

Listen, we all procrastinate (at any age!) so for your essay writing:
- Limit distractions
Find a quiet and organised space to study. Limit distractions like social media. There’s actually a setting on your laptop which can do this. Turn your phone on silent mode.
- Create a schedule
Plan specific times for writing and stick to them. Break your day into focused writing sessions (30 mins at a time) followed by short breaks (10 mins). This helps focus your mind without burning out.
Lastly, speak to someone you trust. Talking is good. Of course you have our community here (who I’m sure will jump in with more tips). But sharing your feelings with a friend or family can really help relieve the burden.
I hope this has helped you (and you’re out of the bathroom).
Take care of yourself.
Samantha - USW Social Team

Thanks so much, I needed that advice. I'll make sure to follow it and I hope I can achieve my grades without having another bathroom breakdown! 🤞🤞

Reply 3

Yeah I feel the exact same. Cried in front of my friends today over my grades and it was so out of character for me since I never cry at school. I do Eng Lit as well so maybe we can chat to each other about it? Especially with mocks coming up, so perhaps you'll have more motivation and ideas on writing essays? Best of luck to you and hope u know that ur not alone in this and theres someone out there (me!!) who relate..!!

Reply 4

Original post by stressed rat
I'm currently in year 13, and I'm completely overwhelmed with work. My breaking point was today in Computer Science when we sat down to do an assessment(one day warning), and I had revised for 2 hours the day before (we had just finished the topic), and I could answer max 1 put of 15 questions. I started crying and now I'm really embarrassed because I hate crying infront of people, but I'm just so tired and frustrated because I've revised so much and I still am stupid
I was never the best revised and now I need to revise basically everything and I have no idea where to start and just want to leave the Earth quite frankly.
I also do English Lit and I have to force myself to write an essay, and I'm so unmotivated despite having mocks in 2 months.
Is anyone else feeling the same? I'm literally sat in the bathroom crying as I write this after that mockery of an exam and I feel so defeated. I need As and Bs to get into uni but i'm currently an ACC student and only have 2 months to fix it.
Any advice or moral support would be highly appreciated so I can stop ugly crying every time I fail a test

Hi,

It's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed by A-Levels. There's a lot of material to cover in a short space of time, and although they might motivate some students to revise, regular class assessments/essays can make others feel like they're always falling behind.

In terms of English Lit, I'd try and work though your essays paragraph by paragraph. An entire essay can be daunting, but if you have a rough outline of what you want to cover and what each paragraph should focus on, you can write it in smaller chunks. If the due date is relatively far off - a week or so - you can try and write one or two paragraphs a day and then have some time left over to bring the entire essay together. If it's soon, take a day or so and split it into blocks of writing time and break time. 🙂

Good luck!
Eve (Kingston Rep).

Reply 5

Original post by stressed rat
I'm currently in year 13, and I'm completely overwhelmed with work. My breaking point was today in Computer Science when we sat down to do an assessment(one day warning), and I had revised for 2 hours the day before (we had just finished the topic), and I could answer max 1 put of 15 questions. I started crying and now I'm really embarrassed because I hate crying infront of people, but I'm just so tired and frustrated because I've revised so much and I still am stupid
I was never the best revised and now I need to revise basically everything and I have no idea where to start and just want to leave the Earth quite frankly.
I also do English Lit and I have to force myself to write an essay, and I'm so unmotivated despite having mocks in 2 months.
Is anyone else feeling the same? I'm literally sat in the bathroom crying as I write this after that mockery of an exam and I feel so defeated. I need As and Bs to get into uni but i'm currently an ACC student and only have 2 months to fix it.
Any advice or moral support would be highly appreciated so I can stop ugly crying every time I fail a test

I feel you, I'm mentally burntout and I find that the jump between year 12 and 13 has been crazy. I'm doing english lit, lang and psychology A levels and I'm struggling to complete essays for either. The amount of work I've been getting has been over the limits and right now I'm trudging myself through an essay I don't have the motivation to complete but the deadlines compels me to complete. I can't really give advice as I'm entirely in the same boat, mocks on the way and struggling to complete anything well- but I do hope that school gets better for you and that you're able to complete the essays and mocks well. Make sure to take breaks as well, or else you'll struggle even more than you already are and struggle with lack of focus. I'm rooting for you buddy, and I hope everything starts looking up 🙏

Reply 6

Original post by makotoyuuki
Yeah I feel the exact same. Cried in front of my friends today over my grades and it was so out of character for me since I never cry at school. I do Eng Lit as well so maybe we can chat to each other about it? Especially with mocks coming up, so perhaps you'll have more motivation and ideas on writing essays? Best of luck to you and hope u know that ur not alone in this and theres someone out there (me!!) who relate..!!


I can relate bad

Reply 7

Original post by stressed rat
I'm currently in year 13, and I'm completely overwhelmed with work. My breaking point was today in Computer Science when we sat down to do an assessment(one day warning), and I had revised for 2 hours the day before (we had just finished the topic), and I could answer max 1 put of 15 questions. I started crying and now I'm really embarrassed because I hate crying infront of people, but I'm just so tired and frustrated because I've revised so much and I still am stupid
I was never the best revised and now I need to revise basically everything and I have no idea where to start and just want to leave the Earth quite frankly.
I also do English Lit and I have to force myself to write an essay, and I'm so unmotivated despite having mocks in 2 months.
Is anyone else feeling the same? I'm literally sat in the bathroom crying as I write this after that mockery of an exam and I feel so defeated. I need As and Bs to get into uni but i'm currently an ACC student and only have 2 months to fix it.
Any advice or moral support would be highly appreciated so I can stop ugly crying every time I fail a test

Hi @stressed rat,

Everyone has moments like this and you definitely shouldn't feel like you are the only one or be too hard on yourself. The way we speak and treat ourselves is very important so when you are down or stressed think about all the great things you have achieved already! Crying is also okay. Showing and not hiding emotions will also help and in a way release the stress.

I would say that my main thing when it comes to revising is being organised. Scheduling what you will revise and focus on each day, helped me a lot. When it comes to revising, we can easily get sucked into it so don't forget to schedule in regular breaks and keep hydrated. I have revised without breaks and eating/drinking properly and none of the revision went in due to me not being able to fully focus.

Revising is something a lot of people do differently, but having my revision notes more visual also helped me. Have you thought about maybe watching some videos based on your revision topics? This always was useful to me. Something that also helped me was focusing one one topic or subject a day rather than trying to juggle all the subjects in one night.

Lastly, I would say revising in the right setting is also very important. When I was revising I need to have no distractions, the right music on and the right atmosphere in the room. Some people may revise better together but that wasn't the case for me. Don't be so hard on yourself and I am sure you will do great.

Hope this helps! 🙂
^Zac

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