One piece of advice you wish you had known before starting your A-levels

What’s the one piece of advice you wish you had known before starting your A-levels, and how did it impact your journey?

This is a great way for current students to tap into the wisdom and experiences of those who have already walked the path they’re on. Please share your thoughts and let’s help each other get through A-levels.

Reply 1

University of Bath

Official Rep

Lovely idea, thanks for starting this off. I would recommend...

Revise as you go along.

Make sure that your classnotes are neat, clear and organised and revise/go over your topics as you learn them, and make additional posters, flashcards and diagrams if you need to. It sooo pays to be organised and on track with your work from the week you start A levels. It will not only help consolidate your understanding as you learn but also make revising later a lot easier.

How it impacted me? By revising my chemistry modules after school as I learnt them (especially the ones I struggled with in class), it improved my speed at answering questions to the point where I improved my grade to an A at the end of y13 🙂

You will thank yourself for it later on!

Holly
University of Bath

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

meadowwulff

Personally, I've done really fine so far with little to no revision at all.
I think the biggest thing for me would be to not worry so much about missing out on parties and general FOMO. I came to college from an all girls grammar school where I had pretty much no social life and was determined to change this at college. I succeeded, but unfortunately became obsessed with not missing out on anything and became a slave to following trends and lost a lot of my individuality.
I'm in year 13 now and feel like myself again, I've got my first real boyfriend, a good support network of real friends and I've even somehow managed to apply to oxford, something I never would have dreamt of if I stayed at my old school.

So, to my younger self; Don't worry, everything always works out and tomorrow will be kinder. Don't lose your passions, and don't get random piercings just because your mate did too. Goodluck.

🙂

Reply 3

kitty15

Study Forum Helper

Original post by TheAlevelMentor

What’s the one piece of advice you wish you had known before starting your A-levels, and how did it impact your journey?
This is a great way for current students to tap into the wisdom and experiences of those who have already walked the path they’re on. Please share your thoughts and let’s help each other get through A-levels.

Not to worry too much if you don’t have everything figured out academically in the first term.

A Level requires different skills to GCSE, and some study skills need to adapt as well. Trust that it’ll come with time and practice, and ask for any feedback by teachers on how they think you should improve.