History comeback?

Alright so at GCSE I got 9s and final an 8, which I was pretty happy with :smile:

. However, getting to A-Level, I've been struggling and got mainly a B (60% on both tests) and have been feeling really discouraged. Evaluating at the end and interim are mainly my weaknesses and the structures for 20 and 10 markers hasn't really been going in my head at all. I know its normal to be awful first time round but now that its February I wanted to take the holiday as an opportunity to improve before I get another improvement prediction (B/C). I guess my question is if people have any websites or yt channel recs for learning more about essay structures , especially for OCR! I have a few methods but knowing a few more would be a life-saver honestly!

Reply 1

OxfordBrookesRep

Official Rep

Hi @EuphrosyneOp,

Well done on your amazing GCSE results! 🎉

The transition from GCSEs to A-Levels is a big step up! It’s completely understandable to feel a bit discouraged, and you definitely won’t be feeling alone.

Since evaluation is one of your weaker areas, it may be worth to ask yourself “So what?” after every point you make. This helps you think about the wider implications and ensures you’re linking back to the question. It might also help to highlight or write in another colour where you’ve evaluated and made connections in your paragraphs - this can make it easier to spot areas for improvement.

Looking at high-scoring essay examples can also reinforce structure and give you a clearer idea of what examiners are looking for.

Taking the holiday to focus on improvement is such a great idea (and make sure you rest too!). Maybe try practicing one essay a day or breaking it down into sections to build confidence.

I hope that this helps! Let us know how you get on below 😊

Best wishes,

Clare
Admissions
Oxford Brookes University