A-Level Revision HELP!

I am currently in lower sixth, and I am revising History, Philosophy, and English Literature for my UCAS prediction exams.
I didn't take History or Philosophy at GCSE, and so l am unsure on the best way to revise for these subjects. I played the system a bit at GCSE by using it as a memory game, as opposed to understanding, which was great at the time, but a bit annoying now!
Anyone got any good tips or help for this? Let me know if you need any more information.
Thanks very much!

Reply 1

Paulagutu12

3

Original post

by Anonymous

I am currently in lower sixth, and I am revising History, Philosophy, and English Literature for my UCAS prediction exams.
I didn't take History or Philosophy at GCSE, and so l am unsure on the best way to revise for these subjects. I played the system a bit at GCSE by using it as a memory game, as opposed to understanding, which was great at the time, but a bit annoying now!
Anyone got any good tips or help for this? Let me know if you need any more information.
Thanks very much!

For history I really recommend planning your essays out on intro and peeeel paragraphs and conclusions, criteria and judgement all of that for each main topic or theme such as great leap forward (for Mao china) or change in housing and employment from 1917 to 1991(Lenin to yeltsin Russian) . And also flashcards can be really helpful as you do active recall and there's lots of content but focus on key numbers such as deaths or unemployment rate for example things that you wil be able to score high on in the exam if you write about them.

Reply 2

wilamena

3

Since you didn’t take History or Philosophy at GCSE, you’ll need to focus on building both knowledge and analytical skills, A-Levels (and especially prediction exams) are much less about rote memorization and more about argumentation, understanding, and application. Make structured essay plans, History is all about arguments, not just facts. For each topic, learn, Key themes/debates, Key historians’ viewpoints, Evidence for and against. Practise source questions, If your exam has source analysis, Practice, Provenance (Who wrote it? When? Why?) Tone & purpose (Is it propaganda? A private diary?) Cross-referencing (How does it compare to other sources? Tone & purpose (Is it propaganda? A private diary?) Cross-referencing (How does it compare to other sources? Active recall over passive reading, Don’t just re-read notes; test yourself with: Flashcards (for key dates/terms)

Reply 3

kellyBU

Official Rep

7

Original post

by Anonymous

I am currently in lower sixth, and I am revising History, Philosophy, and English Literature for my UCAS prediction exams.
I didn't take History or Philosophy at GCSE, and so l am unsure on the best way to revise for these subjects. I played the system a bit at GCSE by using it as a memory game, as opposed to understanding, which was great at the time, but a bit annoying now!
Anyone got any good tips or help for this? Let me know if you need any more information.
Thanks very much!

Hey! Here are some tips to help I found help me before exams:
Firstly, I used the app Flora which really motivated me, its a great tool to use to motivate you and track your tasks!

•Focus on the tough stuff first: Pick the subjects or topics you're struggling with the most and tackle those first. It’ll give you a confidence boost once you get them out of the way.

•Do past exam papers: They’re a goldmine! You’ll get used to the format and find out what kind of questions come up often.

•Active recall > passive reading: Instead of just reading notes, quiz yourself. Try to recall the info from memory – it helps lock it in way better. Plus this is way more fun!

•Study with friends: If you can, get together with classmates or friends. Explaining things to others helps reinforce your own understanding.

•Ask for help if you’re stuck: Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers or tutors for clarification. Most universities (like Bournemouth Uni!) offer extra support, whether it’s workshops, office hours, or online resources.

•Stay organized: Keep your notes tidy and create a study plan. It’ll help you stay on track and avoid last-minute panic

•Look after yourself: Sleep, eat well, and take breaks. If you’re well-rested, your brain will work way better. Don’t burn yourself out!

•Stay positive: It’s all about mindset. Take things one step at a time, and celebrate the small wins. You’ve got this!And hey, if you're ever thinking about uni down the line, Bournemouth University has a ton of great support systems in place to help students succeed – just saying! 🤭

Good luck, and go smash those exams!

(edited 11 months ago)

A-Level Revision HELP!

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