help! really struggling to get back into revision!!

11

I have just started y12 and I am doing english lit, history and art. As his and lit are both essay based subjects, we haven't actually done much content yet, in history we have been doing context and some background stuff for the course, and for lit we are getting to know the stories by watching othello (we had one lesson on wuthering heights where we read a bit of the first chapter). Loads of y13s have said that its best to start working from the start of y12 and 'hit the ground running', but i am really struggling to make myself work!! ofc i keep up with the homework and pay attention in lessons, but i am struggling to make myself read ahead and make flashcards (i mostly use flashcards for revision but making them sucks the life out of me). i dont want to do the bare minimum, but i keep making up excuses for not doing extra stuff that i have set myself, rather than the teacher, such as mind maps for themes in othello and history flashcards for the first couple pages in the textbook because we havent done much on it in class yet. i really want to get ahead and not have regrets in the future, but i cba to work at the moment. (i have PPEs in three weeks) should i push through and try and make some resources for content that we have not done much on yet, or should i let myself relax for the first month or so while we actually learn some content?? help (also any tips for motivating yourself after a long summer holiday would be appreciated!!!)

thanks :smile:

Reply 1

nikiiiiiii

10

Original post

by eimme

I have just started y12 and I am doing english lit, history and art. As his and lit are both essay based subjects, we haven't actually done much content yet, in history we have been doing context and some background stuff for the course, and for lit we are getting to know the stories by watching othello (we had one lesson on wuthering heights where we read a bit of the first chapter). Loads of y13s have said that its best to start working from the start of y12 and 'hit the ground running', but i am really struggling to make myself work!! ofc i keep up with the homework and pay attention in lessons, but i am struggling to make myself read ahead and make flashcards (i mostly use flashcards for revision but making them sucks the life out of me). i dont want to do the bare minimum, but i keep making up excuses for not doing extra stuff that i have set myself, rather than the teacher, such as mind maps for themes in othello and history flashcards for the first couple pages in the textbook because we havent done much on it in class yet. i really want to get ahead and not have regrets in the future, but i cba to work at the moment. (i have PPEs in three weeks) should i push through and try and make some resources for content that we have not done much on yet, or should i let myself relax for the first month or so while we actually learn some content?? help (also any tips for motivating yourself after a long summer holiday would be appreciated!!!)
thanks :smile:

Let yourself relax. There's no point making revision resources with barely any content because you know you'll just make better ones later. Especially with English Literature I don't think it would be helpful to try revising a text that you haven't even finished because you're just not going to understand it yet. For Lit, the best thing to do while reading a text for the fist time is to make sure to annotate it well while reading and during class discussion with points that others make or your own analysis. You can create more organised revision resources from the annotations later.

Reply 2

University of Bath

Official Rep

14

Original post

by eimme

I have just started y12 and I am doing english lit, history and art. As his and lit are both essay based subjects, we haven't actually done much content yet, in history we have been doing context and some background stuff for the course, and for lit we are getting to know the stories by watching othello (we had one lesson on wuthering heights where we read a bit of the first chapter). Loads of y13s have said that its best to start working from the start of y12 and 'hit the ground running', but i am really struggling to make myself work!! ofc i keep up with the homework and pay attention in lessons, but i am struggling to make myself read ahead and make flashcards (i mostly use flashcards for revision but making them sucks the life out of me). i dont want to do the bare minimum, but i keep making up excuses for not doing extra stuff that i have set myself, rather than the teacher, such as mind maps for themes in othello and history flashcards for the first couple pages in the textbook because we havent done much on it in class yet. i really want to get ahead and not have regrets in the future, but i cba to work at the moment. (i have PPEs in three weeks) should i push through and try and make some resources for content that we have not done much on yet, or should i let myself relax for the first month or so while we actually learn some content?? help (also any tips for motivating yourself after a long summer holiday would be appreciated!!!)
thanks :smile:

Hi there,

As has already been said, you are doing all the right things at the moment by settling into your new subjects, keeping up with work and paying attention in class. I would say that whilst it pays to be organised, such as keeping neat, full and up to date notes on the content you're learning, there is no rush to make all of your revision resources now. What you have learnt so far will likely be supplemented with what you learn later which will mean if you make your resources later when you understand the content more fully, they will be more helpful to you.

In terms of general motivation, try to think of this as a new adventure. It sounds a bit cheesy but now you're in sixth form you have a lot more independence and also more scope to focus your energy on subjects you like. I'd also recommend setting yourself rewards for doing what you need to do, such as having one in every three or four free periods off to do something you enjoy and relax.

You don't need to panic - just give yourself plenty of time to settle into your new lifestyle and get used to your subjects content - just keep doing what you're doing and don't leave the class with unanswered questions or unfinished notes and it will soon become easier to know when to start revising.

I hope this help and best of luck 🙂

(edited 1 month ago)

help! really struggling to get back into revision!!

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