The Student Room Group

How can I revise for Combined Science GCSE

I am currently studying Combined Science AQA GCSE's at college as I was homeschooled and only sat Maths and English and I have not studied science for 4 years. I just got a letter in the mail saying I have been placed on intervention at low risk. I believe I am currently predicted 4 in Physics and Chemistry and a 5 for Biology but this is based on assessments not past papers or mocks. Multiple people have gotten this letter and I find the teaching very bad, for Biology the teacher just reads of a slide and doesn't give us any work at all to do in class, just gives us a booklet to complete at home which doesn't get marked and we didn't get the answers till I asked. For Physics the teacher shows us graphs and formulas on the board then just gives us questions to complete in a booklet in class. The Chemistry teacher is the only decent one. We didn't get any revision material for the winter break we were supposed to for physics so I asked the teacher but was told that we aren't getting them and they would bring it up in class but never did. I also find myself always asking the teachers for the stuff to be put on teams they say they will but they never do except for my chemistry teacher. I have mocks in early February and I need to get a 4-4, preferably a 5-5 but a 4-4 is the requirement to get onto higher the mock exams consist of only Paper 1s for each subject. In the future I would like to progress onto Physics A-level. So my question is how can I revise for Combined Science? I feel like I spend most of my 'revision time' actually looking for how to revise. I have tried Youtube videos, pmt, seneca, gizmo, past papers, BBC Bitesize and the booklets I get in class but I am not sure what to stick with.

Reply 1

Make flashcards

Go through past papers with 3 pen technique- (1 colour for what you remember without opening any resources, 1 colour for what you know after reading through notes or revision guide, 1 colour for corrections using markscheme)

Blurting/ mindmapping

Ask teachers for support if needed- they are there to help you!

Focus in lessons 🙂*↕️

Watch videos on weak topics and make notes


Good luck, you can do it!!
:thumbsup:

Reply 2

Also PUT THE PHONE AWAY!

:ditto:

Reply 3

I think that the most important thing for you right now is to just stick with one revision method and just lock in. I wouldn’t say GCSE combined is the hardest thing in the world and a high end grade is definitely achievable by just locking in and revise. The revision material that you’ve list are all very useful and I would say just lock in and do work mate

Reply 4

Original post
by HelloKittyCat
I am currently studying Combined Science AQA GCSE's at college as I was homeschooled and only sat Maths and English and I have not studied science for 4 years. I just got a letter in the mail saying I have been placed on intervention at low risk. I believe I am currently predicted 4 in Physics and Chemistry and a 5 for Biology but this is based on assessments not past papers or mocks. Multiple people have gotten this letter and I find the teaching very bad, for Biology the teacher just reads of a slide and doesn't give us any work at all to do in class, just gives us a booklet to complete at home which doesn't get marked and we didn't get the answers till I asked. For Physics the teacher shows us graphs and formulas on the board then just gives us questions to complete in a booklet in class. The Chemistry teacher is the only decent one. We didn't get any revision material for the winter break we were supposed to for physics so I asked the teacher but was told that we aren't getting them and they would bring it up in class but never did. I also find myself always asking the teachers for the stuff to be put on teams they say they will but they never do except for my chemistry teacher. I have mocks in early February and I need to get a 4-4, preferably a 5-5 but a 4-4 is the requirement to get onto higher the mock exams consist of only Paper 1s for each subject. In the future I would like to progress onto Physics A-level. So my question is how can I revise for Combined Science? I feel like I spend most of my 'revision time' actually looking for how to revise. I have tried Youtube videos, pmt, seneca, gizmo, past papers, BBC Bitesize and the booklets I get in class but I am not sure what to stick with.
Hey, as a student rep on TSR, I'd honestly say you're not alone here and the key thing is to simplify and stick to a system, especially given you've come back to science after 4 years. For AQA Combined Science Paper 1, I'd recommend picking PMT + BBC Bitesize as your core and using past paper questions early, not as a "final step". Start by going through the AQA Specification line by line for each paper 1 topic (Cells, organisation, bonding, energy forces etc.) For physics A-level, build a routing, active recall, exam practice, and reviewing mistakes.
Trenyce (Kingston rep)

Reply 5

Original post
by Kingston Trenyce
Hey, as a student rep on TSR, I'd honestly say you're not alone here and the key thing is to simplify and stick to a system, especially given you've come back to science after 4 years. For AQA Combined Science Paper 1, I'd recommend picking PMT + BBC Bitesize as your core and using past paper questions early, not as a "final step". Start by going through the AQA Specification line by line for each paper 1 topic (Cells, organisation, bonding, energy forces etc.) For physics A-level, build a routing, active recall, exam practice, and reviewing mistakes.
Trenyce (Kingston rep)

Thank you this is very helpful. How many hours per subject do you recommend I revise if I do 3 hours of in class study per week for each subject

Reply 6

Thank you I do struggle with focusing in lessons as I am extremely fatigued but I do try. How many hours per subject do you recommend I revise if I do 3 hours of in class study per week for each subject

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