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GCSE Help

Im currently in y11 and as you all know it's January now. For some context before I get to my main question, my mocks were completed in Nov after the half-term break and I'm getting my results next week but I've got my marks already so I can make an educated guess on the grade boundaries. I really need some tips like for my physics mock exam I did every single question which could come up and that's all I did. Can I get some tips, I know past papers and other stuff work but like what would a typical study session genuinely look like for a grade 9 student as Im so lost. I realised my potential too late and I have wanted all 9s since the y10 mocks. Plssss anyone.. My y10 mock grades:maths - 8 (2 off 9) - edexcel english lit - 8 - edexcel english lang - 6 - aqa physics - 7 -aqa biology - 9 (barely) -aqa chemistry - 7- aqa pe -7 -aqa re - 7 -aqa - re long course a history -8 - aqa computing - 7 - ocr spanish - 7 -aqa new spec. My y11 mock grades (based off my marks in nov mocks ):maths - 9 (barely) - edexcel english lit - 7 - edexcel english lang - 8 - aqa physics - 9 -aqa biology - 8 -aqa chemistry - 9- aqa pe -7 -aqa re - 7 -aqa re long course a history -7 - aqa computing - 7/8 - ocr spanish - 7/8 -aqa new spec
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 1

Original post
by wbejifbawo
Im currently in y11 and as you all know it's January now. For some context before I get to my main question, my mocks were completed in Nov after the half-term break and I'm getting my results next week but I've got my marks already so I can make an educated guess on the grade boundaries. I really need some tips like for my physics mock exam I did every single question which could come up and that's all I did. Can I get some tips, I know past papers and other stuff work but like what would a typical study session genuinely look like for a grade 9 student as Im so lost. I realised my potential too late and I have wanted all 9s since the y10 mocks. Plssss anyone.. My y10 mock grades:maths - 8 (2 off 9) - edexcel english lit - 8 - edexcel english lang - 6 - aqa physics - 7 -aqa biology - 9 (barely) -aqa chemistry - 7- aqa pe -7 -aqa re - 7 -aqa - re long course a history -8 - aqa computing - 7 - ocr spanish - 7 -aqa new spec. My y11 mock grades (based off my marks in nov mocks ):maths - 9 (barely) - edexcel english lit - 7 - edexcel english lang - 8 - aqa physics - 9 -aqa biology - 8 -aqa chemistry - 9- aqa pe -7 -aqa re - 7 -aqa re long course a history -7 - aqa computing - 7/8 - ocr spanish - 7/8 -aqa new spec

hey, it looks like you're doing really well so far! but ikwym - you're doing good, but you want to do better.

lit and lang: once i had done all the past paper questions, i made up new questions (which you could do with ai now) and create a detailed plan on what id say for each. for this, i would lay out the point, the evidence, and then i basically picked apart the evidence - its important you pick the right quotes for this - and would explain how the words/structure would imply, their deeper meaning, the tone that is presents for the audience as well as its general effect on the audience, and how this demonstrated that the writer did x effectively, linking back to the point/question. Think PEEAAL (point, evidence, explain, analysis, audience, link back to point and question). i also found that chatgpt was really helpful in training me to pick up certain bits for analysis - used to feed the quote into the chat and it would pick it apart for me and how it relates to the question

unforch, i cannot advise on the creative writing aspect as i was terrible at it but got lucky in the exam when they asked me to write an article instead.

i know that not everyone has the resources for this, but a private tutor really helped me with gaining confidence with my analysis, as well as marking essays and giving feedback

maths: maths genie was great for targeting specific areas i was struggling with. PMT was great for more past paper questions. ive also heard myedspace is good?

sciences: PMT to make flashcards(make sure to use markscheme language), studymind for past paper questions based on topic and then inputting questions i got wrong into a flashcard. gcse science its literally a memorisation game so just focus on spaced repetition and getting the markscheme language right

re: made tons of flashcards (which take a lot of time upfront, i would type mine using anki/brainscape), and then also create lots of essay plans, similar to the structure mentioned above but obviously taking out english-specific parts. kindly asked my teacher to mark a couple i had struggled with

languages: here, the one thing i did was fully memorise my speaking answers, or at least most of them. i included lots of grade 9 phrases and a range of vocabulary so that once i had memorised that, i was not only set for the speaking, but also the reading and writing too just bc the flashcards included such a range of vocab. yeah i also did flashcards on memrise, which had premade flashcards for my textbook already, just for some extra vocab but in hindsight, i didnt need to do that. for listening, go on language learning youtube channels and practice listening comprehension on there. this is assuming that you have already done all the past papers

sorry, i didnt do the other gcses you are sitting, but hoping that is helpful :smile:

Reply 2

Original post
by beanie2672
hey, it looks like you're doing really well so far! but ikwym - you're doing good, but you want to do better.
lit and lang: once i had done all the past paper questions, i made up new questions (which you could do with ai now) and create a detailed plan on what id say for each. for this, i would lay out the point, the evidence, and then i basically picked apart the evidence - its important you pick the right quotes for this - and would explain how the words/structure would imply, their deeper meaning, the tone that is presents for the audience as well as its general effect on the audience, and how this demonstrated that the writer did x effectively, linking back to the point/question. Think PEEAAL (point, evidence, explain, analysis, audience, link back to point and question). i also found that chatgpt was really helpful in training me to pick up certain bits for analysis - used to feed the quote into the chat and it would pick it apart for me and how it relates to the question
unforch, i cannot advise on the creative writing aspect as i was terrible at it but got lucky in the exam when they asked me to write an article instead.
i know that not everyone has the resources for this, but a private tutor really helped me with gaining confidence with my analysis, as well as marking essays and giving feedback
maths: maths genie was great for targeting specific areas i was struggling with. PMT was great for more past paper questions. ive also heard myedspace is good?
sciences: PMT to make flashcards(make sure to use markscheme language), studymind for past paper questions based on topic and then inputting questions i got wrong into a flashcard. gcse science its literally a memorisation game so just focus on spaced repetition and getting the markscheme language right
re: made tons of flashcards (which take a lot of time upfront, i would type mine using anki/brainscape), and then also create lots of essay plans, similar to the structure mentioned above but obviously taking out english-specific parts. kindly asked my teacher to mark a couple i had struggled with
languages: here, the one thing i did was fully memorise my speaking answers, or at least most of them. i included lots of grade 9 phrases and a range of vocabulary so that once i had memorised that, i was not only set for the speaking, but also the reading and writing too just bc the flashcards included such a range of vocab. yeah i also did flashcards on memrise, which had premade flashcards for my textbook already, just for some extra vocab but in hindsight, i didnt need to do that. for listening, go on language learning youtube channels and practice listening comprehension on there. this is assuming that you have already done all the past papers
sorry, i didnt do the other gcses you are sitting, but hoping that is helpful :smile:

thanks so much

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