Step up from GCSE to a level

2

i am quite worried about the huge step up from gcse to a level (im taking maths, further maths, chemistry and physics), and idk how i should change my work to accommodate that
1) Do you need to take notes for A-Level? At gcse i use CGP guides as my notes and just actively recall that and the spec, before moving to questions. Im planning on js using the textbook to read before and during lessons and for homework, moving on to the revision guide cgp books where i make all my flashcards and blurting and stuff?
2) How is the importance of memorisation different in A levels than in GCSEs, as in, would doing stuff like flashcards and blurting even be as helpful as it is in GCSE?
3) Are there any useful, realistic question banks (maths and fm is edexcel, phys and chem is aqa) that i could use to build exam technique beyond (and probs before) doing past papers?

Reply 1

Muttley79

20

Original post

by am1r216

i am quite worried about the huge step up from gcse to a level (im taking maths, further maths, chemistry and physics), and idk how i should change my work to accommodate that
1) Do you need to take notes for A-Level? At gcse i use CGP guides as my notes and just actively recall that and the spec, before moving to questions. Im planning on js using the textbook to read before and during lessons and for homework, moving on to the revision guide cgp books where i make all my flashcards and blurting and stuff?
2) How is the importance of memorisation different in A levels than in GCSEs, as in, would doing stuff like flashcards and blurting even be as helpful as it is in GCSE?
3) Are there any useful, realistic question banks (maths and fm is edexcel, phys and chem is aqa) that i could use to build exam technique beyond (and probs before) doing past papers?

Focus on GCSEs for now - you should get advice in the Sixth Form Induction Day,

Edexcel produced these videos for the 'step-up':

https://www.pearson.com/en-gb/schools/subject-resources/mathematics/unrivalled-support/support-from-pearson/gcse-maths-transition-to-a-level.html

I recommend Dr Frost website. It's free to sign up here: https://www.drfrost.org/students

You do need to make notes and I don't personally think flashcards work.

Reply 2

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

20

Original post

by am1r216

i am quite worried about the huge step up from gcse to a level (im taking maths, further maths, chemistry and physics), and idk how i should change my work to accommodate that
1) Do you need to take notes for A-Level? At gcse i use CGP guides as my notes and just actively recall that and the spec, before moving to questions. Im planning on js using the textbook to read before and during lessons and for homework, moving on to the revision guide cgp books where i make all my flashcards and blurting and stuff?
2) How is the importance of memorisation different in A levels than in GCSEs, as in, would doing stuff like flashcards and blurting even be as helpful as it is in GCSE?
3) Are there any useful, realistic question banks (maths and fm is edexcel, phys and chem is aqa) that i could use to build exam technique beyond (and probs before) doing past papers?

For sciences I would definitely recommend that you take your own notes, you cant really find enough detail in CGP revision guides and the textbooks can be very very wordy so you're better off making your own notes imo. The spec is less helpful for a level than gcse. Your plan sounds decent! For science a levels what i do is make notes in class and then make those into flashcards so i know i have a resource for everything done in class.
For maths, you do not need to make notes in class that often but its useful to check before the class or straight after whether you can find a resource that is clear and explains what you did in class- sometimes that is tricky and in those cases, making your own summary notes will be really helpful! Its better to make your notes outside of class, or at least only make rough notes in class because in the lesson time you should be focusing on understanding and applying the knowledge rather than preserving it for later use.
I would say flashcards are a lot more helpful at a level than at gcse, my experience is that a lot of application questions are based in recall anyway so if you forget the facts the question wont make much sense!
Question banks for maths: madasmaths, integral, drfrost, pmt
Question banks for science: isaacphysics, pmt, cgp

Step up from GCSE to a level

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