HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR A-LEVELS
The one where I take my academic experience from the past two years of sixth form and inform you on how to survive A-Levels with my top ten tips.
MY STORY
I want to be completely transparent with you so let me tell you about my grades. I left year 13 with a B in Art, a B in History and a C in French. At AS, so year twelve, I received and A in English Literature, a B in History and a C in both Art and French. The C in art was a complete shock as throughout the year it was my highest performing subject and I in my latest mock exam I had received an A. As it turns out the entire Art faculty had been moderated 20% lower. Luckily our school got a remark and we got re-moderated 16% so I missed out on my A by 3 UMS points. I decided to take on French, History & Art on into year 13 - much to the concern of my teachers since I had done so well in English Literature ( scoring 92%) and it would have been an easy to get an A in it at A-level. But I decided it against it, since I thought it wouldn't benefit me in anyway. I thought of it as choosing what I wanted to get out of my education even if it didn't get a higher grade. I thought my learning of French would aid me in being employed internationally and in this day and age having a second language that is one of the most spoken languages world was important to me. Despite my AS results I applied into university and got into everywhere I applied, and got into my first choice but that's for another post. I will say that the effort I put into my A-levels hasn't been reflected in my results - but this is the reality of tests that can never truly be a correct measure of your intelligence, understanding or dedication to a subject.
*If you have any questions feel free to hit me up on the comments section below or any of my other links*
1. BE PRESENT
Attending school is incredibly important and I think it's very easy to underestimate this. Unfortunately I got ill during the first term of year 12 and subsequently ended up missing 25% of year 12 and year 13. Your teachers will/should say that there is a direct correlation between your grades and attendance and often this is the case, so attend school and be on time. I know you can email teachers and classmates to get work but being in the class creates an environment where you can feed off other people and enrich your education further. For example others might ask and answer questions in ways that can improve your knowledge of a subject. The classroom is an environment where you can bounce ideas and thoughts about your subject which isn't possible at home tucked up in bed.
2. GET ORGANISED
This is the time to get yourself together. Organisation is the key to success. Get your things in order. Personally I recommend noting everything you need to get done in a diary of some sort. Usually your school will provide a planner of some sort, so make sure you write down when everything is due. I also like having a weekly desk planner whereby I jot down tasks I need to complete in the coming week which helps me keep on top of things. Additionally I recommend getting a large lever arch file for each subject you're taking, with dividers for any subtopics you are/will be studying as well as sections for homework tasks, essays/past papers & coursework. Finally make a time table! It will help out a lot and STICK TO IT!
3. MANAGE YOUR TIME WELL
No more dilly dallying and lounging around when you get home from school. Of course please do make sure you have some downtime when you get back from school, since I know how draining it can be. However it shouldn't last too long since, the sooner you get on with your homework the sooner you can chill be fore bed and sleep! Additionally the more you do during the week the more leisure time you have at the weekend. It's tempting to do nothing on a Friday night. But try to push yourself to complete some work to avoid those late night last minute Sunday night attempts to get stuff done. And remember that time is precious. School at this age is compulsory so make the most of it so you don't waste any of your life re-taking - no shame in that, but do what you can to help yourself now.
4. STUDY NOW, WORK HARD & PARTY LATER, PLAY HARD
Do as much work as you can now as the reward for it is worth the effort. I'm not saying stay a hermit for the year and never socialise, but get the balance right as well as your priorities. Make sure your education comes first, but if you are going to go out, make sure you do the work first. Just think of the summer holiday that lies ahead of you - it's so long and I promise you can catch up on sleep and all the TV could wish for.
5. FIGURE OUT HOW YOU LEARN BEST.
*If you have any questions feel free to hit me up on the comments section below or any of my other links*
1. BE PRESENT
Attending school is incredibly important and I think it's very easy to underestimate this. Unfortunately I got ill during the first term of year 12 and subsequently ended up missing 25% of year 12 and year 13. Your teachers will/should say that there is a direct correlation between your grades and attendance and often this is the case, so attend school and be on time. I know you can email teachers and classmates to get work but being in the class creates an environment where you can feed off other people and enrich your education further. For example others might ask and answer questions in ways that can improve your knowledge of a subject. The classroom is an environment where you can bounce ideas and thoughts about your subject which isn't possible at home tucked up in bed.
2. GET ORGANISED
This is the time to get yourself together. Organisation is the key to success. Get your things in order. Personally I recommend noting everything you need to get done in a diary of some sort. Usually your school will provide a planner of some sort, so make sure you write down when everything is due. I also like having a weekly desk planner whereby I jot down tasks I need to complete in the coming week which helps me keep on top of things. Additionally I recommend getting a large lever arch file for each subject you're taking, with dividers for any subtopics you are/will be studying as well as sections for homework tasks, essays/past papers & coursework. Finally make a time table! It will help out a lot and STICK TO IT!
3. MANAGE YOUR TIME WELL
No more dilly dallying and lounging around when you get home from school. Of course please do make sure you have some downtime when you get back from school, since I know how draining it can be. However it shouldn't last too long since, the sooner you get on with your homework the sooner you can chill be fore bed and sleep! Additionally the more you do during the week the more leisure time you have at the weekend. It's tempting to do nothing on a Friday night. But try to push yourself to complete some work to avoid those late night last minute Sunday night attempts to get stuff done. And remember that time is precious. School at this age is compulsory so make the most of it so you don't waste any of your life re-taking - no shame in that, but do what you can to help yourself now.
4. STUDY NOW, WORK HARD & PARTY LATER, PLAY HARD
Do as much work as you can now as the reward for it is worth the effort. I'm not saying stay a hermit for the year and never socialise, but get the balance right as well as your priorities. Make sure your education comes first, but if you are going to go out, make sure you do the work first. Just think of the summer holiday that lies ahead of you - it's so long and I promise you can catch up on sleep and all the TV could wish for.
5. FIGURE OUT HOW YOU LEARN BEST.
What type of learner are you?
This is incredibly important. Figuring out how you learn best will help you tailor your revision to you. There are three different types of learners; kinaesthetic, auditory and visual, thus I will link a test here once I find a suitable one for you to see how you learn best. Personally I'm quite a mix of all three but more so visual and auditory, so I love making my own revision guides - colour coded and all. Additionally I like making flashcards, and for French I'd listen to recordings of my responses to speaking exam questions as a form of revision.
6. START MAKING REVISION NOTES ASAP
This may sound ridiculous but definitely start ASAP, even if its drafting and keeping it on a word document. Because if you start now you can actually revise when exams are looming instead of making revision notes, as this creates less stress during the exam season. Just keep ahead of the game it's only gonna do you good and let you worry less. So perhaps at the end of each week have a little revision write up session, thus by doing this little by little it doesn't make it mount up all at once become too much.
7. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
Please, please, please don't be afraid to ask for help! It's so important to make sure you make the most out of your teachers, they're there to help so make sure you give them the chance to. It's the worst thing to be waiting to go into an exam with questions you should have got the answers to because you were afraid to ask. Your success depends on how your proactivity - so ask questions and pester your teachers its what they're there for.
This is incredibly important. Figuring out how you learn best will help you tailor your revision to you. There are three different types of learners; kinaesthetic, auditory and visual, thus I will link a test here once I find a suitable one for you to see how you learn best. Personally I'm quite a mix of all three but more so visual and auditory, so I love making my own revision guides - colour coded and all. Additionally I like making flashcards, and for French I'd listen to recordings of my responses to speaking exam questions as a form of revision.
6. START MAKING REVISION NOTES ASAP
This may sound ridiculous but definitely start ASAP, even if its drafting and keeping it on a word document. Because if you start now you can actually revise when exams are looming instead of making revision notes, as this creates less stress during the exam season. Just keep ahead of the game it's only gonna do you good and let you worry less. So perhaps at the end of each week have a little revision write up session, thus by doing this little by little it doesn't make it mount up all at once become too much.
7. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
Please, please, please don't be afraid to ask for help! It's so important to make sure you make the most out of your teachers, they're there to help so make sure you give them the chance to. It's the worst thing to be waiting to go into an exam with questions you should have got the answers to because you were afraid to ask. Your success depends on how your proactivity - so ask questions and pester your teachers its what they're there for.
8. LOOK AFTER YOURSELF
Make sure you do look after yourself. Get enough sleep (preferably before 10pm-6am but definitely before 12am!) eat well and keep active. I'm not saying start juicing, eat kale chips and go to the gym at 5am right now. All I'm saying is that you should be selfish at times and put yourself first. And please make some healthier choices as it's better for you in the long run. Your physical and mental health does impact your performance, so the smarter the choices you make now will have a better pay off.
9. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
It may seem obvious but I'm going to say it anyway. DO AS MANY PAST PAPERS AS POSSIBLE! This will make taking the exam so much easier. Unfortunately exams are all about technique, rather than actual knowledge (they're more concerned with how you apply it - rather than the fact that you've learnt it). So you need to get this down to excel so as soon as you've learnt enough on a topic and there's a past paper on it make sure you have a go and ask your teacher to mark it. Don't be disheartened if your initial grades are disappointing, the jump is from GCSEs to A-level is big. In fact an A* at GCSE is an equivalent to a D at A-level so keep up the perseverance!
10. GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM/SYLLABUS
Do more outside of the classroom. For future employers and university applications your extra curricular activates show your commitment and dedication to you hobbies and aspirations. Go to talks, workshops and get work experience. Additionally if it's relevant go to exhibitions, document things - perhaps keep a blog or sketchbook to show your personal ambition in your subject of interest. If you want to know more about university application and interview advice I'm planning to do a blogpost and video on it.
Thanks so much for reading, I know it was a long one.
Much love,
Margaret xXx
Make sure you do look after yourself. Get enough sleep (preferably before 10pm-6am but definitely before 12am!) eat well and keep active. I'm not saying start juicing, eat kale chips and go to the gym at 5am right now. All I'm saying is that you should be selfish at times and put yourself first. And please make some healthier choices as it's better for you in the long run. Your physical and mental health does impact your performance, so the smarter the choices you make now will have a better pay off.
9. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
It may seem obvious but I'm going to say it anyway. DO AS MANY PAST PAPERS AS POSSIBLE! This will make taking the exam so much easier. Unfortunately exams are all about technique, rather than actual knowledge (they're more concerned with how you apply it - rather than the fact that you've learnt it). So you need to get this down to excel so as soon as you've learnt enough on a topic and there's a past paper on it make sure you have a go and ask your teacher to mark it. Don't be disheartened if your initial grades are disappointing, the jump is from GCSEs to A-level is big. In fact an A* at GCSE is an equivalent to a D at A-level so keep up the perseverance!
10. GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM/SYLLABUS
Do more outside of the classroom. For future employers and university applications your extra curricular activates show your commitment and dedication to you hobbies and aspirations. Go to talks, workshops and get work experience. Additionally if it's relevant go to exhibitions, document things - perhaps keep a blog or sketchbook to show your personal ambition in your subject of interest. If you want to know more about university application and interview advice I'm planning to do a blogpost and video on it.
Thanks so much for reading, I know it was a long one.
Much love,
Margaret xXx
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