GCSE’s to A-levels: Navigating This Transition
In my previous post on choosing your A-levels, I emphasised that the transition from GCSEs to A-levels is ‘immense.’ My intention was not to scare you, but rather to provide candid guidance. In this post, I’ll thoroughly explore the various facets of A-levels and look at some solutions for potential problems you may come across. So, let’s start with the basics, shall we?
Increased Workload
Many students think that A-levels will be easier than GCSE’s because you only do three (or four) subjects. This means that there’s less content to cover overall, right? Well, WRONG! Trust me, it’s the opposite. If you didn’t know, the ‘A’ in A-level stands for ‘Advanced’ (I didn’t realise this until I was in Year 13, lol), and it lives up to the name. Every A-level that you pick will be studied to an ADVANCED LEVEL of difficulty and quantity.
The leap is very noticeable. Basically everyone says the same thing about every other subject too. And guess what? The jump gets even tougher from Year 12 to 13.
‘Wait, WHAT?!’ Yup, it might be a surprise, but no need to stress. After Year 12, you’ll be way more ready for the next step than you realise.
But, if you are struggling and feel like you can’t handle any more work than you’re already having to do right now, then listen up. Here are some things you could- and should- try to overcome this.
1) Chill, talk to your teachers. They’ve been around the block and know the struggle is real for many students. They’ve got your back, whether it’s breaking down tough topics, giving you a bit of wiggle room on deadlines (do not abuse this right, though. Respect your teachers, your deadlines AND yourself to meet those deadlines), or just lending an ear for any life stuff that’s stressing you out. Don’t wait too long – hit ’em up early!
2) Go to any subject workshops your teachers put on. It’s a chance to get some 1-to-1 time with your teachers, so you can ask for help without worrying about disturbing the class (you’re not btw).
3) Start raising your hand lots in class, seriously! I started doing this in Year 13 and let me tell you, it makes a huge difference. Don’t be shy to ask questions or volunteer answers, even if you’re not totally sure. The more you get involved, the better you remember stuff – it’s backed by science, and I can vouch for it. Who cares if your classmates label you a ‘try-hard’? I didn’t, and neither should you! They’re your A-levels, not theirs!
4) Find a tutor for that super hard subject you have in mind. Yeah, it sounds like more work, but it’s a game-changer. You choose what you need help with, sort out the confusion, and can jump ahead of the spec. Productive or what?! It’s like an organisation booster, and soon, you’ll handle the workload like a pro, ready for whatever’s thrown your way.
5) Prioritise your mental and physical health. Lift weights, play your favourite sport, swim, run. Heck, do all of ’em! Just commit 1-1.5 hours, 3-6 days a week, and be fully present during your workouts. Learn to enjoy them, even when it’s hard. This will translate to enhance your discipline, productivity, focus and ability to consistently perform near, and above, your edges. This is all essential for A-levels!
Increased Subject Difficulty
This goes hand-in-hand with our first point. Remember, ‘Advanced’ means more content and a higher level of difficulty. If you find yourself struggling with specific topics or an entire subject, don’t fret – the same guidance from the previous point applies, and it works just as well.
Also, let’s not forget those trusty textbooks. They’re not just fancy shelf-fillers collecting dust for two years. They’re your sidekicks, so make them work for you!
Oh, and get this- the internet is your secret weapon. Start your online hunt early, and you’ll find a ton of resources that suit your style. The sooner you dive in, the better your chances of finding stuff that really clicks with you.
And hey, if you want some hot tips for bio and chem resources, you’re in luck – click here for the awesome ones I practically lived on, especially in Year 13.
P.S. Don’t forget your teachers. They’re your go-to guides, at school and even from home. Just shoot ’em an email or, like I did with some, message them on Teams.
Frees during A-levels
As you enter Sixth Form, you’ll soon become familiar with the concept of “frees” – these glorious pockets of time when you’re not in a lesson. While they might seem like a luxury, “frees” are more than just a chance to catch your breath. Let’s explore the perks and possibilities of these breaks in your school day.
1) Flexibility and independence. Frees provide you with a taste of the independence you’ll experience in higher education and the working world. You have the flexibility to manage your time, and this freedom helps you develop crucial time management skills.
2) Revision and homework. These blocks of uninterrupted time can be incredibly productive for completing homework or revising for upcoming tests. Ideally, complete your homework as early as possible and use the majority of your frees for other things.
3) UCAS application. You can easily complete your UCAS profile within 2 frees. Once that’s done, you could start working on your personal statement.
4) Seek additional support. If you’re struggling with a particular subject, frees can be an ideal time to schedule meetings with your teachers for additional, 1-on-1 support.
5) Personal well-being. You can use some of this time to relax and recharge. Do whatever you like. Prioritising your mental and emotional health is just as important as academic pursuits.
Using your frees productively will become more and more important as you enter Year 13, especially after Christmas. Develop good time management skills and discipline early, so that you don’t find it difficult to just GO in Year 13. Because honestly, that’s all you have to do.
Just GO.
Exam Preparation
It’s not just about reading and regurgitating info like at GCSE anymore. A-levels require memorisation, mastering exam technique and learning to apply knowledge to unseen situations. Don’t underestimate the importance of great exam technique – it’s essential for those top grades.
1) Understand exam structure in depth. You should know which papers cover which content for each of your subjects. The earlier you get the hang of this, the more everything else will start to fall into place. It sets the stage for smoother studying. It’s like a magical head start!
For example, for AQA: Bio Paper 1 is Year 12 content and 91 marks; Bio Paper 2 is Year 13 content and 91 marks; Bio Paper 3 is both year’s content + a focus on Practicals + a 25 mark essay at the end and is 78 marks in total.
2) Set clear goals. Establish specific goals for each subject. What grades are you aiming for? It may be a bit too early to know where you’re at in terms of working towards your target grade, or even for your teachers to give you an indication. I know this is true, especially early in Year 12 for bio and languages. However, it is not too early to know if you’re putting in the effort: make sure you clear up any difficulties with your teachers and by using online resources.
3) Gather resources. Make sure you have access to past papers, online resources, topic questions, YOUR SPECS. Past papers are invaluable for practise and for most subjects, should be your most used form of revision by the end.
4) Find out how YOU revise best. We’re all unique, and one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to revision techniques. It’s not about how you revise, but whether or not your methods lead to you achieving your desired grades and having smoother study sessions. Embrace the techniques that minimise resistance and maximise success: Quizlet was exactly this for me.
Revision Techniques for A-levels
Finding revision strategies that work for YOU becomes easier the more you try. And I suggest starting early! You ideally don’t want to still be working this out after your Year 13 mocks. There may be tweaks that you make here and there, but the foundations should definitely be there.
1) Use revision apps. When it comes to learning ‘things that you just have to know’, Quizlet is an invaluable tool. It helps to break up ‘hardcore’ revision sessions and you can compete against yourself or your friends by using ‘Match’. It’s fun and it’ll teach you to perform under time-pressure. Honestly, it kinda becomes addictive because revision doesn’t feel like revision anymore. The more you practise, the more you’ll be able to actually learn AND retain information, long-term.
How you organise your ‘Study Sets’ and ‘Folders’ is personal, but for an example, you can visit my profile to see how I did it. (I mainly used Quizlet for German throughout Year 12 and 13, and then I began to use it for my intense study leave revision for Chem And Bio- mainly for mark scheme answers).
2) Use YouTube videos. It’s kind of like having a tutor, but for free. You can go over any topic you’re struggling with at any time, and replay the video as much as you want. This can build on top of using an app. Think of the app as the first ‘learning’ stage and think of the video as the second ‘understanding’ stage. There are so many great content creators for everything to do with A-levels, so make sure you’re not missing out!
3) Use a whiteboard. Get yourself a decent sized whiteboard and a pen. You can test yourself on fact recall: after trying to memorise some content, have a couple minutes break and then try to write down everything you need to know; go over any errors and repeat this until you get it completely right at least three times in a row, and have small 30-60s breaks between each attempt. You can also practise drawing diagrams, if necessary for any of your subjects: it definitely was for bio and chem.
4) Practise topic-specific questions. Do these to pinpoint areas needing improvement—exam technique, time management, understanding content. I found ‘SaveMyExams‘ bio and chem questions invaluable in Year 13. I’d do them as much as possible in my frees and at home. They helped me massively to tackle ‘easy’ questions efficiently for quick marks. You’ll also appreciate the similarity in style between their questions and those in past papers, making them an ideal resource.
5) Actually revise for the topic tests you get in Year 12 and 13. I’ll admit, I barely studied in Year 12. In my end of year exams, I got a LOW B (bio), LOW C (chem) and mid B (German). I rarely asked for help back then. But year 13 was different; I studied diligently for everything, and constantly. If I didn’t revise enough for a test, which did happen sometimes, I’d catch up quickly. Leaving it all until Year 13 worked for me, but I don’t recommend it. Do your best, and things will come together when you least expect it.
6) Complete past papers. Do all AS papers to prepare for your end of Year 12 exams. I didn’t do this at all but I know it would’ve saved lots of time in Year 13. For Year 13 mock exams, complete all available A-level past papers. Don’t hesitate to repeat them either. There’s always room for improvement and honestly, by the end, you should have done each paper to death. If you haven’t covered certain content, skip those questions.
To easily track which past papers you’ve done and how many times (and more) click here.
Keep going until your A-level exams are done, especially for those A’s and A*s. Review questions you get wrong meticulously using the mark schemes and your teachers. Don’t hesitate to ask your teachers for help. They understand the challenges of A-levels, so feel free to ask them multiple times if needed.
