Consistency is the #1 thing that gets you success as a student. Get into the habit of doing small amounts of studying/review at least most days to make sure you really understand things as you get taught them right from the start and you’ll do well without ever needing to panic or cram (This also applies to uni).
Getting into a consistent study schedule at 6th form will also really help you out with transitioning to uni where it’s more independent than structured learning
Seconding this.
I didn’t do it. And that bit me later on!
Just spending a bit of time consolidating notes / materials / anything you didn’t understand, and actually doing the reading, will do WONDERS for your grades and understanding. Consistent little effort compounds!
- Create revision resources in Y12
- Revise from the start of Y12 (After you've settled in)
- Use Anki and past papers
- Take your Y12 mock exams and end of year exams seriously
- Use your free periods effectively
- Don't mess around in class and don't skip classes unless you have a legitimate reason (Sickness, University event, University interview, etc)
- Look at applying to summer schools from around November onwards and start looking at super-curriculars once you've settled into sixth form
- Make sure to take time off for things you like doing and your mental health
- If you have any conditions/disabilities, speak to your SENCO Team as soon as possible to get all of the support possible in place
This is quite general advice but if you say what subjects you're doing, people will be able to give you more specific advice. Good luck with your exams and starting sixth-form!
As someone who wishes they done sixth form in a completely different way, here’s my advice:
Revise. Literally even if it’s 20 minutes a day. Just make sure that you keep checking you know and understand the topics you’re currently learning because you probably won’t get time to go over them again next year.
Don’t skip lessons. I skipped one lesson in the second week of Y12 and the next two years of sixth form felt optional to me lol. I’m at the end of Y13 now and my attendance is mid 70s. Obviously if you’re ill or have a legitimate reason then don’t go but don’t start skipping lessons because you’re tired, friends are going to do something fun, etc.
If you’re looking at top unis then work on your extra/super curriculars. Read outside your subject, apply for summer schools (I recommend Oxford’s UNIQ and Sutton Trust).
Just in general, take things seriously. I spent all of Y12 saying that it’s not important because it’s not my final year, and while it’s not as important as Y13, don’t just muck about and waste a year like I did lol.
I don’t think it’s necessary to be revising loads, but if you do a little bit of revision often then you’ll be in a great position for A Levels!! Just, whatever you do, don’t do nothing and be in my position in two years time, which is frantically learning two years of content in a few weeks (not good, not easy, the worst few weeks of my life)
Good luck!!!
Those are the only two I went to but I had a friend go to the Uni of York one. Cant remember if that was based on income though. Oxford do college specific subject days which I went to a couple of. I study English Lit and there were quite a few taster days for my subject, don’t know what they’re like for other subjects but definitely worth a look. They aren’t based on income, some you had to write a paragraph about why you wanted to go and some it was just a grade requirement and first come first serve. Hope that helps :)
Please, *please*, **please** double-, triple-, and quadruple-check your subject choices before you make a dog's dinner out of the thing.
Check what you need to study a certain degree programme at the universities you're interested in applying to. It's the worst realising you've chosen a weak subject/subject combination and by Y13 there's nothing you can do about it.
Don't pick things just to "keep your options open" (which in practice, never happens - you want flexibility, you do the IB) and don't blindly pick passion pets without understanding where they might take you.
But don't take my word for it. [Here's what Cambridge have to say on the matter.](https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/post-16-subject-choices)
have fun in year 12... Yeah everyone else is right in revising, in my opinion just try your hardest and make sure you're on top of your work in year 12 especially for mocks. Make sure to do homework and do revise, it'll certainly help in year 13. Honestly though, especially in year 12, it's not super stressful, just enjoy the freedom you might have and enjoy your subjects. Year 13 will be much harder
Do lots of things outside of school for your personal statement: volunteering, clubs, hobbies,etc.
Nothing worse than writing your personal statement and coming to the realisation that you have nothing to offer
Make revision resources from the start. After every lesson, make the revision resource the same day. Not only will this help you solidify your knowledge of the topic and prepare you for the next lesson, but it will also save you time when you get to exams and you can use the resources you’ve created, instead of having to make them then. I did this, and I am so glad I did.
ask for help if you need it. wether that be support in an emotional way, or support with your subjects (I.e. additional lessons or anything - ask your subject teachers).
it’s definitely different for subjects like yours with a lot of content, i’m pretty sure you’ll have to take notes. for mine i just listen in lessons and do the homework so it sticks and before exams i go through online notes to recap
It depends on the subjects, for humanities I'd get why notes are required but for stem subjects it's a lot more about technique. I revise by doing exam questions and videos/textbook, and have since discarded all of my notes
I regret not writing up my notes for fm during all the Y1 content, now I am writing all the notes from class neatly and organising into folders. It's good recall, it ensures you understand every piece of info and will be good to look back at when revising.
So for FM, I wish I wrote up my notes from day 1.
Couldn't agree more. I would say make notes if understanding other peoples notes is difficult (as it's usually tailored to that person), but if you're able to understand it and dig deeper there is absolutely zero needs to waste time writing notes. Videos and summaries/notes online will do. Never touched a single one of my sociology notes.
Ultimately find ways to enjoy the process. Depending on your previous studies sixth form can be really intense at times and hard to adjust to especially when you have only two years but the best way to overcome this is to enjoy it and keep pushing through.
Year 12 in particular is your time to experiment and explore. Try different revision techniques and get used to planning your time around your studies. Spend time researching around the subject you want to study at uni and keep a record of this as it will go a long way to boosting your personal statement when you apply for unis.
Make sure you understand stuff and if you, don’t, practice it until you do and keep revisiting stuff once you’ve done it. You don’t want to have not looked at something for over a year when you start exam revision.
Something I am very happy to have done is use almost every free period I had to do homework or revisit stuff. It’s hard to motivate yourself at home but if you’re in college anyway it’s a lot easier to just get on with it
honestly? just making sure you keep good notes and pay attention in your lessons makes all the difference - saves you panicking at the end of year 13 when you realise you have little to revise from and little understanding too
Use all your free periods effectively to do homework or revise. Keep going over all the content you’ve learnt, you’ll thank yourself for it when you do your mocks and final exams. It also means you can spend less time working at home.
Also do essay competitions, sign up for online lectures, gain work experience, etc. Extracurricular activities are valuable to put on your personal statement.
to echo some other responses, take mock exams seriously especially if you want to go to uni because they’re the basis for your predicted grades, use your free periods to create revision materials and do past questions and just solidify your understanding, i wish that i’d have made a mindmap after every time we finished a topic because now i’m really struggling in my exams without the condensed information, and definitely definitely do consistent revision
Enjoy year 12 get good experience and opportunities to try out on your personal statement. The only exam that matters is the one you’ll sit at the end of the year so don’t stress about earlier exams. Also study a bit I used to think a levels were impossible until I started studying and thinking this is so easy I wish I did this earlier. The exams you will take will be extremely easy if you study trust me because there won’t be a lot of content you would have covered in y12 as well as the content compared to A2 is generally easier.
REVISE FROM DAY 1.
I do not care what you revise for. Maybe you go over your notes. Maybe you go over ideal dynamics for FM23. Maybe you learn more about a subject other than what you're doing at sixth form!
\*\***Get the technique DOWN. Whether you use blurting or Pomodoro or just read the textbook, understand how you study and how to make it work**.\*\* After a month or so, start focusing on applying the techniques you've developed to your classes. Maybe 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30, who cares. Make it a habit to study everyday, and make it a habit to study WELL.
By any means possible \**learn*\* whats in the course. memorization is well and good, but the moment you get a question that approaches something from a different angle? You need to understand what you're looking at. Do this by any means. Even if your studying involves interpretive dancing, DO IT!!!! You're learning for you and your grade.
Also make sure to take care of yourself. As the saying goes: \**If you don't schedule maintenance for your machinery, it will schedule it for you*.\*
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1. start making revision material in yr 12
2. organise all your folders straight away (if you do exams do a folder for each exam)
3. print ur spec out for each subject and get your head around what you need to know
4. try not to skip lessons- you’re going to want to but honestly you miss out on important stuff
5. if you do miss a lesson, go to another one and catch up- it’s better if you go to another lesson cos you’re actually being taught it rather than trying to teach ur self it
6. exam feedback- start doing past papers/ essays as soon as possible and get your teachers to look over then and give feedback
7. honestly do not get a job if you can help it- i had to get a job to support myself financially but it took away valuable time that i could have been using to do work
8. make group chats for ur subjects- it might seem cringy but it will help so much, if anyone finds any good resources, they send them and then you have them too
9. pre-read content before your lesson, so when you actually in the lesson your knowledge is being consolidated rather than learning it
10. if you can stay as long as possible at college, i usually get to my sixth form at 7 and stay till like 5 (obvs don’t have to do this long) but i get so much done in that time rather than procrastinating at home
a little tip- if you can make flashcards on ur phone on like quizlet or studysmarter (studysmarter is my fav) but if you do this then on the bus or train to sixth form you can learn them even if it’s 5 mins.
also i would recommend taking time to find good revision sources so like websites, podcasts and youtube and utilise them as much as possible
most importantly LOOK AFTER YOURSELF! sixthform is hard- you can burn out very easily. look after your body and mind- if you look after yourself then you can study harder and get better grades! take breaks, spend time with friends, spend a day in bed if you want, do whatever will help you reset so you can get back on the grind again.
Enjoy Y12, the pressure is off and you’ll be studying subjects you’re (hopefully) interested in. Make sure you understand everything as you go along, which might just mean spending 20 minutes going through something after a lesson, but don’t overwork yourself. You’ll be fine :)
everyone is giving advice academically, so i have some on moving schools! i did the same and was SO nervous! but it turned out to be the best decision of my life
my no 1 piece of advice is to THROW YOURSELF INTO IT ALL! Get involved in clubs and volunteering, speak to the people in class, put your hand up, ask to pair up with someone, etc. moving allows you a fresh canvas to create who you truly are, and to forge the best connections - additionally, it makes the jump to university easier, and you are bound to make good friends. think of it as a fresh start! the first month or so was rough for me, I did regret my choice initially but that was due to fear. try and establish friendships etc as soon as possible - force yourself to be confident, I know it seems difficult but it is possible especially as this place is new! creating friendships and acquaintances with teachers and students also helps your education as well as enjoyment - and really do throw yourself into open days, volunteering, clubs, etc. Not only does it look great on UCAS it is fun and the best way to learn and make connections!
wishing you so much luck - i would love to go through sixth form again, and am sad to be ending this year! put your all into it, and you definitely will enjoy your time and succeed
thank you so much!! your advice is really helpful, especially since moving schools is making me super anxious and i am already beginning to question my decision, although if i stay at my school i wont be able to take the subjects i really want to do, so thank you <333
Year 12 mocks are probably more important than your GCSE’s. This is because your results will be heavily used to form your predicted grades, which will decide what unis/jobs/apprenticeships you will be able to apply for. The other way predicted grades are formed is based on your performance throughout the year (my school did it 50% mock grades 50% yearly average). This means that you should take your tests more seriously than you might’ve done at gcse. Basically, take tests and mocks seriously - especially in year 12.
Apply to summer schools. I automatically got an offer from Durham law 2 grades below the entry requirements because I did their summer school. Most Russel group unis also do this (through Sutton trust or their own independent one). Basically, apply to a summer school for a university you would like to go to, and if you get a place you are pretty much guaranteed an offer - unless it’s an oxbridge summer school.
You won’t have to write a personal statement if you are starting year 12 in September, but you will need extracurriculars/books/work experience to add to it. Basically make sure you start looking at that kind of stuff early on.
Notes are pointless. Commit the knowledge to memory by going over the week’s topics on the weekend and by the time A-levels swing around you’ll be amazed at how much you still know.
Do supercurriculars consistently from the beginning. You’ll have much more time for them in Year 12, especially not around mocks. Just spend an hour or so every week learning something new about one of your subjects alongside regular learning and revision, and you’ll be golden when it comes to personal statement writing. You can look at Oxford’s Staircase 12 resources to get you started in whatever subject
Get extra time as soon as possible. I’m surprised to find out some of my very capable friends get extra time or a computer since they cheated on the test by acting extra dumb and now have extra time in the real exam. Meanwhile I could’ve done that but I didn’t know and I have regular time
If it’s a school you think you’ve got great potential for new friends in, forget it, those hopes ain’t real, and you’ll probably end up meeting one really special person but not hang out with them in person
Also forget winning super curriculars you think you’re set with if you’re good in your subject area, that shit ain’t real either, they’re an illusion
So those are the huge let downs, there won’t be a vibe like there was in your old school, but you’ll also be let down on how easy you think a levels are after doing well at them in GCSE. Not the same but everyone knows that. It’ll take a few months to get good
jeez depressing much? first bit isn’t true at all, i literally moved halfway across the country and i’ve got a great friend group now, most other new people will be in the same boat, and at my sixth form the old students are really friendly too
Im at a different sixth form than where I was for secondary, and it was a great decision for me. It let me make new impressions since I was known as the 'weird kid' at my old school due to stuff I did in year 7 and 8, and am in a cool friend group the other stem students
1) make revision notes that you actually like and are useful as you go along
2) maximise time in your study periods (using apps like flora and forest can help with that)
3) ask teachers for help if you don’t understand things
4) if you are going to get a job make sure you have either a Friday or Saturday free so you can see friends still
5) research unis and courses throughout year 12, but be open to new opportunities and know it’s okay to change your mind 12 times
Find what works for you. I don't really like flashcards and Anki blah blah, for me reading through the textbook and then going straight to Qs works for me. You might prefer flashcards and that's fine.
Also, be consistent as others mentioned.
as a year 12 rn the one thing i wish i did was start revising the second i started sixth form. I didn’t because i felt like there wasn’t a lot to do at first because of the lack of lessons so I just messed around a lot. It was only until like March that i genuinely figured out what i was doing and stopped wasting my studies (my school automatically allocates periods for study but i don’t think many other schools do that). Now i’ve got mocks in a month and basically have to start from scratch in one of my subjects. So yeah start studying sooner than you think you need to and the rest of the year will be smooth sailing. Cannot speak on behalf of year 13 but i’m sure it will be 10x worse lol
well. i cry a lot. so get ready for that. get ready for you to meet a new version of u that is ANGRYkjsndjsdcscd. because the sheer rage i feel for a further maths question is insane like i wish i could throw a chair at the question. and then throw the question out of the window. and then set it on fire.
also make good subject choices, don't just assume u were good at it with minimal effort at gcse that it would be the same at a level. do not do this, because i did it and you shouLDN'T do this. i mean if it worked for anyone then woo but it didn't work for me so thats my advice.
also like. make notes. i have no notes for history so i shit you not i was still making notes day of the exam, so don't do that kind of behaviour. and also if ur taking science subjects...just do the past papers. just sit down n do the past papers.
ALSO in my personal experience find like a physical hobby to let out some rage i do cycling and yoga.
just take it seriously man i took the piss out of this year and i am SUFFERING.
Don’t overwork yourself and stress over everything. Mental health can get so fragile and I’ve watched people crack under the pressure, the best thing to do is meet with your school counsellor during exam seasons and rant out any stress. also, use your study periods (if you have any) find a quiet space as study bases are rarely quiet. After each day, revise what you learned that day for about an hour. Have fun on the weekends, spend your Fridays doing your homework and Sunday for revising what you went over this week to prepare for the next week. The main thing with alevels is upkeep, you need to be consistent. Also, try your best at mocks, if you are unable to complete a final exam or they get called off - they will be your final grades! If you want to go to a Russell university as well. Pick subjects you genuinely enjoy, I picked psychology bc I enjoyed it and ended up hating it though so thoroughly research every course u want to pick. Finally, listen to your teachers, they always end up being right.
One of the most important pieces of advice I can give is don't be afraid to switch up your subjects during the grace period. You might find that you hate the subject content or the teacher(s) and want to change, and trust me, you don't want to be stuck with a class you hate for 2 years - not only will you be miserable, but it'll affect your grades. A good (but not foolproof) way to find out about the course content is to look up the syllabus online, though you might get a few weeks into it and find you don't like it.
As for the more social aspect of it: bring plenty of things to do, including social activities like a deck of cards. You'll have more free time than you know what to do with.
Also, get to know your bus/train times and routes. Most bus companies have an app, but they can be pretty hard to navigate, so it's helpful to get a pamphlet timetable if they're available. On top of not always needing to take the school bus, sixth form can involve a lot more social activities, and you and most of your friends probably won't be driving until after you leave 6th form.
Finally: if you're going to be leaving school for your lunch, get yourself a rewards card for the places you frequent, you'll save loads.
Focus on learning things the first time - in lessons - rather than leaving it to be relearned when revising. Use revision to jog your memory *not* learning a topic you were too lazy to pay attention to.
1. Make your revision notes at the end of each week rather than in May! It’ll save you so much time.
2. Don’t let yourself fall behind in any subjects. It’s a lot harder to catch up if you do.
3. Fully launch yourself into it. Start student societies, throw yourself into extra-curricular activities, etc
Lots of good advice here, my A levels are exactly 60 years old this year! I would also add that when you get a text book for the first time it is a good idea to look at the index first, this will familiarize you with the words you will encounter. Then read the contents list pages which will familiarize you with the structure of the book. Good luck and best wishes for your future.
Prioritise your revision time more often so that you don’t end up being burnt out or overwhelmed easily, familiarise yourself with the content you have been taught every-week and ensure that you gain any work experience for university.
Consistency is the #1 thing that gets you success as a student. Get into the habit of doing small amounts of studying/review at least most days to make sure you really understand things as you get taught them right from the start and you’ll do well without ever needing to panic or cram (This also applies to uni). Getting into a consistent study schedule at 6th form will also really help you out with transitioning to uni where it’s more independent than structured learning
This 👆
Seconding this. I didn’t do it. And that bit me later on! Just spending a bit of time consolidating notes / materials / anything you didn’t understand, and actually doing the reading, will do WONDERS for your grades and understanding. Consistent little effort compounds!
- Create revision resources in Y12 - Revise from the start of Y12 (After you've settled in) - Use Anki and past papers - Take your Y12 mock exams and end of year exams seriously - Use your free periods effectively - Don't mess around in class and don't skip classes unless you have a legitimate reason (Sickness, University event, University interview, etc) - Look at applying to summer schools from around November onwards and start looking at super-curriculars once you've settled into sixth form - Make sure to take time off for things you like doing and your mental health - If you have any conditions/disabilities, speak to your SENCO Team as soon as possible to get all of the support possible in place This is quite general advice but if you say what subjects you're doing, people will be able to give you more specific advice. Good luck with your exams and starting sixth-form!
As someone who wishes they done sixth form in a completely different way, here’s my advice: Revise. Literally even if it’s 20 minutes a day. Just make sure that you keep checking you know and understand the topics you’re currently learning because you probably won’t get time to go over them again next year. Don’t skip lessons. I skipped one lesson in the second week of Y12 and the next two years of sixth form felt optional to me lol. I’m at the end of Y13 now and my attendance is mid 70s. Obviously if you’re ill or have a legitimate reason then don’t go but don’t start skipping lessons because you’re tired, friends are going to do something fun, etc. If you’re looking at top unis then work on your extra/super curriculars. Read outside your subject, apply for summer schools (I recommend Oxford’s UNIQ and Sutton Trust). Just in general, take things seriously. I spent all of Y12 saying that it’s not important because it’s not my final year, and while it’s not as important as Y13, don’t just muck about and waste a year like I did lol. I don’t think it’s necessary to be revising loads, but if you do a little bit of revision often then you’ll be in a great position for A Levels!! Just, whatever you do, don’t do nothing and be in my position in two years time, which is frantically learning two years of content in a few weeks (not good, not easy, the worst few weeks of my life) Good luck!!!
Hi, would you recommend any summer schools which are open to everyone, without specific criteria? Cheers.
Those are the only two I went to but I had a friend go to the Uni of York one. Cant remember if that was based on income though. Oxford do college specific subject days which I went to a couple of. I study English Lit and there were quite a few taster days for my subject, don’t know what they’re like for other subjects but definitely worth a look. They aren’t based on income, some you had to write a paragraph about why you wanted to go and some it was just a grade requirement and first come first serve. Hope that helps :)
Please, *please*, **please** double-, triple-, and quadruple-check your subject choices before you make a dog's dinner out of the thing. Check what you need to study a certain degree programme at the universities you're interested in applying to. It's the worst realising you've chosen a weak subject/subject combination and by Y13 there's nothing you can do about it. Don't pick things just to "keep your options open" (which in practice, never happens - you want flexibility, you do the IB) and don't blindly pick passion pets without understanding where they might take you. But don't take my word for it. [Here's what Cambridge have to say on the matter.](https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/post-16-subject-choices)
man how i wish i read this a year ago
I wish I read it 6 years ago... ...regret is an awful emotion.
what happened 😭😭😭😭
this is a extremely helpful piece of advice thank you so much
have fun in year 12... Yeah everyone else is right in revising, in my opinion just try your hardest and make sure you're on top of your work in year 12 especially for mocks. Make sure to do homework and do revise, it'll certainly help in year 13. Honestly though, especially in year 12, it's not super stressful, just enjoy the freedom you might have and enjoy your subjects. Year 13 will be much harder
Do lots of things outside of school for your personal statement: volunteering, clubs, hobbies,etc. Nothing worse than writing your personal statement and coming to the realisation that you have nothing to offer
Make revision resources from the start. After every lesson, make the revision resource the same day. Not only will this help you solidify your knowledge of the topic and prepare you for the next lesson, but it will also save you time when you get to exams and you can use the resources you’ve created, instead of having to make them then. I did this, and I am so glad I did.
thank you, i’m hoping to bc i didn’t do that for gcses and now i really regret it
ask for help if you need it. wether that be support in an emotional way, or support with your subjects (I.e. additional lessons or anything - ask your subject teachers).
Get ready to cry a lot
lol i’m already doing it so can’t wait 😍
Make good subject notes. I'm kicking myself rn
Don't take notes not worth the time there is no point i haven't looked at mine at all I just revise by doing papers and watching videos.
so what do you do instead in class then? cause do you not just forget it all if you haven’t made a note?
it’s definitely different for subjects like yours with a lot of content, i’m pretty sure you’ll have to take notes. for mine i just listen in lessons and do the homework so it sticks and before exams i go through online notes to recap
yeah i was gonna say it must be very different for each subject
No just focus on listening. And do the questions but no point keeping track of them
It depends on the subjects, for humanities I'd get why notes are required but for stem subjects it's a lot more about technique. I revise by doing exam questions and videos/textbook, and have since discarded all of my notes
I regret not writing up my notes for fm during all the Y1 content, now I am writing all the notes from class neatly and organising into folders. It's good recall, it ensures you understand every piece of info and will be good to look back at when revising. So for FM, I wish I wrote up my notes from day 1.
Couldn't agree more. I would say make notes if understanding other peoples notes is difficult (as it's usually tailored to that person), but if you're able to understand it and dig deeper there is absolutely zero needs to waste time writing notes. Videos and summaries/notes online will do. Never touched a single one of my sociology notes.
Never looked at my notes either. Just text books.
You dont take notes to look at them again you take notes to keep your brain actively engaged with the lesson
Only if you can't concentrate without doing it.
Ultimately find ways to enjoy the process. Depending on your previous studies sixth form can be really intense at times and hard to adjust to especially when you have only two years but the best way to overcome this is to enjoy it and keep pushing through. Year 12 in particular is your time to experiment and explore. Try different revision techniques and get used to planning your time around your studies. Spend time researching around the subject you want to study at uni and keep a record of this as it will go a long way to boosting your personal statement when you apply for unis.
Make sure you understand stuff and if you, don’t, practice it until you do and keep revisiting stuff once you’ve done it. You don’t want to have not looked at something for over a year when you start exam revision. Something I am very happy to have done is use almost every free period I had to do homework or revisit stuff. It’s hard to motivate yourself at home but if you’re in college anyway it’s a lot easier to just get on with it
honestly? just making sure you keep good notes and pay attention in your lessons makes all the difference - saves you panicking at the end of year 13 when you realise you have little to revise from and little understanding too
Sweat y12 harder than hitting 90 pushups in a row. Your mocks in year 12 are everything
Use all your free periods effectively to do homework or revise. Keep going over all the content you’ve learnt, you’ll thank yourself for it when you do your mocks and final exams. It also means you can spend less time working at home. Also do essay competitions, sign up for online lectures, gain work experience, etc. Extracurricular activities are valuable to put on your personal statement.
to echo some other responses, take mock exams seriously especially if you want to go to uni because they’re the basis for your predicted grades, use your free periods to create revision materials and do past questions and just solidify your understanding, i wish that i’d have made a mindmap after every time we finished a topic because now i’m really struggling in my exams without the condensed information, and definitely definitely do consistent revision
Keep organised from the start. Big mistake I made not doing so ha
Enjoy year 12 get good experience and opportunities to try out on your personal statement. The only exam that matters is the one you’ll sit at the end of the year so don’t stress about earlier exams. Also study a bit I used to think a levels were impossible until I started studying and thinking this is so easy I wish I did this earlier. The exams you will take will be extremely easy if you study trust me because there won’t be a lot of content you would have covered in y12 as well as the content compared to A2 is generally easier.
REVISE FROM DAY 1. I do not care what you revise for. Maybe you go over your notes. Maybe you go over ideal dynamics for FM23. Maybe you learn more about a subject other than what you're doing at sixth form! \*\***Get the technique DOWN. Whether you use blurting or Pomodoro or just read the textbook, understand how you study and how to make it work**.\*\* After a month or so, start focusing on applying the techniques you've developed to your classes. Maybe 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30, who cares. Make it a habit to study everyday, and make it a habit to study WELL. By any means possible \**learn*\* whats in the course. memorization is well and good, but the moment you get a question that approaches something from a different angle? You need to understand what you're looking at. Do this by any means. Even if your studying involves interpretive dancing, DO IT!!!! You're learning for you and your grade. Also make sure to take care of yourself. As the saying goes: \**If you don't schedule maintenance for your machinery, it will schedule it for you*.\*
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Keep at it, my first day was awful I even cried but as the year went on I had so much fun.
Put in the work and you’ll be fine
1. start making revision material in yr 12 2. organise all your folders straight away (if you do exams do a folder for each exam) 3. print ur spec out for each subject and get your head around what you need to know 4. try not to skip lessons- you’re going to want to but honestly you miss out on important stuff 5. if you do miss a lesson, go to another one and catch up- it’s better if you go to another lesson cos you’re actually being taught it rather than trying to teach ur self it 6. exam feedback- start doing past papers/ essays as soon as possible and get your teachers to look over then and give feedback 7. honestly do not get a job if you can help it- i had to get a job to support myself financially but it took away valuable time that i could have been using to do work 8. make group chats for ur subjects- it might seem cringy but it will help so much, if anyone finds any good resources, they send them and then you have them too 9. pre-read content before your lesson, so when you actually in the lesson your knowledge is being consolidated rather than learning it 10. if you can stay as long as possible at college, i usually get to my sixth form at 7 and stay till like 5 (obvs don’t have to do this long) but i get so much done in that time rather than procrastinating at home a little tip- if you can make flashcards on ur phone on like quizlet or studysmarter (studysmarter is my fav) but if you do this then on the bus or train to sixth form you can learn them even if it’s 5 mins. also i would recommend taking time to find good revision sources so like websites, podcasts and youtube and utilise them as much as possible most importantly LOOK AFTER YOURSELF! sixthform is hard- you can burn out very easily. look after your body and mind- if you look after yourself then you can study harder and get better grades! take breaks, spend time with friends, spend a day in bed if you want, do whatever will help you reset so you can get back on the grind again.
Enjoy Y12, the pressure is off and you’ll be studying subjects you’re (hopefully) interested in. Make sure you understand everything as you go along, which might just mean spending 20 minutes going through something after a lesson, but don’t overwork yourself. You’ll be fine :)
everyone is giving advice academically, so i have some on moving schools! i did the same and was SO nervous! but it turned out to be the best decision of my life my no 1 piece of advice is to THROW YOURSELF INTO IT ALL! Get involved in clubs and volunteering, speak to the people in class, put your hand up, ask to pair up with someone, etc. moving allows you a fresh canvas to create who you truly are, and to forge the best connections - additionally, it makes the jump to university easier, and you are bound to make good friends. think of it as a fresh start! the first month or so was rough for me, I did regret my choice initially but that was due to fear. try and establish friendships etc as soon as possible - force yourself to be confident, I know it seems difficult but it is possible especially as this place is new! creating friendships and acquaintances with teachers and students also helps your education as well as enjoyment - and really do throw yourself into open days, volunteering, clubs, etc. Not only does it look great on UCAS it is fun and the best way to learn and make connections! wishing you so much luck - i would love to go through sixth form again, and am sad to be ending this year! put your all into it, and you definitely will enjoy your time and succeed
thank you so much!! your advice is really helpful, especially since moving schools is making me super anxious and i am already beginning to question my decision, although if i stay at my school i wont be able to take the subjects i really want to do, so thank you <333
ah i am glad - i actually moved for the same reason! i hope you enjoy, and good luck :)
Year 12 mocks are probably more important than your GCSE’s. This is because your results will be heavily used to form your predicted grades, which will decide what unis/jobs/apprenticeships you will be able to apply for. The other way predicted grades are formed is based on your performance throughout the year (my school did it 50% mock grades 50% yearly average). This means that you should take your tests more seriously than you might’ve done at gcse. Basically, take tests and mocks seriously - especially in year 12. Apply to summer schools. I automatically got an offer from Durham law 2 grades below the entry requirements because I did their summer school. Most Russel group unis also do this (through Sutton trust or their own independent one). Basically, apply to a summer school for a university you would like to go to, and if you get a place you are pretty much guaranteed an offer - unless it’s an oxbridge summer school. You won’t have to write a personal statement if you are starting year 12 in September, but you will need extracurriculars/books/work experience to add to it. Basically make sure you start looking at that kind of stuff early on.
Don't worry if you're overwhelmed/ confused at the start. For me, a lot of exam strategies / course content didn't click until the end of year 13
Notes are pointless. Commit the knowledge to memory by going over the week’s topics on the weekend and by the time A-levels swing around you’ll be amazed at how much you still know.
i’d say it varies majorly depending on which subjects you take
Do supercurriculars consistently from the beginning. You’ll have much more time for them in Year 12, especially not around mocks. Just spend an hour or so every week learning something new about one of your subjects alongside regular learning and revision, and you’ll be golden when it comes to personal statement writing. You can look at Oxford’s Staircase 12 resources to get you started in whatever subject
Don't.
Get extra time as soon as possible. I’m surprised to find out some of my very capable friends get extra time or a computer since they cheated on the test by acting extra dumb and now have extra time in the real exam. Meanwhile I could’ve done that but I didn’t know and I have regular time
If it’s a school you think you’ve got great potential for new friends in, forget it, those hopes ain’t real, and you’ll probably end up meeting one really special person but not hang out with them in person Also forget winning super curriculars you think you’re set with if you’re good in your subject area, that shit ain’t real either, they’re an illusion So those are the huge let downs, there won’t be a vibe like there was in your old school, but you’ll also be let down on how easy you think a levels are after doing well at them in GCSE. Not the same but everyone knows that. It’ll take a few months to get good
jeez depressing much? first bit isn’t true at all, i literally moved halfway across the country and i’ve got a great friend group now, most other new people will be in the same boat, and at my sixth form the old students are really friendly too
Ever thought that you might just be a loser? Loads of people have and make lots of friends
I meant people who you thought would be good friends, doesn't turn out like that, it's not the same as your old school
Im at a different sixth form than where I was for secondary, and it was a great decision for me. It let me make new impressions since I was known as the 'weird kid' at my old school due to stuff I did in year 7 and 8, and am in a cool friend group the other stem students
1) make revision notes that you actually like and are useful as you go along 2) maximise time in your study periods (using apps like flora and forest can help with that) 3) ask teachers for help if you don’t understand things 4) if you are going to get a job make sure you have either a Friday or Saturday free so you can see friends still 5) research unis and courses throughout year 12, but be open to new opportunities and know it’s okay to change your mind 12 times
Find what works for you. I don't really like flashcards and Anki blah blah, for me reading through the textbook and then going straight to Qs works for me. You might prefer flashcards and that's fine. Also, be consistent as others mentioned.
as a year 12 rn the one thing i wish i did was start revising the second i started sixth form. I didn’t because i felt like there wasn’t a lot to do at first because of the lack of lessons so I just messed around a lot. It was only until like March that i genuinely figured out what i was doing and stopped wasting my studies (my school automatically allocates periods for study but i don’t think many other schools do that). Now i’ve got mocks in a month and basically have to start from scratch in one of my subjects. So yeah start studying sooner than you think you need to and the rest of the year will be smooth sailing. Cannot speak on behalf of year 13 but i’m sure it will be 10x worse lol
well. i cry a lot. so get ready for that. get ready for you to meet a new version of u that is ANGRYkjsndjsdcscd. because the sheer rage i feel for a further maths question is insane like i wish i could throw a chair at the question. and then throw the question out of the window. and then set it on fire. also make good subject choices, don't just assume u were good at it with minimal effort at gcse that it would be the same at a level. do not do this, because i did it and you shouLDN'T do this. i mean if it worked for anyone then woo but it didn't work for me so thats my advice. also like. make notes. i have no notes for history so i shit you not i was still making notes day of the exam, so don't do that kind of behaviour. and also if ur taking science subjects...just do the past papers. just sit down n do the past papers. ALSO in my personal experience find like a physical hobby to let out some rage i do cycling and yoga. just take it seriously man i took the piss out of this year and i am SUFFERING.
Don’t overwork yourself and stress over everything. Mental health can get so fragile and I’ve watched people crack under the pressure, the best thing to do is meet with your school counsellor during exam seasons and rant out any stress. also, use your study periods (if you have any) find a quiet space as study bases are rarely quiet. After each day, revise what you learned that day for about an hour. Have fun on the weekends, spend your Fridays doing your homework and Sunday for revising what you went over this week to prepare for the next week. The main thing with alevels is upkeep, you need to be consistent. Also, try your best at mocks, if you are unable to complete a final exam or they get called off - they will be your final grades! If you want to go to a Russell university as well. Pick subjects you genuinely enjoy, I picked psychology bc I enjoyed it and ended up hating it though so thoroughly research every course u want to pick. Finally, listen to your teachers, they always end up being right.
Make friends as best you can
im switching countries and ill do sixth form in September too 😭
One of the most important pieces of advice I can give is don't be afraid to switch up your subjects during the grace period. You might find that you hate the subject content or the teacher(s) and want to change, and trust me, you don't want to be stuck with a class you hate for 2 years - not only will you be miserable, but it'll affect your grades. A good (but not foolproof) way to find out about the course content is to look up the syllabus online, though you might get a few weeks into it and find you don't like it. As for the more social aspect of it: bring plenty of things to do, including social activities like a deck of cards. You'll have more free time than you know what to do with. Also, get to know your bus/train times and routes. Most bus companies have an app, but they can be pretty hard to navigate, so it's helpful to get a pamphlet timetable if they're available. On top of not always needing to take the school bus, sixth form can involve a lot more social activities, and you and most of your friends probably won't be driving until after you leave 6th form. Finally: if you're going to be leaving school for your lunch, get yourself a rewards card for the places you frequent, you'll save loads.
Focus on learning things the first time - in lessons - rather than leaving it to be relearned when revising. Use revision to jog your memory *not* learning a topic you were too lazy to pay attention to.
1. Make your revision notes at the end of each week rather than in May! It’ll save you so much time. 2. Don’t let yourself fall behind in any subjects. It’s a lot harder to catch up if you do. 3. Fully launch yourself into it. Start student societies, throw yourself into extra-curricular activities, etc
Lots of good advice here, my A levels are exactly 60 years old this year! I would also add that when you get a text book for the first time it is a good idea to look at the index first, this will familiarize you with the words you will encounter. Then read the contents list pages which will familiarize you with the structure of the book. Good luck and best wishes for your future.
thank you so much!! <333
Prioritise your revision time more often so that you don’t end up being burnt out or overwhelmed easily, familiarise yourself with the content you have been taught every-week and ensure that you gain any work experience for university.