Congratulations you have made it through GCSE and it’s time to move on to A levels! Right, you have got fewer subjects to study but please don’t underestimate the jump. What you may not know is that how much more information you have to absorbed compared to your GCSE years. Hopefully, the following tips could help you to find your way to ace through A levels.

It’s intimidating to find out the amount of content you need to study (especially Biology) but having good time management is the key. I recommend creating a to-do list for each week and each day respectively. The list should include your weekly goals and what you are going to cover every day. However, don’t be too ambitious in what you can do in one day, make sure you really have time for your intended goals. If there are topics you find trickier, allocate more time to it. For me, I find physics a lot harder to deal with so I usually study this subject in the morning when I have a clear mindset. Try using the Pomodoro method and make sure you have enough time to rest and hang out with people, mental health matters!

One of the biggest tips would be to do past papers. Physics & Maths tutor (free) and save my exams (paid resources) are the two platforms I have used. Start with topics past papers to test your concepts then advance to by year past papers. Remember to time yourself when you are doing by year past papers so as to give you an idea of how much time you have left. My advice would be to mark your paper once you have finished. Stick to the mark scheme and try to be as strict as possible when you are marking. If you have any enquiries, meet up with your subject teacher and discuss with him/her, they are always here to help you so don’t be afraid.  I understand that specifications might change but then it is still useful to do some old specs past papers to familiarize yourself with various question types.

Last but not least, experiment with different learning methods. I love using spaced repetition and active recall when it comes to memorizing content. Find a piece of paper and blurt everything out, and crosscheck with your textbooks/ notes to make sure you don’t miss out on any key points. Other study methods include using flashcards such as Anki and Quizlet, these apps also help to test your knowledge. We all have our own study methods and try experimenting with different ways when the term starts and stick to the best way throughout our whole A-level journey.

Ultimately, what works best for one person may not work as well for another. That’s why it is worthwhile to experiment with it yourself. Prepping for A level is never easy and it can feel daunting at times but your peers are going through this exam with you together. Excellent results are achievable if you are willing to work hard. Good luck to you all!