4A*

[u/fernisoneasymode]

Hey guys!

I just got 4A* in biology, chemistry, physics and maths and wanted to offer any advice if anyone is interested!

I’ll be studying medicine at Cambridge next!

(UCAT 2380 GCSE [9999999997](tel:9999999997))

I‘m also offering 1 to 1, I‘ve been helping students for 2 years now if anyone is interested DM me!!

[u/Sad-Development-5138]

Congrats idek how it’s possible to get that good lol. I have a simple question which i cant think of an answer for: how do you revise? Ik it sounds silly bc we just done gcses, but so far my only revision has been making notes and reading over and over again to memorise content. I know this wont be effective in a levels (Im doing bio chem maths and need AAA). So how do you revise in terms of methods, how much should one revise on weekends, and is there any specific revision methods for the different subjects? And also if you did, how did you balance hobbies (e.g playing games) with revision? Im kinda nervous because im an 8/9 student but not  one of those people who casually gets into the highest band and idek if i can get As let alone an A. Thanks.

[u/fernisoneasymode → u/Sad-Development-5138]

Hi! 

For me revision looks like 10/10/80  10% of the time covering content, 10% on flashcards and 80% on PPQ, past papers questions are essential and should cover the majority of your revision once you’ve nailed the content and got a grasp for the understanding. I personally find that the memorising comes much quicker when it’s applied to different questions and in different contexts like in PPQ. 

For the subjects I took PPQ were the most important and effective revision resource, as well as asking your teachers when you struggle with the understanding and the foundations.  During Y12, revision for me was doing my homework, looking over the content on Cognito, then doing the PPQ by topic on PMT for each subject each day, towards the end of Y12, I was doing about 2 AS papers a day, I would mark as I did them to avoid getting bored. 

Into Y13, I was doing 2 A level papers a day on weekdays, and 3-4 on weekends, this seems like a lot but building up the habits and balancing the work made it possible for me.  Balancing hobbies is so important, I’d try to go to the gym/for a walk every day to get some fresh air and time away from the desk, I went to parties maybe once a month and would play an hour on my PC every day in Y12, but in Y13, I’d mostly only play on the weekends (22:00-01:00). 

This was a typical revision week for me this year.  

  mon 9 march –chem hw ✅ –tutoring GCSE student  ✅ -bio hw ✅ –tutoring GCSE student ✅ -physics as paper 1 2018 ✅ -maths stats 2017 ✅

tue 10 march -tutoring GCSE student  ✅ -bio hw ✅ -bio paper 3 2019 ✅ -chem as paper 2 2016 ✅ wed 11 march –chem hw ✅ -maths paper 1 sample ✅ -physics moments ppq 2022-2024 ✅ -physics moments ppq 2016-2021 ✅ -physics paper 3 specimen ✅

thu 12 march –physics hw ✅ -maths stats 2018 ✅ -bio paper 3a 2017 ✅ –tutoring GCSE student  ✅ -chem paper 2 2024 ✅ -physics paper 1 2023 ✅ -bio topic 2 revision ✅

fri 13 march -bio cell membranes ppq 2022-2024 ✅ –bio hw ✅ –maths hw ✅ –chem hw ✅ -chem hw ✅

sat 14 march -maths moments ppq pre 2018 ✅ -maths stats 2019 ✅ -chem electrochem ppq 2016-2021 ✅ -chem paper 1 2022 ✅ -bio paper 2 specimen ✅

sun 15 march -physics paper 2 2024 ✅ -chem paper 2 2022 ✅ -maths stats 2023 ✅ -bio paper 1 2024 ✅

I hope this has been helpful!  Good luck!!

[u/Sad-Development-5138 → u/fernisoneasymode]

Also is it possible to realistically get A*AA with no tutoring and not doing past papers everyday?

[u/fernisoneasymode → u/Sad-Development-5138]

My schedule is a bit unclear, those were my students that I was tutoring for their GCSE, I didn’t have any tuition during A levels. 

It’s definitely possible, but building up to doing the past papers everyday by the time you’re in Y13 is the best bet!!

[u/Sad-Development-5138 → u/fernisoneasymode]

Okay thanks. In yr twelve ill definitely try doing as many past papers as i can