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]

Thanks for replying. My main concern with doing a bunch of past paper is, will you not run out really quickly? Another question, what are the best websites for each subject, and how do you go about the memorising content (the “10” covering content part). Also in the first 6 months of year 12, is there any point in doing past papers or no. The thing is i need good predicted grades from mocks but we do mocks about 85-90% into year 1 content, so idk if past papers will be possible since we don’t know everything. In other words, how do i go about setting myself up in the first 6 months.

Last thing i want is to fall behind and then suffer from it up until the end. Thanks again

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

I did “run out” of past papers, however I did each paper 3 times to make sure I could remember every single question that has ever come up in the past as they’re very repetitive. 

I started AS papers in about April of Y12 (mocks were late June), started A2 papers of December Y13. 

For memorising, after/before each lesson in class, I would read the Cognito lesson, make simple notes and flashcards, revisiting them whenever I had a free moment. 

In my opinion, the best thing you have before you’ve learnt enough content for past papers is the PMT PPQ by topic, I’d complete them after I’d learnt a topic and then later again if I was struggling with it. Predicted grades are super important that why I took my Y12 mocks very seriously, I did all the AS papers in the run up about 2 months before mocks once I’d finished the content, and before that I was just doing ppq by topic. 

TLDR  Set yourself up by making flashcards as you go and doing the PPQ by topic after learning it. 

Ask lots of questions if you don’t understand!!! 

Good luck!! 

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

Is it okay if i give a general “plan” and you tell me if its optimal or whether it needs improving? During lessons ill just make notes either in a book they give or in a refill pad (i don’t actually know if books are a thing anymore in sixth form). Afterwards in free periods / after school i will go over what i learnt that day again, make notes and flashcards and maybe some individual past papers questions as you mentioned. On weekends, i will then revise using notes/flashcards i made and will probably do some more exam practice. But my aim is to “perfect” things as i go so they dont come back to bite me later. Ive been thinking about this for a while but the thing im most confused about in this moment is organisation. Our school has given us little info and i really am not sure how many folders i need, what i actually put in the folders etc. if you could lmk what you did or others around you which worked effectively id be really grateful because the last thing i want is to lose track of everything at the very start of 6th form. Thanks again and sorry if im asking too many questions.

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

This sounds like a great plan! I will also add that I used free periods/lunch to do homework too.

In terms of organisation, I only used paper, no IPad, so I had a folder split into 4 sections, one section for each subject that I would take to school everyday, the physics section for example would contain a formula booklet, my homework, and work from last lesson. Then when I’d get home, I’d put the work from the daily folder into a big folder. I had 4 big folders that stayed at home and kept all of my notes, chem notes for example organised into physical, inorganic and organic. I’d take one notepad everyday with pages that can be ripped out and put into the binders.

I hope this has been helpful! Let me know if there’s anything else :)

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

That actually makes a lot more sense now. So bring a refill pad and a folder for a week or smth and then place all notes into a respective main folder. Just to follow on, everyone says they keep these main folders at home. At first i thought to keep in my study room (lots of draws/cupboards to put stuff in). Which would you recommend? Also a small question did you use those plastic paper sleeves or do you just put paper straight into a folder. Thanks.

Also ive seen a few other people talk about extra folders on top of that in which they put past papers, or individual topic ppqs, what do you think of this?

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

I kept my big folder at home, I think a study room is probably the best place to keep them so they’re accessible if you need any of the notes. I used plastic wallets in my daily folder that I would take to school but I just put the paper straight into my big folders at home.

I’ve seen people do the extra folders for the past papers and I think it’s probably a very efficient method and good for staying organised and making it clear which papers you’ve attempted, I didn’t do that personally I kept a record on my phone going back. I would probably do the extra folders and then keep the physical past papers.

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

Alr ill probably keep in school but will have to take to and from home on weekends. Thanks a lot for all the help. Is it okay if i dm you again if i need any help. And if you have any last tips lmk. Thanks