Hi everyone!
Its recently occurred to me that the exam period is coming back around, and I'm seriously amazed how quick the time has gone since I took my exams! Since I'm taking an 18 unit media diploma course (possible blog post explaining what thats all about soon) I don't have to take any A level exams, but I'm still able to leave college/sixth form with at least 3 A - Levels. Thankfully as well, none of my GCSEs were too low that I would have to re take them again this year (phew!)
Anyways, for many people this is an extremely stressful time and sometimes you have no idea if you'll be able to get through it all once you get your exam timetable - I would know, I've been there! There are many reasons that I'm writing this post: 1) tips that really helped me 2) advice for those who may need it and 3) pretty much most of the UK will have to go through GCSEs, whereas A levels are an option to take or not, thankfully there are courses out there to offer you the same opportunities as those who are taking A levels.
So, if you don't need or want to read this - I'll see you next blog post, but if you're at this stage in your life - I really would love it if you could hear what I have to say on this subject, I wish I knew some of these things before going into the exam room!
(These tips are all my own and are from someone who's target grades were from A-C, I averaged in Cs & Bs so these will be great for those in the same range as I was!)
Its recently occurred to me that the exam period is coming back around, and I'm seriously amazed how quick the time has gone since I took my exams! Since I'm taking an 18 unit media diploma course (possible blog post explaining what thats all about soon) I don't have to take any A level exams, but I'm still able to leave college/sixth form with at least 3 A - Levels. Thankfully as well, none of my GCSEs were too low that I would have to re take them again this year (phew!)
Anyways, for many people this is an extremely stressful time and sometimes you have no idea if you'll be able to get through it all once you get your exam timetable - I would know, I've been there! There are many reasons that I'm writing this post: 1) tips that really helped me 2) advice for those who may need it and 3) pretty much most of the UK will have to go through GCSEs, whereas A levels are an option to take or not, thankfully there are courses out there to offer you the same opportunities as those who are taking A levels.
So, if you don't need or want to read this - I'll see you next blog post, but if you're at this stage in your life - I really would love it if you could hear what I have to say on this subject, I wish I knew some of these things before going into the exam room!
(These tips are all my own and are from someone who's target grades were from A-C, I averaged in Cs & Bs so these will be great for those in the same range as I was!)
Learning techniques for Kinaesthetic and Visual learners:
So my learning style was and still is kinaesthetic and visual - basically, I have to touch and move things about or see them for my eyes first for me to learn the facts. The tips that I will be sharing will be specifically for these types of learners, but if you don't know what your learning style is - you can find out on this website: http://www.learningrx.com/types-of-learning-styles-faq.htm
1) Taking notes when shown demonstrations
Science is one of the core subjects in GCSEs, something that wasn't my forte and honestly didn't enjoy at all. However, I wasn't awful at it (not blowing my own trumpet) but that was due to this learning technique. At my old school, my science teachers would show demonstrations of different chemical reactions etc. When they did this, I tried to keep up and write notes along with what they were saying - then when going to revise, I would be able to re learn the same thing that I learnt that day. Along with these notes, adding diagrams to these really helped out too - basically, felt tips and permanent markers will be your best friend.
2) Post it notes as wallpaper
Writing the small facts on post it notes really helped me out during this time! I would sit at my computer, study the certain area of the subject (i.e. history) and write little facts on them and a few drawings too. Its amazing how much you can actually fit on a post it note! Switch it up a bit too - add some colour to the post it notes, colour co-ordination is always fab too! Also, the best part about bedroom walls is that you can split them into different subjects - I had all my history on one wall (there was so much - image below) science on another, then French and English together (logic) and once those exams are out the way you can relay new post it notes for another subject.
3) YouTube videos & online learning
So typical for me to post something about YouTube (sorry;)) but there are channels out there that specialise in certain subject areas (I'll leave some links below.) These really helped me out when studying - again as I have to learn by watching things, videos were super helpful and the fact that I could pause and rewind certain areas made such a difference! Another online thing is going onto sites such as SAMLearning or BBC Bitesize. Honestly, I hated the word when teachers constantly nagged about us going onto these sites, but one day I just clicked with them and their learning methods really helped me. Since these sites are quite popular, they have pretty much everything online that will be included in the exam (give or take a few subject areas.) It really helped, because I felt like I was learning things a lot more than I would in a classroom.
LINKS:
Struggle with science? - https://www.youtube.com/user/myGCSEscience
Maths? - https://www.youtube.com/user/HEGARTYMATHS
SAMLearning - I think schools get automatic logins - but ask just in case! https://www.samlearning.com/
BBC Bitesize - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education
AQA Apps - search on Google Play or App Store, its all free :)
LINKS:
Struggle with science? - https://www.youtube.com/user/myGCSEscience
Maths? - https://www.youtube.com/user/HEGARTYMATHS
SAMLearning - I think schools get automatic logins - but ask just in case! https://www.samlearning.com/
BBC Bitesize - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education
AQA Apps - search on Google Play or App Store, its all free :)
4) Listen to classical music
This sounds so bazar - but I'm the type of person who cannot sit in silence and work. I have to have music playing to keep me from going crazy! But, with current music - I've heard it all before and I'll want to skip them or the lyrics will either annoy me, causing me to skip or begin singing which then leads to procrastination. But, with classical - its very chill, no lyrics and the same song goes on for about 10 minutes sometimes. It really helped me focus when revising and I felt a lot more went in when those songs came up again. I listened to Classic FM, who advertised A LOT of the time about revision/studying with classical music and how much it could increase your learning etc. So give it a try - it sounds very dull and I don't listen to classical anymore, but honestly it was a life saver!
Stuff to know:
- Yes, it's going to be stressful, but do not let that go to your head too much!
- EVERYONE your age will be going through the same feelings and worries as you are
- It will come and go quickly - take every day as it comes
- Revise the subjects in order of the exams and in how difficult you find the subject
- You are allowed days off!
- Put the work in to get the results you're dreaming of - its not going to hit you overnight
- There will always be somewhere to accept you after school, don't think it will be the end of everything if you don't get what you expected!
- Treasure the last few days of school! You're going to miss it - I promise!!
Good luck to all of you taking your GCSEs this year - I promise that it'll be fine!
See you in the next blog post,
See you in the next blog post,
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