Tips for A-level

24 August 2017

I'm qualified to write this post because I worked so hard during A-levels, and unfortunately my grades do not reflect the hardworking I put in the entire year but I still want you to trust my tips because so many people got fucked over by a-levels this year. So all you young birds, get ready for the best advice of your life!!


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This photo doesn't even go with the post I'm just a working gal at the moment and working all this week and needed a pic
1. Keep your folders up to date. In year 12, my folders had no structure and the majority of year 13. When I sorted out my folders, it were as if the stars aligned. Keep your folders in a good system, it may be annoying to sort out but trust me, when you begin revising you will thank yourself.

2. Choose what you enjoy. I was going to do biology in second year, purely for the scientific title. I followed my heart and kept English literature and I am so glad I did. It was my best subject all year (well combined with classics) because I enjoyed them both so much. Don't do anything for the sake of university, I get university is important and all that but if you have to do a subject you hate to get into university, is it worth it? I don't think so! 

3. Get over the fear of missing out. I will admit, I get massive fomo (haha my laptop corrected it to foam) (fear-of-missing-out) but over my years at college it got to the point where I realised I needed to get over myself and recognise my limitations. I'm very much a go home everyday after college and do work kind of person whereas my friends met up a lot after college. And on weekends I had to structure my days out, so I could be hungover at work rather than at home because if I was at work I wouldn't be revising anyway so I didn't see the point wasting a revision day. Obviously, still go out and have hangover days but just know your limitations and recognise after exams you can party as much as you want. But during exams- structure the partying!


4. Keep your room tidy. Revising in a tidy room is the best. You can spread out your folders, you don't have to huddle up. Also getting into a made bed after revising/doing homework is always nice. Maybe it is just me but I could not revise in a messy room, although in saying that during the heat of exams my room was a tip but a tidy room is just always beneficial. 

4. Find a revision buddy. This only counts if the buddy will constantly be a source of motivation to revise and if you still revise independently as well, because independence is also good. But I found having my revision buddy so helpful, especially in essay based subjects. We shared ideas and essay plans and even wrote essays in timed conditions whereas at home I would ignore the blaring timer despite time keeping being so important in exams! Find an equal in a subject and bang it out!


5. Ask your teachers for help. I used to never email teachers for help because I didn't want to harass them however, teachers do wand the best for you. Obviously know your teachers limits,  not all would want to mark essays you've written however they do want what is best for you. So drop them an email asking to show them something/asking for help because it is unlikely they'll say no and they are the smartest people around!

6. Start early and keep notes up to date. Pretty self explanatory. But just for the love of god don't leave Alevel revision to last minute!! You'll be stressed forever. I highly recommend flash cards by the way 

Also, most importantly, remember that exams aren't always fair. Also that grades aren't everything but oh buddy this year did I find out exams weren't always fair. I done well in my exams but the thing is the grades weren't good grades for me. All year I worked so hard, I constantly had the 'you want to go to Bristol, you will go to Bristol' mentality so in year 13 I really got stuck into my work. I didn't go out, I would wake up early and I just worked as hard as I could. Through out my entire year at college this worked for me, I was an A grade student in all my subjects (except biology but I dropped that) and in second year I was often hitting the A* mark or just under. So I worked and worked, never taking my foot off the pedal. I gave up reading and blogging, used my bus journeys to revise rather than relax and listen to music, and in the end it didn't pay off. My final results, although good, don't reflect the hard work I put in. I have no idea how I got the grades I did, nor can my teachers, as I was always so on ball with A's and sometimes even above, but my final results don't reflect that. Of course I was devastated but now I just think who cares. 

People say you'll only be sad on results day if you didn't try your hardest, but you know what, exams can be wack. The same thing happened to some of my friends. This isn't to say don't try your hardest, but it is just to say exams aren't always fair. They aren't a true reperesentation always, and I'm still so angry at my grades. Not at myself though, but the exam boards because I know me and some of my friends deserved better. Many people deserved what they got, but not everyone. So just bear in mind at your next results day that, at the end of the day exams aren't everything and sometimes people do get fucked over, so don't judge anyone for their results! But still work hard, because although I am disappointed, I find great relief in knowing I could not have worked harder. 

5 comments

  1. I think these tips are so important! My A levels were the opposite, I tried my hardest but with deteriorating health I didn't think I'd performed half as well as I could have in my actual exams. My results were surprisingly really good but I had so many friends shocked by their grades. It's so annoying that one exam defines your mark, all year you could be achieving top grades and have one bad day that effects your whole future! its not fair

    Lucy Jane | Infinity of Fashion

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  2. These are such great tips Libby! I especially like the idea of a revision buddy. I hate how sometimes those that try hard don't get what they deserve but I do believe everything happens for a reason and it will all work out in the end!
    Sarah x
    saraheliza.co.uk

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  3. you're feelings are entirely justified, I was the same with the relentless relentless working and its so shitty that all that effort and all that stress is represented in one crappy letter on a piece of paper.
    It sucks-hope things are feeling better (great tips too ;) ) xx

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  4. great post, and don't worry I literally got a D in the subject I now study at uni - grades aren't reflective of your talent!

    http://ellieconnorphillips.blogspot.co.uk/

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  5. I'm so glad A Levels are over for me, and I'm sure you feel the same haha - great tips though, I wish I'd done more of these!

    Lucy | Forever September

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