HOW I SCORED TOP 2% in GCSE UK EXAMS - GRADE 9 IN EVERY SUBJECT (and how you can too!)

Summary

Charlotte, a third-year Dental student in London, shares her top tips for acing GCSE exams, emphasizing the importance of mindset, effective revision, and practice with past papers. She debunks common study myths, offers a dynamic revision timetable strategy, and highlights the significance of active learning techniques like flashcards and spaced repetition. Her advice is grounded in personal experience and backed by the 2017 McKinsey study, which underscores the impact of mindset on academic success.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Mindset Matters: A positive mindset is crucial for academic success, and it can be more impactful than socio-economic backgrounds.
• 🚀 Achieve Grade 9: Charlotte, a dental student, shares her strategies for achieving top grades in GCSEs and A-Levels.
• 📚 Effective Revision: The 'Grade 9 Method' involves active revision techniques to strengthen neural networks activated during exams.
• 🕒 Dynamic Timetable: A revision timetable should be adaptable, changing according to the student's needs, mock exams, and difficulty of topics.
• 📉 Prioritize Weaknesses: Focus revision on subjects and topics that are more challenging to achieve a well-rounded understanding.
• 🔄 Avoid Burnout: Balance study time with rest to maintain motivation and prevent exhaustion, especially in years 9 and 10.
• 📈 Incremental Revision Time: Gradually increase revision time as exams approach, but adjust based on individual focus duration and energy levels.
• 📝 Active Learning Techniques: Use techniques like 'BLITZ' for essay-based subjects, flashcards for active recall, and past papers for exam practice.
• 📑 Specification as a Guide: The exam specification is a vital resource that outlines everything needed to know for GCSEs.
• ✍️ Practice with Exam Questions: Regularly engaging with past papers and exam questions is the most effective way to prepare for tests.
• 👩‍🏫 Engage with Teachers: Teachers are valuable resources for clarification and support, especially for understanding unclear marking schemes.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video by Charlotte, the Dental student?

The main focus of the video is to provide tips and tricks on how to achieve top grades, specifically Grade 9, in GCSE exams by sharing her personal methods and experiences.

What is the significance of having a positive mindset according to the video?

A positive mindset is crucial as it affects one's motivation and academic achievement more than social economic backgrounds, as revealed by a 2017 study by McKinsey and Company.

Why is it important to manage time effectively during GCSE preparation?

Effective time management is important because it helps to prioritize topics and subjects, adapt to different challenges, and avoid burnout, ensuring a balanced approach to revision throughout the year.

What is the recommended approach to creating a revision timetable?

The revision timetable should be dynamic, changing based on the student's needs, difficulties, and the introduction of hard topics. It should not be a static copy of someone else's schedule.

How much time should a year 10 student ideally spend revising according to the video?

For year 10 students, it is recommended to revise for about one hour a day, increasing to 1 hour and 30 minutes before mock exams, depending on their focus span.

What is the purpose of the 'BLURT' technique mentioned in the video?

The 'BLURT' technique is used for active revision, especially beneficial for essay-based subjects. It involves writing down everything one can remember about a topic within a set time to reinforce memory and improve retention.

How should flashcards be used effectively for GCSE revision?

Flashcards should have a question on the front and the answer on the back, closely resembling exam questions. They should be reviewed until a high level of confidence is achieved, using digital platforms like Anki or Quizlet for convenience.

What is the importance of using exam questions and past papers for revision?

Exam questions and past papers are vital as they provide practical exposure to the types of questions that will be asked in the actual exams, helping students to understand and apply the knowledge they have learned.

What advice does Charlotte give regarding the relationship with teachers during GCSE preparation?

Charlotte advises students to be friendly with their teachers, do homework on time, and seek their help when struggling with understanding certain topics or exam questions.

What is the key takeaway from the video for achieving top grades in GCSE exams?

The key takeaway is to manage time effectively, revise actively using various techniques like BLURT, flashcards, and exam questions, and seek guidance from teachers to clarify doubts and improve understanding.