How I went from Cs to A*A*A*A in A Levels (tips no one told me + notes)

Summary

In this video, Faye shares practical, effective tips that helped her go from struggling with C’s to achieving top A-level grades. Key strategies include tackling topical questions early, using detailed notes, and making corrections to improve understanding. Faye emphasizes the importance of consistency, meeting with lecturers, using past papers strategically, and learning from peers. She also advises investing in pre-made notes to save time and encourages students to track their progress with spreadsheets. With a focus on thorough understanding over rote memorization, Faye’s approach offers valuable insights for anyone looking to boost their academic performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start doing topical questions early to solidify your understanding of each topic and to familiarize yourself with common exam questions.
• 😀 Use pre-made, detailed notes to save time, but ensure they are comprehensive enough. Add your own insights if necessary.
• 😀 After attempting past year papers or topical questions, always make corrections in a separate notebook, using different colored pens to track improvements.
• 😀 For essay-based subjects like Economics, refer to examiner's reports to understand common mistakes and the key points for high-quality answers.
• 😀 Keep a spreadsheet to track your progress with past year papers. Include details like year, topic, and any corrections made to monitor areas of weakness.
• 😀 Focus on understanding the material rather than just completing more questions. Use resources like Google, YouTube, or articles to deepen your knowledge.
• 😀 Meet with your lecturers regularly to discuss questions or corrections. They will provide tailored guidance, and it shows initiative on your part.
• 😀 Collaborate with friends to divide the workload—share notes, corrections, and essays. This mutual exchange of knowledge can boost your preparation.
• 😀 Avoid the common mistake of thinking homework and a few past year papers are enough. Be strategic and proactive in your revision process.
• 😀 If you're struggling with a topic, don’t hesitate to seek additional resources or help. Be proactive and get ahead in mastering each subject.

Q & A

What is the main tip Faye gives for improving A-level grades?

Faye's main tip for improving A-level grades is to start doing topical questions right away. These are past year questions organized by topic, which help reinforce understanding and identify patterns in exam questions.

How does doing topical questions benefit students?

Doing topical questions allows students to solidify their understanding of a topic while also revisiting past year questions. By the time the exam comes around, they've already done most of the past year questions twice—once in topical books and once in the actual past year papers.

Why is it important to track frequently appearing questions?

Faye recommends writing down questions that keep recurring and reviewing them during revision. This strategy helps students anticipate which questions might appear in the exam, as A-level exams often have repetitive questions.

What advice does Faye give about using notes?

Faye suggests that if you're not creating your own notes, it's worth checking if ready-made notes are available from seniors or online. This saves time and can be more efficient than making notes from scratch.

What should you do if your notes are not detailed enough?

If the notes you find are not detailed enough, Faye advises adding your own notes or annotations to ensure you have comprehensive material to study from.

How does Faye recommend handling corrections?

Faye emphasizes the importance of writing out corrections after doing past year papers or topical questions. She advises writing your understanding in a different color, so you can revisit and clarify mistakes with your lecturer.

Why is understanding your mistakes more important than just doing more questions?

Faye believes that understanding why you're making mistakes is crucial for improvement. She suggests focusing on correcting your understanding and actively engaging with your lecturer to address misunderstandings.

What role does meeting with lecturers play in improving exam performance?

Meeting with lecturers one-on-one helps students clarify their mistakes and gain deeper insights. According to Faye, lecturers are more likely to provide detailed explanations outside of class time, which can significantly improve your exam performance.

How did Faye and her friend collaborate on Economics studies?

Faye and her friend split the Economics syllabus in half, creating separate notes for their respective sections. Afterward, they combined their notes to cover the entire syllabus. This collaborative approach helped them stay on track and make the most of their time.

What does Faye suggest about using examiners' reports for essay-heavy subjects like Economics?

Faye recommends reviewing examiners' reports for subjects with a lot of essay questions. These reports highlight common student mistakes and showcase what makes strong responses, which can be a valuable resource for improving essay writing.