If you’re hoping to achieve the best possible results in your GCSE or A Level exams next summer, then there are plenty of things you can start doing now to ensure you’re on the right track. No doubt many of them you’re already doing.
Attending every possible class between now and your study leave is essential – the last thing you want to do is miss some important learning, or a great recap and revision session taught by your teacher. Research has shown that overall absence has a negative effect on pupil’s attainment. In fact, every day missed is directly associated with a lower chance of achieving five or more 7-9 grades at GCSE.
We all know that lessons in a lively classroom can move quickly, and it’s easy to find yourself in a position of being confused. A few seconds of daydreaming out the window, or lending a pen to a fellow classmate and you can feel like you’ve missed something really important. We all get distracted at times, it’s just human nature; however, it can unfortunately have a detrimental impact on your learning.
If you do feel that you’ve been left behind, for whatever reason, or you’re genuinely struggling to grasp a particular concept, it’s essential you put your hand up and seek clarification. Taking a couple of minutes in class to backtrack, and make sure you’re on the right path will make your life infinitely easier when it comes to revising in the next few months.
You could also look at working with tutors to help you consolidate information from classes, for instance, for Science or Maths, getting help from online science tutors; such as online physics tutors, biology tutors, chemistry tutors or online maths tutors could be really beneficial to you and help you grasp topics you have covered at school, as well as help you to prepare for your exams.
Another fantastic way to improve your knowledge about a particular subject or topic is to do some additional reading. Asking your teacher for a recommended reading list and then borrowing those books from the library is a great chance to improve your understanding.
These days you also have the option of countless websites that will have additional information for you, perhaps even specialising in a particular area of the subject you’re interested in. There are also numerous videos available from sites such as the BBC, YouTube or even topic specific destinations. These videos may show you practical ways to work through a maths problem, or even demonstrate specific science experiments that will be of use to you.
Think about finding a science tutor or a maths tutor to help you as well.
Despite our best intentions we can all miss the occasional day of school. People get ill, and no amount of “powering through” will get you on that bus and into class.
Equally, it’s not always possible to ask questions in class – teachers are under an immense amount of pressure to get through all the content in any given course, which means going back and spending significant time on a concept one or two students are struggling with is not always an option. Many pupils understand this, and rather than causing problems or singling themselves out would rather stay quiet and try to muddle through.
Extra reading may also feel like a tall ask if you’re already struggling with a particular subject. Simply reading more about it may not actually clarify your understanding, but could, instead, lead to you becoming more confused and ultimately disheartened. That’s the last thing anyone should be feeling in the run up to revision season.
So, what else can you do to ensure you’re as prepared as possible for your exams?
Working with A Level Tutors or a GCSE Tutor may well be the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to securing brilliant results in your exams. Over the years, and most recently since the Covid-19 Pandemic, tutoring online has become increasingly popular and easier to access.
One of the biggest barriers to accessing a personal tutor for many students was the time and travel constraints associated with attendance at a physical location. However, if you are able to work with online tutors, this is no longer an issue. Instead of having to be at a centre on the outskirts of town 40 minutes after school finishes, you can now take a class from the comfort of your own home – even if that’s just before dinner’s ready, or even an hour or so before bed. Online tutoring really can fit into anyone’s lifestyle.
However, it’s not just the accessibility that makes accessing GCSE tuition online a fantastic option when it comes to improving your scores – it’s the idea of working with someone on a one to one basis. Revision is only as good as the quality of the knowledge that you’re revising. If there are gaps in your learning or understanding, then there is only so far you’re going to be able to go.
Working with a tutor on a one-to-one basis will provide them with an opportunity to identify any gaps you may have, or areas where you could do with cementing your knowledge and growing your confidence. They can take the time to work on these areas, ensuring you have a stronger foundation to be able to build upon as you move through the course content.
It’s also important to remember that tutors aren’t just there to teach you new content, or ensure you have a strong understanding of the content you’ve already learnt. They can also provide you with invaluable support when it comes to revising. A good tutor, such as those that work with us here at Tutorspot, will be able to provide you with advice on how to structure your revision notes, create flashcards or produce mind maps. They know that students learn in different ways, and therefore will have a variety of tools at their disposal to support you as you discover which ways work best for you.
One thing that many people find hugely beneficial is working through practice exams or previous exam papers. Not only are these a great test of your current knowledge, highlight areas that perhaps need more revision, but they also give you practice of working under timed conditions – something not everyone finds easy.
If you are looking for additional support with your studies, why not use our search tool to find the right tutor for you? You can also find a tutor by emailing us at info@tutorspot.co.uk or giving us a call or text on 07480637128.
