GCSEs and A-levels Revision Tips!

Are you expecting A*s for your GCSEs or A levels? If you are determined to get the grades you expect to achieve, revision is a big part of the journey which gets you directly to your goal. These revision methods are not only for GCSEs and A levels, they are also valid for any exam or test you might have.

Now, people have different ways to revise but preparation is one of the most relevant keys to exams, interviews and anything which relies on your knowledge, confidence and hard work.

This types of revision can easily optimise your study time until the exams. 

1. Practise. Practise. Practise!

One of the best strategies for high-achievers is practising questions by getting hold of as many past papers as you can and keep doing them. This will definitely help you understand the exam conditions provided before mocks and exams, ensuring you are ready for the exam!

Practising past papers will help you familiarise with:

• Question style
• Exam format
• Terminology required in exam
• Time management under exam conditions
• Retrieving information quicker

You can also download the mark scheme of that exam if it is provided and check yourself and see what is required in the exam to get the right marks! 

The following links are some very useful websites where you can find past papers for GCSEs, A levels and more. Have a look at: 

• http://www.wjec.co.uk/students/past-papers/
• http://www.ocr.org.uk/i-want-to/download-past-papers/
• http://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/exams-guidance/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes
• http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/past-papers.html

2. Revision Timetables!

Do you want to use all your time efficiently? 

Do you want to have all your revision done by a chosen time?

No-one sticks to the timetables, they aren't useful anyway. Yes, they are!

Revision timetables help you organise your revision sessions, they make sure you accomplish things one at a time, they help you prioritise tasks and help you finish all your revision by your proposed date. 

3.  Breaks!

While you're revising, do you often feel like you won't take in any more information? Do you feel exhausted and keep excusing yourself from revising to eat, watch tv or anything else? 

While you are revising, make sure you take regular breaks to engage your mind and to give your brain some rest. Exercising would be a very effective way to spend your break time as it clears your mind from any anxiety or stress and it can improve your exam performance overall.  You will be much more focused while you study if you do this. 

Don't overthink exams too much! Getting nervous is always good to keep you going! Just remember, prepare and revise beforehand, especially not on the last day!

Side note: I will be posting more often about tips for students and about many students' experiences on almost everything which will help you tackle many of the questions a lot of students got and still get.

7+ Exam

7+ Exam

The 7+ exams usually takes place in January in Year 2 and it is an exam to enter into an independent junior school.  Most independent schools have 7+ exams and all include a Maths Exam, an English exam, and in some cases Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning, and all of the exams are timed (usually 30 mins -  1 hr). If they get through the exam, many schools will call your child back for an interview.

Sometimes in some schools, when you go to the open day, they might tell you that your child doesn't need any tutoring for the 7+ exam and that the material set in the exam is the same level as the material that your child learns at their present junior school. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true and most children prepare for the 7+ exams 1/2 years before the actual exam as it is extremely competitive. Make sure your child is prepared beforehand for this exam, but take into account that this exam is not compulsory at all, and that you can choose to wait until the 11+ or 13+ exams if you think your child isn't ready or is too young to undergo this exam.


MATHS EXAM requires the following skills:

• Simple multiplication and division (therefore time tables from 1-12 need to be learnt)
• Addition and subtraction
• Fractions
• Time
• Complex problems
• Units
• etc.

ENGLISH EXAM includes tackling a comprehension and creative writing. Try to read many books!

Skills required:

• Effective story plotting with beginning, middle and end with a given title. 
• Spelling 
• Comprehension stories and questions relating to the story.
• Good vocabulary used for creative writing.
• Use of literary expressions and terms (similes, connectives, metaphors, dialogue...)
• etc.

VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL EXAM requires the following skills:

• Ability to understand and analyse visual information.
• Solve problems using visual reasoning.
• etc.

INTERVIEW

• Knowledge of news happening at that specific moment.
• Confidence
• History knowledge
• Mental maths
• Understanding vocabulary
• Be able to talk about books you have read in the past.
• etc.

I personally recommend the very popular Bond books which you can get from e.g Waterstones and you can find all kinds of Bond books for Maths, English, Verbal and Non-verbal reasoning, spelling and assessment papers too.

Not all schools in London have 7+ Exams, but most independent schools do. 

GOOD LUCK!

Students in Charities

UK has many charities which have been massively supported and are run by amazing volunteer teams. I am very lucky to consider myself as a charity volunteer for Save the Children. Volunteering for charities not only helps the people in need, but also gives you a satisfactory and amazing feeling after you volunteer as you know that you have helped.

You can start working in charity shops when you are under 18, for example I have started working in charity shops since I was 13 years old. 

Volunteering is also seen as a very positive aspect in schools and universities for when you apply, and they like it when you volunteer and have work experiences from an early age.

Big Careers Fair London

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?

A doctor, lawyer, dancer, football coach or do you want to be a fashion designer?

If you are having any thoughts about this, I recommend you to go to the London Careers Fair at Fairfield Halls on Wednesday 2nd of December, from 10.30 - 3.30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet employees, colleges and universities, and to find out what you enjoy and want to do in the future.

Sign up now at www.big-careers.co.uk

Independent Schools Show

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SHOW!!!

There is going to be an Independent Schools Show on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of November 2015 taking place in Battersea Park. About 200 of the leading schools gather and talk about children's future. This event is the UK's biggest school open day! This is such an amazing experience to get to know more about the schools and get information about very good schools which you might be interested in.

Registration for tickets and full details of the show are available at SchoolsShow.com

Welcome!

Dear readers,

This blog is not only dedicated to the excellent education in London's top schools and universities, but it also provides honest personal advice from students' point of view.

In addition, this blog will also introduce London to you from my perspective, and how you can discover many ways to improve your education and future by learning and living in London.

International enquiries are also available in Spanish, Russian, German, French, Catalan and Armenian about any educational advice and much more.