Year 12 Top  tips to Year 11 

1. Make sure you choose options you will enjoy, you will have about two weeks or so to swap subjects if you're not enjoying it so make the most of that!

2. Make notes/revision material as often as you can - it will make your lives so much easier

3. Read around your subject to get a good grip and understanding of it properly

4. You will probably get a couple of D's at the beginning, especially for essay based subjects, you don’t know what you’re doing yet and that’s okay - please don’t cry 

5. Try getting into super-curricular activities like attending free lectures (Gresham college), summer schools and essay competitions.

6. Signing up for a TheStudentRoom account is pretty useful, you can talk to people around the same age as you about life after sixth form and your options as well!

7. Revise in your frees as often as you can! - cramming for a test doesn't work at ALevel/BTEC

8. Be mindful of entrance exams for universities, especially for anyone interested in medicine/dentistry/veterinary - you might be required to sit a UCAT test

9. Make sure not to overwork yourself, having a balance is key (please go out with friends, have fun, enjoy life) 

TOP TEN TIPS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE ENTERING YEAR 12!

1. Find the balance between your work and social life! 

2. Be organised. Prepare your folders within the summer holidays

TOP TIP = a good idea to stay organised is to have a ‘day folder’, this folder would be divided into the subjects that you are studying, in each section it would contain the topic you are currently studying in each class. Once you are finished with that particular topic you can then transfer those notes into your individual subject folders. This is useful because those subject folders do indeed get heavy!!

3. Revise your notes every week. This will reduce any large workload and stress by the end of the year.

4. Be prepared to struggle. This may seem slightly harsh however the jump between GCSE and A levels is far greater than you know. However, the harder you work the better you will do!

5. Use your free periods wisely, there will always be work to do whether that is homework, independent study, wider reading, the list never stops! Make sure you start this from day one as it can become a difficult habit to pick up. Move away from your friends in order to stay concentrated!

6. Engage with your teachers! If you don't understand something, talk to them. You must be proactive and ask them for help!

7.  Do the summer homework. This may seem pretty tedious however this will give you a true insight on what your chosen A levels will be like!

8. Be aware and look out for university programmes such as the ‘K+ scheme’ or ‘UCL target medicine.’ These schemes are designed by universities which provide careers advice, work experience opportunities and can support you when applying to university. Be prepared to sign up to them as early as possible as these schemes are guaranteed to be useful when applying to universities in Year 13.

9. Start early! Consistently make your revision notes after every lesson.

10. Finally be positive and enjoy one of your last years at St Philomenas!