Student-perspective: What I wish I'd known before A-levels

Studying for A-levels is undeniably hard work and with the benefit of hindsight there’s definitely a few things I wish I knew before going into sixth-form. A-levels are an exciting time but it’s very easy to get overwhelmed, especially in the beginning. So, here’s my advice as a once stressed-out but ultimately successful student.

The jump

You may have heard that the jump from GCSEs to A-Levels is quite a big one but I’d say that ‘big’ is an understatement. The jump is enormous both in terms of content and more significantly the sheer amount of work required for each subject. If you’re taking any essay-based subject expect to get used to writing multiple essays a week as homework tasks. As for maths and science expect some heavy textbooks and a lot of time spent on practice questions. This is not to say that the workload is unmanageable but you should be aware that it increases dramatically from GCSE so be prepared to have to allocate more time to homework tasks.

Free periods are precious The prospect of free hour-long slots in the school day where you can sit around and chat with your friends seems, at first, to be one of the perks of being an A-Level student. But don’t be led into a false sense of security. ‘Free’ periods may be free of lessons but shouldn’t be free of studying. Trying in vain not to sound like a nagging teacher, your free periods are there for a reason and if you can find the right balance between socialising and working then they’ll help you to manage the jump.

Get involved

At first, the workload may seem overwhelming and additional extracurriculars implausible but once you’ve got a handle on things don’t shy away from opportunities outside of your studies when studying for your A-levels. When it came to my university applications, interviewers were more interested in my role as a prefect, my involvement in ‘Sixth Form Debates’ and my sporting achievements than my academics which they already had on paper.

Sticking to your deadlines

With an increased workload it takes a lot less time for homework to start piling up, especially if you leave things to the last minute. Unlike when you’re in school, teachers won’t necessarily chase you up for the work you’ve missed. When it comes to A-levels, it’s on you! It can take some time to get used to that increased level of responsibility but remember teachers don’t set tasks for the sake of it, the homework you’re getting will be beneficial to your studies. Their hope is to make essay writing and past papers a second nature.

Take advantage of extra study time

Giving up your lunch time for a revision session or worse, staying on after the bell rings at the end of the day, can seem like the last thing you want to do. And yes, it can seem tedious but revision sessions put on by your teachers are incredibly valuable. You might learn new revision strategies, get answers to questions you’ve not had the chance to ask in class or even hear an answer to a question you didn’t even know you wanted to ask!

Build a study support network

The starting point here should be your friends. Whilst you obviously want to take a break and lunch time to chat about things outside of essays and exams, at the end of the day you and your friends at sixth-form/college are all in the same A-Level boat. Use the time you have with them to follow up on queries you had in lessons or to see how they’re finding a certain topic. This can simply be a chat as you walk between classrooms or you can use free periods to do some verbal recall on key terms, methods or quotes.

Stress management

Without trying to scare you there will probably be times across the 2 years of A-level study where you’ll be feeling pretty stressed. Feeling stressed is normal but it’s only healthy as long as it can be managed. Figure out what it is that helps you to de-stress. Exercise is often a go to for students but mindfulness cannot be understated and even looking into techniques such as breathing exercises can be hugely beneficial when it comes to easing stress in exam season.

So, whilst A-levels can seem like the hardest academic challenge you’ve had to tackle so far, there’s no need to be scared when you can be prepared!

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