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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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With the pandemic failing to show any signs of slowing, educators across the world are being forced to rethink how they teach. Social distancing and an increasing reliance on online education have allowed education to blossom beyond the four walls of the classroom. And while teachers might have had their technological abilities tested over the past months, they’ve also had another key quality tested: empathy.

Being able to understand and share in the feelings of one’s students is vital, especially in such trying times as these. Whether it’s relating to a student that’s finding a particular topic challenging, suffering from stress or simply lacking motivation, teachers who understand their students are able to teach more effectively. After all, a good educator not only grasps the material deeply, but also understands their students beyond their last exam grade.

So why is empathy so important?

First, empathy allows educators to understand what their students are finding hard. While this might sound like something all teachers ought to know, it’s one of the most challenging aspects of being an effective teacher. Appreciating what their students don’t know is something that makes good teachers great, by allowing them to devote extra time to specific topics. After all, as a parent, you are probably all too aware that asking a student what they find hard seldom results in a fruitful response. For this reason, gaps in knowledge are often only revealed during exams, when it’s too late. By pinpointing any gaps in knowledge early, effective educators can focus on ironing out specific issues students have. For this exact reason, all of EasyA’s Oxbridge tutors are trained to pinpoint any issues from the very start of each lesson, so that they teach each student with a laser-like focus and set them up for exam success.

Fortunately, EasyA tutors are experienced online educators who understand each student’s individual needs and approach each session with a key quality: empathy.

Second, empathy allows educators to appreciate how their students are feeling. In today’s increasingly competitive environment, gauging how stressed a student might be or assessing their level of confidence can (and should) impact how material is taught. By understanding students beyond their grades, teachers can instill a sense of trust in their students, making the learning process far more rewarding. Students, especially during their teenage years, are undergoing huge transformations both inside and outside the classroom and keeping in mind how a student feels can create a far more comforting learning experience that students will appreciate. Instead of simply penalising a student for poor performance, the best educators will figure out why the student is underperforming and tackle the root of the problem. This ability to relate to students is why all of EasyA’s tutors are students or recent graduates themselves, meaning they understand the students they’re teaching and are well positioned to give them advice from their own recent experiences facing exams or other academic challenges: after all, they were in their exact shoes only a few years ago.

Third, empathy allows educators to engage their students. Just as a comedian must read their audience to ensure their jokes land well, effective educators must understand their audience so they can adjust their teaching style and captivate their students. Being able to explain concepts in a manner that resonates with students is vital to successful learning. For example, explaining concepts to a primary school student might involve relating concepts to food or certain toys, while explaining concepts to university students might involve applying these to future jobs and careers: in both cases, empathy is needed to grasp that to which the student will relate. Fortunately, EasyA tutors have all recently sat the exams they are tutoring, so are ideally placed to teach in a way that is not only relevant to the exam board, but more importantly relevant to the students they are teaching.

All in all, empathy is a vital quality of any successful educator. For it is only by understanding one’s students that can one engage them, and only once students are engaged can they learn effectively. And while teachers who show empathy undoubtedly provide a superior learning experience, they might just create more empathetic students too.

About EasyA

EasyA provides students with 24/7, on-demand tutoring from our team of Oxbridge tutors. Our on-demand format allows students to get help in minutes, empowering students to tackle tough problems head-on and build confidence. The chat-based format means students don’t feel the traditional pressure common when asking questions in class. EasyA partners with top schools across the U.K. to help their students get on-demand maths help so no student has to struggle alone.

Want to try EasyA for yourself? Download the app now!

Have any questions? Get in touch.

Announcing our official partnership with Wolfram!

We all know that feeling of getting stuck on a super tricky maths problem and not being able to get help right when we need it. That's why we created EasyA! However, what if another HUGE problem were solved. What if we actually understood why we were learning the maths topic we were stuck on - wouldn't that be amazing? That's exactly what Wolfram are solving through Computer Based Maths - making the maths we learn relatable and actually fun!

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Good luck, and have an awesome summer!

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