Here are our top ten tips for making the most of Year 11 and to help you stay organised throughout this important year.
Tip #1: Organise your time to ensure everything gets done. Find out all the important dates for the year. This could be coursework deadlines, mock exam dates (and prom, of course!). Map out your year ahead to help you stay organised well into 2023.
Plan, into your week, time to study and time to relax and spend time with friends and family. You could create a timetable which shows the days and times in which you will study and when you are going to plan to take your time off. You can also set up reminders on your phone so you do not forget.
Tip #2: Stay on track with homework. Try to do all of your homework on the day it is given. This
helps you to stay organised and reduces stress. It will also make your workload seem smaller. Break tasks into manageable chunks. You can use checklists or to-do lists.
Tip #3: Use a tool to help you stay organised. Make good use of your school planner. Alternatively, if you, like me, take your mobile phone everywhere with you, you could use it's calendar (I do this!) or a timetable created on a computer and printed out. Stick it somewhere useful, where you will easily see it and check it regularly.
Tip #4: Think about your study space. You will need a quiet, neat and comfortable place which is dedicated to study. This is important to help you to concentrate and reduce your stress levels. If you have a special space for study you will be less likely to avoid important pieces of work and are more likely to be productive.
If you have a study space, make sure you organise your study space and materials. This could include:
Subject folders with dividers
Revision guides
Set texts for English
Lists of useful websites and apps
Stationary like scientific calculator, protractor, ruler, compass, eraser, highlighters, post-it notes, flashcards etc.
Tip #5: Take your mock exams seriously. They do matter even though they are not the real thing. Practice and preparation are key when it comes to passing your GCSE's. Therefore, mock exams are important. Mock exams provide a great opportunity to identify the areas you may need to work on before the real final exams.
They also enable you to gain some exam experience which will help you to feel less nervous when the real exams come around. By the time you get to the summer exams of 2023, you will know what to expect and be able to enter the exam hall with a greater sense of calm.
Mock exam results are used by teachers too. They will be able to use the results as tools to inform the focus of their teaching in those final months and to give you specific guidance on how you can potentially improve your grades.
Tip #6: Buy revision or study resources early on in Year 11. If you intend to invest in revision guides to support you through exam preparation, try to buy them early in year 11. You will then be able to use them to support your study throughout the whole year rather than a month or two before final exams. CGP publish revision guides in all subjects. However, your subject teachers may also recommend a revision guide that is endorsed by the exam board like AQA or Edexcel. Certainly shop around, do a bit of research to find the revision guide that will work for you. You could also make a list of the best online revision apps or websites that you plan to use.
Tip #7: Get to know your exam specifications for each subject. If you do not know what exam board your school is using for each subject yet, do ask your teacher. The specifications (syllabus) can be downloaded from the exam board website. Become familiar with what course content you need to have covered. Also try to interpret the mark schemes so that you can understand what examiners are looking for to award high marks in each question.
Tip #8: Set yourself SMART goals. Think about what you want to achieve by the end of the year and then how you are going to do that. If you need some help with this, you can talk to your subject teachers or you can get in touch with us for some guidance via our GCSE support groups. You do not need to be working with one of our tutors to join, they are free and open to all. Simply, join and post your question.
Tip #9: Establish a good routine. This can include how and when you study but also when you will make time to relax, have fun with friends and get some exercise. It also means making sure you get enough sleep. Did you know that most teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night?
Tip #10: Ask for help if you need it. It is important during Year 11 to have a network of support. You may just need family and friends. However, you can seek help and guidance from your tutor and teachers at school or your Head of Year. You may also have a counsellor that works at your school. There is an organisation called 'Reach Out' who are a national mentoring and educational charity, rooted in local communities, who support young people. They can be found at www.reachoutuk.org. Year 11 can be stressful for a variety of reasons. If you ever feel stressed or feel overwhelmed for whatever reason, please speak to someone that you trust.
Alison Bolsover,
Owner, Client Manager & Tutor,
JCT Learning Hub.
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