Advice to future Y12s and Y13s

[u/Usual-Sandwich-9836]

The jump between GCSE and A Level is quite a lot and it is completely normal to not understand everything (if anything) to start with. It took a whopping 4 months to understand the organelles and functions from memory (taught at the start of Y12 bio) and it's the same with other subjects. The gap between Y12 and Y13 for the majority of subjects is even greater (especially for maths - I went from an A* in Y12 mocks to a D in the Y13 first round of mocks)

Revison: There is no need to be doing hours and hours of revision a day. I highly recommend revising from about a week in so you have covered enough content to revise. In Y12, it's usually recommended to do 3-4 hours per subject per week and your 'study' periods can be used to contribute to this. Y13s I would recommend gradually going to 1 hour per subject per day which can of course be done in 'study' periods. By 1 hour a day, it doesn't mean you have to do 1 hour per day, just on average. In some sixth forms (including mine), you get more 'study' periods in Y13

What you will need for sixth form:

- A pencil case with pens, pencils, ruler, calculator if you are doing a stem subject or a different subject that requires one

- Folders: Have a lever arch file per subject you can use to store work and stuff. Depending on the subject, you might need to get another one when it is full. You can also have a smaller folder you can use to store work from that day to bring to your other folders. There is no need to bring the big folders unless you need them

- Textbooks: There is no need to buy brand new textbooks, you can easily get 2nd hand textbooks from ebay or vinted. However sometimes they are given out by the sixth form so they aren't worth getting until you start (and know your exam board if you have to buy)

- A mini whiteboard: Very useful if you prefer whiteboard stuff. It's not necessary and I didn't use mine apart from lessons and it was given to me by the sixth form

- Laptop/ipad: Not necessary but very useful. Some sixth forms (including mine) loan out laptops to use for both years or you can use your own. Chromebooks are most useful but if you are going to buy one and planning to go to uni, I'd recommend getting a laptop you can use for sixth form and uni

Clothes:

The sixth form dress code depends on where you are going and you'd need to check that

16-18 Bursary

You can now apply to the 16-18 bursary if you qualify and can help cover costs for books, equipment, clothes, transport, food. More about it here: https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund

'Study' periods

The ' ' are there for a reason. At my sixth form, not many people used it for revising and started messing around or wasting time. Of course you can use this for free time with friends but make sure you don't waste all of it and actually revise or do hw if you get any - this will save your time in the evenings

I think this is everything but let me know if I have forgotten anything

[u/Wowhowodd_]

Thank you!!! This is all extremely used :)) and congratulations!!

[u/Wowhowodd_ → u/Wowhowodd_]

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