10 Tips for new year 10s

Hey, guys!

I've just finished my GCSEs (6 As, 3Bs and a C).
Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to give everyone starting their GCSEs some tips on how to best survive the year.

  1. Don't waste your money buying useless stationary. Fancy pens with cute rubbers on the end, post-it notes in awkward shapes and little overpriced A5 notebooks are probably never going to be used - so don't waste your money on them! If you are going to make flashcards, it may work out cheaper buying a pack of card from Tesco then going to Paperchase and buying pretty index cards.
  2. Watch back to school and revision videos on Youtube and try out different study techniques to see what works for you. Mind maps, flash cards or pages of notes? Visual, kinesthetic or auditory?
  3. Revise for all your mock exams/in class tests. This helps so much. I'm not talking hours and hours but just making some flash cards or posters for mini tests will mean that you don't have to make them all later.
  4. Make revision materials as you go through the year and keep them all. Essential. If you don't want to be spending the whole of year 11 making flash cards for your year 10 work as well as your year 11 stuff, make them now.
  5. If you miss a lesson - make sure you catch up (and that you understand that lesson). For the love of Sherlock, DO NOT just photocopy your friend's notes and stick them into your book. It will make no sense when you come to revise and you may have to teach yourself huge chunks that you've missed.
  6. Try to buy revision guides for all your subjects. This isn't completely necessary. However, it is useful to have the revision guides if you get stuck with something or you want another interpretation of a quote in one of your poems.
  7. Sign up to revision sites such as Quizlet and The Student Room. Do it now; thank me later.
  8. Get used to following a revision timetable. It will help so much when you get into year 11.
  9. Ask your teachers about anything you are stuck with and make sure you know everything really well. You won't be going over year 10 stuff until right before your final exams, so if there is anything you are stuck with - ASK SOMEONE.
  10. Revise during the summer (sorry). A couple of hours a week just going over the syllabus or finishing revision materials will be so helpful when you get back in September.

Year 10 is a fun year - try not to stress too much about it. Enjoy yourself and hang out with your friends.

Good luck.
-Emicool

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