A Level students living in London often have access to the most qualified teachers, top-tier resources, academic support, and non-academic guidance. These tools and expertise go a long way in helping them secure top grades in their examinations. However, accessibility in itself doesn’t guarantee excellent performance.
Students must also enjoy a healthy school-life balance and good mental health. If they struggle because of excessive academic workload, stress, or any other pressures, their performance may be affected.
If you’re preparing for your A Level examinations in London, make sure you use the right (i.e., balanced) approach to earn stellar grades. Let’s break things down. In this blog, we’ll help you understand how you can ace your upcoming examinations from London. Feel free to take notes and share your questions towards the end. Let’s get started!
1. Develop the Right Mindset
When starting their A Level program, many students fixate on the academic aspects of their journey. This is important. However, before you begin, develop the right mindset. If you take a deep dive into the curricular aspect of your exams without reshaping your mindset, you’ll struggle to follow through as expected.
The IGCSE-A Level junction can be particularly challenging for students. You just sat your IGCSE examinations in the preceding year. There’s a chance that you feel overwhelmed by the consistent workload. Over time, students may feel demotivated.
Before you start preparing for your exams, take some time to understand the gravity of this academic stage. Your grades will ultimately determine which university you attend. If you fail to secure top grades, the trajectory of your advanced academic and professional life will be affected. Keeping this in mind is a great way to feel motivated to do your best.
Speak with your peers, teachers, and siblings. Discuss the struggles you’re facing (if any) and soak up some inspiration. The more motivated and committed you feel prior to starting your preparation journey, the better. If you face any obstacles, you’ll manage to surmount them with ease and adroitness. The right mindset will go a long, long way in helping you breeze through such a critical academic stage without crumbling under the pressure.
Recommended Read: 3 Ways Online Schooling Helps Students Prepare for Their Professional Life
2. Create a Schedule
London is a busy city. Students have a lot on their plate when it comes to academics, their personal life, their social life, sports, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities. You may be volunteering. You may also have a part-time job! If you don’t create a schedule, you’ll inevitably get lost along the way and struggle to keep consistency intact.
As education specialists at Cambridge Home School Online, we cannot emphasise the importance of academic consistency enough. Some students start off strong but their performance declines over the year. In most cases, this is because they develop a sense of complacency over time. Avoid this under all circumstances.
Creating a schedule is a great way to add structure, accountability, and organisation to your day-to-day life. Make sure you set a specific time for homework, revision, etc. However, make some time for yourself, your friends, and your family as well. A healthy school-life balance is imperative. If you solely focus on academics, your personal and social life will take a back seat.
This does more harm than good. Students end up feeling burnt out and overwhelmed, which ends up affecting their academic performance. Avoid falling into this trap by creating a balanced schedule. If you’re having trouble with this, speak with your school counsellors.
At Cambridge Home School Online, we understand that the A Level academic stage can be demanding and somewhat daunting. Students often struggle in the beginning. If they’re provided the right help along the way, their struggles can be addressed promptly. However, if your struggles are swept under the rug, they’ll accumulate and cause bigger problems later.
Our school counsellors provide one-on-one success coaching and pastoral support to every student. We speak candidly with each pupil, understanding their concerns and weaknesses. Based on this insight, we help students create the right plan that can help them improve their academic performance and work-life balance.
It’s important to note that this balance is different for every student. Don’t copy a friend’s schedule thinking it’ll work wonders for you. This isn’t the case. Speak with your counsellors for individualised guidance. Their support will go a long way in helping you stay on track. Excellent scheduling is the first step to securing stellar grades. By checking this off the box, you’re getting closer to acing your A Level examinations.
Recommended Read: 5 Ways Cambridge Home School Helps Students Balance Academics and Extracurricular Activities
3. Closely Study the Exam Structure and Past Papers
As an A Level student, you should have a razor-sharp focus on evaluating the exam structure. You must understand a) how questions are phrased, b) which topics and subtopics that are repeatedly assessed, and c) how you’re expected to attempt them.
At Cambridge Home School Online, we provide each student with 24/7 access to a vast online library of educational resources, including videos, catch-up lessons, PowerPoint presentations, study guides, teacher’s notes, worksheets, past papers, quizzes, and a range of additional tools.
Make sure you review the past papers. You’ll find both solved and unsolved past papers. We recommend working on the unsolved set first. Complete the paper in the required duration. Treat it like your actual exam. This is also a great way to gauge if you have any issues with time management.
If you have to rush the paper towards the end, this means that you struggle to manage your time well. Inform your teachers immediately. We plan time management activities to help A Level students polish their skills and learn how to efficiently distribute their time during their exams.
Once you’re done with the unsolved papers, hand them to your teacher for grading. After you receive the graded papers, carefully go over your teacher’s feedback and compare your answers to the solved set. This is a great way to understand how you were expected to answer the questions with regard to planning, structure, and content.
Past papers are an essential tool. However, they’re not useful to students who haven’t prepared and revised well. Instead of simply turning to past papers first, perfect your preparation and revise assiduously first. These two steps are of the utmost importance. Once completed, you can proceed with past paper practice.
Recommended Read: How to Improve Your Memory for Your Upcoming Exams
4. Study an Independent Curriculum
A Level examinations are significantly more demanding than IGCSE examinations. At the IGCSE stage, you can still get away with studying the national curriculum. However, you absolutely cannot take this risk at the A Level stage. The national curriculum is too prescriptive and subject to political turbulence. It also lacks comprehensiveness and breadth, which makes it unsuitable for rigorous A Level preparation. You’ll fail to cover the required ground, which will affect your grades.
At Cambridge Home School Online, we teach a well-rounded, independent, interdisciplinary, and well-balanced curriculum. It covers more ground, enabling students to study the required topics and subtopics more closely. Your concepts will become clearer and your preparation will significantly improve.
Students who study our independent curriculum perform much better than students who study the national curriculum at a conventional (in-person) school. Our track record indicates the success of our A Level curriculum for students living in London. In June 2021, 83% of our A Level students secured two As and a B or higher, as requested by top universities. Moreover, all students who applied received offers from some of the best universities across the globe.
If your current institution does not teach an independent curriculum, consider speaking to your teachers or the institution’s education specialists about this. If they aren’t willing to revise their curriculum, consider switching schools.
5. Switch to Online Learning
Compared to conventional schooling, online learning is more flexible and rigorous. As stated earlier, the A Level stage is critical. Students cannot afford to slip up and secure poor grades. Unfortunately, most conventional schools have an extremely high student-teacher ratio.
In some cases, as many as 30 students are taught in a single classroom. Needless to say, this affects student performance. There are simply too many pupils in the class for the teacher to provide undivided attention to each. As a result, students fail to receive the quality of knowledge and individualised attention they require. Their grades are affected. Most online schools have a low student-teacher ratio.
At Cambridge Home School Online, we teach between 8 and 10 students in small groups, taking special care that every pupil gets one-on-one attention from their teacher. If students have any questions, they’re promptly answered. Since there are a handful of students in each class, our teachers gain detailed insights about their learning habits. They also pick up on their academic strengths and weaknesses.
As an online student, you’ll reap the benefits of greater flexibility. You’ll study an independent curriculum, receive access to a vast online repository, and receive support and guidance from your teachers and school counsellors. As an A Level student, you’ll also learn how to polish critical skills like time management. These measures collectively help our students succeed across the UK, especially in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, and Southampton, among other notable cities.
Our students secure As and attend their dream university. While we do our part, we also request students to do their part. You will be required to remain diligent, responsible, punctual, and focused throughout your academic journey. If you’re having any trouble with concentration or anything of the sort, please speak with our school counsellors. We’ll help you get back on track and stay on track. Online schooling generally helps A Level students perform much better.
Our MA/MSc/PhD qualified subject specialist teachers deliver engaging, knowledge-packed, retentive, and thought-provoking lessons that prompt students to engage with the course materials. As students grapple with different topics and subtopics, they develop a better understanding of even the most dense and complex curricular themes. You’ll become a confident, capable, and committed learner.
Not only will you secure top grades, but you’ll also become prepared to perform exceptionally well in university and beyond. Our students often reach out to our teachers with new of their university acceptances and accomplishments. We couldn’t be more proud of their success and we’re committed to helping more students ace their exams in London.
Pro tip: Reduce distraction levels by ridding your study space of any objects that may affect your concentration. If you’re a gamer, get rid of games (shift them to a different space or set up a separate study room). When you’re revising or completing your homework, make sure you avoid keeping your phone nearby. This little step will help reduce the number of hours wasted on social media or any other activity that results from mindless distraction.
As you start preparing for your upcoming A Level exams, make sure you select an esteemed institution that can help you secure top grades. Cambridge Home School Online should be your top consideration.
Established in 2002, we have over 20 years of experience in providing a quality British online education to A Level students. Explore the following resources for more information:
- Admissions Process
- Term Dates
- Application Form
- Scholarships & Bursaries
- Grades & Fees
- Online Reviews
Once you’re ready, start the enrolment process! We offer four homeschooling programs: Primary Prep/Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 10), Lower School/Key Stage 3 (ages 11 to 13), Upper School/IGCSEs (ages 14 to 16), and Sixth Form/AS & A-Levels (ages 17 to 19).
As one of the leading online schools across the globe, we’re committed to helping students succeed. If you have any questions, please open our chatbot and type your queries. Our education specialists will review your questions and get back to you shortly.
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FAQ
What is the importance of having the right mindset for A Level exams?
Having the right mindset is crucial when preparing for A Level exams. The right mindset not only helps you stay committed but also ensures that you can handle academic challenges effectively. It gives you the psychological strength needed to succeed at such an academically rigorous stage.
How can I maintain a balanced approach to studying for A Level exams?
A balanced approach involves more than just academics. Students should also make time for other aspects of life such as socialising, extracurricular activities, and self-care to ensure a healthy school-life balance. Creating a balanced schedule can significantly aid in maintaining this approach.
What resources are available for A Level students at Cambridge Home School Online?
Cambridge Home School Online provides a plethora of resources for A Level students including a 24/7 online library, which offers study guides, videos, past exam papers, quizzes, and more. These resources are designed to help students understand the exam structure and improve their performance.
Why is studying an independent curriculum recommended for A Level exams?
An independent curriculum offers a broader scope, covering more topics and providing a comprehensive view of each subject. It is better suited for A Level preparation compared to the national curriculum, which is often too narrow and influenced by political factors.
What advantages does online learning offer for A Level students?
Online learning offers flexibility, a lower student-teacher ratio, and individualised attention. At Cambridge Home School Online, classes are limited to 8-10 students, allowing for more personalised guidance. It also provides the opportunity to study an independent curriculum and gain access to a wide array of online resources.