How I got ALL 9s in my GCSE's

Study El
1 Feb 202406:14
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, the speaker shares five key strategies that significantly contributed to their excellent grades in the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams. The first strategy is leveraging teachers as a resource, particularly for essay-based subjects, by seeking feedback on practice essays. The second is 'blurting,' a revision technique that involves writing down everything one knows about a specific topic and then reviewing only the gaps. Thirdly, creating flashcards, especially using spaced repetition with tools like Anki or Quizlet, is emphasized for memory enhancement. The fourth strategy is using Cobalt Maths 'Five a Day' for daily practice in math, which helps reinforce knowledge across various topics. Lastly, the importance of a weekly revision schedule is highlighted, with flexibility to accommodate unforeseen events. The speaker also mentions upcoming subject-specific videos and encourages viewers to subscribe and share their own revision techniques.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Utilize your teachers as a resource by actively seeking feedback on practice essays to improve writing skills.
  • 📝 Practice 'blurting', a revision method that involves writing everything you know about a topic and then filling in the gaps with textbook information.
  • 🔁 Use flashcards, especially with spaced repetition techniques like Anki or Quizlet, to boost memory retention for subjects like sciences.
  • 🧮 For mathematics, use resources like Cobalt Maths and practice 'Five a Day' questions regularly to reinforce understanding and recall.
  • 🗓️ Schedule your revision weekly, ensuring the plan is flexible to accommodate unforeseen changes and integrate missed revision slots.
  • 🎓 Start with essay-based subjects like Geography and English to maximize the benefit of teacher feedback.
  • 🔄 Continuously write and revise essays based on teacher feedback to see improvement in grades.
  • 📈 Implement active recall through 'blurting' to make information retrieval easier during exams.
  • 📈 Spaced repetition with flashcards is an effective method for long-term memory retention.
  • 📉 Regularly practicing math problems helps maintain proficiency without the need for excessive exam paper practice.
  • 📋 Having a structured weekly revision plan aids in accomplishing more than following a to-do list that may feel never-ending.
Q & A

  • How did the speaker improve their grades significantly in essay-based subjects during their GCSEs?

    -The speaker improved their grades by writing practice essays for a variety of questions and then submitting them to their teachers for marking and feedback. They would then use the feedback to improve their writing continuously, which helped them progress from a grade six to a grade nine.

  • What is the 'blurting' revision method and how does it work?

    -Blurting is a revision method where you write down everything you know about a specific topic on a piece of paper or notebook. You then compare your notes with your textbook to identify gaps in your knowledge and focus your revision on those areas. This method is effective because it uses active recall, which aids in better retention of information.

  • How can flashcards with spaced repetition enhance memory retention?

    -Flashcards with spaced repetition work by showing you a specific flashcard, and based on how well you understand it, the system schedules when you'll see that card again, which could be days or weeks later. This method is effective because it helps to move information from your short-term to long-term memory more effectively than simple active recall.

  • What is the 'Cobalt Maths Five a Day' and how did it help the speaker with their GCSEs?

    -The 'Cobalt Maths Five a Day' is a daily practice routine that involves solving five math problems of varying difficulty and topics. The speaker used this method daily, which helped them to continuously revise and remember past topics and methods for solving different types of questions without the need for excessive repetition.

  • Why is it important to have a weekly revision plan and how should it be structured?

    -A weekly revision plan is important because it provides a structured approach to studying, ensuring that all topics are covered systematically. The plan should be flexible to accommodate unexpected events or changes in schedule. If a revision slot is missed, the plan should allow for making up that time at a later point.

  • What was the speaker's initial grade in AR and what was their improvement?

    -The speaker started with a grade six in AR (Assessment and Reporting) at the beginning of the year and improved to a grade nine by continuously using their teachers' feedback on practice essays.

  • How does the speaker suggest using teachers as a resource for non-essay based subjects?

    -While the speaker primarily used their teachers for essay-based subjects, they mention that teachers can be used as a resource for other subjects as well, although they do not specify the exact methods for non-essay based subjects in the transcript.

  • What is the significance of implementing active recall in the blurting revision method?

    -Active recall is significant in the blurting revision method because it helps to strengthen memory and makes it easier to retrieve information during exams. By writing down what you know and then comparing it with your textbook, you are actively engaging your memory, which aids in better retention.

  • How did the speaker use flashcards to prepare for their Sciences GCSEs?

    -The speaker used flashcards daily starting from year 10, focusing on Sciences. They found that this method made the content questions on their exams extremely easy to answer because they had practiced them multiple times, which helped save time during the exams.

  • What is the speaker's advice for students who are good at math and looking for a low-effort way to revise?

    -The speaker suggests using the 'Cobalt Maths Five a Day' for students who are good at math. This method involves solving five varied math problems daily, which is a low-effort way to continuously revise without having to do excessive amounts of exam papers.

  • How does the speaker recommend students schedule their revision for optimal results?

    -The speaker recommends creating a weekly revision plan that outlines what and when to study. The plan should be flexible to accommodate changes and allow for making up missed revision sessions. They also suggest integrating revision into a daily routine to ensure consistency and avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed by a to-do list.

  • What is the speaker's advice for students who are unsure about how to revise effectively for their GCSEs?

    -The speaker advises students to utilize their teachers as a resource, practice the blurting revision method, use flashcards with spaced repetition, engage in 'Cobalt Maths Five a Day' for math, and create a flexible weekly revision plan. They also encourage students to watch more subject-specific videos for further guidance.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Utilizing Teachers as a Resource

The first paragraph emphasizes the importance of using teachers as a resource, particularly for essay-based subjects. The speaker shares their personal experience of writing practice essays and receiving feedback from their geography, English, and RE teachers. This iterative process of submitting essays, receiving feedback, and improving accordingly helped the speaker progress from a grade six to a grade nine. The method is suggested as a way to continuously improve and utilize teacher expertise effectively.

05:01
📝 The Power of Blurting for Revision

The second paragraph introduces 'blurting' as a universal revision technique that involves writing down everything one knows about a specific topic on a piece of paper or notebook. The speaker then uses a different color pen to note down any additional information from the textbook, focusing revision efforts only on the new points. This method is said to work well because it employs active recall, which aids in easier retrieval of information during exams.

🔖 Effective Use of Flashcards

The third paragraph discusses the benefits of using flashcards, particularly when employing spaced repetition through online platforms like Anki or Quizlet. The speaker highlights how this method can significantly enhance memory retention and was instrumental in their success in science subjects. The practice of daily flashcard revision from year 10 onwards made content questions feel easy and saved time during exams.

🧮 Cobalt Maths for Daily Practice

The fourth paragraph focuses on the use of Cobalt Maths for daily practice in both GTSC Maths and Further Maths. The speaker describes how doing 'Cobalt Maths Five a Day' every day is akin to maintaining good health through daily routines. This practice helps in remembering past topics and revisiting old methods of solving problems, offering a low-effort way to continuously revise without excessive repetition.

⏰ Scheduling Weekly Revision

The final paragraph stresses the need for a weekly revision plan that is flexible and adaptable to unforeseen circumstances. The speaker shares their preference for a structured weekly plan over a to-do list, which can feel overwhelming. The plan should allow for making up missed revision slots and integrating them into the schedule, ensuring that revision is systematic and not left to chance.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡NES
NES stands for 'Nine Equivalent Scores', which is a grading system in the context of the video. It is a key metric for measuring academic performance in certain subjects. In the video, the speaker discusses achieving all NES, indicating high grades across the board, which is the main theme of the video.
💡GCSEs
GCSEs are General Certificate of Secondary Education exams, which are a series of standardized tests in the UK. They are a critical part of a student's academic journey and are the focus of the video. The speaker shares strategies that contributed to achieving good grades in these exams.
💡Teachers as a resource
This concept refers to the idea of utilizing teachers not just for classroom instruction but also for personalized feedback and guidance. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of using teachers to get feedback on practice essays, which was instrumental in improving their writing skills.
💡Blurting
Blurting is a revision method described in the video where a student writes down everything they know about a specific topic, then compares it with their textbook to identify gaps in their knowledge. This method is highlighted as universally effective and promotes active recall, which aids in long-term memory retention.
💡Flashcards
Flashcards are a study tool used to enhance memory retention. The video mentions the use of digital flashcards with spaced repetition, a technique where information is reviewed at increasing intervals over time to improve memory. The speaker used flashcards daily, which significantly helped with their science subjects.
💡Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition is a learning technique where material is reviewed at spaced intervals to enhance memory. In the context of the video, it is used in conjunction with online flashcard tools like Anki or Quizlet to effectively memorize information for the GCSEs.
💡COBt Maths
COBt Maths refers to a specific resource or method for studying mathematics. The speaker mentions using COBt Maths 'Five a Day' for both general and further maths, which involves solving five varied questions daily to maintain and reinforce mathematical knowledge.
💡Revision Plan
A revision plan is a structured schedule for studying and reviewing material. The video emphasizes the need for a flexible weekly plan that outlines what and when to study. This planning is crucial for managing time effectively and ensuring all subjects are covered before exams.
💡Active Recall
Active recall is a learning strategy that involves actively trying to remember information without looking at the material. The video mentions that blurting implements active recall, which is beneficial for retrieving information during exams.
💡Essay-Based Subjects
Essay-based subjects are those that require students to write essays as part of their assessment. The video discusses how the speaker used their teachers to get feedback on practice essays for subjects like geography and English, which are largely assessed through essays.
💡AR (Assessment Rating)
AR, or Assessment Rating, is a term used to describe the initial grade or assessment level a student starts with. In the video, the speaker mentions improving from an AR of six to a nine by using their teachers as a resource for essay feedback.
Highlights

Using teachers as a resource is crucial for improving essay-based subjects.

Practice essays followed by teacher feedback can significantly enhance writing skills.

Blurting, a revision method involving writing down everything known about a topic, is universally beneficial.

Active recall through blurting helps in better information retrieval during exams.

Creating flashcards, especially using spaced repetition, can boost memory retention.

Online flashcard tools like Anki or Quizlet can be highly effective for revision.

Daily use of flashcards can lead to familiarity and ease in answering exam questions.

Cobalt Maths Five A Day is a recommended resource for daily maths practice.

Consistent daily practice with Cobalt Maths aids in retaining knowledge and skills.

A weekly revision plan is essential for structured and effective studying.

Flexibility in a revision plan is important to accommodate unforeseen circumstances.

Incorporating revision into a daily routine can prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed by tasks.

The importance of starting revision well in advance of exams to ensure thorough preparation.

Subject-specific videos for maths, languages, English, and Sciences will be released.

The presenter's personal journey from an AR of six to a nine through continuous improvement.

The effectiveness of spaced repetition in long-term memory retention.

The strategy of using flashcards daily from year 10 for science subjects.

The presenter's recommendation of scheduling revision weekly rather than relying on to-do lists.

Transcripts

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