10 Things I Did to Get A*A*A* in my A Levels (A* Revision Tips and Techniques 2018) | Jack Edwards
TLDRIn this educational YouTube video, Jack Edwards shares his top ten strategies for achieving top grades in A-level exams. He emphasizes the importance of daily planning, setting short-term goals, blocking distractions, condensing notes, efficient revision techniques, embracing untidiness in brainstorming, utilizing essay plans, finding the right study spaces, engaging in independent learning, and most importantly, taking care of one's mental health. Jack's personal experience and practical tips aim to inspire and guide students towards academic success while maintaining a healthy balance.
Takeaways
- 🗓️ Plan your revision daily by creating a detailed schedule, dividing your day into 15-minute slots to stay organized and focused.
- 🎯 Set short-term goals and create a list of everything you want to cover before exams, including both long-term and short-term objectives.
- 🚫 Block distractions by using apps to limit phone usage and blocking specific websites on your computer to maintain concentration.
- 📚 Condense information into your own revision guide or textbook, focusing on creating a quote bank for literature and summarizing notes for other subjects.
- 📉 Prioritize efficient revision methods like flashcards over passive studying, and organize them into piles for increasing intervals of review.
- 📝 Recognize that not all revision needs to be neat; sometimes a quick, messy mind map can help consolidate ideas and make connections.
- 📝 Develop essay plans to prepare for exams, even without past papers, by using teacher suggestions and textbook content to formulate answers.
- 🏠 Find your optimal study spaces that suit your working style, whether it's a library, a quiet room at home, or another conducive environment.
- 👨🏫 Engage in self-teaching by using resources like journals and reviews aimed at your level, and make notes to retain information better.
- 💪 Take care of your mental health by engaging in activities that help you relax, taking days off when needed, and seeking support when necessary.
- 🌟 Remember to evaluate, analyze, and be critical in your studies, and maintain confidence in your ability to achieve high grades.
Q & A
What are the top three subjects Jack took A-levels in, and what grades did he achieve?
-Jack took A-levels in English, literature, history, and politics, and he achieved A stars in all three subjects.
What does Jack suggest as the first strategy to boost grades?
-Jack suggests that time spent planning is not time wasted. He recommends making a revision plan or to-do list, divided by every 15 minutes of the day, to be very specific with one's plan.
How does Jack recommend planning answers during an exam?
-Jack recommends planning answers in the exam by writing out a quick bullet-pointed plan at the top of the essay to ensure conciseness and hitting all the required points within the given timeframe.
What is the purpose of setting short-term goals according to Jack?
-Setting short-term goals helps to make the overwhelming amount of content for each subject more manageable. Jack suggests creating a list of everything one wants to cover before the exam, including both long-term and short-term goals.
How does Jack deal with distractions while studying?
-Jack uses apps like 'Forest' on his phone to avoid touching it for a certain period, and 'Self-Control' on his laptop to blacklist certain websites for a specific amount of time. He also suggests physically moving the phone away from his study area.
What is Jack's advice on condensing notes for efficient revision?
-Jack advises creating a personalized textbook or revision guide by condensing all the necessary information. For example, making a quote bank for English literature with themes, quotes, analysis, and revision using that condensed information.
Why is efficient revision more important than the time spent revising, according to Jack?
-Jack emphasizes that efficient revision is more important because spending long hours reading a textbook or watching videos may not be as effective as spending a short time with flashcards, which can lead to more significant learning.
What method does Jack use to organize his flashcards for efficient revision?
-Jack organizes his flashcards into different piles based on the frequency of revision needed. Cards are moved from daily to every other day, then weekly, fortnightly, and finally, just before the exam, ensuring that struggling points are revised more frequently.
How does Jack feel about the neatness of revision materials?
-Jack mentions that not all revision has to be neat. He found that sometimes just jotting down ideas on a scrap piece of paper and making a mind map can help consolidate ideas and make connections between different concepts.
What is Jack's opinion on the importance of essay plans, even with the new linear A-levels?
-Jack believes that essay plans are a lifesaver, and even with the new linear A-levels that lack past papers, it's still beneficial to create essay plans. He suggests using resources like WHSmith's 50 revision cards to formulate answers and revise from them.
What does Jack suggest as the best study environment for effective learning?
-Jack suggests finding a study space that works best for the individual. For him, it was the library because it provided a positive learning environment with others working hard and being surrounded by books and knowledge.
What advice does Jack give for independent learning during A-levels?
-Jack advises to teach oneself as they go through the A-levels, especially in the second year. He recommends using resources like journals review, which are aimed at an A-level audience and often written by teachers.
How does Jack emphasize the importance of self-care during the revision process?
-Jack stresses the importance of looking after oneself and maintaining mental health. He suggests activities like park runs, taking days off, and seeking help from a support system or mental health resources if needed.
What is the final tip Jack gives for achieving high grades in A-levels?
-Jack's final tip is to always evaluate, analyze, and be critical of things rather than just describing them. He encourages confidence in one's ability to achieve high grades and to work hard, as it will pay off.
Outlines
📘 A-Level Success Strategies
Jack Edwards introduces his YouTube channel and shares his top ten strategies for achieving A stars in A-level exams. He emphasizes the importance of daily revision planning, focusing on specific tasks in 15-minute increments, and taking breaks to relax. He also discusses the value of planning answers during exams and suggests creating a comprehensive list of topics to cover with both long-term and short-term goals. Jack advises on focusing on one subject or book for a set period to reduce overwhelm and improve focus.
🚫 Blocking Distractions for Effective Revision
In the second paragraph, Jack talks about the inevitability of distractions and offers practical solutions to minimize them. He recommends apps like 'Forest' for phones and 'Self-Control' for computers to block distracting websites. Additionally, he suggests physically removing the phone from the study area. Jack then discusses the importance of condensing notes into a personal revision guide, such as creating a quote bank for literature, and the value of efficient revision methods like using flashcards in a systematic way to ensure mastery of the material.
🌿 Embracing Messy Revision and Essay Planning
Jack admits that not all revision has to be neat, advocating for the use of scrap paper for mind maps to connect ideas, which can later be organized into a neater format. He highlights the importance of essay plans, even in the absence of past papers, and how they can be a lifesaver during exams. Jack also emphasizes finding the right study spaces that promote productivity and the benefits of independent learning, such as engaging with journals and making notes to reinforce understanding.
🏃♂️ Self-Care and Mental Health
In the final paragraph, Jack stresses the importance of self-care and mental health during the revision process. He suggests activities like park runs for stress relief and encourages taking days off when needed. Jack also recommends seeking support from family, teachers, or mental health resources if struggling. He concludes by reminding viewers of their potential and the importance of hard work, and he invites them to subscribe for more revision tips.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡A-levels
💡Revision
💡Planning
💡Short-term goals
💡Distraction
💡Condense
💡Efficient revision
💡Mind maps
💡Essay plans
💡Study spaces
💡Mental health
Highlights
The importance of planning revision at the start of each day and dividing it into 15-minute slots for accuracy.
Creating a detailed plan for each 45-minute study session to maintain focus and efficiency.
The benefit of planning answers during exams to ensure conciseness and coverage of all required points.
Setting short-term goals and creating a comprehensive list of topics to cover before exams.
Focusing on one topic for a specific amount of time to reduce overwhelm and enhance focus.
Blocking distractions using apps and strategies to maintain concentration during study sessions.
The practicality of condensing notes into a personalized revision guide or textbook.
The significance of efficient revision methods like flashcards over passive reading or watching videos.
Organizing flashcards into different piles for varying intervals of revision to enhance learning.
The realization that not all revision needs to be neat; sometimes a quick mind map can be more effective.
The value of creating essay plans, even without past papers, to prepare for potential exam questions.
Finding the right study spaces that promote productivity and a positive learning environment.
The benefits of independent learning and using journals to enhance understanding and retention.
The importance of looking after one's mental health and taking breaks when necessary.
Encouraging viewers to evaluate, analyze, and be critical in their studies to achieve top marks.
A reminder that achieving high grades in A-levels is attainable and requires hard work and dedication.
The motivational message to believe in one's capabilities and the potential to achieve anything with determination.
Transcripts
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