A level Physics - How to do well (Tips & Advice)
TLDRThe speaker candidly discusses their challenging yet rewarding journey with A-Level Physics, which is essential for their engineering aspirations. Initially overwhelmed by the subject's difficulty, they emphasize that persistence is key, as everyone faces similar struggles. They advise focusing on problem-solving skills through practice, avoiding the 'Imposter Syndrome', and not wasting time on superficial note-taking. The speaker highlights the importance of a positive mindset, which can significantly impact exam performance. Their personal experience of overcoming initial difficulties and outperforming peers serves as an inspiration, concluding with a light-hearted reference to a significant event on December 18, 2022.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The speaker chose to study physics at A-level despite its reputation for being challenging, motivated by their interest in pursuing an engineering degree at university.
- 🤯 The speaker acknowledges the significant difficulty increase from GCSE to A-level physics, which was a surprise to them and a common struggle for many students.
- 👥 The speaker advises that everyone finds A-level physics hard initially, emphasizing that it's normal to find it challenging and that it doesn't mean you're alone in your struggles.
- 🏆 The speaker mentions that even top physicists, including Nobel Prize winners, do not fully understand quantum physics, suggesting that confusion is part of the learning process.
- 📚 The speaker shares that the grade boundaries for top grades in physics are often around 55-60%, indicating that it's possible to get a high grade even if you get a significant portion of the test questions wrong.
- 🧐 The speaker recommends self-assessment to identify areas of weakness, whether it's understanding the content or answering questions, and taking steps to improve, such as doing more practice or seeking a tutor.
- 🚫 The speaker warns against falling into the 'Imposter Syndrome' trap, where others' apparent knowledge makes you feel inadequate, and instead encourages perseverance.
- 📉 The speaker points out that understanding the content is not enough; application and problem-solving skills are crucial for success in physics.
- 📝 The speaker advises against wasting time on making notes look pretty and instead suggests focusing on doing practice questions to improve understanding and retention.
- 🧘 The speaker highlights the importance of mindset in studying for and taking exams in physics, suggesting that a positive and determined attitude can significantly improve performance.
- 🏆 The speaker concludes with a personal anecdote about overcoming initial struggles with physics and achieving a higher grade than a classmate who seemed to understand more at first.
Q & A
Why did the speaker choose to study physics at A-level despite it being considered scary?
-The speaker chose to study physics at A-level because they wanted to pursue an engineering degree at university, and they ended up loving the subject as it allowed them to see concepts play out in real life.
What was the speaker's initial experience with physics at A-level?
-The speaker found the transition from GCSE to A-level challenging, realizing there was a significant step up in difficulty. The first couple of weeks were tough for them.
What advice does the speaker give to those who find physics difficult at A-level?
-The speaker advises that it's normal to find physics hard, but everyone else is likely struggling too. They suggest identifying areas of weakness and addressing them, either by practicing more questions or seeking additional help like a tutor.
What is the speaker's perspective on the understanding of quantum physics?
-The speaker humorously notes that if someone claims to fully understand quantum physics, they are likely lying, as even top Nobel Prize winners don't fully grasp it. This highlights the complexity of physics.
According to the speaker, what is the typical boundary for an A grade in physics exams?
-The speaker mentions that the great boundaries for an A grade in physics exams, specifically for AQA, are usually around 55 to 60 percent, indicating that one can get a high grade even by getting a significant number of questions wrong.
What is the speaker's strategy for dealing with imposter syndrome in class?
-The speaker emphasizes the importance of not being discouraged by others who may seem to understand the material better. They share a personal experience where they ended up outperforming a classmate who appeared to be more knowledgeable.
What is the '80/20 rule' the speaker refers to, and how does it apply to physics?
-The '80/20 rule' or Pareto Principle is mentioned by the speaker as a strategy to focus on the most important 20% of the material that will yield 80% of the results. In physics, this means concentrating on problem-solving skills, which are crucial for success.
Why does the speaker discourage the practice of making notes look pretty during study sessions?
-The speaker discourages this practice because it can be a waste of time that could be better spent on practicing problems. They argue that being a physicist is more important than being a note artist.
What mindset does the speaker believe is crucial for success in A-level physics?
-The speaker believes that having a positive and determined mindset is essential. This involves not writing oneself off when faced with a tough question and maintaining the belief that one can eventually solve it.
How does the speaker's mindset help them during exams?
-The speaker's mindset allows them to attempt tough questions in exams even when they are not sure of the answer. This approach can make a significant difference in their exam grades.
What significant event did the speaker mention regarding the best player of all time?
-The speaker humorously mentions that on December 18th, 2022, the best player of all time was revealed, though the script does not provide details about who that player is.
Outlines
📚 Embracing the Challenge of A-Level Physics
The speaker begins by acknowledging the intimidating nature of physics at the A-Level, but shares their passion for the subject, which they chose to pursue for a future engineering degree. They admit to the significant challenge of adapting to the higher difficulty from GCSE to A-Level, particularly in the first few weeks. The speaker's first piece of advice is to recognize that everyone finds the subject difficult. They humorously mention that even top physicists, including Nobel Prize winners, do not fully understand quantum physics, suggesting that a certain level of confusion is normal. The speaker also highlights the importance of not falling into the trap of imposter syndrome, sharing a personal anecdote about feeling out of place when classmates discussed university-level physics. They emphasize the importance of focusing on problem-solving skills and doing practice questions, as well as maintaining a positive mindset and not writing oneself off when faced with tough questions. The speaker concludes by stressing that mindset can significantly impact exam performance and grades.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Physics
💡Engineering degree
💡Adaptation
💡Quantum physics
💡Grade boundaries
💡Imposter syndrome
💡Problem-solving
💡80/20 rule
💡Practice questions
💡Mindset
💡Manifestation
Highlights
Physics is one of the scariest A-level subjects but the speaker chose it for an engineering degree.
The speaker loves learning physics concepts and seeing them in real life.
The jump from GCSE to A-level physics was bigger than expected, making the first few weeks tough.
Advice: Everyone finds A-level physics hard initially, so don't be discouraged.
Even top Nobel Prize winners in quantum physics don't fully understand it.
A-level physics has a high boundary for an A grade, often around 55-60%.
You can get a top grade even if you get a significant portion of the test wrong.
If struggling, identify where you're lacking - more practice or better teaching?
Avoid imposter syndrome - don't get discouraged by others seeming to know more.
The speaker overcame imposter syndrome and outperformed a classmate in the final exam.
Prioritize the important topics and focus on problem-solving skills.
80/20 rule - focus on the 20% that will give you the most results.
Don't waste time on making notes look pretty - focus on practice.
Be a physicist, not a note artist - practice is key.
Mindset is crucial - believe in your ability to solve tough problems.
The right mindset can make the difference between a B and an A grade.
Don't write yourself off when faced with a tough question.
Transcripts
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