A Level Resources
A Level Resources
A Level resources are extremely helpful in preparing for examinations. The right resources can help to solidify knowledge that has hitherto been gained. It is helpful to build upon you’re A Level resources from the very start of your course. This means investing in a decent ring binder which will enable you to gather up all of your notes which you compile. It is important to have a separate ring binder for each of your A Level subjects and it is worthwhile to get a ring binder which is large enough to house all the notes you made over the two years.
Understanding A Level Resources
Notes which have been compiled over the two academic years, it is important that you include the dates on each of your notes. This will enable you to organise your notes in the order in which they appear in the curriculum. This is because it is likely that your teacher will be teaching you the course in accordance with the order which is found on the syllabus. This will enable you to memorise the content easier.
Much of your success in the course is dependent upon your ability to recall relevant knowledge. This can be greatly improved if you organise your notes. Therefore, it is important to collect your own A Level resources. However, relying upon your resources alone can prove unprofitable; and it is certainly wise to use good resources from other sources too.
There is a plethora of resources which can be utilised to prepare for your upcoming A Level exams. These A Level resources can generally be found in the following categories:
- Revision notes
- Past papers
- Summary notes
- Power points
Summary notes are less detailed than revision notes, whereas revision notes are more thorough. Power points can be found online, but your teacher should have resources which you can rely upon. Past papers are accessible online, though you may need to ask your teacher to gain possession of the most recent exams for your subject.
Revision Notes
You should compile your revision notes. If, however, for any reason this is not possible, revision notes should be photocopied or printed. Teachers may also possess notes from previous students who have opted to donate their revision notes; therefore, asking your teacher is also encouraged. There are, however, some excellent websites where thorough and revision notes can be found. These notes cover the entire syllabus and contain the relevant pointers which are needed before the exam. For example, you can find brilliant revision notes for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Economics and Geography.
Uplearn is another fantastic A Level resource, they offer a ‘money back’ scheme for any student who utilises its resources and fails to get either an A or A*.
Other useful A Level resources include revisionworld.com, which perhaps offers a more exhaustive list of subjects than the previous two; also studywise.co.uk; and revisely.co.uk.
There is also a wide range of excellent videos found on YouTube which can help to give you tips for your upcoming exams. The more popular channels are generally the most useful A Level resources.
A Level Resources: Past Papers
Past papers are an excellent A Level resource. They can be used in order to gain confidence for your exams. There is a vast array of websites which you can use in order to gain access to these, and it is important that you practise using the specific A Level exam boards which your school has opted for. Generally, the more past papers you complete, the more likely you are to do well. This is because when you practise past papers you will be able to quickly identify your weaknesses and strengths. You will also be able to identify the areas in your subject knowledge which need to be improved.
The completion of past papers should be the main source of revision in the few weeks building up to your final exams. This is why it is so important to maintain excellent notes throughout the course of your studies. Whilst it has been shown that copying down notes is a useful way to memorise the content, completing questions – which will be similar to the types of questions you are likely to face in the exam – is a more effective way to prepare. After all, the examiner is not testing you on knowledge alone; but there are other important skills such as application which can only be gained through much practice.
Past papers can be found on the websites of each of the major A Level exam boards. For sciences and maths, you can use the mark schemes from the websites to mark your own work.
However, if you study a subject such as English Literature or History, any subject which requires you to write a substantial amount, it might be necessary for you to submit your answers to your teacher a few weeks before the exam.
After Past Papers
Gain feedback from your teacher and implement necessary improvements. You can also use the mark schemes in order to gain an insight into some of the points which you could have included in your answer.
Make sure you are using as many A Level resources as possible, including investing in a tutor who can help guide you through the entire curriculum as well as help you fully prepare for the many styles of exam questions.