#willow bushell

the usual A* tips:

make your revision resources as you go

use apt and different study methods for each subject

do your homework as soon as it's set

make in depth plans for coursework before starting the main project (dissertation plans, to do lists etc.)

have a reliable and efficient organisation system

have a morning, after-school, night and weekend routine

studyquill: how to be a straight A student by @studyquill (who inspired me to make this blog in 2017, haha)

advice for stem subjects:

how to study maths (1) (2)

how to memorise formulae

unjaded jade: A* in a-level maths

unjaded jade: A* in a-level biology

unjaded jade: A* in a-level chemistry

fayefilms: Cs to 4 A*s at a-level (physics, biology, maths, economics)

aymara anahi: a-level A* step-by-step guides (physics, biology, chemistry)

ibz mo: A*/A psychology a-level advice

mariana’s corner: 15 study tips for science students

advice for humanities subjects:

studying history at a-level

speaking exams tip for modern foreign languages

detailed single word analysis made simple

how to structure essays

substitutes for ‘shows’

jack edwards: A*A*A* at a-level (history, english, politics)

ibz mo: A*/A english literature a-level advice

immie sophie: a-level languages IRP advice

life with blessy: A/A* a-level french (1) (2)

further advice:

you are a student before anything else: schedule social outings and extra curriculars around your studies, not the other way around.

always have an ongoing to-do list; don't let it get empty: it might seem overwhelming at first, but you'll come to realise that there is always something you can be doing towards your grades.

use the specification and teaching documents from the exam board! stem subjects especially have a plethora of online documents detailing exactly what you need to know, whether it be content, maths skills and formulae, vocabulary or exam technique. print them off and go through as many as you can find!

perhaps don't bother with the EPQ: if the entry requirements of the university course you're aiming for cannot be lowered by the EPQ, it might be better to spend your time focusing on your courses, as many find that the EPQ takes just as much time as another subject.

ask for 1-to-1 sessions: if there's a topic you're struggling with, mention it to your teachers and be willing to sacrifice your free time (lunches, free periods, after schools etc.) to run through it with them 1-to-1.

fight for teachers that meet your needs: if you have a teacher who isn't helping you to excel and whose teaching methods possibly aren't the strongest, bring it up to your institution's director. it's their job to make sure that you're recieving the best standard of education possible.

talk to your tutors and teachers about your workload if it's becoming overwhelming at all.

evaluate your priorities, study methods and organisation system after each half-term.

complete your university research and application (including your reading for and writing your personal statement) before year 13 starts: it will save you so much time, as many feel that the UCAS process is like picking up another subject as well.

start preparing for university admissions exams over the summer, before year 13: UCAS gives a run down on which courses require admissions tests, here.

other masterposts:

how to get started studying - a neurodivergent’s guide

how to deal with a lack of motivation

how to study when everything sucks

study tips for different learning styles

how to take notes from a textbook

habits of successful students

how to do well in a class taught by a crappy teacher

how to avoid education burnout

how to revise big subjects

you're not bothering me at all, so no worries :D

in my experience, it's all about trial and error and can be very hit and miss :( but, at the bottom of this post i've linked some advice columns i found helpful when looking for ways to make studying accessible to neurodivergents, or those with mental illness.

my no. 1 piece of advice is that you optimise your environment according to your headspace. some days it's easier for me to work at a desk, with a few candles, a lofi playlist and completely romanticise it. other days, i get out my bed-desk and curl up in bed, with a twitch stream in the background.

i find it is worth planning a go-to method of engaging all of your senses. whether that be a playlist of crunchy music, a rocking chair at your desk or chewing gum. it's about finding an optimum state of stimulation, to be able to focus on the task at hand. try using a variety of study methods for the same effect - recording/listening to summary podcasts; the 'match' interactive on quizlet; youtube videos of exam paper walkthroughs.

it's also helpful to understand your personal signs of burnount and overstimulation, and how to remedy them efficiently. i tend get tense aches and pains and a stuffy head when i'm starting to burnout, so, i splash my face in cold water, walk around my house to stretch everything out and take some deep breaths of fresh air. i never go back to working until i feel better, as that just makes my burnout worse in the long-term. pro-tip: a weighted blanket and a good tv series are a blessing for burnout you just cannot shake.

if it’s possible definitely try studying at your local library or a café! if not, perhaps get yourself a study buddy either irl or online.

how to complete your tasks if you can’t do routines

how to study while having mental health issues 

how to change your study environment when you’re self-isolating

saving your grades from a mental health crisismy list of random mental health tips from an AGE ago

how i stay focused while studying (masterpost)

as for subject specific tips, there’s plenty of useful youtube videos detailing former students’ experiences with revision, mocks and final exams!

my post on revising with a quickly approaching deadline

back in 2018, i made a few studyblr challenges, and now i’m back to make one for the month of april! i will be taking part in this, as i’m looking to keep some good habits in the run up to my a-level mocks.

feel free to tag any days you complete under the tag #wilstudiesapril !

1. what are you looking forward to this month?

2. three goals for april?

3. reflect on march

4. how are you finding your subjects at the moment?

5. what initially sparked your interest in the subjects you take?

6. how do you plan your time? bullet journal, phone memos etc.

7. what’s your main motivation for your studies at the moment?

8. recommend a new study habit or hack you’ve been using recently

9. recommend something you’ve been reading recently

10. clean out your backpack

11. how do you get into the right headspace for studying?

12. watch or listen to a TED talk

13. what’s your favourite way to take a study break?

14. make a mood board for your studyblr’s aesthetic

15. share a playlist with your followers – perhaps your study one, if you listen to music whilst studying

16. show us some revision resources you’ve made recently

17. what’s currently on your to-do list?

18. what are your interests outside of your studies?

19. read a wikipedia article on something you’ve never researched before

20. what are your personal signs of burnout?

21. how do you look after yourself and bounce back from burnout?

22. complete a sporcle quiz related to one of your subjects

23. what’s a recipe you love to cook?

24. do a five minute tidy up of your room and/or study space

25. do you use colour-coding in your notes? if so, what’s your system?

26. what study methods don’t work for you?

27. recommend a tv-show or movie that you’ve watched recently

28. learn three new words in each of your native or target languages

29. what have you learnt about yourself this month?

30. did you achieve your goals for april?

in all honesty, it's something that comes with practice and immersion!

encourage your teachers to do the lessons fully in the target language if they don't already.

consume lots of francophone media. perhaps use french subtitles and repeat the phrases after the speakers.

talk to yourself! narrate your actions, blurt your thoughts, practice conversations in the shower.

do regular written and spoken grammar drills and read them aloud, so that it comes naturally when speaking.

try envisioning the shape, spelling and construction of the sentences in your head before you say them.

never resort to english! always find a way to describe what you mean, or ask for the word in french. e.g. if you don't know the word for lid (le couvercle), you could describe it as the hat of a box (le chapeau d'une boîte).

record yourself and listen back to it!

here’s some miscellaneous french vocabulary that i’ve acquired during my french journalling over the past few days! can you tell what i’ve been up to?

l'argile (f) - clay le corail - coral le décolorant - (hair) bleach la démangeaison - itching, itch l'eau de Javel (f) - (cleaning product) bleach le lobe de l'oreille - earlobe la mèche - strand of hair, lock of hair

à la main - by hand déchirant - harrowing

day fourteen of my april studyblr challenge

hiya!

it honestly depends on where your priorities lie. personally, i found that this meant coming to terms with which grades i was aiming for (which i was unsure of until having tried each of my subjects for two terms or so), so i’d know how to best prioritise my time management and work-life balance. for me, i was focused on my mental health this year, and not reaching total burnout (especially after being out of education for six months), thus, my academic goals have differed in certain subjects, now that i know my boundaries - you might find that you’ll grow and change a lot, throughout year 12.

as much as ppl say “use your free periods, so you have more free time at home”, i wouldn’t say every single one needs to be filled. sometimes you’ll have a busy day, a stressful exam, or be on little sleep etc. and you’ll need a break (and perhaps a powernap). it’s also nice to utilise your new-found autonomy to leave campus with your mates for lunch occaisionally.

free periods were a good way of getting me to exercise (and, therefore, seek out more of a work-life balance) as my college is quite a distance from the town, so it was nice and fulfilling to take a walk into the centre and run some errands or read a book by the sea!

and don’t be afraid to branch out into different friendship groups! my experience of college, was that the friendship groups were much more fluid and open, rather than cliquey. due to the varied timetables, you’d find yourself striking up a conversation with whoever was nearby! at my college, my classes are only 3 and 11 students large, so it was really easy to bond with new people, and let’s just say that thanks to them, i’ve dipped my toe in the “real college experience” 😳 haha!

honestly, year 12 is a time where a lot of growing up happens. although i’m only halfway through it, 17 has been such a monumental year in my life, simply because i’m having to “adult” - whether thats by making new contacts, writing lengthy emails to colleagues and organisations for research or thinking about and planning my future, etc. it will get overwhelming at times, and that’s okay. but i promise you, that you will see so much progress made academically, emotionally and mentally.

this is such an enriching year in your life and just by taking the time to get through each day, and giving it your all, you will not only succeed in your goals, but flourish!

what's your study plan like? - i'm intrigued and i’ve been trying to reflect on mine, to see what might be beneficial to me in year 13.