How to survive the final year of secondary school: a guide
Year 11 is a stressful time, with exam pressure mounting throughout the year. Sam Edwards and India Hedges share their top tips for succeeding in the all-important GCSEs.
Dear Year 11...
I’m sure I’m not the first to tell you that you’re about to embark on one of the most important phases in your life so far. The infamous GCSE period can feel like you’re standing at a cliff’s edge gazing out at your intimidating future. Unfortunately, it is true that the next few months could pave the way for what comes next in your lives. As overwhelming as this sounds, you might just find yourself being a little bit excited too. After all, this is your chance to show off everything you’ve learned.
Now, while you might be wishing for a way you could convince your teachers to take these tests for you, or bargaining with your friends about which of you will die in the middle of the exams so you can all pass, the truth is that in eight months time you will be sitting in that exam hall proving just how hard you’ve worked.
These past four years have prepared you for this: the home stretch. It won’t be easy, but it will happen.
In my time sitting those same exams, I’ve picked up some all-important tips and tricks to get you through this year.
You’re not alone, so don’t force yourself to be.
Revision and sitting your exams can cause you to feel isolated, and while this does have to be true inside the exam hall, outside of it there are countless people to lean on and ask for help.
It’s crucial that you make time for your friends during this period. You are all going through the same thing and that makes for the perfect support group. Just remember to reach out to all those people who are rooting for you: your family, friends, teachers and all the support staff available at your school. You’re not alone.
Despite what they tell you, GCSEs aren’t the be all and end all of your education.
At this point in your educational career, you will have experienced dozens of assemblies, teacher-led pep talks and those dreaded daily countdowns. With all this mounting pressure, it’s no wonder that just hearing someone say ‘GCSE’ sends stress hormones coursing around your body. Now I'm not here to contradict your teacher’s advice when it comes to preparing for these exams, but I do urge you to look at things in perspective. There are plenty of success stories from people who stumbled and fell at various points in their education. What’s important is that you think about the route to success that’s perfect for you. Always try your hardest, but keep an eye on the big picture.
It’s hard to believe, but you really are going in blind...
In the run up to exams, the average Year 11’s desperation will kick in and they’ll begin to speculate about the content of their exams. Don’t do this. I am perfectly aware that this is hypocritical of me to say. We are all guilty of it, but the truth is you can’t guess what will end up in your exams. Don’t fall for speculation and limit your revision based on this - it would truly be a rookie error.
You have to be in charge of your time.
Time management. It’s a phrase you will more this year than you ever have in your life, but it’s important that you don’t let that make you resent the idea. As much as I hate to agree with your teachers, time management is crucial. Sometimes, the idea of time management gets twisted to mean that you should plan every minute of your day and fill it with revision and work when, in reality, it is equally as important to factor in time to wind down, relax and have fun.
Time management is different for everyone and that is something you must remember. If a revision timetable isn’t working for you, maybe try a ‘to do list’ or set yourself daily challenges.
To prevent yourself from being too overwhelmed, break your revision down into modules and topics and think about one thing at a time. When, inevitably, your head begins to ache and you start to feel panicky, walk away for a bit. There is no shame in feeling stressed and taking a break. You and your mental health are the top priorities.
Figure out what effective revision is - and what isn’t.
Breaking news! Taking a sheet of notes from your teacher is not revision, highlighting is not revision, making your notes look pretty is not revision. The important thing is to apply the information; as long as you’re doing this, whichever revision method appeals to you most is what you should use.
As pointless as mock exams may seem, they are a brilliant way to figure out which revision methods work best for you and how you work. Try, experiment and review so when it comes to it, you know what works best. And when I say ‘you’, I don’t mean your best friend or the most high-achieving student in your class. If you don’t tailor your learning to your brain, you won’t achieve what you want.
Choose someone to hold you accountable.
Whether you decide to enlist a parent, best friend or annoying sibling, it’s harder to let yourself fall victim to the entrapment of procrastination if there’s somebody close to you looking out for how you’re spending your time. You might hate them for a while, but in the end, it will all pay off.
And last but not least: have fun!
Despite the constant emphasis on exams through the next eight months, you should enjoy this year. It’s your last year of secondary school, so make sure to find the fun in every aspect of the experience. Spend time with the friends around you, make memories and don’t allow what looks like the scariest part of your life stop it from being the seminal experience it should be.
India Hedges, Year 12
Now, while you might be wishing for a way you could convince your teachers to take these tests for you, or bargaining with your friends about which of you will die in the middle of the exams so you can all pass, the truth is that in eight months time you will be sitting in that exam hall proving just how hard you’ve worked.
These past four years have prepared you for this: the home stretch. It won’t be easy, but it will happen.
In my time sitting those same exams, I’ve picked up some all-important tips and tricks to get you through this year.
You’re not alone, so don’t force yourself to be.
Revision and sitting your exams can cause you to feel isolated, and while this does have to be true inside the exam hall, outside of it there are countless people to lean on and ask for help.
It’s crucial that you make time for your friends during this period. You are all going through the same thing and that makes for the perfect support group. Just remember to reach out to all those people who are rooting for you: your family, friends, teachers and all the support staff available at your school. You’re not alone.
Despite what they tell you, GCSEs aren’t the be all and end all of your education.
At this point in your educational career, you will have experienced dozens of assemblies, teacher-led pep talks and those dreaded daily countdowns. With all this mounting pressure, it’s no wonder that just hearing someone say ‘GCSE’ sends stress hormones coursing around your body. Now I'm not here to contradict your teacher’s advice when it comes to preparing for these exams, but I do urge you to look at things in perspective. There are plenty of success stories from people who stumbled and fell at various points in their education. What’s important is that you think about the route to success that’s perfect for you. Always try your hardest, but keep an eye on the big picture.
It’s hard to believe, but you really are going in blind...
In the run up to exams, the average Year 11’s desperation will kick in and they’ll begin to speculate about the content of their exams. Don’t do this. I am perfectly aware that this is hypocritical of me to say. We are all guilty of it, but the truth is you can’t guess what will end up in your exams. Don’t fall for speculation and limit your revision based on this - it would truly be a rookie error.
You have to be in charge of your time.
Time management. It’s a phrase you will more this year than you ever have in your life, but it’s important that you don’t let that make you resent the idea. As much as I hate to agree with your teachers, time management is crucial. Sometimes, the idea of time management gets twisted to mean that you should plan every minute of your day and fill it with revision and work when, in reality, it is equally as important to factor in time to wind down, relax and have fun.
Time management is different for everyone and that is something you must remember. If a revision timetable isn’t working for you, maybe try a ‘to do list’ or set yourself daily challenges.
To prevent yourself from being too overwhelmed, break your revision down into modules and topics and think about one thing at a time. When, inevitably, your head begins to ache and you start to feel panicky, walk away for a bit. There is no shame in feeling stressed and taking a break. You and your mental health are the top priorities.
Figure out what effective revision is - and what isn’t.
Breaking news! Taking a sheet of notes from your teacher is not revision, highlighting is not revision, making your notes look pretty is not revision. The important thing is to apply the information; as long as you’re doing this, whichever revision method appeals to you most is what you should use.
As pointless as mock exams may seem, they are a brilliant way to figure out which revision methods work best for you and how you work. Try, experiment and review so when it comes to it, you know what works best. And when I say ‘you’, I don’t mean your best friend or the most high-achieving student in your class. If you don’t tailor your learning to your brain, you won’t achieve what you want.
Choose someone to hold you accountable.
Whether you decide to enlist a parent, best friend or annoying sibling, it’s harder to let yourself fall victim to the entrapment of procrastination if there’s somebody close to you looking out for how you’re spending your time. You might hate them for a while, but in the end, it will all pay off.
And last but not least: have fun!
Despite the constant emphasis on exams through the next eight months, you should enjoy this year. It’s your last year of secondary school, so make sure to find the fun in every aspect of the experience. Spend time with the friends around you, make memories and don’t allow what looks like the scariest part of your life stop it from being the seminal experience it should be.
India Hedges, Year 12
Dear Year 11...
To many, Year 11 seems like an extremely daunting time. However, with this quick guide I aim to help to squash this anxiety and make you feel more comfortable with the year ahead. I’ll cover a few main topics: revision, exam stress and how to deal with it, note taking, and having fun whilst doing all of this!
Revision:
Revision is probably the scariest concept to any Year 10 moving into Year 11. I believe that this is mainly down to the fact that no one really seems to know how to do it. Parents, siblings and teachers don’t seem to agree on what the best method is. This is infuriating - until you realise that there isn’t one method that is definitively better than the others. However, there is a small selection of methods which have been proven to be more beneficial that others. For example, creating mind maps around a specific subject can be extremely helpful when it comes to revising, as they allow you to collate all your information into one place; this can easily be reviewed closer to the exam. Another very useful method of revision is making flash cards and getting someone such as a parent or friend to test you on them. This is helpful as it forces you to recall specific information which should be key to success in your chosen subject.
While revision is very difficult to begin with, once you have cracked it and found the methods that work best for you, it’s very easy to do.
Exam stress, and how to deal with it:
Stress is a natural thing. It can stem from anything, from an argument with a friend to an impending deadline. It's normal for a person’s stress levels to be higher than normal when approaching exams. This can be very unpleasant, as it can make you feel upset, useless, tired and confused. However, there are ways that we can help to reduce our stress levels to ensure that we make exam season as easy for ourselves as we possibly can.
One way we can decrease our stress levels is through exercise. Although this may seem like a lot of effort, physical activity has been proven to release endorphins (chemicals which make us feel good) into the body. These endorphins allow us to therefore feel more relaxed and happier with our situation.
Other things we can do to reduce stress is meet up with friends or do something you enjoy, because this will also make your body release endorphins. If you ensure that you take regular breaks during long revision sessions, then you will be able to concentrate on your work for much longer. Furthermore, it will help to reduce your stress levels as it gives you a little breather after inhaling all that information.
How to have fun whilst preparing for exams:
While it might seem impossible to have fun during this time, it is actually completely achievable and encouraged to help you enjoy your time in Year 11. If you spend all of your time studying without giving time to yourself and your friends, then Year 11 will probably be unbearably miserable for you and everyone around you. It’s important to go out with your friends, treat yourself, and go downstairs and see your parents once in a while. Those who take breaks and enjoy themselves do better in exams than those who don’t.
And finally...
While GCSEs are very important and must be treated seriously, our own personal well-being and social life is also extremely important and is not something we should forget about whilst studying for exams.
Good Luck!
Sam Edwards, Year 12
Revision:
Revision is probably the scariest concept to any Year 10 moving into Year 11. I believe that this is mainly down to the fact that no one really seems to know how to do it. Parents, siblings and teachers don’t seem to agree on what the best method is. This is infuriating - until you realise that there isn’t one method that is definitively better than the others. However, there is a small selection of methods which have been proven to be more beneficial that others. For example, creating mind maps around a specific subject can be extremely helpful when it comes to revising, as they allow you to collate all your information into one place; this can easily be reviewed closer to the exam. Another very useful method of revision is making flash cards and getting someone such as a parent or friend to test you on them. This is helpful as it forces you to recall specific information which should be key to success in your chosen subject.
While revision is very difficult to begin with, once you have cracked it and found the methods that work best for you, it’s very easy to do.
Exam stress, and how to deal with it:
Stress is a natural thing. It can stem from anything, from an argument with a friend to an impending deadline. It's normal for a person’s stress levels to be higher than normal when approaching exams. This can be very unpleasant, as it can make you feel upset, useless, tired and confused. However, there are ways that we can help to reduce our stress levels to ensure that we make exam season as easy for ourselves as we possibly can.
One way we can decrease our stress levels is through exercise. Although this may seem like a lot of effort, physical activity has been proven to release endorphins (chemicals which make us feel good) into the body. These endorphins allow us to therefore feel more relaxed and happier with our situation.
Other things we can do to reduce stress is meet up with friends or do something you enjoy, because this will also make your body release endorphins. If you ensure that you take regular breaks during long revision sessions, then you will be able to concentrate on your work for much longer. Furthermore, it will help to reduce your stress levels as it gives you a little breather after inhaling all that information.
How to have fun whilst preparing for exams:
While it might seem impossible to have fun during this time, it is actually completely achievable and encouraged to help you enjoy your time in Year 11. If you spend all of your time studying without giving time to yourself and your friends, then Year 11 will probably be unbearably miserable for you and everyone around you. It’s important to go out with your friends, treat yourself, and go downstairs and see your parents once in a while. Those who take breaks and enjoy themselves do better in exams than those who don’t.
And finally...
While GCSEs are very important and must be treated seriously, our own personal well-being and social life is also extremely important and is not something we should forget about whilst studying for exams.
Good Luck!
Sam Edwards, Year 12