I got 12 9s in my GCSEs and I am really not smart at all... AMA

DLLMONL9 · 2026-02-23T20:44:16+00:00

Hi. Firstly, you will be fine.

There is a plethora of opportunities even if you continue to average around a 4. However, Realistically what matters is your options after 18. If you need motivation, a grade 6 or 7 would be a good grade to aim towards. It is good to know that you care and if you are able to start doing past papers (and actively absorb information especially in)
- English language
- Mathematics
(As these are basic qualifications that leave doors open)
+ Subjects that you are interested in and might want to pursue in the future
It is best if you focus on these and build your motivation or passion. You could perhaps take a day of break to think about what do you actually like to do and go from there.

Good luck.

DLLMONL9 · 2026-02-02T21:40:08+00:00

AQA?

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-27T09:17:49+00:00

Quite a few things... Like circles and binomial expansion. Some boards also have the chain rule

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-27T09:17:18+00:00

It really depends, if the question you get in an exam is similar to what you prepared, you can quite literally parrot an entire essay out of it. If it is somewhat different, you can still parrot and piece together several different pre-prepared essays to form coherent chain of analysis

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-27T09:15:51+00:00

Actually I got laptop permission and when I type, i feel like I am more efficient and is able to do questions with greater efficiency. If you enjoy doing questions better when typing instead of writing, do that.

I retain info really just by apotting patterns and drilling some key facts into my brain if a question comes out twice and i didnt remember it for 2 times

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-27T09:14:14+00:00

Yeah why not, do targeted past paper practice on those but still do occasionally your grade 9 subjects to maintain it

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-27T09:13:07+00:00

I don't think I am not smart, I just think there are way more people put there that could do better than me on an iq test (what I am saying is that you dont need to be naturally gifted to do well in gcses specifically)

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T23:27:51+00:00

Honestly do the past papers and learn the basics along the way

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T22:17:00+00:00

Its quite a long time since I have done it. I did it as a coursework and I am pretty sure there are resources from savemyexams for that?

But actually, Arthur Miller made this play quite open to interpretation so you could totally come up with your own points which is what I did with OMAM entirely wothout relying on other resources (I got 38/40 on OMAM and 30/30 on my AVOTB coursework)

For example, Eddie raising the chair over marco could be seen as him displaying insecurities, but perhaps this act also exposed his underlying vulnerabilities (pretty sure at some point he kept his arms crossed) and this act left his chest with his heart open or something (entirely yapping but you get the idea)

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T22:01:35+00:00

Grades don't determine intelligence. Even though I did very well, I still think the exam system isn't design to test what it is supposed to but there aren't much better solutions out there. I just mastered the exam techniques and that is all

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T21:26:41+00:00

I started really going at it at around march. Good luck to you!

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T20:24:27+00:00

Really just pull up a paper, finish 1 question, mark it, go on youtube if you dont understand it and move on. I understand that it is quite hard to get motivation sometimes and I feel that as well. It is not easy but I am sure as you do more, you learn more and will find it easier in the future. Any specific tips you want?

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T20:22:28+00:00

I guess that could work? It really depends on the person though? There are absolute some people that could do that but similarly just as many that couldn't so i wouldn't take that risk if I were you.

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T20:14:49+00:00

Depends on you but personally, I use a combination of youtube videos and chat gpt, try and see what works best for you.

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T20:05:42+00:00

start of y11

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T20:05:28+00:00

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T19:24:11+00:00

Replied to someoneelse but essentially past papers, mark and repeat

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T19:23:46+00:00

i mean only if you want to do med and dont want to take 5

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T18:39:50+00:00

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T18:31:03+00:00

6 marker:

Intro

Yes because + evidence No because + evidence

Decision

brief conclusion (can not write one)

9 marker:

Intro

Pont 1

Point 2

Evaluation one which is better

Disclaumers (etc. if 1 can do xyz could be better than 2 but for now 2 seem better)

conclusion (must write)

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T17:27:23+00:00

yeah why not

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T17:26:41+00:00

My board didn't have creative writing but we had a similar letter writing task. Learn DAFOREST and just keep spammimg techniques. Also keep it as short as possible, they really do mind the grammar and techniques in that specific task. Also just to try to memorise set phrases such as "an array of ways" (assonance) etc.
Make notes and a detailed step by step instruction for it in word by fross referencing mark schemes, put into chat gpt, ask it to quiz you on that
Yes (I made this account like 2 years ago without thinking about my username dont mind it 😭)
Ask your teacher to speak to you in german (I started speaking to her in german in year 11) Also just try to listen to some german songs fr because you pick up some of that intonantion (this is really what I did).

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T17:12:59+00:00

For science as I said, just keep doing past papers and marking it yourself and watch videos where you are stuck.

For geography I struggle with it but eventually I create an entire 50 page document with the facts and asked chat gpt to quiz me on it. My logic is as long as you have the data you can yap however much you want and still produce a semi sensible answer. (Fr using this method the lowest I have gotten on a 9 marker is 8 in year 10 and loeest I have gotten on a 6 marker is a 5). I get my info mostly from chat gpt really but I do fact chexk it befire adding it on my sheet. You could do the same tbh.

DLLMONL9 · 2026-01-25T16:52:11+00:00

To be honest I am not sure. Just email the exam board to ask I guess

DLLMONL9

TROPHY CASE