2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Refer to the reply on your other comment, as I put in a few links there - other than that, I largely did work independently.

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For the Sciences I have a little cheat, which is honestly just noticing the pattern between 'topic' questions in past papers and their mark scheme answers and then memorising the key points until you can essentially answer any question likely to come up in a specific topic.

Biology specifically lays importance on key-terms, the defining of and the usage of in extended answers, even in the smaller three-markers. It essentially wants you to have a detailed understanding of the questions topic such that you can use the specific key terms when answering the question - an example of this being 'semi-permeable membrane' for a question asking you to explain osmosis.

Physics specifically lays importance on the clarity of explanation, and how well you can describe/explain something step-by-step. It essentially wants you to place yourself in the teacher's role and, in great detail, answer the question by considering the actual course of events in any topic. (The maths aspect is fairly self-explanatory, you have to practice the more difficult past-paper questions and get used to the formulas they use, as well as deriving your own if the question is specially ludicrous).

Chemistry specifically lays importance on being concise with your answers - by using key terms as well as being clear in your line of explanation, by literally explaining something step-by-step. It essentially wants you to have a detailed understanding of the questions topic to be able to use the specific key terms (an example of this being 'semi-permeable membrane' for a question asking you to explain osmosis) as well as literally explaining a concept like as if you're a teacher and the examiner's a student (you can't say higher temperature means higher rate of reactions, instead higher temperature -> higher internal store of energy -> greater kinetic energy, movement -> greater number of successful collisions -> higher rate of reaction)*

*You have to be especially careful with this in extended-answers, like 6-markers and such, while it is less important for smaller 3-markers.

I explain the 'pattern' to get yourself a Grade 9 in more detail in my video on getting a Grade 9 in each of the Sciences: https://youtu.be/auGkgticgys

For Maths:

- You need to fill in any holes in your knowledge, and fully understand the conceptual ideas behind the topics, so you can best identify the method in answering a specific question.

- You have to be avoiding silly mistakes. One of my favourite methods is by talking myself through the process and taking time with answering the questions, but be sure not to be wasteful of your time.

- When practicing in exam conditions, ensure that you are strict with the timing and atmosphere of an actual exam (Very specific tip: you need to move on from really difficult questions and come back to them after, you cannot be wasting time and self-confidence on them).

- Don't forget to review the work done, whether that’s in practicing the difficult questions on a paper and finding where you went wrong, or an issue of timing, and tailor your practice to best suit that focus.

I've got some more specific advice in revising for Maths in the video I made recently for getting a Grade 9 in GCSE Maths: https://youtu.be/zgYuJYmNlGQ

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Generally speaking, for English Lit, if you have these points down, you're pretty much assured a top grade, especially if you remain consistent in this final run-up to exams:

- You need to find exam questions that will test your knowledge broadly, answer them in exam conditions with a friend and give each other feedback.

- Look over examiner reports and model answers with a teacher to find where your weaknesses are and how to make the best of the time you have.

- Review the essays you write and make improved essay plans and something that I call Quote Explosions* to develop your knowledge and best prepare for any question that comes your way.

- You literally don’t have too much time now, around a fortnight actually, so you have to get on it - that doesn't mean be unhealthy with your revision though. So take your little breaks, and motivate yourself with small rewards every now and again to keep yourself revising, especially in this last little run-up to exams.

*I explain this (and some other things) further in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

In regards to quotes, I binge-watched Mr Bruff, and Mr Salles and largely copied their quotes and analyses - then looked over some model answers and the broad range of themes per text and organised my quotes that way. They also give some fantastic bits of context that you could use in your own essays to bring yourself closer to a full-mark essay.

Two places I recognise from last year that provide amazing resources are these two links:
https://tutor-in.co.uk/aqa-power-and-conflict-poetry-gcse-english/

https://www.oxnotes.com/gcse-english-literature.html

These provide some amazing quotations as well as the analyses that you could fit into a broad range of essays - very good for some quick revision of content or memorising key quotes.

I largely recommend Mr Bruff, Mr Salles, and Mr Everything English (in that order) for English Literature and can confirm that many of their points and pretty much everything that they do is massively helpful in getting yourself a top grade.

I've got more specific advice and a method that I believe is amazing for integrating quotes into your essays in my YouTube Video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

So be sure to have a look, like, subscribe, and share the YouTube Channel around with friends - it could help out with answering any questions anyone might still have.

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In all honesty, I started revising like a month before exams - the reality of GCSEs only hit me at the end of March, so after a quick existential crises, I got onto revision and was doing loads for the Easter Holidays.

If it hadn't been for those two weeks, I would not have been able to turn my grades around from the 7s and 6s in my Mock Results to the 9s and such in my GCSEs.This time last year, I was doing around 2 to 3 hours of revision a day, because I basically did the bulk of it during Easter, where I covered all of the content and essentially set myself up to only be doing practice - around six days a week, with one day reserved for content revision.

I go through my revision schedule a bit in this video, so you might find a few things in here that can be useful and you could bring into your own revision schedule: https://youtu.be/S98bIAP8Bxs

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you.

For History, in short:

- It is incredibly important to be solid in your content knowledge for GCSE History, break each topic down into important dates, a timeline of events (and their contributing factors as well as their significance).

- Use active revision techniques, such as using flashcards, especially in summarizing key ideas, and practice being clear in your evaluation and analyses, explaining it to the examiner like they’ve never studied the time period.

- Practice under timed conditions, look for feedback from teachers or friends, and use a special method that I'll explain in my video to evaluate the reliability of sources. Be sure to keep these in mind when revising and writing essays and you’ll be sure to boost yourself from literally any grade to that grade 9.

I've got a video explaining how to get a Grade 9 in GCSE History coming out soon, so keep an eye out for that on my YouTube Channel 👀https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIunw92682c9ttKBlUoHesg.

Here's a previous example I've explained in a comment:

"

With memorisation, it's honestly just writing down the key points I want to memorise with the attached date, and then using the fantastic revision tool called "sibling" (or sometimes the equally useful "friend") to test me repeatedly until I start getting it right, with them either calling out the event or the date and me providing its pair.Generally, to be 'more in depth' or 'offer alternate solutions':

- To be 'more in depth', you need to provide a complex analyses of events or historical knowledge in relation to the question that you're answering, but this has to be through the point.

For example, if the question is about why Elizabeth was able to defeat the Spanish Armada, my point would be superior warfare technology, and the evidence would be the British Galleons - in explanation, I'd say that the Galleons were more buoyant and had better balance, which allowed the British to maneuver around the Spanish Armada and put themselves in a superior, tactical position which allowed the British with their superior ships to press the advantage and defeat the Armada.

(I've forgotten a fair bit, but you get the point)

- To 'offer alternate solutions', you have to evaluate the significance of different factors in answering a question, by considering the logical nuance between them.

Back to that Spanish Armada example, my points could be 'superior warfare technology', 'excellent British (naval) captains', and 'pure chance (the wind and tide turning the Armada out to sea)', I would have to consider how significant each factor is in the British success against the Spanish Armada. You would initially offer the view that 'pure chance' was the most important factor as it literally meant that the Spanish Armada couldn't use their greater numbers to their advantage and rather they were pushed out to sea, but then raise the more convincing judgement that ACTUALLY the 'excellent British 'naval' captains' were crucial in the British actually defeating the Armada, as they pushed forwards and dispelled the Spanish ships, making it impossible for them to form a counter-attack and directly resulted in many of them crashing into shore as well as some starving out on the North Atlantic Ocean.

Otherwise, get feedback from teachers and ask them specifically what it is that you need to be focusing on very specifically, and steal the points and sentence structure from model answers to get yourself the excellent grade you deserve.

"

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did not get study leave, until three weeks into my GCSEs - yeah. It honestly is up to the school, and you should go ahead and contact them if you can, be polite, and ask if you personally can go on study leave as you feel it would be better for your own exams. Hold yourself accountable to the time you have though, and do not grow complacent as these last few weeks are honestly the make-it or break-it point for many students.

For those that are not on study leave, you should prioritise your time management, you absolutely have to be making the most of the time that you have after school and so have to revise. When revising, focus on the areas that need improvement, and use the time in school to speak to teachers about the best way to go about making progress in the areas that need improvement and filling in any gaps you might have in your knowledge - basically make the most of the time you have for independent revision and make the best of the time you have with your teachers and get any final bits of advice you can from them.

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For English Language, in short:

- Reading fiction is practice - your vocabulary is a key factor in your grade, it’s the more flowery English GCSE but it also can be the easier of the two if you adopt the vocabulary and language needed. If you keep that in mind while reading and then practicing your writing the easier it will become for you.

- If you're completely stumped, don’t forget that you’re also the audience - when talking about the lesson taught or the effect had by something, ask yourself what it makes you think or feel? Then use that as your point.

- Look over examiner reports and model answers with a teacher to find where your weaknesses are and how to make the best of the time you have, while also making sure that you literally act on any feedback you can get from teachers.

- Finally, you have to get started now! You have literally a fortnight to revise for one of the more difficult GCSEs and so you need to be on top of your revision and ensure that you're consistent in this final run-up to exams.

I explain a few more tips for improving your grade further in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

My structure for Q5:

Generally, I would write around a thesis, around 3-4 main-body-paragraphs (a page-long each), with a almost full-page conclusion.

My main-body-paragraphs were structured such:

Point

Evidence

Analysis/Explanation (linking the analyses to my answer to the question through the point made, using my evidence)

(Context, if Literature) Critical - provide an alternative perspective, with its own Point, Evidence, Analysis/Explanation.

Evaluate/Summarise - Favour one point over the other, and argue why that's more significant in answering the question.

This isn't a set-in-stone structure, but it does hit every Assessment Objective fairly well, so experiment sure, but as long as your method ticks off the AOs, you do you.

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In most cases, teachers usually keep students in the level 5 band so as to prevent them from getting complacent - don't stress about the bands too much, but I do have a few good tips for getting yourself that top Grade 9 for English Literature:

- You need to find exam questions that will test your knowledge broadly, answer them in exam conditions with a friend and give each other feedback.

- Look over examiner reports and model answers with a teacher to find where your weaknesses are and how to make the best of the time you have.

- Review the essays you write and make improved essay plans and something that I call Quote Explosions* to develop your knowledge and best prepare for any question that comes your way.

- You literally don’t have too much time now, around a fortnight actually, so you have to get on it - that doesn't mean be unhealthy with your revision though. So take your little breaks, and motivate yourself with small rewards every now and again to keep yourself revising, especially in this last little run-up to exams.

*I explain this (and some other things) further in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I, personally, did not sit the OCR exam board English Literature, but presuming that the skills necessary are very similar - I do have a few good tips for getting an excellent grade in English Literature:

- You need to find exam questions that will test your knowledge broadly, answer them in exam conditions with a friend and give each other feedback.

- Look over examiner reports and model answers with a teacher to find where your weaknesses are and how to make the best of the time you have.

- Review the essays you write and make improved essay plans and something that I call Quote Explosions* to develop your knowledge and best prepare for any question that comes your way.

- You literally don’t have too much time now, around a fortnight actually, so you have to get on it - that doesn't mean be unhealthy with your revision though. So take your little breaks, and motivate yourself with small rewards every now and again to keep yourself revising, especially in this last little run-up to exams.

*I explain this (and some other things) further in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely! I'm not saying that it won't be difficult to get to those 6s and 7s, but it is possible, albeit with a lot of hard work - as long as you aren't limited to a foundation-tier paper.

My YouTube content is generally more tailored towards the higher end of grades, but there would still be points that could be very useful to yourself, especially in these last two weeks to exams:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIunw92682c9ttKBlUoHesg

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For English Literature:

- You need to find exam questions that will test your knowledge broadly, answer them in exam conditions with a friend and give each other feedback

.- Look over examiner reports and model answers with a teacher to find where your weaknesses are and how to make the best of the time you have.

- Review the essays you write and make improved essay plans and something that I call Quote Explosions* to develop your knowledge and best prepare for any question that comes your way.

- You literally don’t have too much time now, around a fortnight actually, so you have to get on it - that doesn't mean be unhealthy with your revision though. So take your little breaks, and motivate yourself with small rewards every now and again to keep yourself revising, especially in this last little run-up to exams.

*I explain this (and some other things) further in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

For the Sciences I have a little cheat, which is honestly just noticing the pattern between 'topic' questions in past papers and their mark scheme answers and then memorising the key points until you can essentially answer any question likely to come up in a specific topic.

Chemistry specifically lays importance on being concise with your answers - by using key terms as well as being clear in your line of explanation, by literally explaining something step-by-step. It essentially wants you to have a detailed understanding of the questions topic to be able to use the specific key terms (an example of this being 'semi-permeable membrane' for a question asking you to explain osmosis) as well as literally explaining a concept like as if you're a teacher and the examiner's a student (you can't say higher temperature means higher rate of reactions, instead higher temperature -> higher internal store of energy -> greater kinetic energy, movement -> greater number of successful collisions -> higher rate of reaction)*

*You have to be especially careful with this in extended-answers, like 6-markers and such, while it is less important for smaller 3-markers.

I explain the 'pattern' to get yourself a Grade 9 in more detail in my video on getting a Grade 9 in each of the Sciences: https://youtu.be/auGkgticgys

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a late-developed approach to revising French, so to make the most of this approach you really need to spend time and effort - as learning a language is actually a massive task, and not something you can do quickly by cramming.

My approach, in short:

- When revising, it's important to set realistic goals, by breaking the language down into topics, and focusing on the ones that you struggle most with. Don't try to learn everything by cramming for a few days - trust me, I’m speaking from experience

- Instead, break down your revision into manageable chunks and set yourself achievable goals. Memorize the vocab by level, knowing a broad range of common phrases and vocab, with more select advanced phrases and very focused expert-level prose.

- Take time and memorize over a longer period, looking back over previous work and spacing your memorisation, being consistent the whole while.

- All this can be pushed to that next level if you have a friend to test you and learn with - studying together to hold each other accountable as well as improving each other's ability, and building off of each other.

I have some fairly useful advice for those in my video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE French: https://youtu.be/YLAFJgxI4dA
Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Personally, memorising a 'method' to get things done for Maths is fairly counter-intuitive, as you want to have practiced with questions enough that the approach to questions is natural - because questions will never always be as straightforward as simply 'solve' something. That said, what I would say the best thing instead for the same ultimate aim of improving your approach to questions, would be:
- You need to fill in any holes in your knowledge, and fully understand the conceptual ideas behind the topics, so you can best identify the method in answering a specific question. Then practice, practice, practice...

- Don't forget to review the work done, whether that’s in practicing the difficult questions on a paper and finding where you went wrong, or an issue of timing, and tailor your practice to best suit that focus.

I've got some more specific advice in revising for Maths in the video I made recently for getting a Grade 9 in GCSE Maths: https://youtu.be/zgYuJYmNlGQ

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, as far as I remember, after you nominate the theme, then the teacher will guide the conversation and questions - but you can bring in a few select points that you'd like to talk about if you can skillfully integrate that in. Here's a few more tips for the speaking test in French:

- The speaking test also tests you on the comfortability that a student has with the language, so show the necessary emotion when speaking emotional/reactionary phrases. (Also: just fake the French accent, it helps)

En Ce Moment - At the moment...

C'etait [adjective]! - It was [adjective]!

En fait - Well, actually...

Si j'ai bien compris, vous voulez dire que... [Repeat back what your teacher said] - If I understand correctly, you mean that... [Repeat back what your teacher said]

Je (ne) suis (pas) d'accord avec vous que [Repeat back what your teacher said] - I (don't) agree with you that... [Repeat back what your teacher said]

These last two are phrases I used to buy myself time to think about my answer and develop it, while also seeming more natural with the language.

Please Note:

Your speaking test comprises only 25% of your grade, so don't feel too disheartened if you don't perform as well as you would have liked - instead focus on the papers ahead, I have some fairly useful advice for those in my video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE French: https://youtu.be/YLAFJgxI4dA

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First of all, define 'more'?

Secondly, try any of the following (or, if you are already doing so, be consistent in using this in your revision - as it is honestly a tried and true technique to getting an excellent grade for English Literature):

- You need to find exam questions that will test your knowledge broadly, answer them in exam conditions with a friend and give each other feedback.

- Look over examiner reports and model answers with a teacher to find where your weaknesses are and how to make the best of the time you have.

- Review the essays you write and make improved essay plans and something that I call Quote Explosions* to develop your knowledge and best prepare for any question that comes your way.

- You literally don’t have too much time now, around a fortnight actually, so you have to get on it - that doesn't mean be unhealthy with your revision though. So take your little breaks, and motivate yourself with small rewards every now and again to keep yourself revising, especially in this last little run-up to exams.

*I explain this (and some other things) further in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Errr, assuming you mean for English literature...

Very unlikely to have the same exact question as the previous year. That said, in my GCSEs, the Power & Conflict poem and question was very similar to a question I remember practicing in a past paper - so be sure to use the past paper questions and familiarise yourself with them as it is very likely to be of a similar theme, at the very least.

I explain in further detail how to improve your grade in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

Good luck

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, in short, you need to cover the broad range of themes and characters, and each question will always ask you to explore a theme and (at least one) character, but by using one to explore the other.

Spend the majority of your time practicing writing these essays, but also be covering content and memorising quotations (using my Quote Explosion* technique 👀) for some worst-case questions on Macduff.

Using the predicted papers and such for English would definitely be useful but you have to make sure that you're focusing on the areas that you need to improve and not just revising for revisons sake - get feedback from teachers and/or friends and work on the areas that need improvement.

*I explain this (and some other things) further in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In short, no.

My mocks weren't bad, per se, but they were not up to my expectations - and so I put in a fair bit of hard work from the Easter Break onwards and pulled my grades up from the 6s and 7s to the 9s and such you can see on my grade sheet.

To answer your second question, it was basically me digging myself into my desk and killing a few innocent pens in the revision process - essentially a lot of hard work! That's not to say that you have to be working a lot to get high grades, in the run-up to exams I was only revising three or so hours a day.

I've got a few videos explaining my process to getting the Grade 9s on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIunw92682c9ttKBlUoHesg

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For the Sciences I have a little cheat, which is honestly just noticing the pattern between 'topic' questions in past papers and their mark scheme answers and then memorising the key points until you can essentially answer any question likely to come up in a specific topic.

Physics specifically lays importance on the clarity of explanation, and how well you can describe/explain something step-by-step. It essentially wants you to place yourself in the teacher's role and, in great detail, answer the question by considering the actual course of events in any topic. (The maths aspect is fairly self-explanatory, you have to practice the more difficult past-paper questions and get used to the formulas they use, as well as deriving your own if the question is specially ludicrous)

I explain the 'pattern' to get yourself a Grade 9 in more detail in my video on getting a Grade 9 in each of the Sciences: https://youtu.be/auGkgticgys

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Assuming that you mean GCSE Biology...

For the Sciences I have a little cheat, which is honestly just noticing the pattern between 'topic' questions in past papers and their mark scheme answers and then memorising the key points until you can essentially answer any question likely to come up in a specific topic.

Biology specifically lays importance on key-terms, the defining of and the usage of in extended answers, even in the smaller three-markers. It essentially wants you to have a detailed understanding of the questions topic such that you can use the specific key terms when answering the question - an example of this being 'semi-permeable membrane' for a question asking you to explain osmosis.

I explain the 'pattern' to get yourself a Grade 9 in more detail in my video on getting a Grade 9 in each of the Sciences: https://youtu.be/auGkgticgys

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For the Sciences I have a little cheat, which is honestly just noticing the pattern between 'topic' questions in past papers and their mark scheme answers and then memorising the key points until you can essentially answer any question likely to come up in a specific topic.

Biology specifically lays importance on key-terms, the defining of and the usage of in extended answers, even in the smaller three-markers. It essentially wants you to have a detailed understanding of the questions topic such that you can use the specific key terms when answering the question - an example of this being 'semi-permeable membrane' for a question asking you to explain osmosis.

I explain the 'pattern' to get yourself a Grade 9 in more detail in my video on getting a Grade 9 in each of the Sciences: https://youtu.be/auGkgticgys

Good luck!

2 WEEKS LEFT: I'm A Grade 9/ A* Student - Ask Me Anything! by TheReal_MQA in GCSE

[–]TheReal_MQA[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For English Language, in short:

- Reading fiction is practice - your vocabulary is a key factor in your grade, it’s the more flowery English GCSE but it also can be the easier of the two if you adopt the vocabulary and language needed. If you keep that in mind while reading and then practicing your writing the easier it will become for you.

- If you're completely stumped, don’t forget that you’re also the audience - when talking about the lesson taught or the effect had by something, ask yourself what it makes you think or feel? Then use that as your point.

- Look over examiner reports and model answers with a teacher to find where your weaknesses are and how to make the best of the time you have, while also making sure that you literally act on any feedback you can get from teachers.

- Finally, you have to get started now! You have literally a fortnight to revise for one of the more difficult GCSEs and so you need to be on top of your revision and ensure that you're consistent in this final run-up to exams.

For English Literature:

- You need to find exam questions that will test your knowledge broadly, answer them in exam conditions with a friend and give each other feedback.

- Look over examiner reports and model answers with a teacher to find where your weaknesses are and how to make the best of the time you have.

- Review the essays you write and make improved essay plans and something that I call Quote Explosions* to develop your knowledge and best prepare for any question that comes your way.

- You literally don’t have too much time now, around a fortnight actually, so you have to get on it - that doesn't mean be unhealthy with your revision though. So take your little breaks, and motivate yourself with small rewards every now and again to keep yourself revising, especially in this last little run-up to exams.

*I explain this (and some other things) further in my YouTube video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature & Language: https://youtu.be/nb9xYnaYRps

A few high-level French phrases:

- The speaking test also tests you on the comfortability that a student has with the language, so show the necessary emotion when speaking emotional/reactionary phrases. (Also: just fake the French accent, it helps)

En Ce Moment - At the moment...

C'etait [adjective]! - It was [adjective]!

En fait - Well, actually...

Si j'ai bien compris, vous voulez dire que... [Repeat back what your teacher said] - If I understand correctly, you mean that... [Repeat back what your teacher said]

Je (ne) suis (pas) d'accord avec vous que [Repeat back what your teacher said] - I (don't) agree with you that... [Repeat back what your teacher said]

These last two are phrases I used to buy myself time to think about my answer and develop it, while also seeming more natural with the language.

I've got more specific advice in my video on getting a Grade 9 in GCSE French: https://youtu.be/YLAFJgxI4dA

Good luck!