Things many students wish they’d known before starting A Levels

A Level Results Day has now passed and now many students are in the process of preparing for university, going through Clearing, or getting ready for the world of work. However, for some, if they could turn the clock back, they wouldn’t have made so many mistakes during A Levels and would have done things differently.

Top things students wish they’d known before starting A Levels:

• Pick subjects you will enjoy and will do well in – very important!
• Extra reading around the subject really helps.
• Sort out your UCAS personal statement as early as possible i.e. summer of Year 12.
• Cramming the night before an exam does not work!
• Attend lessons regularly – there is a link between good attendance and punctuality and good grades.
• Work hard from the moment you start A Levels and take notes.
• Do lots of past papers.
• Avoid social networking sites! “Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr etc are not your friends!”
• Use your free study periods wisely.
• A Levels are a massive step-up from GCSEs so work as hard as you can!

lausa22 says work very hard from the start – something she wishes she had done:
“Don’t mess about in your AS year. I got D’s and my teachers said it was fine, I could just bring the grades up in the next year, but now I’ve had to work very very hard to try and get good grades.”

Cazza180 admits that she wishes she had made the right decisions from the start and picked the right subjects in order to succeed:
“Do subjects YOU ENJOY! I know everyone says it but as someone that got pressured into taking more traditional subjects and failed, I really stress this point.”

And for those who have just completed their A Levels and are wondering what the future holds for them despite what results they may have received:

ghanglish says:
“Work hard but even if you do mess up it’s not the end of your life. Nobody will care about your A-levels 7-10 years from now.”

Is that true. Are A-Levels forgotten that easily? Are they no more than a stepping stone to University? Or do they serve a greater purpose? Your comments are welcome below…