Revision Ground Zero

Most students for AS/A level will either have started or be about to start their revision for this summer’s exams. In the forthcoming weeks I’ll be adding my own two pence worth of advice and resources. But first, a gentle start. It’s not a bad idea to check in to your exam board’s website - you’ll either be doing OCR or AQA. Sounds silly, but do make sure you know which one you are doing! Now what’s next…

Well, if you haven’t looked at the website before, it’s a good idea to do so now. You will find helpful material such as past papers, mark schemes and examiners reports.

Hopefully your teacher has already provided you with some or all of this material, but if not you’ll find it on the websites, and even if they have, you will often find a few useful things you don’t have.

I wouldn’t suggest you have to spend much time doing this sort of thing, but it’s a good idea to make use of anything exam boards publish and any advice they give. I’ve often found mark schemes and examiners reports a bit vague or stating the obvious, but if I was doing an exam, I’m sure I would consult them - just in case. In any event, working through past papers is a good way of getting to grips with the subject matter, so don’t - as they say - leave any stone unturned.

While we’re on the topic, it’s also worth getting the exam board’s brief list or outline of what you are expected to know. And despite my whinge, if you check the mark schemes and find out how marks are awarded it will help you avoid or minimise errors.

So, let revision commence.