How to get A* in GCSES?

Question

I am in year 9 at the moment. My summer holidays are comming up. Should I revise for them?? I am 14. Also if I revise the cgp books for science and maths, what grade would I get?? What grade does cgp take you?

Answer 1

Hi, I'm almost finished my GCSEs (just four more to go) and I'm aiming for all A*s too, based on my mock grades. I think its great that you want to start revising now! I revised in the Year 9 summer holidays too because I really wanted to do well, and I'm going to do the same thing this summer holidays for my A-levels next year. I wouldn't call it revising though, its more the case of renting some books from the library on the GCSEs courses you're going to do next year and littereally just reading through them. Don't spend too much time trying to learn the details (you will forget them), but just reading through them a couple of times will give you a general gist of the subjuct and thus mean that your on a higher footing than your peers when starting the GCSE course. One thing I would say though is that don't spend the whole holiday just revising. I know I pretty much did and now I kind of regret it. I should have taken the opportunity to relax and enjoy myself before I started GCSEs becuase if you really want to do well there isn't much time after you've started year 10. So make sure you have fun!

As for CGP- you know what I said about just reading through revision guides in the summer- they're great for that- simple and easy to understand. However if you can, it would probably be better for you to rent them from the library rather than buying them, because I found that once I started learning the GCSEcourse they fast became useless, purely because of their lack of detail.  Thery're fine to consult if you don't really understand something (like I do for physics when there is something my teacher hasn't taught us and I don't understand the complicated textbook)  but you ask what grade does the CGP give you. Well lets say that you went into the GCSE exam and the ONLY thing you'd done for a subject was memeorise of the CGP book you'd probably only get an A. Your question doesn't make sense. CGP books don;t get you any grade- they're meant to be used as a revision aid (with classroom notes and textbooks) not as a sole way of getting a grade.

Oh and I forgot to say, when you do get some books to read over the summer make sure they are for the RIGHT GCSE SPECIFICATION that your school does. I f you are unsure of the specification ask the subject teachers. After all you don't want to spend ages leaning about another course that is completely different from what you will be doing next year.

The fact that you're 14 already gives you an advantage anyway. I was still 13 for the whole year 9 summer holiday, only actually turning 14 the day before we restarted school in 10 (the joys of being the youngest born at the end of August!). So I basically did my whole GCSEs and will get the results back whilst I'm still 15. So really, despite me being in Year 11 and you being in Year 9, there's not that much age difference between us. That gives you the mental maturity advantage. So if I could revsie in Year 9 you most certaily can and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Anyway sorry the answers so long. I felt I could realte to your question so I think I might hae babbled a bit. I hoped it helped at least a bit! Good luck with your GCSEs anway!

Answer 2

Heyy im in year 11 and ive nearly finished all my GCSEs.. got my last one on monday.. whoop whoop ! Anywayyy.. errm tbh i think its a little early to start revising.. you havent even started the course yet so i wouldnt start now if i were you ! I started properly revising for GCSEs around january in year 11 hahah ! My opinion on the CGP books are that i used to think they were rly rly good but now i think they lack detail and skip the most important topics for the subjects.. but thats just in history and business studies.. but for science yh they are good so i'd get one. The best way to revise for GCSEs is DEFINATELY past papers.. its all very well knowing the facts and formulas and how to do stuff.. but if you dont have the correct exam technique and get used to doing exams in timed conditions then your gna struggle. Anyways you got plenty of time so dont worry about it yet.. just enjoy being study free !!!!!!! Hope thats helped and have a good summer :) x x

Answer 3

You haven't even taken the course yet so how could you revise? I'm taking mine at the moment, and I generally start revising a couple of days before the exam.