Back to school: Making the leap from GCSE to A Level

This week, children across the UK will start returning to the classroom after the much-needed summer break – and many will be gearing up towards making the leap from GCSE to A Levels. Nationally representative research from leading EdTech platform MyTutor has found that as a result of the pandemic 42% of parents feel their children are the most stressed they’ve ever been, with over a quarter reporting a visible decline in their educational progression. With this in mind, this generation may not feel best equipped to make the step up to A Levels as they contend with learning gaps and uncertainty over examination processes. In light of this, MyTutor has put together some top takeaways from their recent webinar on the move from GCSE to A Level.

1. Make the most of study periods (from the beginning)
One of the biggest challenges teens face whilst going from studying their GCSE’s to A Levels is time management and becoming more independent. During A Levels, you’re expected to do a lot of your own research to find answers so teens are given a lot more free time.

Unfortunately some find it hard to make the most of this and don’t know where to begin. Getting your teen to stay in school during their free periods is super important as they can reach out to teachers when they need help and to also ask what your strengths and weaknesses are so they know exactly what they need to focus on. The school environment is great for studying as they’ll see other people working around you and this will increase motivation.

2. When the new term starts, find the revision methods that really work for them
One of the biggest challenges of A Levels is learning how to narrow all the information you’ve learned down to what’s most relevant when answering exam questions. Despite taking in so much during the course, with the limited time in exams, it’s unlikely your teen will be able to jot all this down.

A great revision technique is getting your teen to write down a lot of past paper questions on a word document, and work their way through them. As there are only so many ways they will rephrase the exam question, by the time it comes to your exam they should be in a much stronger position to be able to tackle what they ask.

3. Know that schools and universities are aware of the pandemic too!
Lots of teens will be feeling that their GCSE’s didn’t go as planned as a result of the pandemic. They might not be feeling as prepared to do their A Levels as they might be had they had their full GCSE experience the year before. But, they should remember that A Level teachers are fully prepared to help out as they understand that students’ performances might be lower than normal.

As well as that, UCAS and prospective universities are also fully aware of the situation teens have been in, so remind them to not panic! School teaching staff and guidance counsellors are equipped to support them throughout this time more than ever before. Your teen should remember that they’re not alone and they shouldn’t feel they need to suffer in silence.

If they’ve got some big learning gaps and would feel a lot better going over them, we’re offering a summer programme of 5-day group courses and drop-in tutorials to help teens do just that. As well as courses at GCSE level, they can also pick from 9 subjects from our ‘Stepping up to A Level’ courses to help them get to the best starting point before the new term kicks off. Courses cost from just £12/tutorial and drop-in tutorials are free of charge. You can check out the full MyTutor Groups summer programme here.

4. Encourage them to ask for help when they need it
It’s a very big jump to A Level that can be overwhelming due to how different it is and the new found pressure of independent study. If it’s one subject they feel they’re not enjoying, perhaps get your teen to review it after a while and see if it’s for them. Most importantly, encourage your teen to talk to you, their tutors and their teacher at any point when they find things difficult. They are here to reassure you and also offer support. You can also help your teen get organised, whether that’s writing to-do lists or planning ahead what they are going to study each day, whatever it is that will take away the feelings of stress/anxiety your teen may have and to put them in a format that they can deal with effectively. Focus on what they need to do first and carry them out in an organised way.

5. Prioritise their wellbeing
Make sure your teen doesn’t forget to look after themselves during their A Levels. Encourage your teen to maintain their hobbies and to keep little traditions going, with friends and family etc so they still do have things to look forward to. What’s also important is basic things such as having a regular bedtime routine and eating healthily as well. MyTutor highly recommends regular exercise too and to put time aside to do this so that you’re not just continuously studying. Remember, a happy mind will also mean your teen will be in a happy place as they work through their A Levels, which will make them much more likely to do their best (and make it to the end of school in one piece).

You can watch the full webinar here: https://youtu.be/BBUhI3LecE0

Bertie Hubbard, CEO of MyTutor comments on the difficulties faced by school children during the pandemic:
“The last 18 months have been unbelievably tough year on teens and parents alike with months out of school, exam cancellations, not seeing friends and worrying about Covid-19. With schools open again, catching up on lost learning and prepping for exams this term has undoubtedly brought another set of challenges for teens.

“They’re in more need than ever for some support and reassurance with their studies, and that’s exactly what our tutors offer. Our tutors are all from UK universities, and because they’re just a few years older they can easily relate to what teens are going through. With their dedicated one-to-one support, teens get some much-needed reassurance and come out with a stronger self-belief – 88% say that lessons made them feel more confident.”