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Original poster

Bridging the gap to A-level - work for current Y11

86 replies

noblegiraffe · 28/03/2020 12:41

A thread for suggestions on how current Y11 can best keep their hand in and set themselves up for the start of Y12.

For Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, CGP have made their ‘Headstart’ kindle books FREE

www.amazon.co.uk/Head-Start-Level-Maths-2017-2018-ebook/dp/B06XD29GX2?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 (this is the maths one, the science are in ‘what other customers buy’ list).

Lots of work for maths here: www.dropbox.com/sh/ppm47xsrvr054p3/AACmvv67MzUCX2foyJIMJpm-a?dl=0

Some maths youtube bridging videos here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNK8a8DSxXv6d9HxUuliXPZbySSeTTK-

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YangShanPo · 10/04/2020 08:16

Thanks for this thread OP my dd was really focussed on her exams and studying hard but this has really thrown her and she is mainly watching reruns of Friends and ranking all her favourite films right now. I think she is going to struggle to get into studying mindset.

Madhairday · 10/04/2020 08:06

Thanks so much noble for starting this helpful thread. DS' school aren't setting a lot of work, the odd quiz which is not particularly useful. DS is finishing off the cgp workbooks we bought at least for the subjects he'll do for A Level but it's good to have a lot more material we can use here, especially for Maths/further maths. Flowers

ZandathePanda · 09/04/2020 23:52

Grinthat should be the Gnarls Barkley song not the person!

ZandathePanda · 09/04/2020 22:52

Bloomin eck. Just endured the National Theatre Jane Eyre. I can’t decide if the human dog or Gnarls Barkley finished me off. Come back James Corden - all is forgiven.

Queenofthesilverdollar · 07/04/2020 02:00

This is helpful

Any thoughts on History - think the course DS will take is all 20th Century
Economics
Politics

Sarahwoodstock262 · 06/04/2020 23:51

Hi ladies
My DS has just purchased some A Level Maths "revision notes" from straightnines.com, it's a website made by a pupil who got all 9s in his GCSEs last year who is currently studying A Levels.

Overall he says they're very informative and helpful, and he can start learning his A level course.
He used the coupon code CORONACOUPON20 at checkout for £1 off as he saw an advert somewhere- hopefully this still works.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 06/04/2020 15:59

Thanks @ElizabethinherGermanGarden

ChloeDecker · 06/04/2020 15:42

For Computer Science A Level, these are a good set of transition documents that Year 11s could be working through:

ocr.org.uk/Images/164027-ks4-ks5-transition-guide-binary-.pdf

beta.ocr.org.uk/Images/253779-problem-solving-and-programming-ks4-ks5.pdf

beta.ocr.org.uk/Images/253778-data-types-data-structures-algorithms-ks4-ks5.pdf

yoikes · 06/04/2020 15:34

Any ideas for very motivated ds1 who is studying geography history and politics???

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 06/04/2020 15:31

If you haven't seen it so far, massolit.io is fantastic. It's usually behind a paywall but is free during April and has lots of livestream expert lectures for humanities subjects (Eng Lit, Classical Civ, History, Psychology and a couple of others). All aimed at A-level standard.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 06/04/2020 15:27

Thanks for the literature tips, will be looking into that. 👍🏻

DS is looking at doing his EPQ on an era of music. He’s got the most basic of skeleton outline for it, I think it’s a bit broad at the moment and he needs to focus it a bit tighter.

Piggywaspushed · 05/04/2020 11:26

Oh yes, the Crash Courses are great : if anyone is interested in film A Level, or as an EPQ , they are perfect and good fun, too.

Film is an excellent EPQ topic by the way : seen some great ones on politics and history as reflected in film and some really great ones on censorship and on costume and set design.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 05/04/2020 08:46

For any English Lit students, I recommend watching a good variety of productions of Shakespeare. OCR has a pre-1900 poetry and drama paper which always comes as a bit of a shock, even though they'll have studied Shakespeare at GCSE.

Try if you can to find out what your school does for its optional elements at A Level - we do the dystopian topic for example, so could suggest a really focused wider reading list to prepare for that.

noideaatallreally · 05/04/2020 08:45

Not read the whole thread, so don't know if any one has mentioned Crash Course videos on You Tube. They cover a range of topics - are very well made and a great resource for A Level.

Upthread someone mentioned myths as a good background for English Lit. They have a fantastic series on myths on there.

Danglingmod · 05/04/2020 08:39

For geoography and/or politics students, Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall is an excellent book on geopolitics, covering ten areas of the world.

Piggywaspushed · 03/04/2020 17:33

Ah, OK : makes sense!

Oblomov20 · 03/04/2020 17:14

Yes Piggy. In 'normal' Grinyears -
(Obviously not us. Now) they are asked to do 4 up until Xmas.

Piggywaspushed · 03/04/2020 17:04

Should be question marks there!!

Piggywaspushed · 03/04/2020 17:03

Definitely 4

Piggywaspushed · 03/04/2020 17:03

Posted on the other thread for you oblomov

Oblomov20 · 03/04/2020 17:01

I would appreciate any advice on if any of those subjects are weaker than others?

Or is it overall a good combination?
Too weak? Is it strong enough?

Oblomov20 · 03/04/2020 16:54

Ds1 considering A'levels:
English Lit or English Lang
Business studies
Sociology or psychology

ICT

Greenpop21 · 03/04/2020 11:16

Thanks @keiratwiceknightly

keiratwiceknightly · 03/04/2020 11:10

Eng Lang - read anything by David Crystal, also Eats Shoots and Leaves to help with grammar, plus reading lots - fiction and non-fiction to prepare for some "writing in the style of" work.

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