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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-

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 28/03/2020 20:11

Me too Grin Biedermann. Katharina Blum, Brecht and Die Neuen Leiden des Jungen W. Fun times.

clary · 28/03/2020 20:06

piggy no I don't know that one. Will have to watch it. I'm better on books tbh, I had to do four for each A level (and no films! lol!). I'm old tho 😀

FlyingPandas · 28/03/2020 19:32

Thanks all for recommendations, really useful.

Lostintransfixation · 28/03/2020 19:16

I've seen the Headstart CGP recommendation. Thanks for that. Anything else?

Lostintransfixation · 28/03/2020 19:15

Could someone please recommend background reading for psychology, biology or chemistry? Many thanks

ProggyMat · 28/03/2020 18:16

@Twisique
DD is doing Latin, Ancient Greek and Ancient History for A level.
My recommendation for reading, that has a listening twist first is:
An appointment with Mr Yeats by The Waterboys
Caveat: I’m an old gimmer

Witchend · 28/03/2020 18:03

Thanks @noblegiraffe

Is there a text book you'd recommend for studying edexcel maths? I'm wondering if there is one that isn't a direct study guide. Dd is very able, but very lazy at studying (she gets it very intuitively) and I think one that she can work through-more old fashioned style- may give her a different challenge.
She can get through that sort of one without engaging brain properly, getting all the questions right, but not being able to say what she did 5 minutes later.

20Newnames · 28/03/2020 17:54

Thanks @noblegiraffe DS plans to do maths and sciences so those links are great!

Piggywaspushed · 28/03/2020 17:35

clary have you seen The Lives of Others? It is one of my favourite films ever.

Twisique · 28/03/2020 17:34

He is going to do OCR Classical Civilisation.

Thank you for the reading ideas!

For English I would recommend The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Piggywaspushed · 28/03/2020 17:34

Oh, and for German, The Wave, is excellent. Really accessible.

Piggywaspushed · 28/03/2020 17:33

Les Choristes is also a popular choice for A Level French.

ProggyMat · 28/03/2020 17:31

@Piggywaspushed
My DD is reading Pat Barker’s ‘The silence if the Girls’

clary · 28/03/2020 17:29

If anyone is doing French or German (ha!) most boards study at least one film so it might be worth watching some - for French Dd did au revoir Les enfants but other options are Les 400 Coups or La Haine.

Germah spec includes goodbye Lenin which is great and Lola rennt which is really accessible.

Or read some books - Mutter Courage by Brecht or Durrenmatt's Der Besuch are not too hard, linguistically and both brilliant plays. French books I would suggest from the AQA spec are Bonjour Tristesse and L'Etranger.

ProggyMat · 28/03/2020 17:29

@Twisique
Which classical studies is your DC doing for A level?

Piggywaspushed · 28/03/2020 17:28

I think for classics reading any Greek/ Roman myths is good : perhaps Stephen Fry and Circe by Madeleine Miller. Also, the new Pat barker The Silence of the Girls. I loved Ovid when I was 17!

I think you can do some kind of virtual visit to the British Museum!

Twisique · 28/03/2020 17:19

Has anyone seen anything for Classical Studies?

MargotsLine · 28/03/2020 17:14

Well that is weird because that Amazon link won't shorten Blush

MargotsLine · 28/03/2020 17:11

@noblegiraffe I feel happy that I can actually help you for a change! (I name change a lot but you have been and continue to be incredibly knowledgeable and helpful)

To get a smaller link just add a space at the end of the link, add a word which then becomes the clicky link, then close the square brackets. Obviously to make this work I have had to remove the front square brackets in the example below

www.mumsnet.com Mumsnet]] gives Mumsnet

ladygracie · 28/03/2020 16:27

Thanks so much. This is really useful.
My son wants to do BTEC Sport so I’m not sure what he can do to get ahead!

lljkk · 28/03/2020 16:27

there's an alternate universe where DS would be so self-motivated.

soccerbabe · 28/03/2020 16:25

thanks very much noblegiraffe!

Tumbleton · 28/03/2020 16:21

Thank you for starting this thread noblegiraffe

DS got a 6 in his Maths GCSE mock in January; he had been working hard on bringing this up to a 7 or even an 8, doing at least one paper per week.

He very much wants to do Maths A-level and is motivated to continue working, but his school has not (yet) set any work and the long gap will make the jump even greater.

I have ordered the CGP headstart book for him and he has also expressed an interest in trying to teach himself some (AQA) Level 2 Further Maths. Luckily he has an older brother who is good at maths, if he gets stuck.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 28/03/2020 15:38

Thanks noble 👍🏻

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