The right mindset for Oxbridge applications
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What’s the right mindset when you’re applying to Oxbridge? With only about 20% of Cambridge applicants and 16% of Oxford applicants getting a place, it’s important that you go into the process with a healthy attitude so that you can get the most out of the experience, whatever the outcome. In this article you’ll discover: […]
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What’s the difference between personal statements for vocational courses and academic subjects?
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If your child is applying for a vocational university course, it’s important that they understand what they need to do differently in their UCAS personal statement compared to students applying for academic subjects. In this article you’ll learn: What the difference is between vocational and academic university courses What’s different about applications for vocational university […]
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3 Personal Statement Mistakes to Avoid to Get University Offers
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Year after year I see university applicants making the same 3 personal statement mistakes. These mistakes cost them lots of time, and would deprive them of offers at universities if they weren’t put right. Read on to find out what they are – so that you can avoid making them. 3 Personal Statement Mistakes to […]
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“What’s the point of learning Pythagoras?” A parent’s guide to motivating teens to learn things they ‘don’t need to know’
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“What’s the point of learning Pythagoras’ Theorem? I’m never going to use it in real life.” That’s what one of the members of The Extraordinaries Club was moaning to his mum. If you’re the parent of a teen studying for exams, you may well have heard the same complaint about any number of things they […]
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How to Succeed in A-Level Physics
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Is your child studying A-Level Physics? It can be an intimidating subject for some because of its heavy mathematical elements, but in practice, the subject encourages a whole range of other skills. These skills, alongside the mathematical modules, make it a great qualification to lead into university. Here I share some tips on how to […]
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3 Hard Truths About What It Takes to Succeed at GCSE and A-Level
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It’s not easy to succeed at GCSE and A-Level. I think we all know this intellectually, but many people seem to resist the reality of what it really takes. In this article, I’m going to share three hard truths about what it really takes to succeed at GCSE and A-Level. It’s up to you whether […]
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Choose your hard
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GCSEs are hard. A-Levels are hard. But what’s the alternative? The alternative is even harder. That’s what we’re thinking about today. Choose your hard The other day, my head coach, Helen, sent me a meme that said: Marriage is hard, Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard, Being fit is hard. Choose your […]
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Year 12 exams: The Challenges and Opportunities
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In the English and Welsh education system, most schools hold year 12 exams in the summer term, halfway through students’ A-Level courses. In my experience as an academic coach, year 12 exams can often be a rude awakening for A-Level students – showing them where they haven’t paid enough attention over the last year. In […]
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Year 10 exams: Everything you need to know
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Is your child in year 10? Are you wondering about their end of year exams? In this article, you can find out everything you need to know about year 10 exams including answers to the following questions: Are year 10 exams important? What are year 10 mocks exams? How seriously should you take year 10 […]
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A-Level History: Strategies for Success
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A-level history has a fantastic reputation for developing students’ analytical and critical skills which is a great preparation for university. However, many students struggle to demonstrate these skills in their exams, even though they put hours into their revision. In this article you’ll find a summary of my conversation with Zoe Holland, a history teacher […]
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