The #studygram: How to use instagram to improve your grades
One of the things that I get really fed up about is grown ups (yes, I know I’m one) banging on about how social media is a disaster for students’ grades. Yes, social media has it’s down sides because when it’s used badly it can be a massive distraction and time suck. However, social media […]
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How to Write an EPQ essay (including lessons I’ve learned from writing my book)
I often get emails from my blog readers asking me how to write an EPQ essay. It’s a big project and can be quite daunting. However, I think this type of independent academic research is incredibly important in preparing you for the kind of work you’ll be expected to do at university. Having just finished […]
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Hare or Tortoise? How to get ahead with your grades by plodding along behind
Are you a hare or a tortoise when it comes to your studies? I’ll tell you why I ask… It’s becasue tortoises tend to win in the end. It’s the people who work steadily all year long – starting the school year in the right way, doing the same amount of work week-in and week-out, […]
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Should you study in the morning or at night?
Life gets busy. You may have a part-time job, play in a sports team and belong to a club like guides or venture scouts. It’s hard to fit it all in, and then when something exceptional comes along, like a camp or a weekend sports festival your studies somehow drop to the bottom of the […]
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Why you need to get out of your comfort zone to achieve better grades
A while ago, I was talking to one of my readers, we’ll call her Polly. A year ago Polly told me she wanted to study physical natural sciences at Cambridge. At the time she was in the early stages of year 12, doing all the right subjects and was clearly passionate about the subject matter of […]
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How to successfully transition from GCSE to A Level
It’s a well known fact that it’s not easy to make the transition from GCSE to A Level. A Levels are hard. Really hard in comparison to GCSEs. What’s so hard about them? Well, there’s a number of the things: The quantity of work you need to do The amount of work you need to do […]
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How to approach your exams like an Olympian
Did you watch any of the Rio Olympics? I loved marvelling at what people can make the human body do with enough training, dedication and determination. The gymastics and diving were mind-blowing and the endurance of long-distance runners like Mo Farah and the triathletes was simply incredible. As I watched I heard things from the […]
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The Essential Back to School Stationery List: 18 Items that will propel you towards exam success
There’s something truly wonderful about the start of a new school year. It’s like a magnified version of the freshness of spring blossom on the tress, the good intentions of New Year’s Day and the promise of a brand new exercise book waiting for you to fill it with your learning. Back to school is […]
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Exams are over, now what? How to review exam season so you do better next time
Exams are over for the summer – yippee! So, when your exams are over what the first things you think of doing? Sleeping? Partying? Burning your revision notes? Well, once you’ve had a good sleep but before you’ve been to too many parties I want you to do this: review your exam season. It may not […]
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Why you get tired after exams and what to do about it
Do you get tired after exams? I know I used to. However much you try to fight it emotional and physical exhaustion after exams is real. One reader wrote to me and said this: How can I stop myself from becoming so emotionally and physically exhausted after every single exam? I had my first one […]
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