So to explain me and my family got me a prom dress in the summer holidays because we found one for £45 and I liked it. Then we booked a holiday to Cyprus, pathos and it's a morning flight lol.

So I found out on Tuesday that I'm missing my prom because it's on that same day I go on holiday. I got lowkey so annoyed. Because my prom will be 24/6/2027 and that's when I go on holiday. I'm planning on taking the dress with me on holiday but I wanna know to all the year 12s, 13s and higher or if you're a year 11 and know you're missing prom and you wanted to go, did yall ever miss prom and for what(UNLESS IT'S PERSONAL THEN DON'T SAY) and also did you wish you got to go?

Edit: I'm not upset about missing it lol I'm excited to go on holiday, I was just curious of people's experiences if they can share them(if it's not too personal)

Students and tutors studying or teaching sociology AQA, why is sociology so hard? Why do people struggle so much with sociology specifically? What can I expect to struggle with if I choose this subject?

ask me anything, as someone who didn't do a whole lot of studying....
i did english lit/lang, maths/further maths, bio, chem, physics, geography, irish, music and religion!

no idea what truncates means but i was close enough apparently 😂

Idk how ppl revise for English language ngl...I feel like its just maths with words---you just practice. But thats tedious.

Books I recommend to read: The Picture Of Dorian Gray and Wuthering Heights

They're classic lit books but I think they're perfect books for 15-16 year olds and they're rich in language, imagery and meaning which may help you subconsciously. I also think Wuthering Heights in particular captures the intensity of teenage emotion quite well if you're into dramatic stuff...The language might seem all over the place at first but you start to get it after 40 pages or so.

The picture of Dorian Gray I also think is easy to understand and is compelling to ppl our age. Its very aesthetic if you're into that kind of stuff. Again, rich language that you could steal or subconsciously register in ur head.

Book to read if you wanna fail ur gcses like me and go into an existential crisis: crime and punishment (Dostoyevsky, not the gcse history course for edexcel, tho thats a fun unit)

You might read the name Dostoyevsky and think hard! or pretentious! But i think crime and punishment is his easiest work to read. The language is also pretty straightforward but rich in meaning (thats cause its English translation tho) so reading this, I hope expands your creative mind and also helps you analytically

tldr: read a classic lit book thats easy to understand

The technique that worked best for me: creative writing. Ever since year 10 all I did was write write write. Reading just helped me develop my writing

Problem: attention span. If you read all that and thought "surely theres easier ways to do well in English language without having to do all that" then yeah, maybe. But good luck. There probably is easier ways to do well, like if you're naturally strong at reading and writing but I'm just giving another perspective that might help if you're an intellectually curious individual. Everyone has their own interests in the end so what you choose to do should hopefully help you do well overall.

I am trying to revise english lit and I have been using claude, but I feel like it's not too good (It pointed out errors after I used the essay plan that it created 😭 ), so what does everyone here use??

Hi everyone!!! I’m looking for a really good Maths worksheet website which has plenty of Pythagoras worksheets and algebra. I use Corbett maths which is absolute amazing, but has limited worksheets regarding 3D Pythagoras. Thanks everyone!! :)

Obviously I'll keep revising till my mocks but this is what I've done so far. For context I don't have a literature mock which is why I'm not revising literature

It’s so fucking stupid lol, and I think this is more for people who are really good at STEM but don’t want to do it in the future. Literally everybody thinks I will do the usual bio, chem and psychology or maths, but I’m planning on doing Philosophy, English lit and psychology.

I feel like people who are really into humanities and arts are stereotyped as stupid so I kinda feel like everybody will look at me as if I’m stupid even though if I wanted to, I could do STEM.

If anybody else has older siblings who did the STEM usual, how are y’all surviving here bc it’s so hard.😭😭😭😭😭

What makes it worse is that literally every single teacher (apart from my English teacher) thinks I’m going on to a really niche scientist or whatever just bc I get really good grades for all my subjects.

And while I’m on this, any grade 9 students getting the subtle comments from people about getting all grade 9s? Literally finished my mocks yesterday and when consoling people that did bad, the amount of “oh but you can’t say anything you’re going to get all 9s”.

Like bish-

those clear pencil cases. yk the ones. i beg you peeps to not even try to bend the rules w exam stationery, they are 60p in the tesco!!! there is no benefit to buying cutesy pencil cases, unless you already have one and genuinely have not got the time to get anything else. when asking "is this ok for exams" assume NO and find a better option. more importantly talk to peeps from YOUR SCHOOL- friends who have done the exam with your school's invigilator or your teachers!!

i say this bc a girl in my year (actually multiple people but theres an example) was disqualified from multiple year 10 mocks for using a pink opaque pencil case. THRICE. dont even risk it dude omg

sincerely a cutecore loving enby

we can do this guys

Hi!

My GF and I used to help my friends' children revise for their GCSEs, and there was always the same problem: when time is limited, what should they revise to get the most marks?

I thought it might be a good idea to analyse all publicly available past papers (I used AQA), categorise questions by topic, count how often each topic appeared over the years, and then calculate the ratio of marks per AQA-suggested teaching hour. (I hope it makes sense 😅)

I then ranked them in the tier list so you can use it as a resource for your revisions. Top 5 for each subject are (suggested learning hours, average marks in past papers):

Biology

1. Organisation of an ecosystem: 3 h, 13.2 marks per exam (4.4 per hour)
2. Nervous system: 2 h, 7.8 marks (3.9 per hour)
3. Photosynthesis: 3 h, 8.9 marks (3.0 per hour)
4. Hormonal coordination: 5 h, 9.2 marks (1.9 per hour)
5. Transport in cells: 4 h, 6.3 marks (1.6 per hour)

Chemistry

1. Rate of reaction: 6 h, 13.5 marks (2.3 per hour)
2. Chemical analysis – purity and chromatography: 4 h, 8.9 marks (2.2 per hour)
3. Atmospheric pollutants: 2 h, 4.2 marks (2.1 per hour)
4. Atomic structure and isotopes: 5.5 h, 11.3 marks (2.1 per hour)
5. Quantitative chemistry – conservation of mass: 4.5 h, 8.8 marks (2.0 per hour)

Physics

1. Energy resources: 1 h, 5.9 marks (5.9 per hour)
2. Waves in air, fluids and solids: 3 h, 10.8 marks (3.6 per hour)
3. Motor effect and electromagnetism: 1 h, 2.2 marks (2.2 per hour)
4. Forces – work done and energy: 2 h, 4.1 marks (2.1 per hour)
5. Particle model – changes of state: 3.5 h, 6.9 marks (2.0 per hour)

It would be waaaay more useful if it were individualised, so I am thinking of building an app where you first test yourself, then get a prioritised revision list. Let me know if you'd like to use something like this.

I got 160/160 in my English lit gcse but I didn’t pick it for a level🫩🫩 my teacher said I’d be dumb for not picking it but like idek why I didn’t pick it. I do History Politics Chem Maths and like I just picked those four cuz they sounded interesting and they open the most doors for the future but I feel like I’ve made a mistake

It’s like a mesh material and mostly see-through

What do I do😭

I have the grades to get into the best sixth form and college around my area but I cannot decide my subjects or which to go to.

1) There are pros and cons to both and im aiming high uni wise so grades are something im willing to work for.

I went to the college open day and I loved the campus, teachers, student life, and offered subjects/enrichments. However, it is highly independent work. I asked about and i was told that I could set up one-to-one meetings with teachers if I don't understand something which im happy about. I'm willing to work alone + the college has emphasis on prep for independent life which i like. I enjoyed walking around the town (i got lost), it had a lot of shops and markets but the bus station was difficult to find + have to walk through a dodgy underground as a girl. The travel isn't ideal since the bus was 15 mins late there and there's barely any crossings on a busy road which can be a bit daunting especially in the dark when im walking home. The journey there to the college door will take 20-40 mins. I grew up in a family of commuters so I'm not too bothered. + the library is my fav place with nice study spaces. If I get bored of the school one then I could go to another 5 mins away.

Overall, it will be more difficult but I think I'd be happier.

Sixth form is close to me (10-20 min walk) which is useful but the area is so boring with nothing to do. Even if there was, I wouldnt be let out of the sixth form anyway since you cant leave the area during the school day. It's also quite small and modern whereas the college is like a preserved historical place which i certainly prefer in vibes and space. Sixth form's class sizes are way smaller (max 15 ppl even for popular subjects) and the environment is way more supportive and academically driven with mock interviews in prep for uni, personalised forms where they help with personal statements, interventions and opportunities like global trips (really wanna do), and general UCAS stuff. You will basically have your hand held every step of the way with personalised support and close relationships with teachers. I'll flourish academically. I'll have friends from secondary which will be helpful when I just start and dk anyone else. The library is nicer but it's attached to main school where there is always someone there and never quiet. Both schools have a free fitness suite and hall. The sixth form im already familiar with so i wont get lost but tbh it's basically impossible to get lost there bc it's small. But i really prefer the trips offered -> NY, Iceland, Austria, etc.

Overall, it will be easier and I'll be more confident in my studies but I dont think I'll be fulfilled mentally (I have a history of mental health issues).

2) The section will be shorter – I promise!!

I want to go into psychology and im open to different areas of it. Preferably, I'd work with endangered youth in inpatient wards before moving on to something calmer once im older and have experience.

My og options were psych, socio, crim which would just have too much overlap and restrict my options so I quickly got rid of it. If i want to also work with troubled youth then I can just take a seperate official online qualification. I decided to add bio in there since I've heard it's prefered. It would have been psych, socio, bio. THEN, I thought 'what if I dont wanna go into psych specifically?'...

I don't wanna be restricted in my options later on if I decide to stray from social science. Switched socio for English which I love and have the highest grades so far - my teacher also tried recommending me to take lit as a level.

This leads to my dilemma school wise. I feel like lit would be too much for me and lang isn't as strong as my lit. I've come to the conclusion that combined english would be ideal since I also started writing a draft for a book which I want to finish in the next 2-3 years. It will be a mix so it's not gonna get too mentally tiring for me – a combination of creativity and analysis+ i love coursework. Problem is that the sixth form doesn't offer it. Fine. I will have to do with jst eng lit if i go sixth form.

Decided on psych, eng, bio.

Biology is hard. Really hard. It's fine at GCSE since it's the only science I excelled in but ik it's gnna be VERY different at a level. I'd likely get a lower grade in it since getting an A in bio seems a bit unrealistic with my capabilites (im better at english, rs, psych, hsc... Basically jst essay based subjects).

Would unis prefer to see high grades in not as respected subjects or a slightly lower one in a respected one?

My options are:

Psych, eng, sociology

Psych, eng, bio

I'm also gonna take an EPQ and maybe Core maths depending on my results. I do online qualifications already and I plan to continue with that.

Help me decide pls😔😔

I've missed so much school mainly due to experiencing bullying (I think i could've absolutely still gone in but was too mentally weak and somewhat lazy as hell), like, a lot of school, im pretty sure my attendance rate last year was like 35%...

I'm extremely behind on my work and also neglected a lot of my hw which is obviously terrible for me accompanied by my awful attendance. I'm super scared about my gcses, I think i'm maybe a pretty intelligent person, a lot of things "come easy" to me but I'm not sure that even matters considering the sheer amount of stuff i have to catch up on. I'm mostly worried about history, english and geography but I'm pretty good at art though so i know I'll get higher marks on that.

Also genuinely not sure if I should be more anxious about maths or not- like i've said i think its one of those things i can understand/pick up easily but i still haven't even done that much revision on it and there's probably massive chunks of it which i'm currently clueless about. I know it's pretty stupid to think maths is one of the things im better at considering i'm in SET 5 but i got 80% on a past paper which i did little to no revision for, but then again it is foundation... Idk if that's good even considering my lack of knowledge though. I'm honestly just really clueless and stressed and would appreciate any advice at all.

Psychology gcse was hell don’t recommend (but I did get an 8 so AMA)

so my english teacher is really harsh score-wise to everyone, and even the highest scorers in the class only score like 18/30 when they got 8s in y10 mocks. On the other hand, i have an 'english form' where pretty much the same english class practise poems and whatnot in the morning, and everyone loves the english teacher we have for that. I want to carry out a social experiment where i give the same essay question on macbeth or whatever to both english teachers, and prove that my actual english teacher just doesnt believe in 9s. What should i write about?

Hi!! I’m currently y11 and have decided on where I want to go post 16. These are the courses that I’m actually interested in:
• Maths
• Psychology
• Politics
• Economics
• Education & Early Years (T-level)
• Education & Early Years (V-level)

I can pick any combination of the above, except the T-level would be a standalone qualification. I’m really unsure about what to do, as I can see the benefits to both sides. I think I slightly lean towards the T-level, as teaching is my genuine dream. I did my work experience with a reception class and loved it (and that means a lot taking into account incidents I had with people from my school while on work experience lol). The only real disadvantage to doing the T-level is that I have a lot of interest in the other subjects I could choose, especially politics and psychology, which I could do with the v-level. It’ll probably be easier if I make a short list of pros and cons lol so here it is:

T-level:
+ Would give 2 days of work experience a week (I could do this at my old primary school, which is within walking distance from my house)
+ I could be a TA directly after, even if it was only for a year or so (I’d like to be the main teacher eventually)
+ Has a lot of structure, which is beneficial for me as I find it hard to stay motivated
+ Would probably be easier for me to cope with than 3 distinct subjects
+ Not all of my grade is down to my exam (good for me as I struggle with exam anxiety)
+ Exam completed at the end of Y12, making Y13 less stressful
+ Would probably be quite close with my teacher(s) as it’d be my only course
- No free periods due to the nature of the course
- I wouldn’t be able to do any enrichment activities (as far as I know)
- Wouldn’t be able to complete an EPQ alongside it I believe, which would be something I’d like to do (however I could still be in touch with my interests outside of school so not all is lost)
- As it would be the only course I’d take, I can only really make friends within that group, which could backfire for me as I believe my only friend in there will join up with some other girls who I presume will do it (not saying I don’t want to make more friends as I do, but it’s kinda awkward to make friends when you already have a friend in there if that makes sense?)

A-level + V-level combo:
+ Wide range of subjects
+ Lots of groups so I can make more friends
+ Would be doing at least one of my lessons with my girlfriend
+ Could do an EPQ (I’d probably do it on human rights)
+ Free periods, some of which I could spend with my friends (I know I need to study, which I would in most of them but I can spare a bit of time)
+ Wouldn’t have to drag myself into school for 9am (or earlier) every day of the week
+ The combo I would probably end up doing has some subjects which are versatile
- Not directly linked to childcare (mostly) so would probably be quite miserable
- Would likely stress me out a lot as lots of exams
- Would have to go to uni before I get any experience in the classroom
- Would expect me to be self disciplined which I’m not sure is the best fit for me
- I struggle to spell psychology sometimes /j

Sorry I know I’ve yapped a lot lol I just really don’t want to miss any information, thank you to anyone who responds!!

So I’m still in Year 10 but I’ve started GCSE work so basically, got an english lit essay back the other day, and my score was an average of around a Grade 3, which has actually upset me more than I thought it would :((

It was all surrounding An Inspector Calls and how Mr Birling represented the selfishness of the upper class, etc. So I thought I did well but apparently I wasn’t ‘using the text effectively’. That was what really confused me, I’m describing what the the terms/words show but I’m not getting a high score?? Sorry if I seem dumb but I just really want to turn things around, what can I do??

Thanks guys :)

Guys I'm really scared about my college applications because I don't know if I did well enough in maths and chemistry in the mocks I'm in the middle of to study chemistry and further maths at the grammar 6th form I want to go to and I just wanted to know whether my February mocks and real GCSE results will have any effect on my standing in terms of getting in.

I got overconfident after my year 10 mocks and only started revising 2 weeks before these mocks and some stuff I forgot to study was in the maths paper 1 and I am literally capped at 83 marks for chemistry because I took my time on the first half of the paper because it was super easy and then the second half came and it was much more difficult and I ran out of time for two 6 markers and a 5 marker at the end of the paper. I got a 7 on my maths mock in y10 and a 6 on my chemistry mock in y10 btw. My other grades were all 6-9 (998777666) in the y10 mocks if that could help me get in.

Have I just ruined my future? I am actually so scared right now.

TL,DR: overconfidence led to me (probably) doing worse on some of my y11 mocks than I did on my y10 mocks and I'm scared I won't be able to study further maths or chemistry at a grammar sixth form I want to go to. Can I do the subjects I want to do based on my real GCSE results or my February mock results? I'm not worried about getting in to the sixth form, just about being able to do certain subjects there.

Is it just me? I have looked in PMT and there is like 0 past paper questions about the brain. Has it just not come up yet?

Usually when I look on social media, a lot of these ‘exams tools’ are people advertising AI flash card makers and note takers, with paid commission ect.
People who have done exams, what resources were actually helpful for recalling information?