Hi, Sunny here.

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So, your child will be starting their A levels next September. This is great! The A-level program can help students develop core skills in more depth and complexity than anything they have done before. The course also requires them to learn how to balance time and do higher-level analysis. However, the transition from GCSE to A level can be difficult. It was a common sentiment during my time at school that the jump from GCSE to A level is more complex than from A-Levels to university. Whilst this might not hold as accurately as it used to, the change in pace should not be ignored. Here is some advice on how your child can use their summer to get ahead.

Pick subjects carefully

Choosing the right subjects is critical. While the time might be up for some students, many still have the opportunity to choose their subjects. Our YouTube page has plenty of explainers for different A-level subjects. Still, beyond this, students should look into what topics they will be studying, what the assessments will look like (e.g. more exam-focused or more coursework-based) and how much work they will have to put in. Above all, I cannot emphasise the following enough: Look into the sort of subjects your child wants to do at university. In many instances, students will not be permitted to take a subject at some universities because they did not take the correct subject combination at A level. The same logic still applies if a student is unsure about what subject they want to take. Get them to write down a list of subjects they might be interested in, and then check to see what subjects are required. Most students end up taking some more generic courses, such as maths and science, to meet specific requirements, and then take a more specific subject that they have an interest in, regardless of whether it is required at the university level or not.

Read the Specification.

Your child is likely to underestimate the amount of work that they need to do for their course. Encouraging them to read the A-level specification over the summer should give them perspective. If possible, encourage them to set up a study schedule that could be considered “A little and often”. Having a student break down the course into manageable chunks they can systematically work through before they start the term might make them more likely to stick to a plan.

Have an honest conversation about the way they work.

A-Levels require students to manage their own time. They will no longer be in class as much, so they must use their study periods to their advantage. You can fall behind in A-level work quite fast. Instead of mandating how and when your child should study, having an honest conversation with them about how they study always works out better. Generally, it is always better to work with your child’s personality than against it.

Pick something that brings your child joy.

Your child will spend much time learning about topics in agonising detail. This works in their favour when the topic is interesting but less when they hate the subject matter. I cannot explain the number of times when students have been slowly demoralised over a year, and their grades reflect the same story. It is reasonable to find specific topics within an A-Level boring, but if your child dislikes the subject, encouraging them to take it is a big bet that might not pay off.

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