A-Level is a large step up to GCSE in many ways, which can be both very exciting and quite anxiety inducing. Whether you’re in Year 11 and looking forward or still unsure on what to expect in Year 12, this can offer some information on how this is different to what you’re used to and tell you about the new opportunities that this transition can create.
The first thing you’ll notice is the larger workload, despite doing significantly fewer subjects. Teachers typically set prep every lesson, which means that the work will stack up faster and, if you are not properly organised, you can build up a large backlog of tasks that need to be done in a short timeframe. However, a lot of your prep will be finishing off stuff done in lessons or doing tasks that are not overly time consuming, which proves very manageable if you can manage your time effectively – especially in study periods. In addition, the subjects are studied in a lot more depth than GCSE (with many students describing each subject as equivalent 2 or 3 GCSEs), so you cannot afford to become complacent.
Despite this, in A-Level you are (hopefully) doing the subjects that you enjoy the most or find the most interesting. When you enjoy a subject, you are likely to enjoy revising it more than other subjects and are probably better at it. This can make your A-Levels feel ‘easier’ than your GCSEs, even though you are doing significantly more work per subject. Furthermore, the additional depth in A-Level can make you enjoy subjects much more than you ever did at GCSE level.
Most importantly, there is the large increase in the amount of responsibility you get when you enter the Sixth Form at Gordon’s. When you come back in Year 12, you immediately become a role model for the younger year groups, which lends itself into taking leadership roles around the school. These leadership roles are normally in different Period 7s as mentors for the younger year groups, however there are also the instrumental roles during marching as House Captains and even Head Boy or Girl later down the line.
Furthermore, in Year 12 you will have free periods, and you are expected to manage your time well and work diligently during this time, though it is important to note that these are still free, so you have the freedom to go off site or relax in the house. Going off site during your free periods can feel strange, but as long as you remain punctual you can go to nearby places.
While change can be daunting, settling in and ‘getting into the swing of things’ is not as hard as it seems. During the first two weeks, many of the new Year 12s have already found their place at Gordon’s, whether they are internal or come from elsewhere. Suffice to say, it’s a big transition, but an exciting one that brings new, greater opportunities and responsibilities than ever before.
- Jack, Y12