Everyone will tell you that A Levels are a big jump up from GCSE. But if you’re getting ready for that transition, how do you prepare?
Here, we’ll walk you through how to prepare for A Levels after GCSE – including what you should be doing the summer before you start your A Level studies, and some guidance on what to expect.
Psst! Our handpicked tutors can help you prepare for the leap with dedicated A Level preparation sessions for your subjects. Find a tutor today.
How to prepare for A Levels in summer
The long summer before you start A Levels is a massive opportunity to get ahead and make sure you’re ready for the transition.
Yes, it’s important to take the chance to rest and recuperate. But most students will have at least six weeks off (if not more) – so, don’t let it go to waste.
Using that time to your advantage will ensure you’re in the best possible place to start your A Level studies in September.
Here are some of the best ways to prepare for A Levels over your summer break.
1. Organise your GCSE notes
First things first, sort through your old GCSE notes and textbooks, and organise them to make it easier to find the info that you might want to look back on.
It’s true that A Levels are a big step up from GCSE. But most subjects will rely on you having some knowledge to build upon already (unless you’re taking a subject that’s not widely offered at GCSE – like politics or psychology).
So, you won’t usually be starting from scratch.
Making sure your GCSE notes are organised will help you to easily access the information you need when you need it. So, you can avoid any gaps in your knowledge that could make the transition to A Level harder.
2. Go over the GCSE content
Studying in summer might not sound like fun.
But keeping your knowledge topped up can help you to avoid the summer slide (a phenomenon where students commonly lose knowledge and skills over the long summer holidays). And this can make a huge difference come September.
Remember, even though A Levels are a big step up from GCSE, they’ll mostly be building on the knowledge you should already have.
So, going over what you’ve already learned in the subjects you’re going to be continuing with will set you up for success as you transition to your A Level studies – and prevent you from losing skills that you worked hard to gain ahead of your GCSE exams.
3. Look at the specifications for your chosen A Levels
Once you’ve looked back at what you should already know, it’s time to look ahead to what you might encounter in your A Level courses.
Check out the specifications for your chosen A Level subjects (and the exam boards your college or sixth form uses) so that you know exactly what to expect.
The specifications will outline what content your courses will cover and what skills you’ll need to develop. So, you can get yourself mentally prepared and get a headstart on the other students taking your course.
If you’re feeling curious, you could even take a look at some past papers for your chosen A Levels. This way, you’ll start to get familiar with the exam formats. And you can get a sneak peek of where your learning will need to be in a couple of years’ time!
Top tip: You can download past papers for your chosen A Level subjects right here on the Tutorful website.
4. Complete any assigned A Level work
Not all colleges and sixth forms will assign you work to do over the summer holidays. But many will.
If yours does, make sure you take the tasks seriously and complete them to the best of your ability – even if it’s optional.
Likewise, if you get sent a reading list ahead of time, use those long summer days to get a headstart on the reading.
Not only will it give you a leg up on your learning, but it will also lessen your to-do list come September, which can help you to adapt to the increased workload more easily.
5. Develop your skills
As well as giving you an idea of what content you’ll cover, the specifications for your chosen A Level subjects will also give you an indication of the skills you’ll need to master to succeed in your courses.
Summer can be a great time to start developing those skills, so you’re not starting from scratch come September.
For instance, some subjects might call for good problem solving skills, while others may require excellent analytical skills.
Look for ways that you can practise and hone these skills during your summer holidays. It doesn’t have to mean sitting at a desk. There’s a lot of learning to be found in all sorts of fun summer activities, from cooking to playing board games.
6. Set realistic goals
It might seem crazy to set goals for yourself before you’ve even started your A Level studies.
But doing so can help you to embrace the growth mindset and recognise your progress as you learn to juggle the requirements of being an A Level student.
Just make sure that your goals are SMART – meaning goals that are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
7. Think about the future
Your A Level studies are the next step to the rest of your life – whether you’re hoping to go on to university or to pursue other opportunities.
With that in mind, it’s worth thinking about your future plans now. Then, you can start making sure you have the skills and experience you need to fulfil your ambitions.
For instance, if university is on your wishlist, do some initial research into what requirements different unis have for the courses you might be interested in pursuing. Plus, consider what kind of things you could write about in your personal statement.
Now is the perfect time to start building up your experience outside the classroom to complement your A Level studies and get you where you want to be in the long run.
8. Get some R&R
Lastly, don’t burn yourself out!
The summer holidays are an important chance to rest and recuperate so that you can return to full-time education feeling refreshed in September.
With that in mind, be sure to plan plenty of downtime and fun activities that will take your mind off your studies.
Yes, preparing for your A Levels is important. But with six long weeks, there should be plenty of time for both work and fun. Getting the balance right is crucial so that you’re in the right mindset to embrace learning when you start your A Level studies in the autumn.
The transition from GCSE to A Level: what to expect
Wondering what the main differences are between GCSE and A Level studies?
Knowing what to expect can help to make the transition way less daunting and prepare you mentally for the changes you’ll face.
Here are the main differences that students tend to remark on.
Time commitment
You might think that, because you’re studying fewer subjects, A Level won’t be such a big time commitment.
Sadly, this isn’t the case.
Yes, you’ll be studying fewer subjects for A Level. But you’ll be studying these subjects in far greater depth than what you will have been used to at GCSE.
With that in mind, you’ll need to balance work and play carefully to make sure you’re able to give your subjects the attention they deserve.
As well as completing the homework you’re set for each subject, we’d recommend doing a couple of hours of revision every day from the beginning of your A Level studies. That way, the knowledge you need will be cemented in your mind by the time the exams roll around.
Independent study
On a similar note, you’ll suddenly be handed over a lot of responsibility for your own learning.
After all, A Levels are the bridge between GCSE and university.
The first thing you’ll usually notice is several free periods in your timetable. These are for you to use however you think best. But make sure whatever you use them for furthers your learning – whether it’s getting ahead on homework, completing coursework, or revising.
You’ll need to be disciplined and work out how to motivate yourself in order to succeed.
Depth
As we’ve touched upon already, your A Level studies will go into far greater depth than what you’ve covered at GCSE.
Each topic you cover will have lots of different sub-topics and offshoots for you to become familiar with. Not only will this mean lots of information to learn. But you’ll also need to use your own judgment to draw connections between different areas of your studies.
Unlike at GCSE, you won’t be able to get by just memorising the content. Rather, you’ll need to be able to draw your own conclusions, form arguments and apply your knowledge to various situations (depending on the subject) – which requires a far greater level of understanding.
After all, there’s a reason that ‘A Level’ stands for ‘Advanced Level’!
Focus
Bear in mind that when you move into your A Level studies, you’ll really be specialising.
This means you won’t get to enjoy as much of a varied timetable as what you will have been used to. After all, although you’ll cover a lot of ground in each of your subjects, you’ll be studying just a few subjects as opposed to many.
Some learners love this, but other learners miss the variety of their GCSE studies.
If you think you might struggle with this, it might be worth choosing A Level subjects that contrast with one another. For instance, a science, a modern language and a humanity. This way, you can help to break your day up a little more.
Find a tutor to help you prepare for A Levels
As you can see, the transition from GCSE to A Level is a big one. But there are so many ways that you can prepare for the leap ahead of time and set yourself up for success.
Plus, you don’t have to do it alone!
If you want to make sure you’re as prepared as you can be – and lessen your stress heading into A Level – our handpicked tutors can support you.
Our A Level tutors are experts at bringing their subjects to life. They’ll know exactly how to boost your learning and confidence ahead of September, so you’re ready for the next phase of your learning journey.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
How to prepare for starting A Level?
To prepare for starting your A Level studies, we’d recommend brushing up on what you learned at GCSE for your chosen subjects. After all, you’ll likely be building upon what you already know.
It can also help to look at the A Level specifications for your subjects so you have a clearer idea of what to expect.
What are the 4 hardest A Levels?
The hardest 4 A Levels will be different for every learner, depending on their strengths, weaknesses and learning styles.
However, the subjects with the lowest A Level pass rates in 2024 were computing, physics, biology and chemistry.
How many hours a day should I study for A Levels?
We’d recommend spending a few hours every day studying for your A Levels, from the beginning of your course. That way, all the knowledge will be cemented in your mind before exam time.
How do I transition from GCSE to A Level?
Making the transition from GCSE to A Level can be daunting, but there are ways you can make it easier:
- Brush up on what you already know about your chosen subjects
- Look at the specifications for your subjects beforehand
- Set realistic goals
- Ask for help if there’s anything you don’t understand
- Spend time recapping what you’ve learned each day
What is a 7 at GCSE equivalent to at A Level?
There’s no exact equivalent, but a 7 at GCSE is often thought to be roughly equivalent to a low A grade at A Level.
Are A Levels a lot harder than GCSEs?
Yes, A Levels are a lot harder than GCSEs. They go into a lot more depth and require you to take on a significant amount of responsibility for your own learning.
However, many learners prefer A Levels as you’ll be able to choose just a few subjects that interest you and that you are likely to do well in – rather than being forced to take subjects you may not like or enjoy.
How to get straight As in A Levels?
The best way to get straight As in your A Levels is to revise every day from the beginning of your A Level studies. Plus, make sure to flag if there’s anything you don’t quite understand, and get a teacher or tutor to help.
Our handpicked A Level tutors will be happy to answer any questions and help you wrap your head around any complex topics you’re struggling with.
