Science A-Level Top tips
Exams are around the corner, for anyone doing science at A-Levels find top tips here.
Science A-Levels are considered to be some of the toughest subjects to study at the A-Level level. With exams just around the corner, here are some final tips and checklists to help ensure that you approach the exams with as much confidence as possible
Firstly, let’s talk about question structures. There are standard types, and knowing how to answer each one is important. They are typically broken down into one of four types, though some longer questions can be a combination of two. These include calculation questions, fact recall questions, short answer questions, and longer answer questions. A calculation question can be anything from a 1-mark multiple-choice question to a 4-mark question, or even part of a 6-mark (9-mark for Edexcel Biology) question. A fact recall question is often a 1-mark or 2-mark quesion, and a short explanation is often required for the latter. A short answer question may be a 2-4 mark question, and finally, a long answer question is often a 4-6 mark question. Most students find the longer form question difficult because writing longer paragraphs is often not a strength of STEM students. Let’s dive into how to practice each type of question.
Calculation questions
Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts here; you simply have to practice. Work on questions, review your mistakes, and repeat the process. The maths involved is mostly at the GCSE level (excluding logarithms), so it shouldn’t be too difficult as long as you understand what the question is asking of you.
Fact Recall
Here it is simple, flashcards. Not much more to say
Short Answer Questions
Understanding the command words is crucial for answering these types of questions correctly. Flashcards can be helpful in familiarising yourself with the command words. You can find a list of Biology AQA A-Level command words, Chemistry AQA A-Level command words, and Physics AQA A-Level command words on the AQA website. These command words are generally applicable across different exam boards.
Long Answer Questions
Learning content for these can also begin with flashcards. Use them to write detailed methods of the experiments you perform so that you can learn them effectively. Additionally, there is a specific method for approaching long answer questions. Firstly, there are generally two types of long answer questions: ‘Describe an experiment’ or ‘Explain’ style questions. The ‘Explain’ style is similar to a short answer question but is used for complex topics or when a calculation is required to support a statement. The ‘Describe an experiment’ style question may be challenging, but it becomes simpler if you follow this process. First, list all the equipment used. Then, outline the method, ensuring to reference the equipment used when making measurements. Describe the analysis process, including any necessary data manipulation for plotting and averaging, and draw conclusions from the resulting line graph (consider gradients or proportional relationships). Finally, you may be required to mention efforts made to minimise errors or discuss safety precautions taken during the experiment.
Be Organised
To be honest, being organised is important for any subject, not just Science A-Levels. It applies to anything you do. But here is some organisation important to science specifically. Firstly, ensure that you have a detailed revision plan in place. You can find information on how to set up a retrospective revision timetable here. Another valuable exercise is to go through your subject specification and use green highlighter for the topics you know well, orange for the ones you are unsure about, and red for the ones you have no clue about. This way, you can focus more on the topics marked in red and orange. Here are links to the subject specifications so you can download them now.
• Biology A-Level Specification
• AQA
• Edexcel
• OCR
• Chemistry A-Level Specification
• AQA
• Edexcel
• OCR
• Physics A-Level Specification
• AQA
• Edexcel
• OCR
Be Specific
Ensure that everything you write is as specific as possible. Use numbers to quantify your statements and make certain that your writing can only be interpreted in the way you intend. Precision in communication is key to avoiding ambiguity and misinterpretation, this ensures the marker can give all the marks you deserve
Focus on practicals
Sciences are practical subjects, and you will have dedicated a significant amount of time in the past two years to conducting numerous experiments. It is crucial to learn the practicals thoroughly, including the equipment used, the methodology, the expected outcomes, sources of error, and safety precautions. Your practical knowledge will be tested in various ways, ranging from shorter questions to more in-depth assessments. Expect the possibility of encountering one or two 6-mark (9-mark in biology) questions specifically related to practicals. Additionally, you may be asked to analyse graphs, discuss safety precautions, or calculate error intervals for experiments presented within the given question.
Now for some more advice specific to the three main science A-Levels
Biology A-Level
It is worth me saying here I never did biology A-Level, this is all advice I have gathered from research and talking to people that have done biology A-Level.
Memorisation
Biology, more than any other science, relies heavily on memorisation rather than mathematical calculations. Therefore, it is important to dedicate time to using flashcards and practising a wide range of questions to ensure comprehensive memorisation. To further enhance your understanding, identify the topics that you find most challenging to memorise and prioritise them as flashcards to study the night before the exam. This will ensure that they remain fresh in your memory and increase your chances of retaining the information.
Links to Biology A-Level Past Papers
Chemistry A-Level
The general consensus is that chemistry is most of the time just a bit weird but even so we can prepare for a lot of this weirdness
Organic 6-Markers
Regarding organic chemistry questions across different exam boards, the majority of the 6-mark questions typically consist of either synthesis questions or quantitative analysis involving NMR and IR Spectroscopy. Here is the specific breakdown of data:
• AQA: 29% Quantitative Analysis, 57% Synthesis, and 14% Other.
• Edexcel: 25% Quantitative Analysis, 50% Synthesis, and 25% Other.
• OCR: 50% Quantitative Analysis, 44% Synthesis, and 6% Other.
These statistics highlight the importance of thoroughly learning synthetic routes and NMR diagrams to excel in these areas.
Transition Metals
Inorganic chemistry in the second year is notably more challenging than in the first year, often catching students by surprise. It is crucial to allocate sufficient time to thoroughly learn the topics, particularly focusing on transition metals. These topics frequently pose the most challenging questions on the paper. Therefore, it is advisable to give yourself ample time to grasp and master the concepts related to transition metals, allowing for comprehensive understanding and preparation.
Links to Chemistry A-Level Past papers
Physics A-Level
Learn your equations
Mastering equations is crucial in physics, so make sure to learn them all, including the ones provided on the datasheet. Familiarity with these equations is essential. Knowing which equations to use and when is vital. If you find yourself stuck, a useful clue is to consider the units required for your answer, as they can often hint at the appropriate equations. For instance, the unit Nm (Newton Meter) for moment can be calculated using the equation force x distance. Additionally, understanding the units associated with each equation is important. This will help avoid errors where you use the wrong unit (for example kg rather than g), using the wrong unit can through the value of your answer out by huge orders of magnitude. Therefore, when tackling a calculation question, the first step is to check the units involved and consider whether any conversions are necessary.
Practice Maths
Specifically, focus on practising mathematics in physics, as it is the most math-intensive science. A significant portion of a physics paper, sometimes exceeding 40%, consists of calculation questions. It is crucial to be proficient in rearranging equations with ease, becoming familiar with them just like the back of your hand. Pay particular attention to logarithmic and exponential equations, as they are often the most challenging. Practice and strengthen your skills in handling these types of equations to build confidence and proficiency in tackling mathematical aspects of physics.
Space Physics and Medical Physics
Be prepared and don’t let two specific topics catch you off guard in physics A-Level: space physics and medical physics. While the first 18 months of the course involve a combination of mathematics and experimental work, space physics and medical physics require a significant amount of fact recall and memorisation. Unlike other topics where facts can be reasoned, these two areas rely heavily on specific knowledge. Therefore, it is essential to dedicate ample time to studying and using flashcards to memorise key information, such as the life cycle of a star and various medical imaging methods
Links to physics A-level past papers
Hopefully, this advice is helpful to anyone siding a science A-Level and can provide you guidance as you continue through the course
