Mark Walters

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Posts by Mark Walters

What You Need To Know About A Level Retakes

Aug 27th

Posted by Mark Walters in Students

There are many reasons why students decide to do A level retakes, but it is mainly because they know they could do better with a little extra help and a second chance. In some cases, illness or personal problems mean that lessons have been missed through no fault of the student. Some may have the ability to do well but not the motivation until disappointing grades give them a wake-up call. Sometimes life just gets in the way of a good education. For many students, confidence is a big problem. They may have all the knowledge and skills to do well, but they freeze and their minds go blank when it comes to sitting down in an exam hall.

It is important to dispel the myth that doing retakes is a waste of a year. People who make such a claim are assuming that a year later they would come out with the same grades again, which almost certainly will not happen if they properly apply themselves and rectify the issues that held them back first time around. What would be a waste of time would be to turn down the chance to do A level retakes in favor of taking up a poor job. Once people get out of education system, few make it back into it again. So, if you have aspirations to go to university, then doing A level retakes is not just an option, it is basically essential.

Keeping in mind that doing retakes does not mean starting all over again. Why? Because you will have picked up useful knowledge over the past year of your studies which you can use during your retake year. Also, you will know what to expect in terms of assignments and exams and can therefore prepare for, and apply yourself to them, more adequately. It is not unrealistic to see improvements of 2, 3 or even 4 grades at your second attempt. You can turn that D into an A!

You can do A level retakes at the same college that you were at last year, but it can be a good idea to move to a different college. Why? Because a new college means a new start. You will not have constant reminders around of your past problems and you will be taught be different teachers / lecturers who may allow you to see your subjects in a new light. You can even choose totally new subjects if you want to, and retake not just your last year of college but the first year you did too.

So, if you feel that your A level results do not match you capabilities, take the brave step of retaking your exams. Do not turn the opportunity for a second chance!

Continue : A Level Retake Courses

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Choosing A Sixth College That You’ll Be Happy With

Jul 31st

Posted by Mark Walters in Students

Young people who want to continue their education after the age of 16 and take A-levels or other further education exams have several options of where to study. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of these options? Is it better to stay on at your current school or to switch to a sixth form college somewhere else? Many schools do not have a sixth form, in which case there is no choice but to move on somewhere new.

There are several important things to consider. Firstly, what subjects do you want to study? Some colleges specialize in particular areas such as arts or sciences. Some sixth form colleges will get better results in your chosen subjects than others. Secondly, can you or your family afford to pay the fees of a private, independent college? Thirdly, how far are you able to travel?

There are several reasons to attend a sixth form college. You may be embarking on a career that requires apprenticeship or prior experience and education. You may want to continue studying some of your favorite subjects in A-level courses, especially if you have already gained high grades in them at GCSE. But not everyone is sure of where they want to go, so a sixth form college can help you find your true calling.

Most sixth form colleges create a relaxed atmosphere of learning and encourage independence. Teaching styles will vary from place to place but overall students are encouraged to study in a more independent manner, than those students who stay on to study at their school. As opposed to large exams many sixth form colleges will instead perform continual progress assessments, others have lectures or practical workshops.

The sixth form colleges in your area can easily be researched. You will want to find out about class sizes and also what success rate has been achieved by students attending there in previous years. Some sixth form colleges have a very relaxed atmosphere and some specialize in technology, or drama and dance. They are all different and attending an open day is always advisable. You can apply for places at several sixth form colleges at a time. They will have different deadlines so be sure to check on those. For popular courses, you should start applying in Year 11, in the Autumn term.

Find Out More : GCSE Colleges London

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Motivating Students To Learn

Sep 17th

Posted by Mark Walters in Students

The two main types of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic, are an important part of the process of learning. Intrinsic motivation derives from an underlying interest in what is being learnt while extrinsic motivation relates to external influences.

Some students have their own intrinsic motivation or external motivation, other students must be motivated to learn. There are many things that teachers can do so as to motivate students to learn. Here are some strategies and tactics that may motivate students and stimulate them to learn.

- Produce an environment which is supportive and build trust by being friendly with students, interacting with them and indicating a genuine concern about them.

- Help students recognize links between the amount of effort put in and the resulting outcome.

- Constantly give them reminders that learning is something that requires patience, and that results are not always instantaneous.

- Divide the process of learning into manageable pieces for students to take in.

- Minimize students performance worries during learning activities.

- Try and make sure that activities given provide a reasonable challenge. They should be neither too difficult or too easy.

- Below average students are accustomed to seeing failure so they must be helped to feel success more regularly.

- Learners are more likely to be motivated if they have a greater appreciation of the value of the classroom activities, and if they believe that they will achieve success by applying reasonable effort.

The teachers attitude is also key in relation to dealing with students. Attitude applies to all that a teacher says or does in the classroom. It concerns a teachers approach, feelings, awareness, alertness, and understanding.

They should have an action plan in terms of how they relate to their students. This must be flexible, measurable and realistic. Whilst it would be helpful to write this down, it is most important to at least know it for themselves; whichever, they should be sure to adhere to it.

Find Out More : Employee Productivity

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