Hi everyone,
February has arrived already, and time seems to be ticking away incredibly quickly. This month I will be talking about mock exam week – how it works, how it benefits us and the importance of trying our hardest.
In the last week before February half term, we had mock exam week. This was a chance for us to practice how our summer exams will work in the most realistic way before they start (and they are very quickly approaching!).
A couple of weeks before mocks, we received our timetable telling us when and in which room our exams will be. Some students will sit their exams in the sports hall and some students will be in the support rooms, depending on the specific needs of each individual student. When you start college, it is important to talk to the appropriate member of staff about any needs you may have.
Not all subjects have exams, such as many of the BTEC or creative courses (which may only have practical exams). For my BTEC Digital Arts and Textiles A Level I had to attend three-hour workshops for each subject during mocks. This then allowed us to carry on with coursework or keep up to date with valuable studying. In my Textiles workshop we were planning design ideas for our final piece, and in my Digital Arts workshop we were learning how to use new software ready to make our own animations.
Even though any exams are daunting and nerve-wracking for almost everyone, mocks are definitely a valuable time for us all to gain experience and learn from. It doesn't matter if they don’t go too well, as you still have time until your final exams. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to get some revision notes out of the way before summer, so it takes some pressure off.
I hope this little insight into life at Cadbury has helped you with your feelings towards starting college.
I’ll be back next month with another post about college life.
Bye for now,
Isobel
Kamal: New Year, New You?
Happy New Year! 2016 is upon us already. Can you believe it?!
January is a good time to set those New Year resolutions. You’re probably thinking “Wow that nonsense again,” Sigh. Seriously just give it a thought maybe you had something planned this year but postponed it or forgot about it.
What did I do?
I found a whiteboard and board marker (you can use a notebook, apps on laptop or phone apps) then I made a to-do list that I knew I wouldn't really do. Boy was I wrong. Since it was on a whiteboard I looked at it every day and slowly I completed all of it. One action led to another and so forth. Who knows how much work you can get done?!
So if anyone reading this thinking about coming Cadbury or for those who already attend the college - What should you expect?
The setting, the timetable, the lessons, the people, the College. Cadbury is quite different to a school, which is something I personally absolutely love.
On the other hand there were a couple things I was worried about. To begin the people; how on earth do you get along with people you have never spoken to? When in lesson perhaps ask your peers around you what other subjects they chose, and give them your opinion. This will be your first conversation starter. The second should be lessons timings some people would have completely different start times and end and since you wouldn’t see them often find people with similar timetable layouts and then you would have people you should see daily at the same times. Last but not least be yourself people tend to like people with unique personalities so don’t try to blend in.
‘Life is too short to spend time being someone else’- Reality
Hope you enjoyed this month’s blog ;-)
January is a good time to set those New Year resolutions. You’re probably thinking “Wow that nonsense again,” Sigh. Seriously just give it a thought maybe you had something planned this year but postponed it or forgot about it.
What did I do?
I found a whiteboard and board marker (you can use a notebook, apps on laptop or phone apps) then I made a to-do list that I knew I wouldn't really do. Boy was I wrong. Since it was on a whiteboard I looked at it every day and slowly I completed all of it. One action led to another and so forth. Who knows how much work you can get done?!
So if anyone reading this thinking about coming Cadbury or for those who already attend the college - What should you expect?
The setting, the timetable, the lessons, the people, the College. Cadbury is quite different to a school, which is something I personally absolutely love.
On the other hand there were a couple things I was worried about. To begin the people; how on earth do you get along with people you have never spoken to? When in lesson perhaps ask your peers around you what other subjects they chose, and give them your opinion. This will be your first conversation starter. The second should be lessons timings some people would have completely different start times and end and since you wouldn’t see them often find people with similar timetable layouts and then you would have people you should see daily at the same times. Last but not least be yourself people tend to like people with unique personalities so don’t try to blend in.
‘Life is too short to spend time being someone else’- Reality
Hope you enjoyed this month’s blog ;-)
Amandeep & Saiba: Mock Exam Preparation
- First and foremost avoid using the infamous statement "They're just mock exams" because these exams are vital in regards of preparing for mock exams. These mock exams are set under exam conditions therefore these exams are of great importance when it comes to the real ones.
- Go through all your class notes in DEPTH and be sure to ask all your subject teachers for extra practice exam papers, as you may even get a similar question which is already mentioned in the practice paper, so consequently you will be very confident with that specific topic.
- Please go on to Columbus as you can access your personal mock exam timetable on there, it'll also mention which seat you'll be in on the exam day, please do keep a reminder of this for the reason being it'll be much easier to access your seat on the day and you'll be a lot more organised than those who have not kept a note of it.
Good luck with your upcoming exams!
Saiba & Amandeep
Isobel: Unearthing Geography
Hi everyone,
2016 is already upon us and hopefully this year will be excellent for us all!
Like my previous two blogs, where I have focused on each of my subjects, I will be talking about the third and final subject I am studying here at Cadbury: Geography. I have always had a passion for geography, and after studying it at GCSE level, I decided that I wanted to continue exploring the subject further, which is why I now study ALevel geography. Please note though, it is not compulsory for you to have studied geography at GCSE level in order for you to study it at college.
As my other two courses are creative and practical-based, and geography is not, having a mixture of learning styles is incredibly refreshing and I personally enjoy the different ways of learning. In each lesson we discuss topical and current issues, working from textbooks, and using a wide range of resources to aid our learning. We even have a few self-taught sessions where guided research is our main focus.
Several trips are on offer throughout the course. So far there has been a trip to the Lake District and in February we will all be going to Bournemouth to look at coastal formations and erosion. I definitely think that geography has the best trips on offer, but you don’t have to attend all of them to be successful on the course (hopefully)! You will have the opportunity to visit new places and have fun without even realising that you’re learning key knowledge for the course.
It is important to carry out some work in your own time for this subject, which includes note-taking from the text books, discovering and learning a range of case studies, reading topical news stories, and asking questions about the world around you. You realise that you are immersed in geography all of the time, and that we are affected every day by geographical issues. So why not learn more about it and see just how important it is to all of us now and for our future?
I hope this blog, and my previous two posts, have helped to inform you more about possible subject choices for college. As student bloggers, we want to help you make these important decisions about further education easier for you, and hope that your transition into college life is as easy as possible.
I will be back with another blog post about college life at Cadbury next month,
Bye for now,
Isobel
2016 is already upon us and hopefully this year will be excellent for us all!
Like my previous two blogs, where I have focused on each of my subjects, I will be talking about the third and final subject I am studying here at Cadbury: Geography. I have always had a passion for geography, and after studying it at GCSE level, I decided that I wanted to continue exploring the subject further, which is why I now study ALevel geography. Please note though, it is not compulsory for you to have studied geography at GCSE level in order for you to study it at college.
As my other two courses are creative and practical-based, and geography is not, having a mixture of learning styles is incredibly refreshing and I personally enjoy the different ways of learning. In each lesson we discuss topical and current issues, working from textbooks, and using a wide range of resources to aid our learning. We even have a few self-taught sessions where guided research is our main focus.
Several trips are on offer throughout the course. So far there has been a trip to the Lake District and in February we will all be going to Bournemouth to look at coastal formations and erosion. I definitely think that geography has the best trips on offer, but you don’t have to attend all of them to be successful on the course (hopefully)! You will have the opportunity to visit new places and have fun without even realising that you’re learning key knowledge for the course.
It is important to carry out some work in your own time for this subject, which includes note-taking from the text books, discovering and learning a range of case studies, reading topical news stories, and asking questions about the world around you. You realise that you are immersed in geography all of the time, and that we are affected every day by geographical issues. So why not learn more about it and see just how important it is to all of us now and for our future?
I hope this blog, and my previous two posts, have helped to inform you more about possible subject choices for college. As student bloggers, we want to help you make these important decisions about further education easier for you, and hope that your transition into college life is as easy as possible.
I will be back with another blog post about college life at Cadbury next month,
Bye for now,
Isobel
Taha: What Shall I choose?
At this time of year many students around the world are thinking about one very important decision in regards to studying: What subjects shall I choose?
Well for the third time in my life I am facing that decision and I have decided to help some of the future A Level/BTEC students whose shoes I can remember being in.
Here are my simple guidelines for choosing the right subjects:
1. It is your choice not anyone else’s
This is the classic scenario of "I do not like chemistry but there is a 1/16 chance that I will be in the same class as my bestie" or "My mother, cousin, brother and sister all studied history and they want me to study history as well".
While you may be pressured to continue the family traditions or do not want to leave your friend on their own, you need to think what's best for you as it is your choice and it will pave the way for your career - not theirs!
2. Results do not lie
You may have wanted to take A-Level Biology but it turns out that you need to have a B in GCSE maths and not only do you not care for anything maths related but you got a C.
Grade requirements exist for a reason: the subject you have chosen involves an unexpected amount of knowledge from another subject, which only people who got a certain grade in a specific GCSE subject can handle.
So play to your strengths, not your weaknesses.
3. Research and make sure you know what your course is about
You may wonder why there are two types of design course, or what the difference is between English Language and English Literature.
Some subjects on the surface appear to offer the same topics, modules and coursework opportunities. When you research them, they actually offer very different benefits, and the topics covered are not the same across the board.
Doing your research before starting your courses means you won't have to queue up and change your subject 2 weeks into your studies, and relieves yourself from that pressure of getting it right a second time.
4. Be prepared for the worst
Now there may be the one question in your science exam that threw you off guard or you may have spent too much time planning your answer to question 4 and did not have enough time to develop your third point in your essay, making you 4 marks off the grade you needed for BTEC Law and now you have an unexpected gap you have to fill in with a subject you did not choose.
I have been there - remember to have a plan B.
5. Try to avoid resits
Further education is much harder than GCSEs. You may need to resit to GCSE maths to take A Level science but trust me it is much easier to get the B the first time. You do not want to spend your time revising GCSE topics when you need to dedicate your time to the upcoming A Level Chemistry exam. Do not dwell in the past and make sure that you get the results you need in your GCSEs before college/sixth form not during.
So those were my top five rules for the future A Level and BTEC students and to conclude I wish you good luck and I advise you to keep calm and remember the harder you work the better the reward.
Well for the third time in my life I am facing that decision and I have decided to help some of the future A Level/BTEC students whose shoes I can remember being in.
Here are my simple guidelines for choosing the right subjects:
1. It is your choice not anyone else’s
This is the classic scenario of "I do not like chemistry but there is a 1/16 chance that I will be in the same class as my bestie" or "My mother, cousin, brother and sister all studied history and they want me to study history as well".
While you may be pressured to continue the family traditions or do not want to leave your friend on their own, you need to think what's best for you as it is your choice and it will pave the way for your career - not theirs!
2. Results do not lie
You may have wanted to take A-Level Biology but it turns out that you need to have a B in GCSE maths and not only do you not care for anything maths related but you got a C.
Grade requirements exist for a reason: the subject you have chosen involves an unexpected amount of knowledge from another subject, which only people who got a certain grade in a specific GCSE subject can handle.
So play to your strengths, not your weaknesses.
3. Research and make sure you know what your course is about
You may wonder why there are two types of design course, or what the difference is between English Language and English Literature.
Some subjects on the surface appear to offer the same topics, modules and coursework opportunities. When you research them, they actually offer very different benefits, and the topics covered are not the same across the board.
Doing your research before starting your courses means you won't have to queue up and change your subject 2 weeks into your studies, and relieves yourself from that pressure of getting it right a second time.
4. Be prepared for the worst
Now there may be the one question in your science exam that threw you off guard or you may have spent too much time planning your answer to question 4 and did not have enough time to develop your third point in your essay, making you 4 marks off the grade you needed for BTEC Law and now you have an unexpected gap you have to fill in with a subject you did not choose.
I have been there - remember to have a plan B.
5. Try to avoid resits
Further education is much harder than GCSEs. You may need to resit to GCSE maths to take A Level science but trust me it is much easier to get the B the first time. You do not want to spend your time revising GCSE topics when you need to dedicate your time to the upcoming A Level Chemistry exam. Do not dwell in the past and make sure that you get the results you need in your GCSEs before college/sixth form not during.
So those were my top five rules for the future A Level and BTEC students and to conclude I wish you good luck and I advise you to keep calm and remember the harder you work the better the reward.
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