The REALISTIC guide to managing life and studying during A-Levels

By A.McCabe

If you are reading this, chances are that you are approaching the dreaded final exams for your A-levels or BTECs. Whether it is the overwhelming coursework, the daunting year 12 mocks, or the actual exams - both can be equally stressful on your busy lifestyle. When you add in a part-time job, family responsibilities, and social obligations, it may feel like there is no time left for studying.

Fortunately, as a student who has recently completed my A-levels, I am here to offer you some tips to help you balance your life and make it easier to do everything you want to do.

One of the most commonly overlooked tips that students receive is to visualize and plan your time. This is because we are told to do it, but not always given reasons or methods. Let me explain:

Why? Visualizing our deadlines, adding events to our calendars, and managing our time through writing it down allows us to navigate our responsibilities and free time. By doing this, we can identify gaps in our schedule that can be used for downtime or extra revision. This flexibility helps us balance our studies, work, and social activities more effectively.

How? Technology can be a valuable tool for this purpose. An app like 'Special Dates' on Apple devices can help you input deadlines and exams, categorize them with emojis, and set reminders on your Home Screen. Another app called Timetable helps you create a schedule for your weekly tasks, color-code them, and add tasks labeled with class names. These visual tools can help you stay organized and prepared for upcoming deadlines and exams.

With better organization and visual reminders, you can approach your exams with confidence and establish good time management habits for the future. Good luck with your exams and future endeavors!