How To Pass GCSE With The Online Exam Preparation Bootcamp
A bit about me
I spent my first two years at secondary school messing around and not paying much attention to the teachers and the lessons they had planned for me. Then, in year 9, I went through a bad stage with my mental health and didn't go in at all! I decided to start year 10 with a fresh start and try to focus as hard as I could. But due to messing around and then not going in I was so far behind.
What I was studying
I was taking GCSE:
• English
• Maths (foundation)
• Science (combined)
• History
• Spanish
• Graphics
• BTEC sport
Why I decided to buy it?
I bought The Online Exam Preparation Bootcamp because I did not know how to revise or prepare for exams. I really did believe that whatever I did I wouldn’t pass anything so when I saw the advert for it I purchased it instantly despite being sceptical - and thank god I did!
I was so far behind in maths and science and only getting 2s and 3s in year 10. It was so embarrassing when all of my friends were doing well and getting good grades and I look down at my mock papers and see grade 2 or 12/80 marks!!
At the start of year 11 my teachers would say that we should be well into revision now and I would sit there with the blankest expression and ask how to revise. Feeling like you're getting no help is so hard, I am an only child too, so I had no older siblings who could maybe help and my parents certainly couldn't help either!
How it helped me
The Online Exam Preparation Bootcamp helped me because it gave me motivation and guidance which has been tried and tested with many students who have already taken and passed their exams. For once, I didn't feel pressured as I worked at my own pace in my own time and when I didn't feel like I could do anything I would listen to the voice notes and get some ideas on what I could do to try and be more productive and effective whilst studying.
Most people might think that the bootcamp just talks about exams and therefore gets you even more stressed. But what helped me the most was the fact that it wasn't all about exams! It was about how to mentally prepare, how to physically prepare and even how to manage your friendships and smartphone during exam time.
It helped me remember not to lose myself because at the end of the day the exams don't determine me as a person. It taught me how to use things to my own advantage, such as my smartphone.
Not only did it help in the period leading up to exams but also helped me know what to actually do when I’m sat in the exam with the paper in front of me, what the examiner will look for and how to stay calm and focused throughout.
It helped my confidence more than anything! It’s literally like having a sports coach on your side throughout the whole exam process, it makes you feel like you’re working in a team rather than just on your own the whole time and not knowing what to do.
Summary and best bits
I have lots to thank The Online Exam Preparation Bootcamp for. Though I may have not reached A Town or 9 Ville 😉, I went from feeling embarrassed with 2s and 3s in everything to passing!
I achieved a grade 5 in English Language, a grade 4 in English Literature, History and Maths a grade 3 in Spanish and Graphics, a L2 pass in BTEC sport and a 5-5 in Science! I remember thinking on the day “I've failed everything I know it, I won’t get into college, I'll have to re-sit and do it all over again”. But now I'm in college doing exactly what I wanted to do!
My favourite part was listening to the audio tracks over and over again, whenever I needed to. It’s so easy to stray off track when preparing for exams because it’s a process which requires a constantly positive outlook and that you do the little things right each day which add up to make a massive difference in your results.
The audio tracks are short and punchy so I could easily fit them into my revision schedule. True, I may not have got the most amazing grades ever, but I got what I needed to keep the opportunities and career path I want to take open to me and that’s all that matters to me. Furthermore, what I learned about myself and how I can overcome challenges when I put my mind to it was way more valuable than any grade on a piece of paper.
My Results
Want some more help from The Exam Coach this year?
ONLINE EXAM PREPARATION BOOTCAMP
Learn how to prepare for your GCSE and A Level exams like the top performing students in the UK 🇬🇧
Improve your grades by one and a half grade boundaries (on average).
This audio programme will make you:
More disciplined
More motivated
Revise faster and better
For a limited time only, we’re offering you an 80% discount on this course!
Enter discount code BOOTCAMP at the checkout (available for a limited time only). Take a look and find out more about the Online Exam Preparation Bootcamp by clicking the button below.
Why Get A Tutor?
To succeed in your exams there is no doubt that you need study skills, exam technique, and a variety of coping strategies to manage your time, nerves and ability to think. However, beyond the support you’d find with The Exam Coach, you also need to have a foundation of comprehensive knowledge and understanding for each of your subjects. It’s in this area of your studies that a private tutor can prove a huge advantage.
Crowded classrooms, a lack of resources and teachers, and a general dissatisfaction with the schooling system has led to a surge in the popularity of private tuition in recent years. More students than ever before are seeking additional help when it comes to their studies, with parents in the UK spending over £6 billion a year on private tuition for their children.
Investing in private tuition can have a huge impact on both a student’s academic career and their personal development. Whether a student is struggling to get the grades that they need in their A-Levels, is at the very first stages of their academic journey and is finding it a challenge to grasp basic concepts or needs help writing a killer personal statement to help them secure a university place - private tuition could be the answer to all your academic woes.
1. Individual learning experience
One of the biggest benefits of private tuition, and what sets it apart from traditional lessons in a school setting, is that students receive a learning experience that is completely tailored to their individual needs. Due to the one-to-one nature of private tuition sessions, tutors are able to create bespoke learning programmes that target any areas students are struggling with, ensuring they have all the right material and are being taught in a way that best compliments their unique learning style. Moreover, private tutors will provide both students and parents with extensive and extremely personalised feedback, ensuring they are making progress and are on track to meet their goals.
2. Improved academic performance
Perhaps the most obvious reason for hiring a private tutor is to help students to reach their full academic potential. Many tutors are not only experts in their subject(s), but also have extensive experience teaching in schools or tutoring, and are able to help students improve their knowledge, understanding and skill set.
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Alongside academic development, private tutors are also able to help students develop personally, ensuring they are expanding their interpersonal skill set as well as their academic abilities. This is especially in terms of their confidence and communication, as through improving academically students will generally automatically develop newfound confidence, making them better equipped to tackle any challenges they may come across in the future.
Over time, students will develop their independent study skills and establish self-paced and self-directed learning. Through receiving consistent support, students will also learn how to become better communicators, be able to form better relationships with their teachers and peers and take this skill on into later life.
4. Flexible & convenient
Life at every stage of the academic journey can be stressful and busy, and it is easy for students to wind up feeling like they’re being pulled in every direction without a minute to breathe.
Another great benefit to getting private tuition also work to an incredibly flexible schedule, meaning students can access vital tuition at a time and a place that suits them. Your private tutor will be able to work with you to organise sessions that work for you, without interrupting your routine or asking you to compromise on other commitments. Whether you want to have tutoring on the weekends, in the evenings, or even early before school, once or twice a week or every day - even students with the busiest of timetables are able to receive important tuition at a time that suits them.
At Tutor House, students can either work with tutors face-to-face or online - making tuition even more flexible than ever before. Online sessions can take place at any location the student chooses - whether that be in a library, from the comfort of your own home or even on the move. All you need is access to a laptop or computer and a wifi connection and you’re good to go!
5. Create an environment that promotes learning
Schools and classrooms can be distracting, noisy and, at times, unproductive environments. Private tuition, in contrast, takes place in a consistent and quiet environment free from distractions, disruptive classmates or limited resources. One-to-one tuition allows students to receive the undivided attention of their tutor, ensuring they feel comfortable and have the freedom to ask any questions that they may have.
6. Help with homework & exam practice
Homework is a vital part of the learning process, but can also be one of the most daunting elements of school, requiring students to demonstrate high levels of motivation, dedication and initiative. Due to these reasons alone, it is not uncommon for students to bypass their homework, fail to really engage with the subject they’re studying or complete the tasks to a lower standard than they are capable, which can not only result in them falling behind but can also create a real disconnect between the student and their studies.
Private tutors can help students to work through their homework methodically, providing just the right amount of support and guidance to ensure they are really engaging with the subject and getting the maximum out of the homework process.
Tutors can help students to build their self-discipline, and knowledge and skill so that they become comfortable completing their homework independently. This will not assist them in terms of their immediate academic progress, but will also help them to develop vital skills that will prove invaluable as they progress through life.
Tutors are also able to help students to revise effectively for important exams, assisting them in creating revision plans, ensuring they have mastered their essay writing technique and know exactly which hoops to jump through so that they don’t lose important marks down to poor exam technique.