Sorry To Break It To You But You Literally Have To Face Your Fears And Slaughter Them. Otherwise You

31/08/2024

I continued doing my discussion today. It’s coming along slowly, but I think I’m doing okay. I should be able to meet my deadline for this Friday. I also finally went through that maths paper I’ve been meaning to look at for days. 84%!!!! I’m so happy :)

Things achieved today:

Done more EPQ

Marked and redid some questions for a maths paper.

Started another maths paper that needs to be handed into my teacher this week

My priority now needs to be to finish my EPQ discussion ASAP and to finish my summer work.

Things to do tomorrow:

As much EPQ as possible

More of the maths paper I started today

22/08/2024

I’ve had another slightly tumultuous day today because I was away but my sister was ill, so we were stranded at the hotel for a while, followed by a long journey home. The hotel gave me the time to do some revision.

Things achieved today:

Revised group 7, group 2 and redox for chemistry

Got through another chapter of Junk DNA, though it’s very slow going because I am starting to struggle to understand the contents

I need to recap the chemistry content, and start on the year 2 chemistry content.

Goals for tomorrow:

Finish AS physical/ inorganic chemistry revision

Finish first set of biology summer work

Start revision for biology tests for when I get back to school

26/08/2024

The time I didn’t spend doing EPQ today I spent thinking obsessively about EPQ and trying to plan what the next steps I need to take are.

Things achieved today:

I created a pretty solid outline for the discussion of my EPQ

I began doing a very rough first draft of my EPQ

Spent an hour doing some of a maths paper

Maths is proving to be something of a problem for me. I can do it - i know I can do it because I study hard for it and get some good grades - but me doing well relies hugely on my mindset. I really struggle to break out of the panic feeling when I can’t do a question, and everything spirals downwards from there.

Even when I am doing well though, I go so slowly that I always run out of time.

I think I just need to practice more so I’m faster and more confidant.

Things to do tomorrow:

More EPQ, basically

30/11/2024

I had a really good day today!! I got everything I had been aiming to do finished last night and this morning.

I revised from six until ten last night, went to sleep at eleven and slept until seven, then revised again from eight until twelve. I’ve honestly never been so productive in my life, I really don’t know where I got the motivation from because normally I can only do two hours in a row tops and never past eight in the evening.

Things achieved today:

Completed and marked the biology paper due next week (73%!! An A*)

Finished the required practical write up

Did the questions set on Friday

Wrote the 25 mark biology essay due next week (the one we were set was honestly so hard, it took me so long)

Made my notes on respiration for the test on Monday

My main aim for the next couple of weeks has to be preparing for my interview, so it’s good that I have done most of the homework I will have to hand in over the next 2 weeks.

Things to do tomorrow:

Revise for the respiration test on Monday

Take a long break because I’ve worked so much harder than usual that I now have a headache

Welcome to my blog!!

My name is Katie and I’m a student studying maths, biology and chemistry in the UK. I’m posting here because I need the motivation to study and (hopefully) having this page will push me to revise!

This blog will be a record of what I’ve achieved and my progress through the rest of sixth form, and maybe when I’ve finished next summer I’ll be able to look back and feel proud of what I’ve accomplished.

After school, I’m not entirely sure what I will do, but at the moment I’m thinking either biochemistry or natural science at university, then a job in some kind of related field.

Some other random things about me:

I like reading.

I also enjoy writing - some fanfic and some of my own stuff, depending on the mood that hits me.

My favourite instrument to play is piano, but I also do flute, vocals and some (very basic) guitar.

I am learning French alongside my studies.

Running is my favourite way to relax.

I also enjoy occasionally climbing, tennis and badminton.

My favourite colours are purple and blue.

I ultimately aim to achieve A* A* A in my A-Levels.

Politics is one of my other big interests, and if I hadn’t done sciencey stuff that’s definitely where I would’ve gone.

23/08/2024

I struggled a little today with keeping up my mood and motivation, but still got quite a bit done. I hit a low spot after lunch, but I went for a walk with my mum and talked it out, so I felt better and carried on.

Things achieved today:

Completed revision of AS inorganic/physical chemistry!!

Finished part of my biology summer work. I thought I had done and then realised there was lots more :/

Although I think I’ve done well today, I’m conscious that summer break is coming to an end and that I haven’t seen my friends very much, so tomorrow (on a non-academic note) I want to arrange to see some friends.

Things to do tomorrow:

Do some more biology summer work

Finish the stats/mechanics summer work

Start on the pure summer work

Create a list of weak areas in maths that need revision

28/10/2024

I am very happy with how I did today! I managed ~5 hours of revision today, which is what I need to be doing if I want good grades in my mocks later this week. I achieved all the goals I set myself yesterday!

Things achieved today:

Completed and marked my biology paper (65%, which is good but I aim to do better in the real thing).

Did some review questions for stats and mechanics, and I’ve improved on a few areas I was struggling with and have some questions for my teachers tomorrow.

Revised some biology content.

Though I’m happy with today’s progress, it has highlighted some areas I am not confident with, so I need to work on those in the next few days.

Things to do tomorrow:

Revise year 13 biology (energy transfers)

Revise and do questions for speciation, classification and selection

Go over some of the flash cards I’ve made over the past week

Mock countdown:

Biology: 4 days

Maths: 4 days

Chemistry: 3 days

28/08/2024

Except for the maths, I didn’t do a lot today. My EPQ session was entirely unproductive since I’ve run into a dead end for the time being, and I’m not sure how to get around it. I finished another maths paper and got an A because I didn’t freak out if I couldn’t do a question. Staying calm is the biggest battle for me when it comes to maths.

Things achieved today:

Did another maths paper and got an A.

Tried (but did not succeed in) working around the block I’ve got at the minute with my EPQ.

My EPQ deadline is a week on Friday, and I also need the first draft of my personal statement finished by then as well. I am not on track to achieve either of those things :)

Things to do tomorrow:

Make more progress on my EPQ so the day after (Friday) I am ready to start referencing my work

Go through the maths paper I did today

21/08/2024

I went on a day out today so I didn’t get very much studying done. We went to a library for a few hours and I got part of my personal statement first draft done! I was so stressed about it and was worrying that I wouldn’t have anything to write about, but once I’d started it was a lot easier than I’d thought, and I knew what I wanted to write about. Also did a few hours of tennis and swimming, so the day was academically unproductive, but I’ve enjoyed myself :)

Things achieved today:

First draft of personal statement

A little bit of chemistry group 7 and redox revision

I should have more time to study tomorrow, which is good because school starts soon and I still have lots (lots 🥲) to do.

29/10/2024

Somewhat stressful day today. It was my first day back, and I found out from some friends that a lot of topics that I didn’t think were going to be on the mocks, are in fact, on the mocks. To make it worse, they are topics that I have not looked at before, so I have a lot of work to do now.

Things achieved today:

Made notes on A2 kinetics.

Revised photosynthesis.

Apart from me over-stressing about exams, it was a pretty good day overall. I am determined to make tomorrow just as good.

Things to do tomorrow:

Do questions on kinetics and thermodynamics

Do questions on photosynthesis

Mock countdown:

Chemistry: 2 days

Maths: 3 days

Biology: 3 days