TomRed's blog & stuff

Update: this guy does solutions (including M1 solutions) on YouTube. He might be your last hope.

For those of you that don’t do mechanics, walk away, nothing to see here. As explained in the A-level stuff section to your top right I don’t have a maths section, so I’ll put this material here.

Basically, in mechanics, almost every paper asks a question or two about mathematical modelling, and requires a bit of common sense and awards a mark or two. I don’t have common sense, so if you’re on mutual grounds with me then you might want to know the general answers, and they are as follows:
• If it asks about how you’ve used the fact that the string is light, tensions will be the same for the two particles.
• If it asks about how you’ve used the fact that the the string is inextensible, acceleration will be the same for the two particles.
• Asking about what it means for the string to be light, mention that it has no weight.
• When asking about how a model is unrealistic or what refinements can be made for kinematics, mention air resistance or possibly the ‘spin’ of the particle (use your head).
• If it asks what it means that a beam is uniform, the weight acts at the midpoint of the beam.
• If it asks what it means for something to be a particle on a beam, mention that its weight acts precisely at that point.
• When asking about what it means for the plank or beam or whatever to be a rod, it means it’ll remain a straight line/rigid.

I think that’s correct, don’t kill me if I’m wrong. I got them from the mark schemes, and compiled them on this document:

I received a letter this morning about what I thought for a few seconds were results corrections but was instead my summer exam timetable, being this:
Mon 24th May (13:30) – Maths: Mechanics 1
Mon 7th June (9:00) – Chemistry: Unit 2
Mon 7th June (9:00) – RS: Religious Ethics (retake)
Mon 7th June (13:30) – Economics: Unit 2
Wed 9th June (9:00) – Physics: Unit 2
Wed 9th June (13:30) – Maths: Core 2

As you can see, three are annoyingly on the same date, but it’s my fault as one is a retake (I did it last year). The 777 might increase my luck…

The arrogance I am expressing from my results has slightly died down, but is still potent. However, I intend for this post to be a guide, not an ‘I’m better than you so na na na-na na’ declaration (though if I didn’t know about a few extra readers here – mainly looking for answers that weren’t there – I probably wouldn’t have posted this). Anyway:

1. Set yourself targets. Good targets
I believe the main reason why I was displeased with my GCSEs was that I didn’t set myself high targets, I started off with Bs, mainly, and I realised at the end I could have got As and perhaps A*s for subjects I didn’t think I was much good at (though English, classics, and the whole writing family will always bring me down…). When A-levels came, I aimed for As, after some hesitation about the plausibility, then I aimed for >90% for three (mainly because over time I am unlikely to improve due to the difficulty curve). Even if you think you won’t get it in a million years, work for them.

2. Know what you’re doing
For me, economics was probably of relevance here. It was a brand new subject for me and I didn’t know what connected and what was relevant, and where to draw the line between relevant queries and queries irrelevant for my exam. Get your specification, and make sure you can do what it asks you to. It sometimes diverges from the contents of your book, and sometimes your book talks about topics disproportionately (economics, again).

3. Actually do some work
I didn’t do as much work as my stereotype suggests, a lot of the days I just did my homework, and some days I left it to the morning, but I won’t deny I didn’t do work. I can’t advise you much here, you find your own method. Personally, I found fear a greater motivation than satisfaction (unfortunately the fear motivation was a late bloomer – like a week before the exam). Writing notes will help I suppose, and perhaps do brainstorms (or the politically correct version), just do whatever floats your boat.

4. Past papers and mark schemes
If you do physics, chemistry and/or economics and you haven’t seen the A-level stuff section, you’re a bit of a fool. Any relevant past papers, mark schemes, and other crap I find online I put there. Some exams repeat questions, so memorising the mark scheme could be your ticket, especially for definitions (but I guess you’re fucked in this area if you do English or something). I think they were the main helping hand for the sciences.

5. Pray for a snow day (or snow week)
Leaving most of my work to the end wasn’t wise, but without that snow day I’d have had to rely on what I hesitate to call study leave. As I’m sceptical that snow will fall during May, don’t leave your work to the end.

6. ‘Do the questions. Get them right.’
A friend told me that like a day or something before the C1 maths exam. There’s not really another way about it, don’t panic, don’t let a bad question have collateral damage on others, and work efficiently to preserve your scarce time. Finally, don’t give up. I’ve realised you can be at the height of pessimism and still get a good grade.

Don’t take this as an absolute, obviously. It might help, but some maxims are quite obvious and you probably do them. This has just worked in my experience, in the same way that my Mac has as opposed to my Windows predecessors.

Yes, it’s that time of year again, and Jesus fucking Christ:

Maths: 100% (A)
Physics: 98%* (A)
Economics: 89% (A)
Chemistry: 97% (A)

Again, Jesus fucking Christ. I was not expecting that, and quite obviously I’m over the moon. It’s hard to continue this post without boasting, but I don’t care.

I said I was going to delete my Facebook account if I got 90:90:90:80 at least, and I’m not because I assumed I wasn’t going to get them (screw being true to your word). In the midst of death threats from my peers as (apparently) no one beat me, people asked for my secret, and to be honest I don’t know. Sure, I did some work here and there and I’m not an academic idiot, but not to the extent of these results (that said, memorising the mark schemes from past papers really helps).

*The results paper said ‘118’ and I was told that it was out of 120, the rest were out of 100.

Finally, my first wave of A-levels are complete, I can go back to doing nothing and synonymously go back to Facebook for the first time since last decade.

So how did it all go?
Maths:
Not bad. I got stuck somewhere in the last question and the heaploads of time eventually got me out of it, after five checks. I am prone to silly mistakes though. By the way, they used English names for once!
Physics:
Again not that bad, there was a bit of struggling but I was good for time, but if I miscalculated somewhere then I could have fucked up the question *shrugs*.
Economics:
Jesus fucking Christ, a subject focused on scarcity and time is the scarcest resource of all, contrary to the misleading examiner’s report which stated ‘there was little evidence of candidates of running out of time’. I didn’t do too well in the questions I answered anyway, so retakes are probable.
Chemistry:
Similar to physics, though afterwards I know I definitely missed out two marks due to misreading ‘As’ to be ‘Astatine’, which will probably cost me my aim of 90%. By the way, if you find an error in your checking, check it twice. You do not want to redo questions then redo them again, thankfully I had a lot of time.

I’m pleased that a lot made use of the A-level stuff I uploaded. Now I can relax for a while (and await my ordered The Beatles: Rock Band to arrive).

This year I have four exams in January (i.e. maths, physics, chemistry and economics), that could have easily been five if a coin toss went the other way (but that’s a different story). Here’s my timetable:
9:00, Monday, 11/01/2010: Maths: Core 1
9:00, Wednesday, 13/01/2010: Physics: Unit 1
13:30, Wednesday, 13/01/2010: Economics: Unit 1
9:00, Thursday, 14/01/2010: Chemistry: Unit 1

Second of all, I’ve uploaded important files I have for physics, chemistry and economics that might be useful for those doing the same courses. You can find them here (they’re in the miscellaneous section).

I’m on my Christmas break now, if I recall correctly I post more during exam time (which shouldn’t happen) and I feel that will happen this time…

Indeed, I have endured my first ‘week’ of sixth form. Well,it wasn’t as packed with lessons as it usually would… My first impressions? Well, perhaps if they were organised about the timetables as oppose to OCDing over the haircuts I’d have some more respect (and yes, it’s just a matter of printing the damn things). The lessons? Well, I think I can safely say that I’m at the bottom of the difficulty curve and you will know when I’ve hit ‘the wall’ if you see suicidal elements in future posts. My favourite and worst lesson? No idea, but if I had to place my bets on any members of staff reading this (if any), classing economics as the single most best subject in the history of education may be beneficial for my future.

Don’t forget (that goes for myself as well), first anniversary tomorrow!

If you’re squeamish then stay away, but then again you’ve probably looked at the clutter of letters below…

Maths = A
English language = B
English literature = C
Biology = B
Chemistry = A*
Physics = A
Geography = A
French = B
Classics = C
Statistics = A
RE = B
Philosophy = B

In a nutshell? Pretty good, a little disappointed, no singing tonight…

In a long story? Well basicallé I made it there for half nine or something meeting a crowd of nervous people and a few who got their results early, when I found out that someone who is superb at maths got a mere filthy A as oppose to a beautiful A* I knew that the near divinely intervened fluke that gets me good results is as dead as my humour. So I eventually got the envelope and after it had absorbed a significant amount of moisture from my palms I opened the fucker and went through the three sheets of confusion resulting in surprise, disappointment and overall ‘WTF?!’. It was biology, maths and philosophy that let me down when I was expecting others to. The good news is that I might be able to retake maths, and probably ethics to up my grades. Whether or not I’ll do A2 philosophy is an open question (let me reinforce that philosophy isn’t a GCSE). I was surprised with chemistry and geography, how the fuck did I get an A* in a subject I did no work in? (The answer is CGP, but still…). And how did I get an A in geography when I took a voluntary break and ran out of time? If all else fails, God did it.

Maybe I’ll drunkenly sing songs that bring question to your sexuality another time…

Oh yeah, I can cross something off my 100 things list. :D

Well, it’s 18 says to results day (27th August). Did you know that the Terminator 2 date for Judgement Day was August 29th? Makes perfect sense.

There’s a few I know I fucked up, and as I’m so certain I’m willing to embarrass myself if I am wrong. These are the results I want:
Maths = A*
English language = B
English literature = C
Biology = A
Chemistry = A*
Physics = A
Geography = A
French = B
Classics = C
Philosophy = A

The ones in bold are the ones that will determine whether or not I embarrass myself (philosophy was an extra I can retake). Alas, if I get them, I will record myself singing the following and upload them on here:
Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
We Didn’t Start The Fire (Billy Joel)
YMCA (Village People)
Still Alive (Jonathan Coulton & Ellen McLain)
Barbie Girl (Aqua)
Macarena (Los Del Rio)
(I might add to this later)

Furthermore, I’ll also post an embarrassing video of me. The joke’s on you to be honest as there’s not a hope in hell that I’ll get what I want!

Alright, another bonus to the bag – I’ll watch Dawn of the Dead (2004) as zombie films scare the shit out of me (mainly when I can’t get to sleep).

And another! I’ll get drunk for the first time since 1995 (I will not elaborate there).

I think this will be the last, I’ll eat no junk food and only healthy food between meals.

(I better stop) Fine, I’ll rid myself of internet (unless it’s necessary) until I go back to school, happy now?