Getting yourself organised!

I’ve recently joined the #StudentBloggerSelection and this week’s theme is ‘showcasing your skills’. Since exams aren’t that far away anymore (my first one begins in 7 weeks time *gasp*), I thought that I’d share some of the ways I organise my academic work which will hopefully be of some use, particularly during the next few difficult weeks.

image source

Number 1: Organisation is extremely important.

Yes yes, you’ve probably heard of this already, but honestly, an organised folder makes revision and life heck of a lot easier. Revision is definitely a time where you don’t want to be going through useless pieces of paper, or notes that aren’t in the correct order etc, so by organising everything in accord beforehand really does you favours in the long run. I personally abhor disorganisation because I know for a fact that my revision won’t be as efficient as it could be, and really, I just think that it adds on unnecessary stress that you obviously don’t want!

Number 2: One folder per module

This is something I highly recommend. I started doing this last year where I had one ringbinder per module, but as the notes and notes started to pile up, the folders got pretty full! That led to some of my essays to go missing (not the greatest thing in the world) and some of the sheets starting to rip out. So this year, I decided to invest in leaver arch files and it suited me great! Everything is neatly put into place according to topic, so no complaints!

Number 3: Putting your notes into place

The first thing that should really go into your folder is the exam specification. To put it simply, this is your friend over the next few months. Exams won’t contain any questions that haven’t been in the specification, so really, it does save you time from learning irrelevant information. After that comes my hand written notes from the textbook, then notes from the revision guide. I do both because the textbook seems a lot more detailed than the latter but it does contain so information of no use sometimes!

After that comes the handouts my teacher gives out. These again are directly from the textbook so I just highlight the most important pieces of information. Then comes the answers to questions in the textbook.

Number 4: Separate folders for revision?

I never really did this, until now. My folders always contained past papers, practice essays and the lot; but now since my folders have way too much irrelevant pieces of paper, I decided to invest in extra folders purely for revision.

Some will contain past papers only, and others will contain revision material and timed essay practice.

Number 5: Make a checklist

Make a checklist for all your subjects then tick off all the topics you’ve written notes on. This way you’ll keep on track to see how much you’ve got left to cover.

Number 6: Make to-do lists.

Again this is important. You will be on track with your revision and see what you have left. Some diary planners my already have this (I have a Filofax which contains these to do lists), but making your own won’t hurt.

These are all of the ways I organise my work, but it does change from time to time. The more you discover the ways to organise things the better!

    

Stationary Bender #1

If there's anything about me that I haven't told you yet (if it's worth noting), is that fact that I love going school shopping! I don't know why actually, I just like buying new stationary. It's so clean...

So since I start my LAST ever year at school on Thursday (I still cannot believe this), I went shopping to Wood Green yesterday, and here are some of the things I bought to get me going for Year 13 and the A* Grade Challenge respectively. Just to add, if you want out find out more about 'The A* Grade Challenge' scroll down below, or even better, visit the blog achiclifestyle.com by the lovely Sanam. :)

So here we go:

First up, two magazine files:

Last year, nearly half of my History and RS essays went missing due to the fact that I didn't bother putting them in my folder. So as you can probably guess, when revision came along, it really didn't do me any favours which is why I brought this. It's actually buy one get one now and they cost £4.99 each.

Next, my folders:

I usually buy one leaver-arch file per module. So this year, I have one History paper, one English paper (well technically two since I'm retaking last years exam) and two RS modules. As a consequence, I bought 4 different coloured files. Since my subjects are predominantly essay based, there will be LOADS of loose paper which a ringbinder wouldn't be able to accommodate. They are currently 40% off which is quite something if you're going to buy it in bulk!

And inside them are:

THESE BEAUTIES! Yep, I'm referring to those vivdly coloured subject dividers. Now here is something I will immensely recommend; make sure you read what the pack says! I thought that in one pack it only had one set of dividers...well it's turns out that it actually had three. Clumsy me I suppose. I mean, I bought FOUR of these packs and only needed two.

And these:

This may be interpreted as some sort of OCD type behaviour, but I have to write on the same type of paper each an every time- and my ultimate favourite is Pukka Pads. They have amazing quality and aren't that expensive (you may just see the price sticker up there in the corner). Also, rather than carrying these books to school alongside my folders, I just rip them out and place them in my folder. One, my bag wouldn't be agonizingly heavy and two, it's easier. Everything will be nicely organised.

Another must for students taking anything essay related:

Need I say? Never the disgraceful nature of mine (I've had it for nearly 6 years now...), if you want to show off some ambitious vocabulary or the fact that you know some fancy words rather than the simplistic ones, then logic does say you should have one *duh*. Or if you just want to double-check your spelling, it's your saviour!

Now, some books:

The amount of literature I have to read this year is borderline ridiculous, but it's not all English. Here are some of the titles shown in the pic (some not clearly):

• Othello, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra by the great William Shakespeare.
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (I've read A Thousand Splendid Suns and it's just breathtaking- one of the best books I've ever ever read).
• Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory (If you love Merlin, buy this 900 page epic).
• The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer 
• A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde
• Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coldridge
• Exploring Literature (the textbook for both AS and A2 literature, covering the spec of AQA A)
• France in Revolution (Access to History)
• Islam- A very short introduction by Malise Ruthven

I didn't take a trip for the bookstore for this- just ordered from Amazon at ridiculously low prices to my delight.

How to keep a schedule: 

Even though it's meant for university students, IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I dislike my schools planner, so I bought this first back in Year 11 and for a control freak like me, it's everything you ever want in a planner. It even has some recipes you can try out. Apart from that, tips on revision, exam stress, budgeting, reducing alcohol consumption (not that I drink or even intending too) make an appearance.

Other 'necessary' supplies:

Yep, just woman things in here alongside my headphones and Oyster card. Having said that, I would recommend buying 'Baby Lips' by Maybelline New York- they're a delight! Quite funny how my USB is there too...

Things to write with:

I already have some pens from last year which I'm going to reuse (alongside my pencil case) so I just brought this stuff above; and best of all, Mr Pritt (aka a typical gluestick) is back in force!

And lastly, bags:

Once again, I'm re-using some of the bags I was using last year and these three are the ones I will be using most likely. So from the left we have a bag from a nameless shop, a seemingly large bag from Primark and a lovely 'everything in the world can fit in' bag from USA.

So yeah. That's pretty much it really. All this for Year 13 (the thought of it is already exhausting me). It better be worth it.