SIXTH FORM STUDIES
CHOICE OF SUBJECTS This requires careful thought well in advance of starting in the Sixth Form. While it is true that you can change subjects in the early weeks of 6.1, it is obviously desirable to have made the right choices in the first place. The process of choosing is described in the Sixth Form Curriculum document here (link) but the key thing is that you make your own decisions, in consultation with parents, Form Master, Tutor and subject dons. Narrowing down from ten or eleven subjects at GCSE to three or four at A-level requires a clear-sighted choice where you balance your own enthusiasm with practicality. However, it is essential that you should enjoy each subject you choose and feel that you can perform well in it. Many people will decide that they are going to focus on the sciences or the humanities/social sciences or a mixture of both. Once you have made your preliminary choices, your
combination will be discussed with the Academic Director and a senior Head of Department. Your Form Master and Tutor will also be key advisors. You need to have in mind, to some extent, the type of degree and / or career path you may wish to follow. Many boys have no idea which career they wish to embark on when they are choosing A-levels in the Fifth Form. This is often quite alright, so long as in making your A-level choices you do not accidentally rule out a career path you may be considering, however vaguely. Chemistry and its role in, for example, Medicine, is a case in point. However, remember that many of the degrees you may wish to study do not prescribe an exact combination of A-levels. University websites can be consulted at the click of a mouse and you are encouraged to start thinking about these matters as early as possible. The Sixth Form Curriculum document provides more detail.
STUDY IN THE SIXTH FORM The leap from GCSE to A-level is difficult for most. This is quite natural. Don’t be surprised if you feel a little disorientated in the first few weeks. The work is a lot harder and there is a lot more of it. You are expected to think for yourself. You have a lot more time on your hands. Therefore you need to adopt the right work habits from the outset. If not, you may start to fall behind, under-perform and panic. Poor time management and inadequate organisation can be major issues for 6.1 boys. SB and SR provide a lot of advice on how to study at the start of the year. You would be well advised to look at this link (link).
The Sixth Form is meant to be a time of academic exploration. You should be: spending more time in the main library and departmental equivalents discussing issues raised in class with your peers trying to see the connections between subjects (and all subjects are connected in some way or other) reading beyond the material covered in class attending departmental society meetings, APT sessions, general lectures and anything else which extends your understanding and knowledge
distant than they are The classic pitfalls for 6.1 boys are: Wasting study periods by chatting in Social, Coffee Shop etc Failing to plan for deadlines Failing to complete projects/essays in good enough time so they can be checked properly Committing plagiarism as a result of panic Failing to ask when they don’t understand something Seeing the final exams as more
Failing to think early enough about possible university and course choice Failing to make the intellectual transition from GCSE to the more demanding thought processes of A-level If these pitfalls can be avoided, or at least minimised, you will have a much happier 6.1 year. If that is so, your 6.2 year will proceed much more smoothly and your results are more likely to be what you want and need. Finally, we know that good work habits established in the Sixth Form will carry on into your university career and the workplace.