5 Core Beliefs
5 Core Beliefs
Adopt these 5 core beliefs to succeed at
A level Physics (Anything!!!)
You have to believe that success is possible. For you.
You must understand, accept and believe, it is your practising of past papers which holds the key to achieving the A* grade you want.
Which is why the RHYTHMIC completion of papers becomes so important – underpinned by your understanding of the physics and the fact that you’re prepared to do the REGULAR work.
Failures (in a question or a whole paper) are just feedback. That’s all. Learn from them and move on. But don’t stop.
The final part of this philosophy is that to properly succeed you need to commit – not dabble.
1. You have to believe that success is possible. For you.
Sounds obvious but there are lots of people who don’t really believe they can do it. Not deep down.
Super successful students do believe it though. They know that the grades are there for the taking - if they do what is necessary to reach them. They embrace and accept responsibility for what happens to their grades. There are no excuses – it’s down to them.
2. You must understand, accept and believe it is your practising of past papers which holds the key to achieving the A* grade you want.
The next characteristic of the super-successful is that they recognise that their success will ALWAYS be directly linked to what they do.
To be simplistic, getting good at doing A level Physics exams involves practising A level Physics exams. Obviously understanding the physics is a needed part of the picture – but I hear ALL the time, from so many students
“I understand the physics, but I still can’t answer the questions”.
If you are learning to drive and you can’t balance the clutch, what do you do?
If you are learning to juggle and you keep dropping the balls, what do you do?
If you can’t finish your mission in your computer game, what do you do?
If you are learning to play the piano, what do you do?
PRACTICE!
3. Which is why the RHYTHMIC completion of papers becomes so important – underpinned by your understanding of the physics and the fact that you’re prepared to do the REGULAR work.
“Exactly how many papers do I need to do?” I hear you ask… Well that depends on how good you are now, and how much better you need to get.
Michael Jordan, the basketball player, said:
“
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I lost almost 300 games; 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life… that’s why I succeed.
”
It really is a case of – the more you do the better you’ll get. And you have to keep doing it, regularly. This principle matters.
4. Failures (in a question or a whole paper) are just feedback. That’s all. Learn from them and move on. But don’t stop.
You wouldn’t walk over a rotting rope bridge without testing whether it could take your weight first.
You can’t expect to succeed in an exam without checking your own performance first.
In fact exams test by failure. An exam can’t differentiate an A grade student from a B grade one, without the students (both of them) exhibiting some level of failure.
The truth is, successful A level students just put themselves through a series of tests. Initially they find what works and then they hone their craft, moving ever closer to that elusive A* grade.
But this process won’t work if you allow your fear of failure to stop you getting started on the first paper, or the second...
5. The final part of this philosophy is that to properly succeed you need to commit – not dabble.
Every super-successful person (in whatever field) has gone ALL-IN. You might be thinking about your buddy who just has a head for physics and seems to manage it without trying. I can guarantee you that they are doing way more work than you think they are! If you need to get that A or A* grade, you need to commit to it.
Don’t spend hours getting ready to do the work. Don’t create beautiful revision timetables and never do the physics. Your ability to create flash-cards is not on the A level specification and will NOT be tested.
When you get to the exam hall on the day of your exam, you want to know, in your heart, you did everything you could to prepare yourself.
Just get started!
Good luck and if you need help, you know where to find me.
Warmest regards
P.S.
And even if the worst happens, and you don’t get the grades you need – even that’s just feedback!
Move on and make your decision about what to do next, based on that feedback. There are always options!
