Here’s the bad news: there are bad schools, bad teachers, bad pupils, bad courses and bad exams.
Here’s the good news: none of the above is a barrier to your personal success.
Here’s the checklist on how to get around the bad news.

- Set two goals
- What do I want my career to be? WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
- What grades do I want from my exams?
- Focus on doing as well as you can WHERE you are. (If your circumstances are so bad then look to change schools – however, this may take more time than its worth.) This means getting the best possible exam grades you can.
- To get great exam results in a subject (apply this list to each of your subjects):
- Get the course outline or course plan.
- Make/find a list of topics you need to learn.
- Make/find a list of all the possible questions that could come up in the exam.
- Work out how many topics you need to know for the exam.
- Read the information – use Exam bodies’ Teacher’s books to get all the information you need to know.
- Produce revision notes – succinct in the notes.
- Produce a revision plan. How many topics do you need to know, how much time have you got? See, my revision planner here.
- Memorise the information you need to know for the exam – use my Guide to Essays here.
- Do practice exams – Test yourself on the information you have learnt
- Seek good feedback, criticise your own work, or seek a guidance from a good teacher, parent or someone you trust on your work. (repeat steps I and J to reach A* level)
- Find people to work on step three together. If you can’t, you are able to do it yourself.
- Exercise – for 16 to 21 years old, try doing at least 3 for 4 hours each week. This is not wasted time.
- Eat properly – eat meat, vegetables and some fruit – find recipies online which allow you to make one dish and keep it in the fridge/freezer to heat up and serve with fresh vegetables. This saves time and is healthy. Your parents may not being buying you the right food, get them to.
- Do not eat or drink any surgery drinks, especially so-called ‘energy drinks’ high in sugar. These do not give you energy. Do not eat chocolate, or energy foods, such as cereal bars. These take away your energy.
- Relax – you cannot work allow the time and you must give your body down time. Find a way to relax which does not involve alcohol or drugs.
- Live life – get out and enjoy the world – if you don’t have exams upcoming then moderate alcohol intake is permissible.