Equipped with a new bag, pencil case and, I can imagine, a hefty dose of nervousness, you arrive at Sixth Form to begin your quest for A-Levels.
It seems like a normal school day, but wait, what is this?
In your timetable, gaps. Gaps between lessons. You have free time! Time to do with whatever you wish. How grown up.
Hold on, though. This could be a trick. You must decide how to use your free time carefully. What will you do? Will you...
[[go to the common room, order some food and chat with friends?]]
[[go out of school and out for lunch, enjoy the sights and sounds of...well, Swad?]]
[[or go and sit in the study room, get out some work and try to get it finished?]]
Choose wisely. The decisions you make may have consequences...Ahh, what a fine way to relax after a hard morning of classes. You buy for yourself a slice of pizza (I'd also recommend the litte fairy cakes, the ones they do on...I think it's Tuesdays and Thursdays) and sink into a chair alongside your equally pizza-eating friends. Time to go on ChatSnap or TikkleTokkle or whatever it is you young people do nowadays.
A-Levels can be difficult. There's a lot of stress involved sometimes and giving yourself time to unwind is very sensible.
If they're taking the same classes, it's also a good idea to talk about school work with your friends. Asking one another questions, swapping ideas and just generally discussing your subject is, believe it or not, a useful tool for learning. That hour you spend in the common room might actually help you finally get your head around something, or at least reassure you that you're not the only one who doesn't get it.
Nevertheless, there's still that homework to do. And what about revision? Your next [[big decision]] could be vitalAnd why not? Alongside fascinating subjects, opportunities to study degrees and take apprenticeships, and amazing, dedicated teachers who spend hours and hours making amazingly fun games for you to play on your induction day, even though the stupid website doesn't work and this laptop keeps crashing and now even my cup of coffee has gone cold because I'm to busy...ahem...alongside all of those things, being allowed to leave school is one of the many privileges of being at Pingle Sixth Form.
Plus, after a difficult morning of learning, it's important to relax. A-Levels can be stressful. If you're truly going to be successful, you need to strike the right balance between studying and socialising. So head into town, treat yourself to something from Greggs. Apparently the vegan sausage rolls taste just like the real thing, although personally I wouldn't know -- I prefer a steak bake.
Finished? Full of energy and pastry? Time to go back to school before your lessons start. But oh no! All that homework, you haven't even started it. Looks like you've got a long evening ahead. Let's hope you can catch up before you have to make your next [[big decision]]Wise choice, wise choice. If you've got work to do for school, why not do it in the time when you're at school? Use those free periods to finish your homework. If you've just finished a lesson and you're not sure about something you were taught, you can could also use the free time to revise. Mr Smith is in the study room all day, every day, and whether it's homework, revision or just coming up with some ideas for how to study better outside of school, he's there to help. So use those free periods to come and finish some work. Not only does it mean that, when you finish school for the day, you'll probably have everything done and you'll be able to just go home and relax. If you use the study room, you'll always have someone there to help you, making that work a lot easier.
You've found a good balance between work and relaxation. Well done. When it comes to doing well and completing A-Level Quest, this is vital.
But I wonder...will you do so well on your next [[big decision]]?With your first day completed, your A-Level Quest continues. You play it smart and make the right choices. You don't miss lessons. You make sure you're on time for form every day. You finish homework before the deadline. Impressive. Well done. At this rate you'll unlock -- DUN DUN DUN -- the Good ending.
Oh yes, there are multiple endings to A-Level Quest and only by making the right decisions can you reach the Good one, where you achieve your target grades, get onto the course or apprenticeship you wanted and become Earth's greatest hero. Well, maybe not Earth's greatest hero, but still, you know, pretty good.
But before that, another great challenge awaits.
See, being at Sixth Form isn't all about school work and grades. You start when you're 16. You finish when you're 18. A lot can happen in those two years. You're going to grow up, start to see the world differently -- life is not always going to be easy. So, Pingle Student, when the going gets tough, when you're struggling with something in your life or with how you feel, what are you going to do? Are you going to...
[[talk to someone? A friend? A parent? A teacher]]?
[[or soldier on, try to continue like nothing is wrong and work through your problems by yourself]]?This is a difficult decision to make. Even if you want to talk with someone about how you're doing, you might worry that you're burdening them, or that you're taking time out of their day and putting your problems onto them when they have their own problems to deal with.
Nevertheless, opening up and sharing how you are, and any issues you're having, is a fundamental part of getting through your A-Levels -- to be honest, it's a fundamental part of getting through life. The school work, the homework, the revision, thinking about the future, all of this is stressful enough on its own. If you add personal issues into the mix, you've got a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and defeated. We don't want that, and so even though to begin with it might feel like the wrong decision, talking to someone is the right thing to do. For some of you this someone might be your parents. For others, your friends. But your teachers are here for you as well. We know that passing A-Levels and making it through adolescence is about more than just doing classwork. So if there's something going on that's getting in the way of learning, speak to your form tutor, or any other teacher you feel like you can share with.
Talking is incredibly important. The key is moderation. As well as being open about how you're feeling and accepting the help that is offered, you need to focus on work and keep being productive: if you're stressed about school, and then spend all your time stressing about school but not doing anything about it, then school is going to become more stressful. Since you made the right decision this time, I'll let you in on a little secret...
There's a cheat you can use to get the A-Level Quest Good ending. It's called [[balance]]If you've got something going on, and you can solve it yourself without it affecting your work or your health or how you feel, then good for you. Sometimes we're able to do this.
But if you insist on that "soldier on" mentality, no matter what's going on in your life, and try to do everything completely in isolation, you may well find yourself struggling more and feeling worse. A lot of people get it into their heads that staying silent and trying to deal with everything on their own is "strong"; that keeping your emotions inside and all your problems to yourself is what takes real strength. Actually, though, it takes a lot more courage to open up to people. If you want to stay quiet because you're determined to be strong, maybe reconsider. Facing your problems takes a lot more guts than ignorning them. Everyone goes through a tough time and although you might be worried that people will judge you if you speak out about yourself, chances are they've got something they want to speak about, too. They're just not ready yet.
As your teachers, we're primarily here to help you achieve your grades and reach the next step of your education. But we understand that this takes more than classwork, homework and revision: if you're not doing enough work of course that will be a problem, but likewise, if you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders, you're obviously going to struggle and we need to do something about that as well. Whether it's your form tutor, Ms Wilson, Mrs Goodwin or Mr Smith, or any teacher you feel you can share with, if you're having a tough time, try to be open about it. We have a lot of advice to offer you and we can also help connect you to various professional services. Help is available, and willing. If you need it, make sure you access it.
It's this mentality, of balancing your personal and school lives, that is the key to A-Level Quest's Good ending. Let's see if you can put it [[into practice->balance]]Time. Health. Responsibilities. There is a lot you have to manage throughout A-Level Quest, a lot of plates you have to keep spinning.
For some people, though, the biggest plate of all is money. In the past, all you really needed was a few quid to buy sweets. But now you're getting older. Driving lessons. Going out. New clothes. A car. Insurance. Petrol. All these new and hidden expenses just waiting to jump out on you and grab your hard-earned Sterlings.
And at the same time as trying to save up and buy the things you want, you've got school and the pressure of exams. Take a part-time job and put in too many hours, and all of a sudden you're behind on school. Throw all your energy into studying and learning, and, whoops, you don't have enough for that Friday night out with your friends. There's no easy answer. But imagine this, and imagine what you would do.
It's Friday afternoon. You're about to finish school for the weekend, but you have a whole piece of coursework to complete before Monday and you haven't even started it. Just as you get home, your boss calls you: someone's gone off ill and they want you to come into work tonight and tomorrow. Next month, you're planning a big night out with your friends and you know you'll need some money. You've got your driving theory test coming up as well, and you have to pay for it.
But still, there's that coursework...
So, what do you do? How do you balance schoolwork, your part-time job and getting the things you want? Do you...
[[go into work. You need the money to go out next month and feel like you deserve to have some fun. Your teachers will just have to wait for the coursework. If you get in trouble, so be it]]
[[or stay home, focus on school and sacrifice that night out with your friends. Maybe you can figure out some different, extra hours with your boss. If not, too bad. School comes first]]?
[[
Everyone needs money, right? School is one thing, but if you're all work and no play then what kind of life is that? You'll make it up later. Couple of shifts this weekend, pocket some cash then blitz the coursework out on Sunday evening. No problem.
But think about what that's doing to you. Think about how much strain that's putting you under. A full week of school, two shifts at work, then a whole day doing more school? You can't keep that up. Plus, that coursework isn't going to be much good. I mean, I'm not one to judge -- I am merely your humble guide through your A-Level Quest -- but I know teachers and I know they can tell when something's been done right and something's been chucked together last minute because you spent all weekend flipping burgers. They might go easy on you, give you some extra time -- they're nice like that. But that just means you've got to do it later on. That just means you're putting if off.
It's a tough one. It's a real tough one. But it's exactly the kind of problem that life at Sixth Form may throw at you. Big or small, you've got a lot of decisions to make in the next two years. You won't get it right every time -- no-one does. The important thing is that you just keep making decisions. Don't let life carry you away. Don't give up and just let things happen. Keep trying to do what's right and if you feel like you could have done better, just try again next time. That's the best way to build [[your future]]I'm going to be honest, I'm a bit biased here. After all, this isn't 'Part-Time Job Quest' or 'Earning Enough Money So You Can Afford to Get Wrecked in Wetherspoons Quest': this is A-Level Quest, and if you're choosing to stay at home and study, for me that's probably a good thing.
But you might remember what I said about balance. Going out, buying stuff, working a part-time job might not GET YOU SOMEWHERE in the same sense that A-Levels will -- you don't need to have done any of this stuff to get into university or get an apprenticeship. But without having a little fun, without taking a break from school and seeing life from a different angle every now and then, you're going to struggle. Focusing on your homework is great. Getting everything done before deadlines, and to a high standard, that's even better. But don't forget to be young sometimes. It'll make you a happier student and a happier student is almost always a better student. Remember: balance.
That might be the most important lesson you learn throughout all of A-Level Quest, the one that could have the biggest impact on [[your future]]Ok, let's speed it up a bit. Some quick fire questions.
Do you prefer [[working with your hands]] or [[working with your mind->working with your hands]]?Uh-huh, uh-huh. Interesting.
Ok, so if you had to choose one, and just one, of the following, which would you choose?
[[Doing something you love and getting paid an okay, but not great amount for it]]?
[[doing something you don't really like and getting but a decent salary->Doing something you love and getting paid an okay, but not great amount for it]]?
[[or doing something you can't stand but getting paid loads->Doing something you love and getting paid an okay, but not great amount for it]]?
Wow, really? No-one ever picks that.
Ok, last question. It's 7 AM on Monday morning. By some cosmic influence, you're allowed to decide how you want to spend the day. Starting from 8 o'clock and finishing at 5, would you rather...
[[go to work]]
or [[go to school]]?Let me just...count up here. Question one, question two, question three...uh-huh. Interesting...
Okay! Judging from your answers I'd say there are three different things you could be thinking about doing after you finish Sixth Form. Oh yes, we're looking that far ahead. A whole two years from now. The distant future. Spooky.
The first thing for you to consider would be an apprenticeship. If you want to leave school and start earning money right away, while also picking up the skills to work in industries like business, engineering, manufacturing, marketing and a whole load of others, this may be the route for you. If you like doing practical work instead of book learning and want to get started with a career as soon as possible, an apprenticeship is a good call. At Sixth Form, you'll get plenty of opportunities to meet with business owners, apply for apprenticeship schemes and build your application. Work hard for it, and by the time you finish your A-Levels you'll have the first stage of your career ready and waiting.
The second thing would be a degree apprenticeship. They're new, but you've probably heard of them already. These offer a good mix between school and on-the-job-type learning, and like apprenticeships they're available across a lot of different industries. Let's say you're doing a degree apprenticeship in graphic design -- good for you. Typically, you'll spend three days out of your week working at a graphic design company, learning some practical skills and what your job is actually going to be like, while also earning a bit of money, and then two days out of the week at a university learning theory and sitting some exams. By the time you've finished, you'll have a degree but also a lot of real-world experience, the perfect mix. Degree apprenticeships are hard to get into. But this is Pingle. If we want something we're going to get it. You'll get all the help you need
A third and final option (so many choices!) would be a degree. The kind of work you'll be doing and the ways you'll be assessed will be similar to school -- coursework, exams -- but the style of learning is very, very different. It's much more independent and about what YOU want to do. And you can take degrees in basically anything; whatever career you want to eventually enter, there's a degree out there for you. Applying for university can be a tricky process, but from talking you through what you'd like to study and where to helping you apply for student finance, we'll guide you through it every step of the way.
A-Level Quest isn't always easy. Having a clear idea of what you want to do and why can make those long days, the ones where you really can't be bothered, go a lot quicker -- if you know what this is all about, all this hard work, and why you're doing it, it can really help to keep you focused. And focus is important, especially if you want to defeat...[[the final boss]]Let me just...count up here. Question one, question two, question three...uh-huh. Interesting...
Okay! Judging from your answers I'd say there are three different things you could be thinking about doing after you finish Sixth Form. Oh yes, we're looking that far ahead. A whole two years from now. The distant future. Spooky.
The first thing for you to consider would be a degree. The kind of work you'll be doing and the ways you'll be assessed will be similar to school -- coursework, exams -- but the style of learning is very, very different. It's much more independent and about what YOU want to do. And you can take degrees in basically anything; whatever career you want to eventually enter, there's a degree out there for you. Applying for university can be a tricky process, but from talking you through what you'd like to study and where to helping you apply for student finance, we'll guide you through it every step of the way.
The second thing would be a degree apprenticeship. They're new, but you've probably heard of them already. These offer a good mix between school and on-the-job-type learning, and like apprenticeships they're available across a lot of different industries. Let's say you're doing a degree apprenticeship in graphic design -- good for you. Typically, you'll spend three days out of your week working at a graphic design company, learning some practical skills and what your job is actually going to be like, while also earning a bit of money, and then two days out of the week at a university learning theory and sitting some exams. By the time you've finished, you'll have a degree but also a lot of real-world experience, the perfect mix. Degree apprenticeships are hard to get into. But this is Pingle. If we want something we're going to get it. You'll get all the help you need
A third and final option (so many choices!) would be an apprenticeship. If you want to leave school and start earning money right away, while also picking up the skills to work in industries like business, engineering, manufacturing, marketing and a whole load of others, this may be the route for you. If you like doing practical work instead of book learning and want to get started with a career as soon as possible, an apprenticeship is a good call. At Sixth Form, you'll get plenty of opportunities to meet with business owners, apply for apprenticeship schemes and build your application. Work hard for it, and by the time you finish your A-Levels you'll have the first stage of your career ready and waiting.
A-Level Quest isn't always easy. Having a clear idea of what you want to do and why can make those long days, the ones where you really can't be bothered, go a lot quicker -- if you know what this is all about, all this hard work, and why you're doing it, it can really help to keep you focused. And focus is important, especially if you want to defeat...[[the final boss]]From your first day of A-Level Quest to your last, they will follow you, they will haunt you...
They go by many names. The Dreaded. The Feared. The Really *&£**! Annoying. You know what I'm talking about. I can't say it out loud, so I'll spell it for you. E. X. A. M. S. Got it? Ssssssh! They'll hear you.
Ok, this is it. The final confrontation. If you're going to defeat these things, you've got to make one last decision, and it's got to be correct -- I'm not going to lie here; get this wrong and it's game over.
Exams -- ah, damn, I said it! -- look frightening but if you play things smart then there's a way you can absolutely batter them. You just need to revise properly. You got that? Make sure you take exams seriously and do some real revision. I don't have much time to explain. They're coming. But you have three choices. For your own sake, I hope you make the right one.
[[About two months before the exams, choose one day out of the week and use it to do loads of revision. Look at every subject and spend hours on it]]
[[About a year before the exams, start doing a small amount every day, on one subject at a time]]
[[About a month before the exams, start cramming revision like mad. Make it your life. Give up everything else and just revise, revise, revise]]
It sounds sensible, doesn't it? Using the same day every week, packing your mind full of as much information as possible. I can't blame you for trying.
But if you try to revise this way you're going to quickly burn out and none of that information is going to get anywhere near your brain.
You're lucky. There's still time. Go back and [[try again->the final boss]]The seed becomes the tree. The first drop of water becomes the thunderstorm. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. And so on.
Yes, by doing something small every day -- just an hour on a single part of a single subject -- and doing it well in advance of your exams, you're doing perfect revision, and perfect revision is how you win at A-Level Quest.
You may not know how to revise right now. There will be times, while you're studying, that you feel like you have no idea. But we'll show you. Sixth Form is about independent study and taking your learning into your own hands, but we're not just going to chuck you a load of work and leave you to it. We're here to build those skills, to teach you how to teach yourself. Once you get the hang of that, and you will, that dreaded final boss, The Exams, will look like a puppy.
Well, would you look at the time. All that learning, all those decisions, and two years has just flown by. I wonder, what kind of [[ending]] did you unlock? Oh, if only. If only A-Levels were that simple.
Many have tried this way. All have failed. Don't become like them.
You're lucky. There's still time. Go back and [[try again->the final boss]]They might not have always been exactly right. They definitely won't have been easy. But you kept on making decisions. You didn't let school or work or any of those other pressures just take you over. You tried to do the right thing, and even when you felt like you hadn't, you resolved to try again next time.
This is how you get the Good ending at A-Level Quest: keep making choices, accept the advice you're being offered and do not give in. Well done. I'm proud of you. Well, I'm sort of proud of myself as well -- I mean, you wouldn't have done it without such an amazing, knowledgeable, hilarious guide, but I'm proud of you, too.
A-Level Quest is a long journey, but you've clearly got what it takes. I hope we'll see you here in September when it will be time for the [[real thing...]]
Thank you for playing A-Level Quest!
If you have any questions, then ask Mr Smith or any of the other teachers you meet today and they'll be happy to answer.