With the summer holidays now in full force, thousands of teens across the UK will soon be preparing for the big jump from GCSE to A Level. However, as school disruptions have been more prevalent than ever in the last 12 months, it is likely that this leap will feel even more overwhelming and difficult to navigate.

In light of this, leading EdTech platform MyTutor hosted a webinar called “Stepping up to A Level”, and were joined by 2 speakers – Maryam, a Geography with Spanish graduate from London School of Economics, and Hannah Wallace, the Assistant Head of 6th Form at Ash Green School in Coventry. You can find the link to the webinar recording here.

Here are 6 key takeaways from the webinar on how to help your teen to transition from GCSE to A Level smoothly:

1. Make the most of study periods – from the beginning!
One of the biggest challenges teens face whilst going from studying their GCSE’s to A Levels is time management and becoming more independent. During A Levels, you’re expected to do a lot of your own research to find answers so teens are given a lot more free time. Getting your teen to stay in school during their free periods is super important as they can reach out to teachers when they need help and also ask what your strengths and weaknesses are, so they know exactly what they need to focus on. The school environment is great for studying as seeing other people working around you can help increase motivation.

2. When the new term starts, find the revision methods that really work for them
One of the biggest challenges of A Levels is learning how to narrow all the information you’ve learned down to what’s most relevant when answering exam questions. Despite taking in so much during the course, with the limited time in exams, it’s unlikely teens will be able to jot everything down. A great revision technique for teens is writing down past paper questions on a word document and working through them. There are only so many ways they will rephrase the exam question – by the time it comes to the exam, teens should be in a much stronger position to be able to tackle what they ask.

3. Use the summer holidays to get into the right mindset
The summer holidays (especially this one) is an important time to chill out after your GCSE’s. Teens should take care of their wellbeing by relaxing, spending time with family and friends and do the things they enjoy. If your teen is feeling worried about what’s to come when they start their A Levels, going on the exam board site and reading through the course specification will give more of an understanding of what the course will entail and what kind or topics they will cover.

4. Know that schools and universities are aware of the pandemic too!
Lots of teens will be feeling that their GCSE’s didn’t go as planned as a result of the pandemic. They might not be feeling as prepared to do their A Levels as they might be had they had their full GCSE experience the year before. However, they should remember that A Level teachers are fully prepared to help out as they understand that students’ performances might be lower than normal.As well as that, UCAS and prospective universities are also fully aware of the situation teens have been in – so try not to panic! Your teen should remember that they’re not alone and they shouldn’t feel they need to suffer in silence.

If they’ve got some big learning gaps and would feel a lot better going over them, MyTutor are offering a summer programme of 5-day group courses and drop-in tutorials to help teens do just that. As well as courses at GCSE level, they can also pick from 9 subjects from our Stepping up to A Level courses to help them get to the best starting point before the new term kicks off. Courses cost from just £12/tutorial and drop-in tutorials are free of charge. You can check out the full MyTutor Groups summer programme here.

5. Encourage teens to ask for help
The jump from GCSE to A Level can be overwhelming due to the newfound pressure of independent study. If it there is a subject you feel you’re not enjoying, it’s a good idea to get your teen to review it after a while and see if it’s for them, as well as talk to their teacher from the outset. Tutors and teachers are there to reassure you and also offer support.

6. Prioritise their wellbeing
Most importantly, make sure your teen doesn’t forget to look after themselves during their A Levels. Maintaining hobbies and traditions, as well as socialising with friends and family, is vital for mental wellbeing and giving teens a break from their studies. Sticking to a routine, such as having a regular night routine and eating healthily, can also help to provide structure during the day. A happy mind will mean teens will be in a happy place as they work through their A Levels, which will make them much more likely to do their best.

Bertie Hubbard, CEO of MyTutor comments on the difficulties faced by school children during the pandemic:

“The last 18 months have been unbelievably tough year on teens and parents alike with months out of school, exam cancellations, not seeing friends and worrying about Covid-19. With schools open again, catching up on lost learning and prepping for assessed work this term will bring another set of challenges for teens.

“They’re in more need than ever for some support and reassurance with their studies, and that’s exactly what our tutors offer. Our tutors are all from UK universities, and because they’re just a few years older they can easily relate to what teens are going through. With their dedicated one-to-one support, teens get some much-needed reassurance and come out with a stronger self-belief – 88% say that lessons made them feel more confident.”