This is the second article I will be making in this series. And that is all about the organisation.You may have heard of the quote ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’ Organisation is you planning out your life and clearing out your environment around you. Feeling peaceful, right? In today’s article, I will be discussing this so here are my 10 tips:

1. Keep two different planners.

Now you may be scratching your head wondering: WHY? Well, I recommend having one planner only from school where you write down all your homeworks. And then when you come home, incorporate those homeworks into your second planner which is for life. My homework planner was given by school while my life planner is my trusty bullet journal! Check out more about this here.

2. You don’t need to do back to school shopping.

This might sound very controversial bearing in mind that there are thousands of posts all about this. What I mean is you should not buy unnecessary stationery that will not help you, that your school does not require you to buy or just to make everything look Instagrammable. Focus on it being practical rather than pretty.

3. Have the essential stationery in your pencil case.

Your pencil case should contain the essential stationery. This is what you take to school. Try to also go through this pencil case weekly to avoid clutter and to replace any stationery that may get lost. 

4. Don’t be afraid to say no.

This one is for all those people-pleasers out there. You may feel guilty if you say no to your friend who asked you to use your glue stick for the sixth time this week. But the more you keep letting people use up your items, the more people will keep doing it. If you realise you are wasting money buying new stationery too often, it may be time to say no to your friends who ask for your stationery.

5. Pack your bag and tidy up your uniform the night before.

This habit is one that I stuck to from Year 7 all the way to Year 11. This saves you energy in the morning, prevents you from getting late, makes you organised and can sometimes even save you from detentions.

6. Keep your notebooks neat.

I am sure that a lot of people go through that phase where they keep stuffing worksheets in their Math book telling themselves they will stick it in ‘later’. Later never comes and they end up with a thick notebook with disorganised sheets and you may find your science worksheet in your RE notebook. To prevent your documents from getting everywhere, keep them organised by putting them in a pocket/wallet or folder or maybe sticking them into your notebook.

7. Tidy up your room every night.

This is one that many people hate to do but if you want to save yourself from procrastination, unnecessary stress, demotivation and laziness, just do it. 

8. Have your own study space.

This is crucial to differentiate between study and play. Having one designated space for your studies allows you to keep all your school things in one place so when you get ready to work, you have everything in one place. If you don’t have a desk, you could also make a study caddy that you have with you when you are ready to study.

9. Create a routine.

You may need to wait until you get your timetable but having a general outline for the morning and the evening allows you to stay productive and reduce your decision fatigue. 

10. Have a digital declutter every now and then.

It is very easy to forget about your devices when organising but remember that we spend many hours on these phones and laptops. Check your emails (personal and school) regularly and delete those that are not needed. Do the same for your photos in your phone gallery. Also, delete apps that you don’t need.

That was my article all about how to keep organised. Organisation is a crucial part of school life as it will help you to feel put together. Please share this article with anyone who is going back to school or is in secondary school!

And look out for the next article on this series. You can stay updated by subscribing to my weekly newsletter for free. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

What Are The Differences Between Normal GCSE Exams and This Year’s One?

Firstly, don’t take my word for this because every school is cooperating differently. In my school, we have been having assessments throughout the school year and some of the tests contribute to our final grade. These May exams are especially important because they have been conducted in exam conditions and therefore have high efficacy and validity. 

This is in comparison to normal years where in most subjects, 100% of your grade would depend on the final exams.

First Week of Exams:

I started my first week of exams while fasting during Ramadan so my sleep schedule was different than normal.

Monday 10th May

I had one exam: English Language Paper 2

During this exam, I learned that: 

1. Wake up at least two hours before your exams (as I felt quite sleepy during the exam)
2. Every exam has a different seating plan (so prepare well)
3. Don’t discuss about the exam before and after (I know it’s tempting but don’t do it)

I revised throughout the rest of the day.

Tuesday 11th May

On this day, it was quite disastrous. I woke up at 8:07am which was just about 30 minutes before I was supposed to be in school. I got ready and ran to school (yes while fasting) so I did feel quite tired. However, I felt much more alert and focused so from my first exam that day: Maths Paper 1, I learned that:

1. Don’t run late to your exams.
2. Do some form of light exercise before your exam (don’t run, maybe walk around a bit) to wake yourself up as it helped me.

I then went to the computer room where I stayed until my drama exam. I talked to some friends, went to the toilet, went through some drama flashcards and played a game. I did not do too much last-minute revision for this exam. My second exam was the Component 3 Drama Exam. Obviously, remember to:

1. Go to the toilet before your exam.
2. Relax to calm yourself down.

Wednesday 12th May

My school was kind enough to leave this day off for study leave with no exams allocated as there was a possibility Eid would happen on this day. I stayed at home and revised on this day.

Thursday 13th May

My school also did not have any exams on this day. Therefore, I celebrated Eid on this day! I got ready, went out for a photoshoot with my sister and mother, and then went to Bread And Oregano to try the food there. It was delicious. After that, I did some revision in the evening (because I was still a GCSE student).

Friday 14th May

Ater the celebration of Eid, my schedule changed but my exams were there waiting for me. I went to school quite early because my school kindly offered breakfast. However, I ate breakfast at home and revised in the morning leading up to my exam. The first exam I had was the Science exam (composed of Chemistry and Physics). Two lessons I learned was that:

1. Don’t revise too last-minute.
2. Eat breakfast (I did that).

After that exam, I stayed in school in the computer rooms for about an hour where I chatted to some friends and went through some RE flashcards. I then attended a RE revision session kindly held by my RE teacher and after that, my friends and I ate lunch (it wasn’t Ramadan anymore). We then did the RE exam and it was pretty good.

Saturday 15th May and Sunday 16th May 

I relaxed and also revised after my first week of exams.

Monday 17th May

I only had one exam on this day: Geography Paper. I did my geography paper and one thing i learned here was that:

1. Let yourself breathe before the exam.
2. Get rid of distractions.

For the rest of the day, I stayed at home and revised.

Tuesday 18th May

I did not have any exams on this day, so I stayed at home and revised.

Wednesday 19th May

I had two exams on this day. My first exam was the English Literature Paper 1. It was okay. One thing that I learned is that:

1. After the exam, forget about it and leave it up to God.

I then stayed in school and I again chatted to some friends, revised Spanish and ate my lunch. I then had my Spanish Paper as my second exam. I told my sister about my exam updates after school. The lesson to remember is that:

1. Talk to someone about exams and let out your feelings.

Thursday 20th May

I only had one exam on this day and that was Maths Paper 2. I did the exam and that was pretty much it. One thing I learned is that:

1. Ignore anyone’s comments on how the exam went after the exam. It will not add value to you and instead may end up making you feel stressed.

Friday 21st May

I only had one and my final ever written exam. That was my Biology Paper 2.

I attended a revision session for Biology in the morning and it really helped me. I then ate lunch, chatted to friends and then did my exam. 

1. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself during the exam.
2. Check your answers.
3. Attend revision sessions when they are offered to you.

Saturday 22nd May and Sunday 23rd May 

I mostly relaxed and had a good time. I also did some GCSE Photography work.

Monday 24th May and Tuesday 25th May

I had no exams so I went to the library with my dad, printed out my GCSE Photography work and did work on GCSE Photography. I emailed my Photography teacher and learned the updates for the exams. I also relaxed.

Wednesday 26th May

That was today! Today was my last ever exam! I had my Photography Focus day. We were each assigned our own table and from 8:30am to 2:30pm, we worked in exam conditions (with break and lunch times included). I had quite a lot of fun, doing this creative subject as my last exam. After school I chatted to my friends, took photos with them and attended my dental appointment.

So… this was my GCSE exam experience. It was really a chaotic and celebratory two weeks filled with memories and lessons. I can use this article as a memoir of how my GCSE exams went. I hope this gave you an insight on how GCSEs were for me and also some exam tips you can use for your exams. 

I am now on my holidays for the next 3 months!!!

Comment down below how your exam experiences have been.

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

Differences Between Year 11 In The Past vs. Year 11 Now

Some differences are that previously, Year 11s would not have to catch up with lots of work, would not have certain restrictions around school and also have to retake exams. Now in Year 11, my school has been focusing on doing catch-up lessons for some subjects and also there are hand sanitisers around the building. Also, we have to wear face masks outside of the classroom. For some subjects, some students are retaking exams. We also have to take our tests seriously as it may contribute to our GCSE grade if public exams get cancelled.

In my school, we are also taking mocks in January.

Workload

I have been getting a bit more work than Year 10 but it isn’t a really big difference. As there are tests that should be taken seriously, there is revision to do. The teachers are quite helpful with the work.

Social Life

My friends and I have been chatting at break times and lunchtimes and sometimes in classes and via text. When it comes to family, I do chat with my family, and they have been quite supportive in terms of helping me adjust to this new routine.

Obviously due to the COVID-19 pandemic I don’t really go too far and I am quite busy on the weekends. I have found alternatives to have fun such as working on extracurriculars and self-care. I think the holidays are a good time to really go out.

New Habits

Some new habits that I have incorporated into my life is: using my phone less, drinking more water and EXERCISE! These habits have helped me quite a lot.

Some Other Highlights

I finished my Drama Component 1 performance that my class was supposed to do months ago but due to the lockdown, we couldn’t do it earlier.

I also have finished a few tests and I am quite happy so far with the work.

We have also received our mock timetable and some people may be taking their education a bit more seriously now.

I have incorporated some things into my life as part of my self-growth journey.

Extra-Curriculars

I have nearly consistently been posting website articles on this website and also posted on my podcast ‘The Chat Library’. These have helped me to manage my time. Fun fact: a lot of people in my school know about these and some people are quite rude, while others are supportive. Just ignore the hate and look at the positives! :)))

Stress

I have dealt with some stress due to personal reasons, a bit of academia and other things. But it’s absolutely fine, everyone has low days and it is good to accept it. I am grateful for everything that I have as I do live a privileged life.

Thank you so much for clicking on this article. This was a bit of a glimpse into my life. Please remember to share this article.  

Please check out my other articles relating to Islamic content, My Experiences, Teenage Advice, Book Reviews and Poetry.

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!