Top Revision Tips

It might be exam season but never fear – here are some top revision tips from ThinkForward’s own Education Adviser, Amy Butterworth:

1 – Time Management: HONESTY + CONTROL = POWER.

If you’re HONEST about what you need to do (eg. 1 hour of revision), you can CONTROL when you do it (eg. Ok, I can do it the hour before dinner), and THEN YOU HAVE THE POWER.

 

 

 

 

 

2 – But always keep your Golden Circle in focus:

Fill in WHAT goal you want to achieve (eg. Your future job, essay practice, qualification you want to get), then HOW will you achieve it (eg. get a C in Maths, sit down and focus, ask teacher for advice), and most importantly WHY YOU WANT THIS (eg. So I can make a difference, I can buy mum that house, I never have to do Maths again). Then, whenever you’re lacking in motivation, you can look at your Golden Circle, to that red bit in the middle, that is the beating heart of your motivation, and the reason why you’re doing this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 – STEP 1 – BEING HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Think about where you feel POWERFUL in your subjects, and where you need to make IMPROVEMENTS. Spend most of your time (eg. 50 minutes) on your improvements, and then finish with a quick 10 minutes on where you’re REALLY GOOD ALREADY. Keeps up your ego.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4  – Set yourself a REALISTIC TIMELINE (and be sure to use pretty colours!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 – The 15 min rule:

You can do anything in 15 minutes. If you’re flagging, or you can’t be bothered, or you don’t have time, set your timer to 15 minutes and keep going until the end. One of two things will happen: you’ll be able to have a break after doing some good focussed work, or you’ll get in the groove and keep going longer. Either way, you’ve done 15 more minutes than you’d thought, which is amazing. And those people who do those extra 15 minutes, end up clocking up HOURS OF GREATNESS (Think about it: just 15 minutes of Maths every day is 1hour 45 minutes a week!)

ThinkForward launches new film

ThinkForward has changed so much in the past year and, as Demi says in our new short film, “the sky is the limit”. In 2016, we have:

  • supported 1,152 young people and 84% are in education or employment upon graduation
  • launched for the first time outside London in four new schools in Nottingham
  • been recognised in parliament as an example of best practice in preventing youth unemployment

Help us to empower more young people like Demi by watching and sharing her short film.

 

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week

This week to celebrate National Careers and Apprenticeship Week we sat down with ThinkForward’s three apprentices, Nargis, Aaliyah and Justas.

  • What made you want to apply for an apprenticeship?

I applied to be a ThinkForward apprentice as I wanted to gain more maturity by working with people who had experience in what I wanted to do. Being a ThinkForward participant when I was in school, I was really excited when the opportunity to join the ThinkForward team came up. Working for ThinkForward I know that I’m helping others and actually making a difference – Justas.

Being an apprentice is not easy. Making sure you’re on top of work and school is a challenge. But I knew I wanted to apply for an apprenticeship after my sister completed one and I saw how great it was for her career and how it opened up so many job opportunities in what she wanted to work in – Aaliyah.

  • If you had one piece of advice for others thinking about doing an apprenticeship, what would it be?

Working for ThinkForward has had an amazing impact on my mindset and my life. Somewhere along the journey this experience became more than just a job but became a passion and something I absolutely love doing. It has also opened a lot of doors for me and prepared me for my future career – Nargis.

An apprenticeship gives you so many good experiences and opportunities. I am learning from my mistakes and so many things from my colleagues too  – Justas.