HOW I SCORED TOP 2% in GCSE UK EXAMS - GRADE 9 IN EVERY SUBJECT (and how you can too!)

In this video, I reveal my secret tips and tricks into how I scored in the top 1% of GCSEs in England and how you can too! This video is incredibly in-depth and comprehensively describes everything I did which allowed me to get 9s (A*s) in everything. Be sure to like, comment and subscribe if this video helped you in any way as it really supports my channel!
#GCSE #Exams #grade9
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:18 The Grade 9 Mindset
4:27 How to Manage Time Effectively
12:18 Study like a Grade 9 Student
17:55 Key to Grade 9
21:38 Outro
Revision Timetable:
bit.ly/3eY1J9G
(Click file & make a copy)
Exam Question Hub:
Maths:
mmerevise.co.uk/
corbettmaths.com/
www.mathsgenie.co.uk/
Your official maths exam board e.g. qualifications.pearson.com/en...
English:
Mr Bruff- / @mrbruff
Mr Salles - / mrsallesteachesenglish
Stacey Reay - / @staceyreay
Science:
www.my-gcsescience.com/
www.physicsandmathstutor.com/
FAQ ✨:
How do I revise for (specific subject) - check out my playlist, I’ve made videos on every subject I’ve done • Ace your GCSES! - The ...
How do I find the specification? Search it on Google e.g. AQA GCSE Biology Specification
How do I edit your timetable template? File → create a new copy → edit that copy
Where do I get the books / flashcards you mention? Check out my storefront on Amazon www.amazon.co.uk/shop/smilewi...
What extra subjects did you do for GCSE? Triple science, Computer Science, History, RS (I can’t make videos on anything else unfortunately!)
What did you do for A Levels? Bio, Chem, RS
What were your results? GCSE - 99999998, A Levels - A*A*A*
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📸Follow me on Instagram: / smilewithsola
📩 Business inquires at [e-mail]
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👩🏾‍💻 Get to know me: I'm Sola and I'm a third-year dental student studying at Barts & the London (QMUL)! This channel is for all things productivity, lifestyle and technology! I will hopefully be providing you with motivation as well as tips and tricks to improve your day-to-day life! Follow me on this journey through dental school! 💕
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Subscriber count at the time of upload: 14,420
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🎶 Music:
- epidemic sound

[@SmileWithSola]

Hope you guys find this video helpful! If you do, be sure to check out the rest of my Grade 9 videos in this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL5VzP8nvofnapDhnpwG_KmZx1G4stkhQn

[@harryhawe8694]

I have a question in regards to the blurting method.I was thinking that maybe I should watch a video but not make any notes, then wait 10-20 mins before I blurt what I can remember then I fill in the gaps and repeat but without watching the video until I have all the main points. Does this sound like a good strategy or does this sound too time consuming?

[@franklinmmaduabuchi1613]

Please Can you teach me how you record and edit your videos

[@Happy.living161]

Pls could u do geography

[@AyzaAhsan]

thankyou sola so much!

[@powpowpow9743]

Im watching this for my mocks and also my gcses in 2023. This is really motivational and as someone who procrastinates a lot and leaves things half done, I needed this video so thank you😭

[@marthaestibeiro7879]

Me toooo

[@Anything_Slime]

E

[@wendo____O]

Samemmeeme

[@miss.humblebee9938]

Same bro

[@ahuman9882]

I have a midterm French test tomorrow. I had 3 days, but I delayed it to the last day. Now I have 5 hours to study all the damn test. FUCK

[@iseerightthroughme]

I’m in year 9 but I so desperately want to make my family proud and do well in life, so I can’t even begin to tell you how helpful this is. I know that I can do it I just need to try harder and follow this great advice 💓

[@SmileWithSola]

So glad to hear it!! Good luck x

[@ropss16]

Omg , I'm in year 9 and also want to make ny family and myself proud. We can do this 💪

[@Slayatron3000]

I just started year 10 and I feel exactly the same way we can do this!

[@justagalwhocomments]

SAME

[@alishaanimations3058]

Motivation to please others will run out!! Study for yourself - your life! Do it to make yourSELF proud💗

[@user-y1206]

Thank you so much sola! Honestly if I get an A* in my November mocks on any one of my subjects, I will be sooo grateful to you because your advice is truly life changing and I hope to honestly turn things around from procrastinating to studying effectively and stop being lazy 😄 and im so glad to have gotten my personal statement put of the way for college!

[@user-y1206]

Could you also please do a video about personal statement in general for applying to universities for dentistry and what the application process is like and the Interview stuff like that

[@MidnightzRoses]

Thanks for all your tips! I got 8 grade 9s, 1 grade 8 and 1 grade 7!

[@user-xq5hz2kq5m]

oh my god..

[@blossomdrqwss_]

That's amazing congrats

[@Sooaunii]

ASPIRING TO BE LIKE UUU

[@MidnightzRoses]

Ty all for the kind comments !! ^^ dw, if i can ace gcses anyone can, just takes a lot of work 🤞

[@bug688]

@PakDramas544 its never too early to revise. However, I would say year 10 is the perfect time to revise, and ingrain the knowledge in your head before year 11 start and the stress of exams really start to kick in.

[@SS_18_swag]

Can't wait for the vid!! :D 2022-23 Yr 11's where u all at? 😥😆

[@pinkcupcakes6153]

scared for mocks and need some motivation 😫

[@zsha6855]

Samee

[@user-y1206]

November mock exams, dont stress yourselves out 😊 and dont panic you should be revising anyways for GCSE just think of it like the mocks happen to be there to know what our weaknesses are 😉

[@quinn.j4381]

Hereeee! Revising for mocks 😫😩

[@steph2589]

@@pinkcupcakes6153 same my mocks are at the end of November 😭

[@hamnaaaa3858]

I have mocks starting in November and this is really helpful, THANK YOU!

[@teamtwobros4390]

This is a great vid! Usually if a video is more than 10 minutes i don't last 5 mins because of the waffle, however this video is just packed with motivation and detail. Thx👍

[@konekosayno1166]

Currently I'm in Year 10 and this video helps me. KZbin overwhelms with so much study content that I didn't know what to do. I'm going to begin with your video to help me manage my time effectively and study what subjects I am weak on. Thank you for making this video.

[@opeia7690]

A year 10 who's working on her time management skills here. We will do great! GCSES 2025 💪

[@doctortosin]

Such a great video. Very detailed and comprehensive! I’m sure it gonna help alot of students currently studying for GCSE

[@sophisinrecovery]

Thank you so much for this, this is so so helpful I love this series it really helps me become more motivated :)

[@myras2009]

thank you sm for these tips im going into year 10 and these are actually the most realistic and best sounding tips i have seen on the internet ❤️

[@Mokaiiscs]

Thank you so much my mocks are coming up and this video helped so much ! 💕

[@EllasTrends]

Omg thank you so much Sola!! This video was so so helpful! Currently in year 10 and these tips are so useful tytyty ❤

[@loveheartxrose]

This was very useful and informative, thank you!

[@emiliazadeh6526]

why does this only have 5k views? ur advice is so real and helpful- thank u!!!

[@pinkmivenus]

thank you so much for these videos sola

[@SmileWithSola]

aww i'm so glad to hear that! hope your mocks go well❤

[@370-nourhansamirsalama5]

Okay seriously I love you 🥺🫶🏻 thank you for this video 🥰

[@Katie06Ent]

Wow u r the only one who understands our academy struggles sola! ❤thank you and we r grateful for your videos!!

[@anne-marie3340]

This was soooo helpful!

[@dannimbee9261]

So helpful, thank you so much!

[@rica.7328]

i love your videos! this has already motivated me to start learning and i’m only in yr9

[@yukislife572]

same

[@debbiegodfrey8710]

Great video, thank you so much!

[@youngstunner747]

this video motivated me sm ! my mum and i love your vids :)

[@SmileWithSola]

So glad to hear that, thank you! 🥰

[@itzyana15]

thank you for the tips and advice, i hope my mental is ready for grade nine 🤗

[@notdani602]

Thank you, I’ll try this out ❤

[@Xoxo63418]

Honestly, need this so much! I have mocks the second week I come back from half term, and I'm already stressing and had a few meltdowns😥❤

[@SmileWithSola]

Don't stress too much over mocks! They're just a test to see where your weaknesses are right now and what you can do to improve! Hope you enjoy the video ❤

[@mads777x]

Thank you so so much, I really appreciate your video! I would just like to say your are telling the truth, I can verify that as I use those apps already:)) for me personally I will start to do more exam questions as you said, and it's just I tend to overwork myself so I will try my best to find the balance:) ☺️💖

[@blossomdrqwss_]

Doing my GCSEs next year and your videos are helping me soo much

[@someguy6157]

im doing by gcses bruh

[@blossomdrqwss_]

@@someguy6157how did it go?

[@someguy6157]

@@blossomdrqwss_ passed everything except from computer science. How about you??

[@blossomdrqwss_]

i havent done them yet lol @@someguy6157

[@spideyh7111]

SOLA I NEEDED THIS THANK YOU

[@tamar.oseni.]

This is very helpful ❤❤

[@saddovibez_5733]

I really need to change my mindset i’m trying my best! Thankyou i love your videos ❤

[@SmileWithSola]

You can do it!! Thank youu🥰

[@izzystarwars3548]

Love your videos ❤

[@then3420]

This is all great advice & information for studying.The teaching methods were so primitive when we were at school and the text books were dreadful.The books are really good now and the teaching methods are so much better. This is shown by all these fantastic grades you have got.Well done, you are a star - an A*!

[@alphayuvi_YT]

Great advice thanks

[@redqueen8806]

Thanks sis, you look beautiful and Congrats for everything ❤️💟

[@MohammadT6]

Thx love for the advice ❤❤

[@shafinbepary2000]

0:35 omg the glow up girl!

[@iamd3stiny620]

Thank you Sola!!!

[@lullaby4108]

I'm an a-level student but I'll still watch! 😁 Love your videos Sola!

[@SmileWithSola]

Aww we love to see it, thank you!

[@mrsbubblegumm]

​@@SmileWithSola i go up and down 😢😂

[@Gacha_donutt]

Thank you so much! Your videos are so helpful, honestly- the advice you give is spectacular!- much less stressed about GCSEs now , I would love if you do a video on how you got a grade 9 in GCSE computer science!

[@SmileWithSola]

Glad you enjoyed it!! That video should be coming out in November!

[@lmotekh]

currently working at grade 7s and 8s in cs, just need to learn how to revise stuff like architecture

[@spookyyt621]

An Amazing video!!, currently stressing a lot over my mocks coming up, and this half-term i done basically nothing! And my homework is also very overwhelming! I feel super stressed over the mocks since they're going to be sent to our colleges! Not sure if it's true or not, but still stressed nonetheless

[@SmileWithSola]

This sounds like just a scare tactic. I would say take it easy, see what you can do in the next few days but don't cram all night. It's not worth losing sleep over. In the grand scheme of things, mocks do not matter as much as the real exams. They're only there to see your weaknesses and to see what you should focus on before the real exam. Sure, it's nice to get a very high grade in mocks but it doesn't guarantee you getting the same in the real exam. Try your best but don't overwork yourself, you've got this!

[@ayesha_k4109]

Thankyou so much!!!

[@hutoonie1421]

I love your videos thanks!!!!

[@SmileWithSola]

Glad you like them! 🥰

[@user-dg1xm3dt2l]

This really helps bc I’m in year 9 so I needed this thank you

[@ayeshahabib7037]

Same

[@user-hu3ow7fm2y]

My numeracy exam is in 2 weeks, your videos always make me feel better and motivate me to try my best, Thank you sm! If I get the grades I want I'll defo come back to thank you from all my heart

[@zaky4993]

man said numeracy is this for sats or something? bro taking phonics too

[@DestinationX85]

@@zaky4993 🤣🤣

[@emman714]

@@zaky4993 LMAOO

[@P1hkyo]

if I get the grades I'm hoping for next year it'll all be because of you tysm 😭💕

[@Readwithmiaaa]

I'm in year 11 and STRESSING as I was previously the class clown, Just messing about!! But, I just applied for college and I really need to try this year. Thankyou for this. Lot's of love, Will update you :)

[@sumayyatasnim3182]

Thank you so much for this video, it was so informative and motivating!!! But GURL WHERE ARE YOUR LASHES FROM?? THEY LOOK AMAZING😭😍😍

[@SmileWithSola]

Unfortunately these are lash extensions but tysm 😭😭 The lashes I normally wear (like the one in my how I made my notes vid) are here: amzn.to/3zJ3Sx4

[@Joel-ez2gw]

Thank you so much!

[@Joel-ez2gw]

Helps a tremendous amount. ❤️🙏🏾💪🏾

[@joshuaowusu2362]

I need this urgently!!!

[@cherrysist4942]

I hope ever child listens to this , POSITIVE . Your worth it and YOU can do it . STOP ,PLEASE STOP LISTERNING TO ANY NEGATIVE WORDS , EVEN IN YOUR HEAD . I can't state this enough sola is great .

[@cherrysist4942]

Growing up we were extremely poor (my family ) . Someone like sola ,the advice would have turned my life around by the time I left school .

[@SubliminalSaoo]

Happy I randomly stumbled into this video!

[@Happy.living161]

THANK U SO MUCH

[@TheHas73]

Already know this vid is gonna answer all my questions :)

[@ducksquackz4999]

Genuinely appreciate your effort thank you for putting this together, a question, did you take the core components or extended?

[@SmileWithSola]

Im not too sure what you mean but I did do triple science which is three separate GCSEs. Everything else was standard 9-1

[@nevepercival2829]

Weren’t there only like 11 ppl that got that kinda grade? Congrats that so cool!

[@SmileWithSola]

Tysm!!

[@spacejunki]

got mocks next week and i’m kinda scared but thank you for this video!

[@Kerahan]

How was it

[@docomocco1396]

even tho I am not GCSE student, I found these tips really amazing

[@kimaya.3563]

same Im a CSEC student (basically caribbean GCSE) and she helps me so much!

[@birdieceres7839]

Thank you ❤

[@RethanB]

Thank you so much i am 14 yrs old and dumb , I failed every single exam from year 3 to the start of year 10 2023 I made a new years resolution to start studying. And everything u said in that video was so correct because it feels like u think like me even thoe u dont know me.

[@ItsSpringyYT]

I hope your studying is going well :)

[@libby8044]

thank you sm :))

[@MotivationalxSounds]

Omgg can’t wait Do a separate vid on gcse computer science as well Struggling 😭

[@SmileWithSola]

I've already recorded this video it's coming soon! :)

[@joshuaowusu2362]

Same

[@joshuaowusu2362]

Paper 2 is the worst

[@MotivationalxSounds]

@@SmileWithSola omg thank you sm! ❤

[@MotivationalxSounds]

@@joshuaowusu2362 fr idk how others find it so easy 😭

[@vitalievlandrescu5240]

Sola, You're so Amazing 👏!! U got Grade 9 in all of Your Subjects 🙌! You're just a Godsent!! Phenomenal 👏👏! What Year was The Moment When You Had Your RESULTS DAY 🤔🤔, cuz I Really Wanna Know it !!

[@Will.Wilkens]

Amazing video Thankyou!! How much revision did you do in year 11?

[@SmileWithSola]

Probs 1-2 hours a day with a rest day, when it came very close to exams I did up to 3 hours doing exam papers

[@savagesaf]

I have mocks soon and GCSEs in 2024 so this is very helpful thank you

[@enochcore]

how was your mocks?

[@savagesaf]

@@enochcore they were very good thank you 😊

[@tiannak9908]

ahh i’m so excited, it’s already giving my motivation :))

[@user-eh2dc9wz4t]

This is really helpful as I am gradually getting closer to my mock GCSE. To be honest, I was actually quite scared, but your revision techniques motivated me to revise more. Again, thank you so much for these videos, I really appreciate☺them.

[@SmileWithSola]

Glad I could help!

[@LifewithBethel]

Love ur videos I’m having my mocks in January😭

[@SmileWithSola]

You've got this!! x

[@peter_ade]

Hi, could you possibly do content on how to get A*s at a-level please?

[@zelyn5557]

Year 9 and im getting 5s and 6s but i rlly want to get a 9 in gsce, so helpful thanks

[@sarbjitkaur3180]

I’m in YR 7 but I still like watching these-

[@jeshlynanjotheballer]

good vid tbf

[@igreenonyomamma6326]

I have my mocks in 3 weeks for gcse, I’m aiming for 7’s not too troubled about 9’s

[@ayomideakinwumiju605]

I have been using anki and its been amazing to be honest

[@oliviataylor3180]

Can you please do a video on a revision schedule for after school and the holidays and how to do active recall on a revsion schedule! Thank you

[@okay5548]

can you please make a video on tips on work experience

[@saanvi8064]

Thanks for this video and the tips you gave us. it gave me an idea of what to do slightly. But honestly what if you came in the mid of year 10 new to the school, new to GCSE’S and don’t know what the hell is going on because you don’t know much about it or what’s it going to be about. It took me time to learn about it and now I do know it, but I feel like it’s too late to even improve cause I’m already in year 11 and my school was different I was doing IB (completely different to GCSE). I’m just finding everything so difficult and don’t know where to start? Could you please reply to this and give me some tips? I think I’m weak at most subjects.. like biology the marks schemes are too specific and I get most answers wrong in a test? 😭

[@SmileWithSola]

Hiya, I think you should continue to learn and revise the content as it is being taught to you so you don't fall behind. However, maybe every week you can focus on a topic from year 10 that you didn't understand, make sure you make good flashcards on it and then do a 'test' at the end of week (exam questions) to make sure you understand it. Anything you don't understand even after using the mark scheme then go to the teacher and ask for help. I'm sure they will be understanding since you're new to the school. Hope this helps, good luck!

[@saanvi8064]

Thank you! I will try my best. I think this would be only necessary for subjects like maths, science’s, english, computer science etc. (also I’m finding difficulties on computer science could you do a video on that?) I have mocks on November 28th and I think I won’t do so well in computer science I have never done it. So I’m still at basics while others in my class are a bit ahead? Rn I need to start everything from the beginning! It’s so stressful? How did you cope? For example I’m completely unsure of programming?

[@estherowl8075]

@@saanvi8064 I got 12 9s at GCSE last year so I feel a little bit qualified to help you here :) first I'd say some subjects, like computer science, are not as important as others, especially if you've never done them before! focus on maths, english and sciences (and any other subjects you love) because they will be the ones employers will look at/you might carry on to college/sixth form. focus on getting the basics solid - I remember my physics teacher was so rubbish I understood nothing so I re-taught myself the entire first year for my mocks, then after November I ramped up the focus on the second year content now I had a solid base. subjects are cumulative - that is, they build on what you (should) already know. in maths, for example, you can't do trigonometry if you can't divide! Like Sola says, go to your teachers, go to clinics/boosters if your school offers them, and focus on what's important using the methods in the video, even if it's for y10 content!

[@carterowen1734]

thank you for the cideo

[@aroojnisar]

im in yr 10 and really stressed and I want to get the top marks tysm for this

[@fivestarmichelin0809]

off topic but you're really pretty :)

[@SmileWithSola]

Thank you so much 😊💕

[@eunbibi12]

I have my mocks on the 14th of November and I feel so un motivated i hope I will do well I will try your advice!

[@SmileWithSola]

You've got this! Let me know how it goes 👍

[@eunbibi12]

@@SmileWithSola Yes I will! God bless you

[@Xxxkska]

4 months before GCSEs start. I can finish all my content for subjects by the end of February and then 3 months of past papers, etc 😢

[@mygcsemaths]

Perfect plan! Hope it's going well 😃

[@Emily-wn4vd]

Hey, for the aqa specifications, how did you get the changes for 2022? I just have the 2015 specifications. Thanks!!

[@SmileWithSola]

The 2015 specification is fine! There's no changes for 2022.

[@user-el8pf8of4p]

How do you review and revise over a past topic? Shall I do flashcards then check over what I'm not clear on and then do practice tests?

[@SmileWithSola]

See how confident you are in it, if not confident at all then review flashcards, if 50% confident then do exam questions and make flashcards on your weakest points.

[@mtisboss2775]

Hi, how are Exam Questions effective if you dont understand the question or the topic, when going through the paper? What would you do?

[@SmileWithSola]

They aren't effective if you don't understand the topic. I would recommend to be at least 70% confident in the topic before starting exam questions. You can do this through videos, exam paper walkthroughs, etc.

[@_tn_5350]

I have mocks science tomorrow and icl I have been stressed this whole week.I woke up at 6:30am today to revise

[@SmileWithSola]

Hope it goes well! Try not to burn yourself out! Remember that mocks are just a way to see your weaknesses before the real exam.

[@afk571]

I have to do igcse exams in year 10 for bio and Chen and Arabic so I really need help because I came in the middle of the school semester

[@vitalievlandrescu5240]

For GCSE English, I'd Also Suggest the Channel: "Mr. Everything English" n "First Rate Tutors"

[@tomscamera4553]

Hello, I’m starting year 10 in September. What do you think I should do to prepare? ;]

[@_wincore_]

TYSM- LIFESAVERRRR

[@fionajomon3029]

what do you rank the subjects between ??

[@dxstopia]

heyy! is it alright if i ask how to effectively revise maths and what i need to do to learn topic i often forget? do videos help? and where do i find practice questions? thankss

[@SmileWithSola]

Watch my maths video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3uonJ2rg56kgJY&lc=UgzsCAJ8aY9DDxfvuB54AaABAg&ab_channel=SmileWithSola

[@dxstopia]

@@SmileWithSola thank you

[@Ilostmysleepforthis]

I’m watching this for my brother because he has been very stressed for his GCSEs 😭

[@sanariaissa5333]

biology mocks in less than five days guys pray xxx

[@akshayaiynharran419]

Hey , when do you recommend to start doing past papers and exam questions as i am in year 10 x

[@SmileWithSola]

Start doing exam questions as soon as possible, leave past papers for when you've almost completed the content so year 11.

[@navyabajpai6946]

pleaseee post a video about english literature

[@SmileWithSola]

Already got one in my channel - check out the ace your exams playlist!

[@louiselaera3649]

Hey does the revision time count if you’re revising towards topic tests/homework during the year?

[@SmileWithSola]

Yep that counts, all of it helps you for your final exam!

[@louiselaera3649]

@@SmileWithSola thank you☺️

[@schoolaccount7367]

How can you sort topics by hardest to easiest when you have not done them in school yet? I'm at the start of year 10 so have not covered much of the exam spec yet so should I just go over the stuff i have done?

[@SmileWithSola]

Yeah just sort the topics you've done and start to learn new topics by yourself so you can finish quicker!

[@pinkrose7708]

@@SmileWithSola Hey, I haven't gone to school for over three years and I just joined the last two months of grade nine. My exams are on December 2nd I'm really lacking motivation to study cause of the stress(I haven't been homeschooled either) Is there any way to take note and have fun while studying?

[@SmileWithSola]

@@pinkrose7708 Hi! I made a video on motivation that I think you'll find very helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX2lpWSVd5ynZ80

[@szcretac]

Hi Sola! I am trying to do your timetable structure but I am not understanding ( I am doing 14hrs for 9 subjects). How do i distubrute my subjects? Because my 9th subject in Eng Lit and does that mean I have to do 14hrs for it????

[@SmileWithSola]

So I basically divide the hours by the subjects to get the units. 14 / 9 = 1.5hours, so now i have 9 lots of 1.5 to work with. If I find history really easy i can assign it a 1 =1.5hours, maths really hard so a 3=4.5 hours. overall you need to make it back up to the 9 lots of 1.5. hope this makes more sense

[@szcretac]

@@SmileWithSola makes much sense now! So not all 9 subjects will fit into a one week timetable, I get it. Every week I have to add my hours of study to 14hrs.

[@szcretac]

@@SmileWithSola Thank you Sola.