husseinhosny-blog

[husseinhosny-blog]

Hey guys, so I’m nearing the end of my senior year, and it’s been great so far! I accomplished my academic tasks efficiently and didn’t burn myself out, and I think the main contributor to my success as a student is my organization system. This system has been refined throughout my high school years, but I think now I’ve finally found the most effective methods.

Please remember that this isn’t the only organization system you can adopt; this is just the one that works the best for me, and I hope that by sharing it with you, you’ll gain a new perspective on how to stay organized as a high school student.

The first thing I wanna talk about is my notebook system, which I briefly mentioned in my Guide to Note-Taking.

My notebook system comprises three types of notebooks: the Everything Notebook, the subject notebook, and the revision notebook.

The Everything Notebook

The first stage is in-class notes. I only bring one notebook to school every day. I call it my Everything Notebook, and this is where I write down all of the notes I take in class. This way, I don’t have to lug around six notebooks where I’m only going to use a few pages in each of them that day.

Subject Notebooks

At the end of the day, I would revise my notes and compare them to the syllabus so I know where we are in the learning process. I would then transfer my class notes from my Everything Notebook to my different subject notebooks. This is stage two. I also start to jazz up my notes because I use the notes in my subject notebooks to study for tests.

In addition to my class notes, I include material from my teachers’ notes that they might not have elaborated on, as well as points in the syllabus (I’m currently taking A2) that were only glazed over briefly, or not at all, in some cases. (Note: this does not mean they completely skip a chapter or topic; it’s more like they missed a few bullet points that should be in my notes but aren’t. An example would be if we’re learning about phenol reactions and the teacher forgot to mention the use of FeCl3 as a test for phenol.)

Revision Notebooks

Stage three comes a little later, when exam week is just around the corner. Essentially, I rewrite and improve my notes from my five different subject notebooks into a single revision notebook or binder. (Recently, I’ve opted for a revision notebook because they’re lighter and easier to carry around.)

Because my teachers don’t always teach in the order of the syllabus, the first thing I do is organize my notes according to the syllabus. I would then fill in any other missing gaps in the material that hadn’t been filled in stage two.

When compiling material for my revision notebook, I use as many sources as possible: my own notes, my teachers’ notes, youtube videos, online sites, and my favorite, the mark scheme! I add in some answers from past papers (explanations only, so no calculations) mainly to secure marks. It’s safer to memorize definitions straight from the mark scheme than from the textbook or from handouts. I also do this to ease my memorization, especially for topics that require lengthy explanations. It’s a lot easier to remember the 6 points I need to explain the principles of NMRI than to remember everything in the four-page handout my teacher gave me.

Folders and binders are essential to organizing your papers. Some people keep a single accordion folder for all their papers, but for me it’s just too heavy to carry around all the time. The same goes for subject folders that are brought to school every day.

Instead, my binder/folder system comprises my Everything Folder and my subject binders.

The Everything Folder

The folder I carry with me to school every day is this A4 folder I got from Tokyu Hands. It has 5 pockets, one for each day of the week, so all the papers I receive on Monday will go behind the first divider, and so on.

Some people also keep blank papers in their folders; I don’t because my school has its own lined paper and graphing pads that I keep under my desk that I use if a teacher asks us to do an assignment on those papers. If I do work at home, I prefer to just use a plain A4 paper or a legal pad.

Subject Binders

At the end of the week, I’ll sort my papers into my subject binders. Sometimes I’ll keep some papers in the folder if I think I’ll be needing it the next week. This usually only applies to worksheets because all my teachers’ notes are available on Google Classroom, so I can access them even if I don’t physically have them.

Each of these binders have sections inside them:

Physics: 1 for handouts, notes, and tests, 1 for Paper 4 (Theory), 1 for Paper 5 (Practical Planning). I included extra tabs to mark the different topics in the handouts section.

Chemistry: same as Physics.

Economics: 1 for Paper 3 (MCQ), 1 for Paper 4 (Case Study and Essay). A lot of my Economics material is online, though.

English: 1 for Paper 3 (Text and Discourse analysis), and 2 for Paper 4 (Language Topics, which includes 1 for Child Language Acquisition, 1 for World Englishes). Past papers, handouts, and notes all go under their respective topics.

Mathematics: I just keep everything together because I never revise math and just constantly do past papers.

This makes it easier for me to revise each subject because I can just take one binder with me instead of a messy folder with everything just shoved in there.

I keep a magazine file for each of my A-Level subjects (English and Mathematics are combined). All my textbooks, revision guides, and subject notebooks are kept here, so if I need to revise one subject, that’s the magazine file I’ll take out.

These magazine files prevent any small things (like my book of flashcards) from being shoved to the back of my bookshelf, or materials from different subjects from getting mixed up.

In my senior year, I mostly plan using this app called Edo Agenda. It syncs across all my devices for free and has all the features I need: a to do list to organize tasks, monthly and weekly calendars to organize events, a journal to organize notes and memos.

I used to bullet journal regularly, but it takes too much time during weekdays, so now I just bullet journal for the therapeutic effects it gives me, and I use an app for organizing tasks and events. Sometimes at the end of each week, I’ll transfer my tasks to my bullet journal and then decorate the page, but again, this is just for its therapy.

Organizing your school supplies is just as important as organizing your papers and notes. With a more organized backpack and pencil case, you won’t waste time looking for your things at the bottom of an abyss.

Pencil Case

I don’t find it necessary to bring so much stationery to school unless I plan on making notes at school (usually during revision week).

Backpack

Because we’re already in the revision term, I don’t really carry a lot of things in my everyday backpack, just the following:

Pencil case

Everything Notebook

Everything Folder

Revision notebook

Kindle

Phone

Wallet

Earphones

Calculator

Speaker

Drinking bottle

A pouch with things like a hairbrush, pads, and lip balm

And that’s all for now! I hope this post will help you organize your school life (if you haven’t already) or at least provide some useful insights on some ways to stay organized as a high school student.

[husseinhosny-blog]

[husseinhosny-blog]

How to revise for chemistry

Super late post request from tjlite  (sorry it took me this long!!) Anyways here is how I would revise for my GCSE chemistry exam - although really it works for most chemistry I think.

I did some research as you said you were going IGCSE so here is what I found :) 

Learn your formulas/symbols/facts first!

The key to understanding chemistry is knowing your facts. It’s unlike sciences such as biology where you need to understand the basics - no. For chemistry knowing the facts is what will get you the highest grades. So if you need to learn the periodic table*, any formulas or important facts make sure you try to learn them as early and quickly as you can. 

*For learning the elements kcd-elements has amazing art

Start early

Again, chemistry is one of those subjects you can’t just try to learn the night before, try to start early and do little by little. Even just 10 minutes every day can really really help. Plan what you need to know and when you need to know it by and that way you can check off when you’ve covered each element. 

Read your textbook*

Pretty straightforward. Knowing ( and understanding!) your textbook is the key to getting the highest grades. Make sure you read the textbook - however dreary it might seem, and if you’re falling behind in class read ahead so you aren’t as lost later on.

*for IGCSE students i’ve read this book is great! 

Past papers. Past papers. Past papers. 

As with anything past papers is the best way to learn. Do all the past papers you can and check your answers. If you get one wrong, check the mark scheme and write out the correct answer in a different coloured pen. 

Get someone to test you

If theres something you don’t understand, get a friend or family member to test you.

Look at the specification

Lastly, make sure you know that specification like the back of your hand. The best thing you can do to prepare is make sure you know exactly what will be on the exam - the specification tells you everything that will be included. 

Good luck!! Hope this helped :)

Chemistry Resource Masterpost

[husseinhosny-blog]

nice things:

the smell of lavender

oversized sweaters

dancing in the rain

musicals and plays

humming tunes

soft hearts

[husseinhosny-blog]

My all time favorite place to study!

•Song of The Day: Finesse by Bruno Mars•

[husseinhosny-blog]

˚✧₊⁎ 13/4/18 ⁎⁺˳✧༚

— freshly produced biology notes. with less than 20 days to my igcses, i am truly Freaking Out ^_−☆

a past year a day keeps the star on the A!!

however, for all of you who are studying for igs or ur gcses, remember to stay hydrated, and destress when needed. i destress by learning japanese, またね (for now) ！

-tz

[husseinhosny-blog]

a wave of darkness began to cover the sky. thunder rumbled ominously in the distance, and a cold rain started to pour over the scene. everywhere you looked, your sight was met with eyes widened with fear and people cowering under flimsy awnings. it was like god himself had declared the start of something miserable. 

and just like that, exam season was upon us. 

[husseinhosny-blog]

27.04.17 27/100 days of productivity More english literature revision - making flashcards with quotes + analysis on each key scene in Great Expectations 🐝but look at this cute bee that’s much more important

[husseinhosny-blog]

The new LUSH in my town is beautiful

[husseinhosny-blog]

I am so easily tricked into buying expensive stuff, purely based on aesthetic packaging like it just draws me in so easily

[husseinhosny-blog]

listen:

1. it’s okay

2. you are lovely

3. i admire your passion and your determination

4. i know you are capable of so much, don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise

5. you remind me of the smell of jasmine and laughter

6. you are a source of good, you are radiating so much light, so much happiness

7. i truly hope you find people who appreciate you for who you are, not for who you’re supposed to be

8. i know you are going to change the world, in ways you never thought possinle.

[husseinhosny-blog]

i know that waking up in the morning can be such a chore ;; it’s always so tempting to sleep til noon and constantly press “snooze.” however, mornings are a nice and quiet bit of the day to enjoy!! here are a few tips to maximize your mornings.

benefits:

there’s so much more time to be productive

if you finish up your work in the morning, you can relax in the evening

early mornings are really peaceful and calm

you can catch a glimpse of the sunrise

you feel happier and healthier

go to sleep earlier

getting adequate sleep will help you wake up early for the next day! i know, it seems like a better idea to stay up really late to finish that one last assignment. but!! i’d recommend that you sleep earlier and wake up earlier to finish it in the morning. you’ll feel less tired and stressed!

wake up earlier than you normally do

idk about you, but if i wake up after 8 or 9 am, i just feel so so sluggish and feel like i lost some precious hours of the morning. i personally like waking up around 6 to 6:30, but other people like waking up around 7.

open up your blinds / curtains

let all the natural light fill your room!! it makes your room brighter and i swear, almost everything looks prettier with natural light. also, natural light is fantastic for taking those studyspo pictures :-))))

drink a glass of water

your body hasn’t had any water for the past 8 or so hours that you’ve been asleep!! drinking a large glass of water after you wake up will fire up your metabolism, rehydrate your brain, help your body flush out toxins, and help you feel refreshed as well.

wash your face with cold water

idk about you but i literally feel half-asleep on my feet when i wake up and i just want to crawl back into my bed and never see the morning light again. washing my face with cold water really wakes me up and makes me feel super refreshed and ready to tackle the day! i also like to brush my teeth too bc morning breath is gross ;;

eat breakfast

eating a healthy breakfast gives you energy to use for the day, improves your memory and mood, improves concentration and productivity, and is good for your overall health bc it reduces risk of type 2 diabetes + obesity (reduces chances of excessive, unhealthy snacking).

lately, i’ve been eating a small bowl of oatmeal with honey, peanut butter, and a little bit of fruit on the side. it’s so so good omg :’) i also make myself a cup of tea to give me a little “kick” in the morning.

turn on some music

idk why but turning on some nice music in the morning instantly sets a nice sort of atmosphere? i like playing studio ghibli music bc it’s calming and happy!

plan out your day

figure out what you’re going to do with all of the time that you have now! i like jotting down my tasks in my bullet journal, but you can just write up a to-do list, use an app, a planner, or your own bullet journal.

get to work!

take advantage of the time you have now to get started on your assignments + projects + studying!

you can also check out my morning routine video to see how i usually spend my mornings!

hope this helped and good luck! if you’d like to request a post, go here and if you’d like to see more helpful posts, go here!! thanks :)

[husseinhosny-blog]

a close-up of some ap world history notes :’)

[husseinhosny-blog]

one of my pet peeves is when people hate others for looking “extra” like??? YES all I’m doing today is staying at home and cleaning my room but u best know that I’m gonna do it looking hella cute

[husseinhosny-blog]

as someone who has never succeeded being anything higher than “average” her whole life lemme tell you: ya girl not only kicked her midterms in the ass but also just got told by her professor that she has the HIGHEST GRADE IN THE COURSE

HARD WORK PAYS OFF HONEYS

IF YOU WANT IT YOU GOTTA WORK FOR IT

YOU 👏🏽 CAN 👏🏽 GET 👏🏽 BETTER 👏🏽

[husseinhosny-blog]

Life-Hack

google search any topic followed by ‘filetype:ppt’ and only powerpoints will come up, or a textbook or subject name followed by ‘filetype:pdf’ to find free textbooks in pdf form

[husseinhosny-blog]

Words just can’t describe how much I love these Mildliners! ❤️