How to achieve an A grade in IGCSE and A-Level the question every ambitious student asks.
As a tutor who has worked with hundreds of learners, I can tell you: it’s not about being a genius. It’s about using the right strategy, at the right time, with the right mindset.
Let me walk you through what top-performing students do differently and how you can reach that A too.
✅ 1. Understand the Exam Structure (Before Anything Else)
Before diving into the textbooks, first know what you’re up against.
🎯 Why it matters:
You can’t win a game if you don’t know the rules. Understanding how marks are distributed, what types of questions are asked, and how paper timings work helps you prepare with purpose.
📌 Tutor Tip:
Download the syllabus and past papers from official Cambridge or Edexcel websites. Highlight key question trends and common command words like analyze, evaluate, or describe.
✅ 2. Start Early And Stay Consistent
One major mistake I see? Students starting serious revision only 1 month before exams.
🎯 What top students do:
They treat every term test like a mini-exam, building knowledge layer by layer instead of panicking at the end.
📌 Tutor Tip:
Use a revision timetable from day one. Allocate weekly slots to key subjects and stick to short, focused study bursts (like Pomodoro technique).
✅ 3. Master the Mark Scheme
Yes, content is important but how you write your answers is even more crucial.
🎯 What top students do:
They study the mark scheme like it’s a cheat code. They know what an examiner wants and deliver exactly that.
📌 Tutor Tip:
For essay subjects, compare your answer to a mark scheme sample. For sciences, practice labeling diagrams and structured calculations. Use examiner reports to learn what students commonly miss.
✅ 4. Practice Past Papers the Right Way
Doing past papers isn’t just about answering questions it’s about building exam fitness.
🎯 What top students do:
They simulate real exam conditions timed papers, no notes, full focus and then review every mistake with a growth mindset.
📌 Tutor Tip:
Start with open-book practice, then move to timed conditions. Highlight what tripped you up and review that topic again.
Trying to memorize the periodic table or dates in history? It’s not enough.
🎯 Why it matters:
A-Level and IGCSE questions often test application, not recall. You need to explain, compare, and justify your answers.
📌 Tutor Tip:
Use mind maps, analogies, and real-life examples to make abstract concepts stick. Teach it to someone else it’s the fastest way to check understanding.
✅ 6. Build a Resilient Mindset
Academic pressure is real. Toppers aren’t immune they just handle it better.
🎯 What top students do:
They see mistakes as feedback, not failure. They stay curious, flexible, and positive even when topics get tough.
📌 Tutor Tip:
Keep a progress journal. Celebrate wins (even small ones), track improvements, and remind yourself why you’re aiming for that A.
✅ 7. Know When (and Who) to Ask for Help
Toppers don’t waste time being stuck they reach out.
🎯 Why it works:
Sometimes, all it takes is a 10-minute explanation from a tutor to unlock hours of confusion.
📌 Tutor Tip:
At Crux Online Academy, our tutors help students build clarity, strategy, and confidence. Whether it’s Physics equations or Literature essays, a guided session can save weeks of stress.
✨ Final Thought: A Grades Aren’t Just for the “Gifted”
If you’ve ever doubted yourself stop now.
How to achieve an A in IGCSE and A-Level isn’t a mystery. It’s a repeatable process of smart habits, consistent revision, and clear guidance.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
Let’s turn confusion into clarity together.
📚 Want Personal Guidance to Reach That A?
Book a free consultation with our expert tutors today.
👉 Start Now with Crux Online Academy
