Moving from Year 6 to Year 7 is a big step. You get new teachers, a new timetable and a lot more homework. The good news is that a few simple habits in the first term make the rest of secondary school much easier.
What changes in Year 7
- Science is split into three. You will start to learn Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate topics, often with different teachers.
- You do real practicals. You will use Bunsen burners, measure things carefully and write up what you found.
- Maths moves faster. Algebra comes in early. Letters stand for numbers, and you learn to write and solve simple equations.
- Homework is set online. Many schools use apps for homework, so it is easy to forget a task if you do not check.
Five habits that help
1. Know your times tables. Almost every Maths topic in Year 7 uses them: fractions, ratio, area, algebra. If you can answer any table up to 12 × 12 in under three seconds, everything else feels easier.
2. Keep one tidy book per subject. Write the date and title every lesson. Underline key words. When you revise later, a tidy book is your best set of notes.
3. Learn the key words. Science has its own language: cell, particle, force, energy, variable. Make a small list at the back of your book and add to it each week.
4. Do homework on the day it is set. The lesson is still fresh in your mind. It takes less time and you remember more.
5. Ask one question a week. If something does not make sense, ask your teacher after the lesson. Teachers like students who ask.
What to expect in tests
Most schools test you at the end of each topic and again at the end of the year. These tests do not count for GCSE, but they help your school put you in the right set. They also show you which topics need more work.
How parents can help
Ask your child to teach you one thing they learned in Maths or Science this week. Explaining something out loud is one of the best ways to remember it.
In short
Year 7 is about building good habits, not about being perfect. Learn your tables, keep tidy books, learn key words and do homework on time. Those four things alone put you ahead.
Notes, tests and papers for your exam board
AshACE® Revise is opening soon for Year 6 to GCSE.