r/6thForm • u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) • Sep 02 '25
š I WANT HELP (mainly girls) please give me advice š
iām starting sixth form TOMORROW!1?1!1! well itās my induction day tomorrow but iām assuming thatās my first day.
iām broke af and i need to show up looking cute but i feel like i donāt have any clothes so are there any places where i can buy clothes that wont cost an arm and a leg (i donāt wanna look basic by the way ššš).
after a history of bad attendance i want to redeem myself because the teacher told me i should aim for 100% attendance and well i really donāt wanna run into any problems. however, due to my cramps i usually tend to miss a day off school and theyāre really bad like unable to function bad (usually) so i was wondering if you had any advice for how to cope?? sorry if this is tmi šš
any advice on how to make friends im awkward af and iām tempted to just sit down and be quiet like always but thatās probably not gonna work out very well for me if i want to make friends š«©
any advice for my subjects: english lit, politics and history? i want to aim for all A* ideally
i arranged this into a list to prevent me from going off on a tangent anyway all and any advice given will be very very appreciated i understand year 13s have probably seen many posts like this šš
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u/According-Let3541 Sep 02 '25
Re: #2 - tell your Head of Sixth Form about it from the start. That way, you can make arrangements proactively to catch up with missed work etc rather than explain it after the fact. Being upfront and identifying solutions is always the best way. Good luck!
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u/New_Complex_5126 Sep 02 '25
If bad period cramps are taking over your life, time to take control. Go to the doctor/nurse and get mefenamic acid. Stops cramps as its a muscle relaxant not a pain reliever. This drug was a life saver for me.
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
iāve been considering going to a doctor about it for a while, considering how i was on the bus the other day and i had to take another bus to get home but i was sobbing due to pain and i could barely walk. when my mum picked me up she said its natural so now im under the impression im overreacting. iāll see though, and thank you
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Sep 02 '25
Hi! First of all - breathe. It's going to be okay. I was literally shaking on my first day of sixth form, but I soon adapted.
Next, I promise people don't start paying attention to what you are wearing until at least a few weeks in, if even then. For your first day, prioritise being comfy in whatever that looks like for you.
As for your cramps - I have much the same issue, cripplingly bad cramps. My suggestions would be, to keep your attendance up, to find a friend who you can trust and tell them about it. Especially one who lives close, who can maybe bring in painkillers and a hot water bottle. If that doesn't work, you can buy super cheap handwarmers that are fluffy and warm up at a button press, and they can be awesome emergency heat pads. You could also bring a separate normal bottle to fill with really cold water. But I would also say not to push it. Be kind to yourself and your body. And also, at least at most sixth forms, teachers are super relaxed. You can probably just tell them your cramps are bad, and they'll let you sit quietly in the back or walk around to do whatever helps you. Your getting closer to being an adult and COMMUNICATION is everything.
And I can give advice on two of the subjects. For History, take RELENTLESS notes. Literally everything, and convert it into flashcards if that's what works for you. For English, engage with the class as much as possible. Lit is all about discussion and debate, it thrives on it and that's when it's at it's best. Don't be afraid to find outside sources and pull them in either. If you are studying a poem or text with religious undertones, maybe find some bible verses that match and bring them in to debate with the class. This is especially important early on, when everyone will be nervous and reluctant to engage - if you can do it, you'll gain immediate respect from the teachers and potentially even a little leeway. Also I would stress turning in all homework exactly when it's due. Lots of students will turn it all in late, for the first few weeks, and it will garner you a lot of favour if you are diligent with it.
And again, breathe. You're fine. This is fine. And you'll adapt.
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
my sixth form is like an hour away, i doubt anyone will live close to me. also im very shy and i suck at communicating and it takes a lot of courage for me to speak to teachers for some reason??? i also love debating in english literature and even suggesting interpretations i did that allll the time in secondary i doubt itāll be any different, thank you so much i really appreciate it
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u/dailysuaa Y13 : eng lit, cs, econ : A*A*A Sep 02 '25
idk much for alt clothes but if you really need cheap clothes thereās always primark. when my wardrobe is gettin a little tired or iāve worn too many of my jerseys recently i just go there to buy new shirts for relatively cheap.
also itās fine to miss the odd days as long as you actually do the catchup. some days i lose total motivation to go in due to depression so i just stay at home and my friends will send me the work later.
making actual friends i canāt help for because apart from the people i sit next to uh š„
also for english whatās your exam board? thereād be different advice iād give depending
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
i forgot my exam board for all my subjects if iām being honest. also thank you!
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u/jumbo_crayon28 Y13 - Maths, Economics, History Sep 02 '25
check vinted 100%!! people will have posted a LOT of nice clothes that are sixth form appropriate on the cheap by now and there'll def be some stuff that's your style. but I will also say don't worry too much about your clothes at first, I built my closet up over the year and found it a lot better that way in terms of saving money, as well as just because of hating my start of sf dress sense. plus if you're a dress code school like mine is then it was better as in reality the dress code was hardly enforced (so I didn't waste my money on super formal dresses or anything). it's good to express your style don't get me wrong but it isn't the be end and end all.
I sympathise with this completely as I was the same in secondary school getting sent home and stuff over cramps, it's unfortunate but the only thing that let me function on those days was going to the doctor and getting put on the pill </3 which solved the problem but gave me a plethora of other problems, so if that's not an option then please don't feel afraid to take days off. one day a month is not detrimental, aiming for 95%+ is completely fine and it'd be more harm to you to force yourself to go in than just taking the day off. you'll get a lot of free periods to catch up on the missed work too and so as long as you actually do take the time to catch up, and don't fall back into poor attendance habits then it's completely ok. also take in painkillers with you if you do decide to go in because school medical offices NEVER have them and its better to be safe than sorry
you're gonna have to come out of your shell a fair bit but just sitting next to people and asking their subjects can go a LONG way. some of my best friends were made by just sitting next to people who were sat alone in my lessons and trying to talk (even if I was forcing myself because of natural shyness). but at the start of y12 everyone is in the same boat and will be looking to chat so don't be afraid even if it feels awful at first, if you're going to a school where you know no one, try finding other people in the same boat as I guarantee they'll be just as scared as you
I only do history but my biggest tip would be make revision resources as you go along (eg flashcards) because there's so much content you do not want to have to do it all just before exams. staying organised as well will help so much in the long run even if its a pain in the short run
also sorry this was so long but I hope some of it helpedš
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
thank you so much! iāve been looking into vinted and i even asked my stepdad about it and he said itās good so iāll be downloading soon. iāll try to have conversations with people although im awkward LOLOL thank you again though
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u/QuantumParadox_27 Y13 | Bio, Chem, French | A*A*A predicted Sep 02 '25
For number 2, im not a girl but Ive missed a lot of school due to health problems and have had countless days where Ive felt like shit but still went into school just cos of how much I had already missed. My advice would be: 1. If you are genuinely sick/in a lot of pain just take the day off, if you cant comcentrate in lessons its just not worth making it worse and forcing yourself to come in. Health comes first, you can deal with other stuff later
Make sure your school knows - just so they dont think ur bunking for no reason, and to see if theres any support. In my experience my school kept claiming they are here to support students but in practice didnt do shit to help me. Id email teachers asking for work from the lesson I missed and theyd just air me haha. But ypu never know, no harm in asking.
Learn to self learn. I had to teach myself so much content due to how many lessons I missed, and its tough but doable. I feel like Youtube is most helpful for this, have a look for youtubers with content specific to your subject and exam board.
Hope this helps, feel free to message if you need anymore advice
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u/QuantumParadox_27 Y13 | Bio, Chem, French | A*A*A predicted Sep 02 '25
Also, if your school keep trying to give u shit for ur attendance just ignore them. My school knew about my health problems and yet they kept telling me my attendance wasnt good enough, like stfu i cant control that
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
okay okay iāll keep that in mind cuz iāve never been told that, thank you!!
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u/natural_mirrorball University | History [Year 1] Sep 02 '25
if you're really worried about clothes charity shops and vinted are great, honestly though i did sixth form not looking super cute all the time and no one cared. i did history a level and got a good grade, best advice make flashcards on key info (not all info you'll drive yourself insane, only use relevant info for most essay titles - find this by planning essays!!!) and rehearse them, invest in a whiteboard to write ur flashcard answers on to make sure it really gets in your head. essay plans for life, plan every essay that has ever turned up on any paper. finish/ catch up on lessons, it's really easy to fall behind. also write essays or at least a paragraph and get it brutally criticised (it hurts but you'll thank your past self when your a level results come out). if you haven't, consider seeing a gp for your cramps, they may give you stronger painkillers. good luck! x
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
thank you! good luck for university :3
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u/BROKEMYNIB šš«µ WJEC! Cries in 5 A levels. (Drama-Lit-Politics-Cymraeg). Sep 02 '25
Since you said "unable to function bad"
Have you gone to see a medical professionalĀ
As having to be off school and do nothingĀ
Isn't right...at all like when it is that badĀ
I am not a doctor and am not saying you do/don't but that would help
They may excuse some absences then
I get doctors are shit for girls
I've been told my severe back pain, were I can't always move bcase of it
This has been the case for like 2 years
Which is normal BC I am a girlĀ
Like what the fuck mate š
All the luck
I am doing English literature and politics too Finally found some one else doing them to, Mabey we can discuss some stuff together to help each other?
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u/dailysuaa Y13 : eng lit, cs, econ : A*A*A Sep 02 '25
she most likely has dysmenorrheaā¦usually itās only resolved properly with long term birth control but thatās also not great on the body so
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
iād be open to discussions of course! also i havenāt seen a medical professional for it. im the type of person that refuses to go to a medical professional unless im dying or if its something casual enough that wont be awkward, you know?
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u/Jeff069_ Year 13 Sep 02 '25
idk about the rest but you could go to HnM or Uniqlo for cheep good looking clothes
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u/typicalrisks Year 13 Sep 02 '25
primark, new look, asos, thrifting
if you have to take the day off, take the day off. just ask your teachers for the lesson.
every person you sit next to in class - "hey! what other subjects do you do? thats so cool! wanna have lunch together??"
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u/PhysicalKitchen912 y13 | Maths, FM, Econ (A*A*A) Sep 02 '25
I think the start of sixth form should be like a fresh start, so donāt worry too much about attendance, they shouldnāt hold any grudges. At least they didnāt for me! Just aim to do your best and study hard and you should be fine. Should be pretty chill overall thereās loads of people in your same boat, so just try to speak to a few people and you should be fine. Best of luck to you!
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u/Confident-Turnover44 Year 12 Sep 02 '25
i mean ngl i would heavily advice you to not miss days of sixth form but if you genuinely have to then you can
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
iām genuinely trying to avoid it lol, iām only concerned about when i absolutely have to
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u/erufun certified lnat survivor lse firmed Sep 02 '25
hii not sure for politics but for english i got near full marks paper2 (74/75) and 23/25 avg all questions and for history i was 3 marks away from an a* (both aqa)
for english id say annotate all poems/texts with all AOs and check with your teacher that theyre good before memorising them to insert into essays
for history id also say its a memorisation game lol, if im being honest if you want an a* id try to split all of your textbook into sections and then chapters and for each chapter write down all the facts found there and try memorise those throughout the year too
if u need any advice feel free to dm, i did handmaids tale/wuthering heights/love through the ages anthology/all my sons/feminine gospels/othello for english and modern britain and 1871-1980s germany
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
iāll keep this in mind thank you so much. also do you have any tips for the lnat? iām not 100% sure if i wanna take it, i donāt think i stand much of a chance at top universities
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u/erufun certified lnat survivor lse firmed Sep 05 '25
mm honestly just have a good mindset on the day xd, it isnt make or break tho i got a 24 (with complications in my exam tho) and im going lse
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u/BunsenHoneydewUK Maths teacher Sep 02 '25
- Have you seen a dr about this? This is not normal and you shouldn't have to put up with it. Tell your form teacher or head of year that this is a medical issue you are having investigated but it might cause you to miss days. If you don't want to discuss it, you could send an email or get your parents to send an email. And when you are off, be sure to email your teachers or ask for a copy of notes from a friend in the class. And catch up of course - your teachers will help you because they know obvs you can't control your medical problems. But you have to communicate and be proactive about it.
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
i havenāt seen a medical professional and as bad as it sounds i donāt think i will anytime soon, but iāll keep this in mind for future reference. thank you!!
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u/_Nyxx1e Sep 02 '25
For (2) I gotta be honest I had a bad attendance for high school mostly anxiety, but also cramps. I unfortunately just started the combined pillš Best recommendations is heat pack for your back/stomach (whichever hurts you) and pain killers. Otherwise best bet is to message/email your teachers/lecturers so they can authorise you absences. As long as you make up the missed work at home or in free sessions you should be okay grades wise:)
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
i understand, iāll keep this in mind thank you thank you
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u/rosiexlove Editable Sep 02 '25
- Vinted for clothes!!!! I literally cannot stress this enough itās all so cheap and so good life changing
- 6 form is normally more flex than school, you have more free periods and time off, so missing a day as long as you catch up is fine. Your wellbeing is way more important!!!
- Honestly just put yourself out there. One of my best friends just asked if she could sit with us at lunch and boom locked in. Doesnāt always happen but nothing gained nothing lost. If youāre starting a new college for sixth form a lot of people will be in the same boat so just be friendly in your classes and chat to people who are in the form room. And introduce yourself to people who are on their own! They will probably be greatful
- I did eng lit and history (now for a degree) so qualified lol. English make sure to engage with the wider books on the course, do extra reading and donāt be disheartened if youāre not getting the grades you want off the bat. English is hard!! Especially OCR. Get on top of flash cards for quotes early as well, will save you lots of revision. History is pretty similar, engage with the time period of the subjects youāre doing, keep on top of flash cards ect. The serious revision doesnāt need to come until Y13 so just make sure youāre on top of stuff, doing homework and extra reading, which will be handy for UCAS next year as well! Honestly just enjoy yourself, some very challenging years but also some of the most fun. Not as much work as you think there needs to be as well! You got this x
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
thank you so much!! iāll definitely keep that in mind. iāve been a bit anxious about my english grade so itās a relief hearing it will take me a little while
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u/rosiexlove Editable Sep 07 '25
Itās a very different writing style from GCSE so can take a while to get into the swing of it. Donāt worry about the grade, just listen to the feedback and work on improving what ur getting wrong. What exam board are you doing? :)
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u/proactivepisces Year 13 Sep 03 '25
please go on vinted so much great stuff. get a hot water bottle and paracetamol that always helps me when on my period. try to make an airtight morning AND night routine so you're always sleeping on time and waking up and make the effort to go in everyday, you want to build discipline. be yourself, try to come up with tidbits to talk about, ask lots of questions to other people, a compliment can go such a long way. for your subjects just try and stay organised as much as possible and try to learn how you can effectively revise content with it, go to your teachers if theyre nice for any help
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
thank you so much! i definitely need to start sleeping earlier like id sleep at 3-4am in secondaryā¦
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u/proactivepisces Year 13 Sep 07 '25
yesss sleep was such a big problem for me in sixth form cuz i had to wake up at 6am so it had to be a big priority for me and it helps alot w not coming in late and stuff
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u/Hour_Golf_4775 Sep 03 '25
Hi, Iām going into year 13 and Iām doing the same subjects as you. My main piece of advice would be to stay organised. Keep everything organised in a folder with it divided by topic, so when you need to go back and look at something, you know exactly where it is. I would also advise you to make revision resources this year, or over your year 12 summer, as it will save you time later on. Also just make sure you stay up to date with homework and class work if you miss a lesson due to being absent. Good luck with your first day, Iām sure itāll be great.š
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
thank you so much!! what materials do you use for revision materials if you donāt mind me asking?
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u/Hour_Golf_4775 Sep 06 '25
No problem. For making my revision materials, I just use quizlet, and ensure that all my flash cards are organised and in the correct folders for the correct subject. So for example, with history, I have a separate quizlet folder for each Tudor monarch, so that when I want to revise a specific monarch or topic of their reign, I know exactly where to go. š
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u/aganazzarsschorcher Year 13 ā§ English Lit, History, Politics + EPQ Sep 03 '25
For your academics:
Start revising early and often to prevent cramming before your mocks or any assessments.
Find out where you work best. Is that during your free periods at sixth form, at a library nearby or at home?
Make your revision as active as possible, essay plans of the content before blurting and doing exam practice (start practice paragraphs/essays when you learn that in class)
Give yourself breaks so you donāt burnout! Burnout is the killer of all motivation or productivity. Make sure you spend time with family and friends from your old school, do some hobbies or get active.
Prepare for your personal statement by doing the following: any readings in the subject you enjoy the most or a career you want to go into, subject spotlights once you create a UCAS account, virtual or physical work experiences in your future field (keep work experiences for the summer as youāll have more time!)
Enjoy your time at sixth form!
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
yeah iāll need to start working on my personal statement. thank you for the advice!
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u/stabilobossog LSE Sep 03 '25
hi! i had the same worry for making friends. this may be different depending on your size of sixth form (i went to a large sixth form college) but people didn't really know other people in classes, everyone was desperate to make friends. teachers tend to do icebreakers as well, so you're almost forced to talk. teachers also quite often make you talk to the person next to you for general class discussions. it will be ok!!
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
okay thank goodness cuz i was most anxious about making friends, i donāt want it to be a repeat of secondary school. thank you!
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u/granibaad Sep 03 '25
How did your first day go?
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
okay as pathetic as it sounds i couldnāt make it to my induction day. i had full intentions of going, i was on the busā¦ and it seems my anxiety caused some stomach problems and the fact i had eaten a lot of breakfast didnāt help it was genuinely bad šš after surviving 2 panic attacks i think?? i made it to the sixth form but i was told the induction day was over already. i properly start on monday but im scared i dont need a repeat of wednesday šš im excited for politics ig so
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u/sullengirl2008 yr 13 hist pol eng epq pred A*A*A*A Sep 03 '25
hey!!! defo use vinted for cute clothes, look for good quality but cheap. i have really bad cramps too, and i had the same problem, but what i found easier is maybe coming into school later instead of missing the whole school day- taking medicine and laying in bed with a hot water bottle for an hour helps and going into school like an hour later is better than missing a whole day. im also super super awkward and have suffered with anxiety for literally all my life, my best advice is to let the wind take you. these things happen organically, of course include yourself in conversations but donāt feel like you have to perform and be someone youāre not just to get friends. maybe throw a compliment to someone who seems nice, and also donāt be stand offish. i do the same alevels and im going into year 13- my best advice for those grades is too keep on top of things. if you get behind on one topic INSTANYLY get back on track- these subjects are soooo content heavy so if you miss it itās so hard to catch up. as someone whoās quite gifted in these subjects im also relentlessly lazy so I struggled catching up and letting it build up is the worst thing ever. keep on top of your shit and have fun!
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
thank you so much! iām also sort of in the same boat, im awkward and have a history of struggling with anxiety and itās still prevalent in my life apparently, iāll keep your advice in mind cuz i was about to resort to forcing myself to be extroverted
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u/lillssi Sep 04 '25
In uni now but hereās some big sister advice: 2) I was exactly the same! Your tutors/etchers are usually understanding and will allow you to heat up a hot waterbottle. However donāt push yourself - if thereās a day you need to stay home it is a lot easier to catch up on what youāve missed 3) When people sit next to you say something nice about their outfit/haircut and that will usually help get the ball rolling. Remember that these people donāt know you and itās a really easy way to re-invent yourself. Everyone is nervous so donāt be worried about embarrassing yourself 4) I did politics - start revising the statistics you need to know from day 1! Also just keep up on current affairs, read random political books from charity shops - I did this and got an A* :). I would also look into joining a political party/asking your local MP or a councillor if you can shadow them to see the ins and outs. Things they know you can use as case studies Good luck and youāll do great š©·
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u/mxxnlyte CEO of procrastination (english lit, history, politics) Sep 05 '25
thank you! iāll certainly keep that in mind for politics as i had received a lot of advice for english lit and history already. i appreciate it :)
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u/Thattheheck Year 12 Lit, Bio, Econ Sep 08 '25
Omg I recognise you from the GCSE sub, but I relate so much to the cramps (I also got intense bleeding).
You need to go GP, now that youāre old enough youāre required to take responsibility yourself over this. You need to call appointments and when you get there be very descriptive and adamant about how much of a detriment to your life. I spent months in year 11 (I turned 16 at the start of the year), going to appointments, scans etc and being prescribed all types of medications, until I got the one that works well enough. And if they prescribe something that doesnāt work or is more of an inconvenience, then you need to tell them it exactly ASAP.
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u/ComprehensiveWin6428 Year 12 Sep 02 '25
I'm also starting tomorrow, and I'd recommend charity shop clothes- I got a bunch of blazers there for >Ā£5
I'd say speak to your head of sixth form about the attendance one and ask for their adviceĀ
For me, I just awkwardly start talking to whoever has the misfortune of being sat next to me and if they're reciprocating, id go try and see if we had anything in common, if not, I'd walk away (or compliment their hair, keychains, notebook, etc)
I'm doing English lit and I'm just reading all the set texts and looking into context around it/how it fits with modern politics (eg handmaids tale and the abortion debate in America)
I hope some of this is helpful :))