The Student Room Group
Original post by izzyd-c
Hey! I’m in Y10 and entering Y11 ( very nervous) and i’m wondering what stationary/ supplies i’ll need. I’m going back to school shopping this week and i need to know what things are the most useful to buy. thanks!


There isn't really anything you need specifically but I'd say buy a folder to put all your revision things in - maybe some dividers so you can divide up each section and then label each section to help you stay organised to say where is everything.
If you make flashcards for revision resources then maybe buy some of them/A3 paper if you make mind maps but these aren't needed if you make revision resources in other ways. (So literally anything that might help you to make revision resources!!)
I'd say buy a paper pad/notebook that you can then bring to school everyday to make sure you always have some paper on hand if you want to make extra notes/have time in lessons to do practice questions and you don't want to do it in your book - I did this from the end part of year 11 and found it really helpful especially when we were just revising in lessons.
Maybe some coloured pens for making revision resources if that helps you - I actually went into Wilkos yesterday and they had loads of Bic/high quality coloured pens (but the bic ones are great since they write so smoothly) for really cheap prices - I brought a pack of 20 for £2.50 (1/2 the price they usually are!).
Things like a stapler, paper clips, binder clips, plastic wallets may be useful - I used these a lot for things like keeping my flashcards together but then again I got/used most of these from school.
A planner/revision time table may also be handy for ensuring you know what homework you've got/when its got to be completed/when you've got exams - some schools already give them to you but mine got rid of planners in year 10/11 so I brought my own one (saying that I didn't really use it nearer the end of the year because all homework was basically to revise/put on a website my school uses to put homework on so I didn't really need it!)

You will need things like a clear pencil case, long ruler, compass, protractor stuff like that for exam season which might be handy for buying now but then again around exam season they bring out these sort of things so you might be better off waiting - although you'll need all that for mocks.

Good luck, I hope year 11 isn't too stressful for you and that all your exams go well. Just enjoy it, try your hardest and do your best because thats all you can do. :smile:
(edited 5 years ago)
Reply 2
Here's a list for any student that is heading into exam year:

Diary - to note all those to-dos, and give a exam count down.
Calendar - some like this but not always necessary as long as you do the count down in the diary.

Then the usual
Pens - black, blue and coloured. Remember your not allowed to use gel pens in exams.
Fine felt tip pens for mind maps.
Pencils
Highlighters
Eraser
Sharpener
Correction fluid - not always necessary as in some subjects you are not allowed to use it.
Dividers
Plastic envelopes for the binders
Binders - some courses you are told what colour they need to be, otherwise colour code them with your exercise books.
Exercise note books
CLEAR pencil case - only clear ones are allowed in the exams, or they have to go in your bag or on the floor below your desk.
Non digital watches are allowed on desks in exams, so if you are going to use yours for timings it can't be digital.
A rule - folding or long etc
Printer paper and printer ink for your printer if you are doing assignments etc
Post it notes
Index cards and elastic bands to hold them in bundles.
Graph paper - if your doing maths you might find it easier to write stuff on
A4 notebooks for cheat sheets, mind maps - do a revision guide as you go, then your prepared for when you start your revision. One per subject

Then class specific stuff
Proper calculator - recommended by the tutor/course
Protractor - I liked my circular one which made life a lot easier when doing bearings on maps.

In one of my classes we didn't have desks, so I had a clipboard to lean against.

A folder to put in hand outs for each subject, we literally got loads in maths this year.

A back pack or bag to carry it all.

Poundland has a great range of stuff for school, I also love Paperchase and Ebay. I just get a few bits each time I go shopping and I've pretty much got it all now.
(edited 5 years ago)
Reply 3
thanks!! that’s really helpful! i’ll definitely ask to go down to Wilkos soon, and keep this list in mind :smile: