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Exam technique. Study skills. Real talk.

Everything ZAK has written since 2008 — how examiners think, how to revise so it sticks, how to keep your head when results are weeks away, and what AI actually means for your learning. Every post opens in full on the original blog.

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71
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The archive

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All 70 posts

2026

1 post

2025

10 posts
Video
Study skills

Your Ultimate Guide To Ace Your A-Level Computer Science (9618) with Active Recall

If you're studying A-Level Computer Science (9618), you've likely faced the frustration of reviewing your notes only to feel like you've retained nothing. You're not alone!

3 minRead on Blogger
Video
Wellbeing

Your Mind Matters More Than Marks: Emotional First Aid for CAIEs

A Message from Zak: You Are Not Alone in CAIE Exam Stress Beloved students, I know how tough exam season can feel.

7 minRead on Blogger
Video
Exam technique

Ultimate Guide to Acing Cambridge AS Level CS Paper 1 (June 2025)

Hello Champions and Educators! As we gear up for the June 2025 Cambridge AS Level Computer Science Paper 1 exam, I've conducted an extensive deep-dive analysis into past exam papers from 2022 to…

3 minRead on Blogger
Video
ZAK & Zakathon

Zafar Ali Khan, Zak: Architect of a New Era in Cambridge Computer Science Education

Known formally as Zafar Ali Khan, but revered simply as Zak, he is a pioneer who has redefined teaching, inspiring, and leading in the world of Computer Science education.

4 minRead on Blogger
Video
Exam technique

Cracking Cambridge A Level Computer Science 9618 Paper 4 (June 2025)

Your Ultimate Guide to Mastery and Success (June 2025) Welcome future tech innovators! Are you ready to conquer one of the most practical, skill-intensive challenges of your A Level journey?

3 minRead on Blogger
Video
Exam technique

Unlocking the Secrets of the 9618 P3 Exam: Predictions, Tips, and a Winning Strategy

Unlocking the Secrets of Cambridge A Level Computer Science 9618 Paper 3 (P3) – June 2025 By Zafar Ali Khan (Zak) Founder of CSwithZak, Creator of AskZ AI Teaching Assistant Introduction: Why P3…

4 minRead on Blogger
Video
Exam technique

Unlock the Secrets: Conquering Cambridge 9618 Paper 2 – Your Pseudocode Adventure Awaits!

Welcome, future Computer Science wizards, to the exciting world of Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science (9618)!

6 minRead on Blogger
Video
Exam technique

Exam Technique Tips for Cambridge O Level 2210 and IGCSE 0478

Welcome to a comprehensive guide on acing the Cambridge O Level 2210 and IGCSE 0478 Computer Science exams. These examinations are known for their rigor and breadth, testing everything from factual…

22 minRead on Blogger
Video
AI & AskZ

AskZ: Your Personalized AI Education Partner

Introduction In today's fast-paced world, students and teachers are looking for smarter ways to learn and teach.

5 minRead on Blogger
AI & AskZ

Why AskZ Isn’t Just Another AI — It’s Your Exam-Focused Tutor

As an educator, I’ve watched the AI revolution unfold — and I’ve also seen students get lost in it. Chatbots are everywhere, but most of them are too general, too distracted, and too vague to truly…

2 minRead on Blogger

2023

12 posts
Study skills

Master Google Search Like a Pro

31 Advanced Google Search Tips for Teens Google is a potent tool in our digital world, with its capabilities extending far beyond a simple search box.

4 minRead on Blogger
AI & AskZ

Google's Latest Innovations. June 2023.

A Tech Wonderland for Teens Hey there, tech explorers! Welcome to our journey through the coolest new gadgets and features from our favorite tech giant: Google.

3 minRead on Blogger
Teaching

6 Transformative Habits of Learner-Centric Educators

A Gateway to Unprecedented Success in the Teaching Profession In the dynamic world of education, it's high time we shift our focus from traditional teacher-centric pedagogies to more innovative,…

3 minRead on Blogger
Teaching

Rekindling the Spark of Genuine Learning. A Student's Perspective on Schools with No Tuition Policy.

Awake at 7AM, school at 8AM, home at 3PM, tuition by 4PM, back home at 10PM – rise and repeat. This relentless cycle, unfortunately, epitomizes the reality of numerous O/A level students today.

3 minRead on Blogger
Wellbeing

Do students respect teachers less nowadays?

Respect is a fundamental value in any human relationship. It is especially important in the context of education, where teachers and students interact on a daily basis.

6 minRead on Blogger
Wellbeing

The Unfolding Chapter in the Wake of A-Levels: A Ballad of Awakening and Opportunities

In the wake of A-Levels' demanding ride, Stands a youth, future's door open wide. The echoes of past trials softly fade, As the dawn of adulthood begins to cascade.

1 minRead on Blogger
Wellbeing

Aamir's Journey: A Tale of Self-Discovery and Choosing One's Path

Once upon a time, in the bustling city of Karachi, there was a young man named Aamir. Aamir had just completed his A-Levels from one of the top schools in Pakistan and was awaiting his results.

3 minRead on Blogger
Wellbeing

A Call to Foster Empathy, Understanding, and Respect in Our Educational Ecosystem

Dear Educators, Parents, and Students, In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, the dynamics of education are continually evolving.

3 minRead on Blogger
AI & AskZ

Enhancing Education with ChatGPT: A Guide for Teachers and Students

In the digital age, education is constantly evolving. One of the latest tools to enter the educational sphere is ChatGPT, an advanced AI developed by OpenAI.

3 minRead on Blogger
AI & AskZ

Chat GPT-4: The Dawn of a New Era in Education and Learning

The world of artificial intelligence (AI) has seen a significant breakthrough with the development of OpenAI's GPT-4.

3 minRead on Blogger
Study skills

Rediscovering the Art of Note-taking: Your Key to Success in Computer Science

Dear students, as we have transitioned back fully to in-person classes after the COVID-19 lockdowns and the era of online learning, I've noticed that many of you seem to have given up on note-taking.

2 minRead on Blogger
Exam technique

The Theory of 24 Hours of Learning: A Guide to Effective Exam Preparation

Preparing for exams can often feel overwhelming. Many students are unsure whether to study in short, spaced-out sessions or pull all-nighters just before the paper.

2 minRead on Blogger

2020

5 posts

2019

3 posts

2018

7 posts
Wellbeing

5 signs that scream you Procrastinate too Much

5 signs that scream you procrastinate too much You have an exam tomorrow, you had five days to cover your whole syllabus, but you “calculated” that you can complete it in five hours and decided to…

7 minRead on Blogger
Teaching

How Schools With No Tuition Policy can help Hobbyists, Lowering Tuition Culture and Put a Stop To The Death of Social Life. A students perspective...

Wake up at 7AM, reach school at 8AM, get home at 3PM, reach tuition center at 4PM, back home at 10PM and repeat. This is what represents the life of most O/A level students nowadays.

7 minRead on Blogger
Wellbeing

You’re Who You Surround Yourself With

You’re Who You Surround Yourself With We meet a lot of people throughout our lives, but there are a few we decide to call our friends; but as we’re advancing in time, it is witnessed that the word…

6 minRead on Blogger
ZAK & Zakathon

A rich Septennial history of signature #Zakathon events

Zafar Ali Khan & Computer Science Marathons ------ Zakathon The marathons that you usually hear about start off with multiple candidates but only one winner.

8 minRead on Blogger
Wellbeing

Students and Stress

Student life, a stressed commodity where supposedly every thing is in chaos, but amidst that chaos, some students emerge like the knight in shining armor.

7 minRead on Blogger
Careers

Computer Sciences vs Computer Engineering. What to choose?

Computer Sciences vs. Computer Engineering. What to choose? Its nearly that time of the year, when A2 and Second Year Students are searching for options and universities to apply in for their higher…

7 minRead on Blogger
Careers

Why choose Computer Science as a Career?

Computer Science as a Career? Almost every teenager in Pakistan after completing their High school education goes through the stressful thought process of choosing a career path.

7 minRead on Blogger

2016

2 posts

2015

2 posts

2014

5 posts

2013

3 posts

2012

5 posts

2011

5 posts

2009

4 posts

2008

6 posts
Real talk

Find a new thing to do with Google today

You can do a lot more than search the web with Google nowadays, from reading newspapers in languages you don't speak to seeing the natural habitat of Komodo dragons.

1 minRead on Blogger
Teaching

Online Tuition through Virtual Classrooms

Education Services Outsourcing ( ESO ) or Online Tuition has taken the world like storms. Students and their parents prefer to stay home, spend less and get best possible education.

1 minRead on Blogger
Exam technique

Correct way of writing answers in answer sheet.

It is becoming noticeable in the scripts that there is a significant number of candidates who are answering the questions in any order and even split up individual questions, answering the first part…

4 minRead on Blogger
Exam technique

CIE Reporting System for Answer Sheets' Checking.

In few English education boards like Edexel, after students receive their results they are allowed to check their answer papers' marking by the examiners.

1 minRead on Blogger
Exam technique

Power of illustrations.

Today I was in a class and teaching Arrays and internally worshiping the idea to teach using illustrations. As the saying goes "A picture speaks for thousand words", I was in comfort zone…

1 minRead on Blogger
ZAK & Zakathon

New 9691Computing Syllabus Website.

A new website for CIE 9691 Computing syllabus is started recently. This website covers following: AS and A Level revision notes.

1 minRead on Blogger
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