LightMySky
Explore

What a 16-year-old learns

181 topics open up at age 16, across 11 subjects. They are listed in the order they build on each other, not by importance: each one needs the ones above it.

age 15age 17
What should a 16-year-old be learning?

At age 16, 181 topics open up across Science, Mathematics, Computing, History, Personal & Social Development, Life Skills, English, Civics & Economics, Geography, Learning to Learn, Languages. Each one has prerequisites that come first, so the order matters more than the list: Gas Exchange Surfaces Across Taxa is a typical starting point.

How do I know what a 16-year-old already knows?

LightMySky starts by assuming everything below the learner’s level is already known, then checks the assumption as they practise. What holds up stays lit; what does not comes back for review.

Science

  1. Gas Exchange Surfaces Across TaxaOrganisms & Life Processes
  2. Fick's Law and What Sets the Rate of ExchangeOrganisms & Life Processes
  3. Ventilation in Insects, Fish and MammalsOrganisms & Life Processes
  4. Water and Hydrogen Bonding in Living SystemsOrganisms & Life Processes
  5. Condensation, Hydrolysis and the Polymers of LifeOrganisms & Life Processes
  6. Lipids: Built by Condensation but Not PolymersOrganisms & Life Processes
  7. Protein Structure from Primary to QuaternaryOrganisms & Life Processes
  8. The Fluid Mosaic Model of the Cell MembraneOrganisms & Life Processes
  9. Resistivity and What Sets a Wire's ResistanceEnergy
  10. Progressive waves: phase and path differenceWaves, Light & Sound
  11. Polarisation as Evidence for Transverse WavesWaves, Light & Sound
  12. Superposition and Stationary WavesWaves, Light & Sound
  13. Coherence and Young's Double-Slit FringesWaves, Light & Sound
  14. Internal Energy, Absolute Zero and the Kelvin ScaleEnergy
  15. Moments, Couples and the Conditions for EquilibriumForces & Motion
  16. Work Done by a Force at an AngleEnergy
  17. Newton's Law of Gravitation and Gravitational Field StrengthForces & Motion
  18. Gravitational Potential and Escape SpeedForces & Motion
  19. Kinetic Theory: Pressure from Molecular MotionMatter & Materials
  20. Gas Volumes and the Ideal Gas EquationChemistry
  21. Enthalpy Change, Standard Conditions and CalorimetryChemistry
  22. Hess's Law and Enthalpy CyclesChemistry
  23. Ionisation Energy and the Evidence for Sub-ShellsChemistry
  24. Naming Organic Compounds and the Formulas That Show StructureChemistry
  25. Isomerism: Same Formula, Different MoleculeChemistry
  26. Orbitals, Sub-Shells and Electron ConfigurationChemistry
  27. Trends Across Period 3: Radius, Ionisation Energy and Melting PointChemistry
  28. Period 3 Oxides and the Acid-Base DivideChemistry
  29. Group 2: Reactivity and Solubility TrendsChemistry
  30. Group 7: Oxidising Power, Displacement and Halide TestsChemistry
  31. Oxidation Numbers and Balancing Redox EquationsChemistry
  32. The Equilibrium Constant KcChemistry
  33. Resolving Vectors into ComponentsForces & Motion
  34. Newton's Second Law on a SlopeForces & Motion
  35. Connected Bodies: Tension, Pulleys and LiftsForces & Motion
  36. Projectile Motion as Two Independent MotionsForces & Motion
  37. Projectiles Launched at an AngleForces & Motion
  38. Coulomb's Law and the Electric Field of a Point ChargeEnergy
  39. Electric Potential and the Uniform Field Between PlatesEnergy
  40. Capacitance and the Energy Stored in a CapacitorEnergy
  41. Magnetic Flux Density and the Force on a Current-Carrying WireForces & Motion
  42. The Layered Atmosphere and Why Temperature Reverses With HeightEarth's Systems
  43. Earth's Energy Balance and the Greenhouse Effect, QuantifiedEarth's Systems
  44. Free-Radical Substitution in AlkanesChemistry
  45. Electrophilic Addition to AlkenesChemistry
  46. Nucleophilic Substitution in HaloalkanesChemistry
  47. Elimination and Choosing Between Two PathwaysChemistry
  48. Alcohols: Classification, Oxidation and DehydrationChemistry
  49. Global Circulation: Cells, Jets and Why Deserts Sit Where They DoEarth's Systems
  50. Uncertainty, Precision and Significant Figures in a MeasurementScientific Inquiry
  51. Digestion and Absorption in the Mammalian GutOrganisms & Life Processes
  52. Enzyme Kinetics: Vmax and the Michaelis ConstantOrganisms & Life Processes
  53. Light-Dependent Reactions in the Thylakoid MembraneOrganisms & Life Processes
  54. The Calvin Cycle and Carbon FixationOrganisms & Life Processes
  55. Glycolysis and the Link ReactionOrganisms & Life Processes
  56. The Specific Immune Response: Phagocytes, T Cells and B CellsThe Human Body
  57. Semi-conservative DNA ReplicationGenetics & Evolution
  58. Taxonomy, the Three Domains and What a Species Name EncodesGenetics & Evolution
  59. Transcription and RNA Splicing in EukaryotesGenetics & Evolution
  60. Translation at the RibosomeGenetics & Evolution

Mathematics

  1. Discrete Random Variables and Probability DistributionsProbability
  2. Sampling Methods and Their Trade-offsData & Statistics
  3. Standard deviation and varianceData & Statistics
  4. Radian Measure and SectorsGeometry
  5. Forms of the Equation of a Straight LineGeometry
  6. Parallel and Perpendicular Lines in CoordinatesGeometry
  7. The Equation of a CircleGeometry
  8. Lines Meeting Circles: Tangents and ChordsGeometry
  9. The Unit Circle and the Graphs of Sine, Cosine and TangentGeometry
  10. The Pythagorean and Quotient IdentitiesGeometry
  11. Parametric Equations of CurvesGeometry
  12. Solving Trigonometric Equations in a Given IntervalGeometry
  13. Compound Angle FormulaeGeometry
  14. Double Angle FormulaeGeometry
  15. Combining a Sine and a Cosine into a Single WaveGeometry
  16. Domain and Range of a FunctionAlgebra
  17. Modulus Functions and Modulus EquationsAlgebra
  18. Polynomial Division and the Factor TheoremAlgebra
  19. Sketching a Curve from Its Factorised FormAlgebra
  20. The Exponential Function and the Number eAlgebra
  21. Logarithms as the Inverse of ExponentialsAlgebra
  22. The Binomial ExpansionAlgebra
  23. Modelling Motion in a Straight LineMechanics
  24. Motion Graphs: Gradients and AreasMechanics
  25. The Constant-Acceleration EquationsMechanics
  26. Vertical Motion Under GravityMechanics
  27. The Gradient of a Curve as a LimitCalculus & Analysis
  28. Differentiation from First PrinciplesCalculus & Analysis
  29. Expected Value and Variance of a Discrete Random VariableProbability
  30. The Binomial DistributionProbability
  31. The Normal Distribution and Standardised ScoresProbability
  32. Forces as Vectors: Resolving and ResultantsMechanics

Computing

  1. Dictionaries: Values Found by KeyProgramming
  2. Classes and Objects: Bundling Data with BehaviourProgramming
  3. Functions at Depth: Default and Keyword ArgumentsProgramming
  4. Inheritance and Overriding BehaviourProgramming
  5. Designing with Objects: Deciding What Each Class OwnsProgramming
  6. Counting Operations to Compare AlgorithmsAlgorithms & Data Structures
  7. Stacks: Last In, First OutAlgorithms & Data Structures
  8. Queues: First In, First OutAlgorithms & Data Structures
  9. Big-O Notation and Orders of GrowthAlgorithms & Data Structures
  10. Linked Lists and Nodes That PointAlgorithms & Data Structures
  11. Hash Tables and Near-Constant LookupAlgorithms & Data Structures
  12. Quadratic Sorts: Bubble and InsertionAlgorithms & Data Structures
  13. Boolean Algebra and Simplifying Logic ExpressionsComputer Systems
  14. Logic Circuits That Add and RememberComputer Systems
  15. Assembly Language and the Instruction SetComputer Systems
  16. Registers, Buses and the Fetch-Execute Cycle in DetailComputer Systems

History

  1. Reading a Source in the World That Made ItHistorical Thinking
  2. How an Interpretation ChangesHistorical Thinking
  3. The Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal EmpiresWorld History
  4. Ming and Qing ChinaWorld History
  5. The Columbian ExchangeWorld History
  6. Counting the PastHistorical Thinking
  7. Contingency: What Almost HappenedHistorical Thinking
  8. Whose Past Is It: Museums, Statues and Public MemoryHistorical Thinking
  9. Silver, Sugar and the First World EconomyWorld History
  10. The Plantation AtlanticWorld History
  11. The Enlightenment and the Age of RevolutionsWorld History
  12. Independence in Latin AmericaWorld History
  13. Industrialising Outside Europe: Japan and EgyptWorld History
  14. Resisting Colonial RuleWorld History
  15. The Non-Aligned WorldWorld History
  16. Globalisation and Who It Left OutWorld History

Personal & Social Development

  1. Knowing When a Feeling Needs HelpSelf-Regulation & Resilience
  2. What Makes an Argument ValidEthics & Philosophy
  3. Facts, Values and the Gap Between ThemEthics & Philosophy
  4. Being New: Your First Weeks SomewhereFriendship & Cooperation
  5. Disagreeing Without Losing the PersonEmpathy & Social Awareness
  6. Building a Circle From ScratchFriendship & Cooperation
  7. Choosing What Comes NextSelf-Awareness
  8. Consequences: The Greatest Good and Its ProblemsEthics & Philosophy
  9. Duties and Rights: What You Owe Regardless of OutcomeEthics & Philosophy
  10. Character: The Kind of Person You Are BecomingEthics & Philosophy
  11. Justice: Who Deserves What, and WhyEthics & Philosophy
  12. The Ethics of the Tools We BuildEthics & Philosophy

Life Skills

  1. Unit Economics: Does Each Sale Make Money?Entrepreneurship
  2. Protecting Money and IdentityMoney & Finance
  3. Tax: What You File and WhyMoney & Finance
  4. Renting a Place and What It Really CostsMoney & Finance
  5. Credit Files and What Lenders SeeMoney & Finance
  6. Applying for a Job: The Application, the CV and the InterviewMoney & Finance
  7. The Smallest Version Worth TestingEntrepreneurship
  8. Knowing When to StopEntrepreneurship
  9. Insurance: Paying Not to Be RuinedMoney & Finance
  10. Starting a Pension at EighteenMoney & Finance
  11. Paying for What Comes After SchoolMoney & Finance

English

  1. Free Indirect Style and Narrative DistanceReading Comprehension
  2. Scanning a Line: Metre, Stress, and SubstitutionReading Comprehension
  3. Writing to a Reader Who DecidesWriting Composition
  4. Close Reading at DepthReading Comprehension
  5. From Noticing to a Literary ThesisReading Comprehension
  6. Sustaining a Literary Argument Across an EssayReading Comprehension
  7. Levels of Language: A Framework for DescriptionGrammar & Punctuation
  8. How Language Varies: Register, Dialect, and SociolectVocabulary
  9. Language Change Over TimeVocabulary
  10. Seminar Discussion on Shared ReadingSpeaking & Listening

Civics & Economics

  1. Fiscal Policy: Spending, Taxing and the DeficitEconomics
  2. Monetary Policy and What a Central Bank Can DoEconomics
  3. Growth, Productivity and Why Some Countries Got RichEconomics
  4. Measuring Inequality and Arguing About ItEconomics
  5. How a Policy Actually Gets MadeGovernment
  6. Forms of Government ComparedGovernment
  7. Political Ideas and What They Actually ClaimGovernment
  8. Where International Rules Come FromGovernment
  9. Judging a Political ClaimGovernment

Geography

  1. Places Change, and Not for EveryonePeople & Environments
  2. Where Your Things Are Actually MadePeople & Environments
  3. Borders, Territory and the SeaPlaces & Regions
  4. Where Illness Spreads and WhyPeople & Environments
  5. What Extraction Costs the Place It HappensPeople & Environments
  6. Cities That WorkPeople & Environments

Learning to Learn

  1. Notes That Are Worth RereadingLearning to Learn
  2. Getting Through a Text That Is Too HardLearning to Learn
  3. Running a Long Project Without Losing the ThreadLearning to Learn
  4. Judging How Well You Actually Know ItLearning to Learn
  5. Learning With an AI Without Handing Over the ThinkingLearning to Learn

Languages

  1. Speaking Without RehearsingSounds & Conversation
  2. Arguing a Case in Another LanguageSounds & Conversation
  3. Literature and Film in the OriginalTexts, Media & Translation
  4. Translation as a CraftTexts, Media & Translation
What a 16-year-old learns · LightMySky