BURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS

GCSE Study and Revision Skills

Advice for parents and for boys who are preparing to

take their GCSE examinations in 2011

2

Contents Foreword Page 3 Advice for Parents Page 4-11 Art Page 12-13 Business Studies Page 14 Classical Civilisation Page 15 Electronic Products Page 16 English Page 17 French Page 18 Geography Page 19 German Page 20-21 Greek Page 22 History Page 23-24 ICT Page 25-26 Latin Page 27 Mathematics Page 28 Music Page 29 Physical education Page 30 RS Page 31 Science Page 32-33

3

Foreword

The first section of this booklet includes suggestions to help with GCSE exam preparation. The second section contains information and revision tips specific to each subject. The subjects appear in alphabetical order. The school’s teaching staff will also be giving specific practical guidance during lessons regarding revision. Further help and advice is always available from the Head of Year or Form Tutor as listed below. Head of Fifth Year: Mr A.P. Christian, email: achristian@bgsboys.co.uk Form Tutor 5LB Mrs H.M. Brandon Form Tutor 5LF Mr A.L. Stacey Form Tutor 5UC Mr T.J. Nicholson Form Tutor 5UR Mr D.A. Ferguson Form Tutor 5UQ Mr M.R. Boyd The School’s Contact Number: 0161-797 2700 Website: www.bgsboys.co.uk

4

Advice for Parents

1. Exam Timetable

Spring Term 2011: Modular and Trial Exams

Your son will be sitting his GCSE Science Unit 2 Module Exams in January. As such, there will be Trial Exams in Science Unit 2 at the end of November. Your son’s Trial Exams, in preparation for his summer examinations, will take place during the second half of the Spring term. This means that boys will need to spend some time during the Christmas holidays preparing for their January examinations and during the February half-term preparing for their Trial Exams. The Summer 2011 Exams

Students will be provided with two copies of their individual timetable, which will detail the exams and level for which they have been entered; one copy should be signed and returned to the school. There are no exams during the week of the Bank Holiday, when schools are normally on half-term break. In 2011 this will be the week Monday 30th May until Friday 3rd June. Monday 6th June is a staff INSET day. However, public examinations on that day will take place as normal. Taking time off over the Bank Holiday is acceptable but be aware that your son will need to do plenty of revision that week. Please make sure that he is aware of this. Planning a holiday during this week is not recommended.

2. Planning revision

Your son will be advised about how to prepare for the Trial Exams by the pastoral team and during year assemblies. The main point he should recognise is that successful revision comes through being thoroughly organised. Make sure that he checks he has all the books he needs, and that all notes are complete and up to date; if any are missing he should seek advice from the relevant teacher. As well as general help with planning, the school will provide blank revision timetables. The online tool www.myrevisionplan.co.uk can also be used, but a unique UCI number must first be requested from the Head of Year. Make sure that the revision timetable includes all the dates and times of the examinations as well as coursework deadlines. It is also a good idea to include when you want your son to take time off from revision, for example when he has achieved a target.

It should probably go without saying that the timetable should be prominently displayed. Encouraging your son to follow it is important. Check how he is doing by letting him tell you about something he has just learnt. If you can follow his explanation in all likelihood he will be able to produce a good answer in the exam. Patient listening will help your son to rehearse new knowledge. Similarly, he should be encouraged to seek out his teacher’s help for any gaps in understanding.

5

Useful Revision Tips

Parents:

• switch off your son’s mobile phone and allow him to use the internet only for revision sites

• ask teachers to go through anything he doesn’t understand

• ensure that he is working in a nice quiet room

Boys:

• plan twenty to thirty minute sessions. Frequent short sessions are generally more beneficial than longer ones

• take short breaks between sessions

• on any particular night, revise only two subjects

• Leave time for relaxation

• plan to revise specific topics in each subject, not everything at once

• avoid comfort revising i.e. spending a disproportionate amount of time on easy topics

• plan to cover each subject several times and revisit each one near to the exams

• make a long list of short questions for each topic which act as learning objectives

• be aware that reading is not enough. Revision should be proactive. Making notes with words and pictures helps with memory. Highlighting can also help. Teachers will give advice on different ways to learn information

• plan to spend time completing practice questions so that he is used to doing things within a time limit

• ensure that revision includes working through plenty of past exam questions

• consider working with a friend. This allows for testing each other and discussing the topic in depth

Organisation

ensure that his workspace has… • plenty of fresh air • natural light and a desk lamp

6

• desk space that is large, but not in front of the window • a radiator nearby at about 18 degrees • resources/equipment nearby • a good chair • music if this helps • timetables/syllabus/project plans Provide your son the tools to revise with, which may include…… • pens, pencils, rulers • colours, highlighters, ink • file dividers • folders, wallets • hole punch • plain, lined & graph paper • index cards box • diary/timetables • computer access • music system • calculator • paper clips/stapler • lamp • sellotape/glue Revision Timetables It is important to begin by making a list of topics to cover during the revision period, and then prioritise these estimating how long each will take. Subject teachers will provide a syllabus to help with this. Filling in the blank timetable A revision timetable becomes obsolete if not adhered to, which can be damaging for morale and hinder progress. A different approach is to have a chart recording what has been achieved each day. Seeing this being filled in can be very motivating. However what works for one boy may not work for another! Building reviewing into the timetable every day It is a good idea to have a 'testing slot’ scheduled into every day. This helps to recall previous learning and makes sitting the exam feel less onerous.

3. During the Exam Period

Try to ensure that your son:

7

• gets a good night’s sleep before exams • eats breakfast and lunch to help him concentrate • has all the necessary equipment the night before the exam:

- a couple of pens and sharp pencils in a clear pencil case - an eraser and ruler - a watch

and for some exams: - a calculator - a protractor

• knows the times of every exam that day

• allows plenty of time to get to school for the exam

• is wished well and told he has worked hard and that he can only do his best

• reports back on whether the exam has gone well or badly (be supportive even if you know that he should have done more for it)

Also, you should:

• seek help from the school if you are worried about your son in any way

• review the Exam regulations particularly the following:

No mobile phones or any other electronic gadget (including MP3 players) may be taken into the exam room.

In addition correction fluid is not allowed.

Other ways in which you can help You can help by: • encouraging you son to see the importance of the exams and how much time he will have to

commit to them • explaining to other members of the family that they must not disturb revision • securing a quiet place for study • praising/rewarding hard work

8

• offering reassurance that the process will soon be over and a break can then be taken

4. And when it’s all over..

Tell your son to relax and forget about studying for a while.

5. Useful Websites for revision BBC Revision (GCSE Bitesize) www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize Channel 4 Learning Homework High www.channel4.com/homeworkhigh Dr Brown’s Chemistry Revision www.docbrown.info/ GCSE Guide (Maths & English) www.gcse.co.uk Project Revision www.projectrevision.co.uk Revision Notes www.revision-notes.co.uk/GCSE/ Revision Plan www.myrevisionplan.co.uk Revision Time www.revisiontime.com/ S Cool www.s-cool.co.uk Exam boards AQA www.aqa.org.uk Edexel www.edexcel.org.uk/ OCR www.ocr.org.uk/ Further advice for parents BBC Learning www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents

9

A guide to setting up an account: myrevisionplan.co.uk

We are registered as a school for you to use this site.

1. Select the ‘Info for Students’>’Register’ menu button

2. Select Country: England, Authority: Bury and School: Bury Grammar School Boys from

the drop down menu.

3. By obtaining your unique UCI number from your Head of Year, your public examinations will be automatically loaded onto your calendar when you register.

UCI number with your Head of Year

10

4. Complete the remaining fields, Age, E-mail, and Password then click register.

5. Wait for your confirmation email!

11

Subject specific revision tips for boys Before getting started…..

• Ensure that there are no gaps in notes from the 4th or 5th Year

• Be aware that class notes are an important source of knowledge from which to draw

• Print off a syllabus for each subject from the relevant exam board website and tick the statements that have been covered so far

• Print off past papers for each subject, complete at least one per week at home, and ask the

relevant subject teacher to mark them. Alternatively you can use the mark scheme which is also available online.

• Ensure that you are writing all homework into your homework diary and enter your marks

into your Focus Group booklet

• Ensure that all homework is completed and handed in for marking on time. You must avoid being put into SLT homework detention.

• In the subjects where you are failing to achieve a grade C, you should ask your teacher for

set targets to improve your performance. You must arrange a time to do this with your subject teacher and you must keep a record in your exercise book.

• You must attend lunchtime clinics for the subjects in which you are experiencing difficulty.

12

Art

Head of Department: Miss K A Gore

Coursework 60% Examination 40% Internal Assessment of GCSE – April 2011. Date TBC

External Assessment of GCSE - June 2011 . Date TBC Art Exhibition for Students, Parents and BGSB guests – June 2011. Dates TBC Coursework – Portfolio 60% All boys have been given a GCSE booklet highlighting the breakdown of the course. All 5th Year Art students have two projects, ‘Surroundings’ and ‘Structures’. In both projects boys will learn a variation of techniques and skills. Examination – Externally Set Assignment 40% Students are given a selection of exam questions set by the examination board, AQA. Boys can choose any discipline of art to work in for their examination. The paper is given to the students on the lesson closest to January 1st 2011. Students then have five weeks preparation for the ten hour exam. The first initial three hours will take place in the Art Department under examination conditions and the following seven hours to be done during Art lessons.

Assessing GCSE Art The members of the Art department internally assess all the Art work once students have put up their exhibitions in April 2011. A moderator from AQA will then assess the work in June. All projects and the Examination are assessed under the following criteria. Assessment Objective 1 - Artist Research (potentially worth 20 marks) Assessment Objective 2 - Developing your own ideas (potentially worth 20 marks) Assessment Objective 3 - Observational Drawings (potentially worth 20 marks) Assessment Objective 4 – Final piece (potentially worth 20 marks)

AO1 This is researching a selection of artists, cultures or issues in the media relevant to the project. Students must visually record their influences, have their own opinions of the research this may also include small maquettes.

13

AO2 This is exploring several individual ideas in great depth for a final piece relevant to the starting point. Learning new techniques, working with a range of different materials and taking photographs of this process as evidence.

AO3 This is a substantial amount of first hand drawings showing evidence of different scales, drawing styles and media. Students must remember to vary their drawing materials and drawing surfaces. For example sugar paper, black paper, white paper etc.

AO4 Using all work from the previous AO’s students will produce a final, personal outcome to demonstrate the skills and knowledge learnt. Remember, the project must flow and show a journey of your ideas and research. A good Art student will demonstrate a high level of intellectual interpretation of their work.

Submission. All work done in the 4th and 5th year will be submitted as part of the GCSE course and therefore needs to be completed to the best of the student’s ability. All students have the opportunities to attend Art clubs regularly in order to develop and improve coursework. Boys are encouraged to attend at least once a week. Further details for the GCSE course is available in the information packs given out at the start of the 4th Year.

14

Business Studies

Head of Department: Mr N Parkinson

Format of Examination 2 x 1 hour written exams. Paper 1, worth 40%, will be completed at the end of the 4th Year. If a boy does not achieve his potential he will be allowed to pay for 1 further re-sit opportunity in the January or June of the 5th Year. Paper 2, worth 35%, will be completed at the end of the 5th Year. Controlled Assessment The controlled assessment replaces coursework and consists of 7 to 9 hours of preparation time followed by a report to be written in approximately 3 hours under exam conditions. The write up period will begin at the end of September in the 5th Year. This unit is worth 25% of the final mark. Specific Revision Tips • Learn the accounting formulae and practise using them in past questions. • Practise calculations, especially percentages. Showing ability in this field will gain you high

marks. • Many students find the best way to revise is to DO something with the information you are

trying to learn. Organise it into short notes, diagrams, lists, etc. and this will help you to learn and memorise it.

• LOOK, COVER, WRITE, CHECK is a good way of memorising work. • Although it is important that you have learnt the basic content of Business Studies the

important thing is to be able to APPLY that knowledge in the CONTEXT of a particular business case study. Practise past questions; ask your teacher for extra papers if needed. When practising past questions work on the basis of 1 mark per minute and try to stick to this.

• Higher marks are only gained by ANALYSIS (explanation) and EVALUATION (weighing

up). Remember this as you revise. You can practise weighing up the most important benefits and costs in many topics, eg the pros and cons of bank loans.

• Your teacher will have told you the major topics to revise but do not forget to look through the

minor ones on the specification occasionally.

15

Classical Civilisation

Head of Department: Mr G Feely

Format of Examination Unit A351: City Life in the Classical World 25% (1hr.) Unit A352: Epic and Myth 25% (1 hr.) Unit A353: Community Life in the Classical World 25% (1hr.) Unit A354: Culture and Society in the Classical World 8 (Coursework) Coursework Requirement Controlled Assessment (2000 words/ 2 essays) to be taken in the Easter Term. Specific Revision Tips i) Read your notes for the Roman Civilisation topics in digestible sections and make your own

brief notes as you go along. ii) Test yourself at the end of each section and use the notes you have made to jog your memory. iii) Read the Odyssey and the Metamorphoses in small sections and test yourself on the facts of

each section at the end. iv) When you have reread the text, use your synopsis to do last minute revision. v) You will use past papers in class which you must keep and practise with as often as you can. vi) Make sure you follow your teacher’s advice for examination essays: fact + analysis is the way

to gain marks.

16

Electronic Products

Head of Department: Mr D Hailwood

Format of Examination The examination lasts 2 hours, and is an assessment of the boys’ ability to apply the knowledge they have gained throughout the course. The written exam is worth 40% of the marks. Coursework Requirement Each boy is expected to formulate his own design brief and to produce both a supporting folder and a piece of practical work to answer that brief. It is expected that the total expenditure should not exceed 40 hours but in reality many boys do more. The coursework is worth 60% of the marks. Specific Revision Tips • Use the ‘Electronic Products – Student Workbook’ as a guide – written by the chief examiner. • Ensure all work is completed in the above book. • Practise freehand sketching. • Remember to show full workings on all calculations and to include units. • Be aware of the recurrent themes from past papers.

17

English

Head of Department: Mrs H Brandon Format of Examination There are two papers for GCSE English, each worth 30% of the marks. Paper 1 (1¾ hours)

• Section A – Reading response to non-fiction / media texts. • Section B – Writing to argue, persuade or advise.

Paper 2 (1½ hours) • Section A – Reading response to ‘Poems from Different Cultures’ in the AQA Anthology. • Section B – Writing to inform, explain or describe.

Then there is one paper for GCSE English Literature, contributing 70% of the marks. Paper 1 (1¾ hours)

• Section A – Post-1914 Prose. • Section B – Pre and Post-1914 Poetry from the AQA Anthology.

Coursework Requirement There are five pieces of written coursework, common for both English and English Literature. These contribute 20% of the English marks and 30% of the English Literature marks. The remaining 20% of the English marks are provided by speaking and listening coursework. Specific Revision Tips

1. Refer to the extensive sheets of revision tips which your teacher will have provided.

2. Ensure you have reread the poems and novel.

3. Ensure you can comment on why the writer has used particular words, devices or images.

4. Old copies of exam papers are available online at: http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/eng_a_assess.php

5. The BBC operate a useful and interactive GCSE English website at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

6. On GCSE Language Paper 1 section A and GCSE Literature, A* candidates are expected to be able to compare the poems all the way through their essays and talk about their social context, language and themes.

7. On the writing tasks on GCSE Language Papers 1 and 2, A* candidates are expected to use the full

range of punctuation, show a high level of accuracy in spelling and be able to use rhetorical devices for effect, e.g. alliteration, opinion as fact.

18

French

Head of Department: Mr M Boyd

Format of Examination Speaking: 30% Writing: 30% Reading: 20% Listening: 20% At the end of the Fifth Year, you will sit a formal examination in Reading and Listening. Each of the 2 exams, at Higher or Foundation tier, is worth 20%. Whilst there is no formal examination in Writing and Speaking, you will do a series of Controlled Assessment at appropriate times in the Fourth and Fifth Year. Coursework Requirement Controlled Assessment has replaced coursework and the Writing and Speaking exams. You will do at least 2 Controlled Assessments in Speaking and Writing. Each skill accounts for 30% of the final marks. Once you have studied a topic in class with your teacher, you will be given a Task approximately one week prior to completing the Controlled Assessment. Writing tasks will be done during a double period. Speaking tasks will take the form of a conversation/interview with your class teacher and last approximately 6 minutes each. Specific Revision Tips You cannot revise for your French examination at the last minute and work done in previous years can be as important/relevant as work done in the Fifth Year. Although, no formal examination takes place in Writing and Speaking, this does not mean that you cannot revise for the Reading and Listening exams. Revise your tenses. Make sure that you can recognize the present, perfect, future tenses when reading or listening. Ensure that you can spot other clues to time frames such as time phrases. Learn topic specific vocabulary. Revise vocabulary from the key topic areas such as Family, Education, Holidays, My Town. Learn common synonyms and antonyms. Often in Reading and Listening, examiners use tricks such as these to catch you out. Visit the following websites: www.languagesonline.org.uk www.zut.org.uk (at weekends and in the evening) www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/modlang/french/index_fr.htm

19

Geography

Head of Department: Mr A S Cawtherley

Format of Examination There are two papers: Paper 1 is 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 37.5% of the marks. Paper 2 is 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 37.5% of the marks. Coursework Requirement Worth 25% of the marks and it is usually based on an investigation of a local study area. Specific Revision Tips There are several techniques that can be used which can help with the preparation and revision of geography. • Do not work for more than 20 minutes at a time. Ideally in 1 hour you would do 40 minutes

of constructive work in two 20 minute sessions separated by 10 minutes each time.

• Do not just read your notes. After a period of time, the words will not register. Instead, write down key words and phrases. For example, if you write the word “abrasion” as a key word, when you come to revise in depth it will trigger off the process in your head.

• With human geography, always learn case studies for relevant topics. Make sure that your

case studies are up to date and that you keep up to date with current affairs. • With physical geography, always use sequence and process. That is to say get the formation

of a landform in the correct order and add the process of formation at the correct time (explained) in the sequence.

• Practise past questions. These are available from your teachers but also through the AQA

website. These will help you understand the style of questions asked and what is required to do well.

Remember, these are just guidelines. You need to experiment with a number of systems and find the one that suits you best.

20

German

Head of Department: Mr D R Lee

Format of Examination Speaking: 30% Writing: 30% Reading: 20% Listening: 20% At the end of the Fifth Year, you will sit a formal examination in Reading and Listening. Each of the 2 exams, at Higher or Foundation tier, is worth 20%. Whilst there is no formal examination in Writing and Speaking, you will do a series of Controlled Assessments at appropriate times in the Fourth and Fifth Year. Coursework Requirement Controlled Assessment has replaced coursework and the Writing and Speaking exams. You will do at least 2 Controlled Assessments in both Speaking and Writing. Each skill accounts for 30% of the final marks. Once you have studied a topic in class with your teacher, you will be given a Task approximately one week prior to completing the Controlled Assessment. Writing tasks will be done during a double period. Speaking tasks will take the form of a conversation/interview with your class teacher and will last approximately 6 minutes each. Specific Revision Tips • The key to success at GCSE is to learn the vocabulary THROUGHOUT THE COURSE. Last

minute revision in a language is impossible: you cannot learn hundreds of words in the space of a few weeks, let alone overnight. ‘Revision’ will ideally begin in the Third Year and will certainly continue in the Fourth and Fifth Years. You need to make a careful note of new vocabulary with its gender and plural and learn it systematically. Note down the key structures as you meet them and try to commit them to memory; there is, unfortunately, no shortcut, but this, of course, means that you have far less to do in the busy run-up to the exams.

• Make sure that you are familiar with these key points of grammar:

i) Cases ii) Verbs and their tenses (especially present and past tense verb forms, both regular and

irregular, and the future tense). iii) Adjective endings. iv) Word order (especially in subordinate clauses where the verb goes at the end of the

clause).

Your teacher will provide you with worksheets to revise these.

21

• Visit the websites on the German page in the subject section of the school site, especially the BBC site for languages and languages online.

• Use the sections at the back of the textbook Echo and those pages at the end of each chapter which give specific guidance on refining examination technique and improving grades.

• Revise the vocabulary and structures for each key topic such as Family, Education and Holidays, thoroughly. This will help you to build up a bank of information vital for success.

22

Greek

Head of Department: Mr G D Feely Format of Examination 4 Papers Language 1 ( l hr.) 25% GCSE Language 2 ( l hr.) 25% GCSE Prose Literature ( l hr.) 25% GCSE Verse Literature ( l hr.) 25% GCSE Coursework Requirement There is no coursework. Specific Revision Tips Your teacher will provide you with a revision booklet for each examination, with the date and time of the examination on the front. There will be separate booklets for each of the Set Text papers which will include revision tips, translation and notes. The language booklet will include revision tips and the defined vocabulary list.

23

History

Head of Department: Mr M J Hone

Format of Examination

One written paper taken at the end of the Fourth Year and one at the end of the Fifth Year, both 1

hour 45 minutes.

Controlled Assessment

Boys carry out a Controlled Assessment assignment in the Autumn term of the Fifth Year. This consists of an Historical Enquiry of approximately 2000 words, split into two parts and using a variety of source material. Boys are given a set number of lessons to prepare the Historical Enquiry, under Controlled Conditions. Specific Revision Tips

• Revision is not a separate activity to be carried out just before the exam. The easiest way to master a topic is to try and understand it clearly at the start, then review the main points at regular intervals thereafter, under headings like ‘Main Events’, ‘Causes’ and ‘Consequences’.

• When you revise a topic always do so ACTIVELY, ie reorganising, compiling a spider

diagram, answering examination-type questions or completing a factual quiz. Simply re-reading notes or the textbook is next to useless.

• The written notes you will be given on each topic contain a series of revision exercises for you

to complete. • There are plenty of GCSE Modern World History revision guides available. They vary

considerably in quality and are usually not specifically designed for our AQA course. Buy them if you like but it must be said that many pupils find the textbook and printed notes perfectly adequate. Be careful not to buy revision guides for the Schools History Project course – it’s a completely different syllabus!

• There are some good History websites with GCSE revision exercises on them. These are

available on the History area of the school network. The best of these include: BBC Bitesize, Active History and John D Clare.

• In GCSE History, factual knowledge is vital but so is examination technique. Knowing how

long to spend on each question and how to answer it in a way that gains maximum marks is a crucial part of your learning. Practise doing past examination questions under pressure of time.

• There is no right or wrong way of revising. Develop the method that suits you best. For

example, some people swear by spider diagrams and mind maps. Other people find them no use at all. The one over-riding piece of advice I would give is that the best pattern for revision

24

is: little, regular and often. It is no good sitting down for ten solid hours trying to learn every topic thoroughly the night before the exam!

25

ICT

Head of Department: Mr P Meakin

Format of Examination There is one examination which lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes. This consists mostly of short answer and multiple choice questions. There is also usually one question which requires an extended written answer. The examination is worth 40% of the credit for the GCSE.

Coursework Requirement Two pieces of coursework, each worth 30% of the credit for the GCSE, must be undertaken.

• The Board Set Assignment which consists of a small number of tasks set by AQA is

completed in the Fourth Year. • The Personal Project which consists of one long task chosen by the student is completed in the

Fifth Year. As the coursework is worth 60% of the course credit it is obviously vital that you perform well in it if you hope to achieve a good grade at the end of the course. Sustained effort throughout the two years is required.

Specific Revision Tips • Start your revision early. ICT is one of the earliest exams on the timetable, usually taking

place just a few days after study leave starts and before the half term holiday. You must therefore make sure you start your revision suitably early.

• Visit our website (www.bgsict.org.uk, username: bgs password: ict). There is a lot of very

useful revision material on the site, specifically targeted at your course. • Know which course you are studying so that you can target your revision at what is required

for this specific GCSE course, especially if you buy a revision guide, as there are differences between different GCSE ICT courses. You are studying AQA ICT Specification A, course number 3521.

26

• Come to our last-minute revision lesson. We hold a revision session just before the exam which usually takes place in the afternoon, so come along for our last minute hints and tips and to ask any questions you may have. Check our website for times.

• Know which topics are most important so that you can divide up your revision time sensibly.

Use our annually-updated “Top Exam Questions” guide to see which topics are usually worth most marks and our “Exam Questions Guide” to see what specific questions are most frequently asked on particular topics.

• Do past exam papers. Many questions come up year after year so completing past exam

papers is the best revision you can do. We will do several in class and have many more that you can complete if you want to.

• Use the ICT Companion. The quiz module in particular will help you test your knowledge at

home when you don’t have a teacher to help you. All of the notes that you need to revise from are in the ICT Companion. When you are reading about the topics take note of the common mistakes sections which point out simple mistakes that are frequently made.

• You may find other revision guides and websites useful as an alternative source of

information but we will give you everything that you need to do well in the exam. • In the exam you will have plenty of time so make sure you check your work carefully, write in

enough depth for the number of marks available for a question and respond correctly to key words such as explain or state. Ask for additional sheets of paper if you need them. Do not write outside of the marked areas on the question paper as your answers will be scanned into a computer and marked online. Te margins are actually cut off the page and thrown away! The examiner will not see any additional text unless it is written on an additional sheet of paper.

27

Latin

Head of Department: Mr G D Feely Format of Examination 4 Papers Language 1 ( l hr.) 25% GCSE Language 2 ( l hr.) 25% GCSE Prose Literature ( l hr.) 25% GCSE Verse Literature ( l hr.) 25% GCSE Coursework Requirement No coursework is required. Specific Revision Tips Your teacher will provide you with a revision booklet for each examination, with the date and time of the examination on the front. There will be separate booklets for each of the Set Text papers which will include revision tips, translation and notes. The language booklet will include revision tips and the defined vocabulary list. Coursework will have been completed in the Autumn Term and you should have some idea of the grade you achieved.

28

Mathematics

Head of Department: Mr T J Nicholson Format of Examination There are two papers, each 2 hours long, written in question-and-answer booklets. Both papers include questions on the whole syllabus and are similar to each other in terms of style and difficulty. You are allowed to use a calculator in both papers. Coursework Requirement There is no coursework. Specific Revision Tips 1. First, get all your material organised: you have got lots of material, all of it potentially helpful

for revision, but totally useless if you are unable find what you need at the drop of a hat. This material will include:

• revision notes written in your orange books over the last five years

• past papers with copies of correct solutions from your teacher

• your own orange exercise books from the last five years

• notes and summaries in any textbooks which you haven't yet handed in.

2. You must read all your revision notes carefully, but remember that the main part of Maths revision is to do lots of worked examples. So start by trying each of the worked examples which are in your notes, then check against the model answer to see if you have got it right. Then re-try all the past papers and compare the answers against the solutions which your teacher may have given you. Try to take on board any comments which your teacher made on your own previous attempt at that paper.

3. Try to develop your pace when working through the past papers: remember that you have 2

hours: as a VERY ROUGH guide, think along the lines of about 6 minutes per 5 marks; or perhaps 1 minute per mark, with a little time left for checking your work.

4. Make sure that you know how to use your calculator, not forgetting about the powers button,

the standard form button, and how to make sure it's in degrees mode, or how to change it from that irritating mode where it gives answers in fraction notation instead of decimals.

5. Work through the ‘Mathswatch’ CD ROM which will give you an extra explanation, should

you need it. Use the revision sheets provided with the CD ROM as extra past papers but remember that there are topics which are not on the disc that still need revising.

6. Use MyMaths Booster Lessons to practice exam style questions. www.mymaths.co.uk 7. Finally, look at the IGCSE Revision Guide which is also available on the computer network:

Desktop/My Computer/Public on Lrc-fp01/Maths/IGCSE Revision Guide.

29

Music

Head of Department: Mr C N J Hyde

Controlled Assessment and Format of Examination 1. Listening and Appraising Music – 20% of total marks

• A listening an written paper of 1 hour • Questions based on 3 strands

1. Western Classical Tradition 2. Popular Music C20 + C21 3. World Music

• Explored through 5 Areas of Study 1. Rhythm and Metre 2. Harmony and Tonality 3. Texture and Melody 4. Timbre and Dynamics 5. Structure and Form

2. Composing and Appraising Music - 20% of total marks • Composing one piece of music linked to 2 Areas of Study • 20 hours of supervised time (10%) • Appraisal of Composition (10%) • Composition lined to Strand 1 (for 2011 exam) • Externally assessed

3. Performing Music – 40% of total marks

• One solo and one ensemble performance (20% each) • Controlled assessment towards end of course

4. Composing Music - 20% of total marks

• Up to 25 hours of supervised time • Free composition linked to 2 Areas of Study

Specific Revision Tips Boys are expected to prepare a solo performance with their instrumental teacher. Ensemble performance may also be done this way but is usually mapped out during lessons early in the course. For help in all areas but particularly in unit 4 you should refer to the GCSE Music Study Guide issued at the start of the course and to the notes given to you by music staff over the two years. If you have any worries or difficulties in understanding, do not hesitate to ask. The music staff will always be happy to give individual help.

30

Physical Education

Head of Department: Mr G Lövgreen

Format of Examination The course is assessed 50% in Fourth Form and 50% in Fifth Form Written Paper - 1 hour– 20% This paper is in two parts: ‐ Part A – multiple-choice questions worth 15marks ‐ Part B– short-answer questions and extended response questions worth 45marks

Coursework Requirement

Practical Activities – 30% All candidates will be required to offer two activities for assessment and to complete an Analysis of Performance in one of these activities. This section covers the Practical Skills and is assessed internally during the course but there is usually a visit from an outside moderator in the final months of the course, normally between March and May. The criteria when assessing practical activities adhere to the following principles:

‐ the basis for all assessment will be the candidate’s technique, which underpins the skill and effectiveness with which these skills are applied to structured and full game situations;

‐ in individual activities the overall assessments will be based upon the cumulative principle

reflecting the degree of difficulty of the movement, which enables the candidate to apply his skill in the context of the activity. Students must play when selected for school (as stated in the community code) in order to validate their final mark in this area. This has had adverse effects in the past when not followed.

Specific Revision Tips

• All candidates must work towards the guidance given in lessons regarding revision. • Have a copy of the specification at hand to plan your class and revision work from. • Exam questions will be regularly set and marked- and discussion and understanding of

these areas covered is key. • Revision sessions will be organised by your teachers and attendance is strongly

recommended. • Following the usual advice of organising a timetable and preparing time to focus well in

advance of the examination period is of paramount importance.

31

Religious Studies

Head of Department: Mr A L Stacey Format of Examination 2 x 90 minute examination papers:

1. Unit 2 - Christianity: Ethics 2. Unit 8 - Islam

Both are taken at the end of May or during June of the Fifth Year.

Specific Revision Tips

• Firstly, make sure you have a copy of the syllabus and mark off all the areas as you revise them: the syllabus we are following is AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (Religious Beliefs and Lifestyles 4050).

• Identify a regular slot in which to revise your RS and stick to it • Always begin your revision with a blank sheet of paper and for the first five minutes write

down what you can remember of the chosen topic • Spend the next 15 or 20 minutes revising it • Spend the last 5 minutes with your first sheet, adding the new material you have just learnt • Make good use of the revision summaries and workbooks with which you have been

supplied by the RS Department • Consider buying a commercially-produced revision guide • Regularly tackle past paper questions • Pray earnestly for success!

32

Science

Head of Chemistry: Miss J Solomon Head of Biology: Mr G A Ferguson Head of Physics: Mr C A Davidson

Format of Examination

Science (Unit 1) 3 x 45 minute exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics in January of the fourth year. Additional Science (Unit 2) 3 x 45 minute exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics in January of the fifth. Further Science (Unit 3) 3 x 45 minute exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics in June of the fifth year. Resits are available in January and June of the fifth year for written papers. Coursework Requirement All boys require one coursework exercise, a Centre Assessed Unit , called an ISA in each of the three sciences during the course. This will include a piece of practical work and a 45 minute, internally assessed written exam. All coursework is carried out during school time with no requirement to complete any at home. If time allows, more than one ISA may be completed, with the best ISA mark counting. Overall: Unit 1 (25%) + Unit 2 (25%) + Unit 3 (25%) + ISA (25%) = Final Mark Specific Revision Tips

• Use mnemonics to remember facts eg MRS GREN/ROYGBIV etc. • Chunk down work – little and often. Break big tasks into smaller ones.

• As you read through a topic write down a series of questions and answers. Then when you

review your notes you simply have to go through the questions. A5 postcards are good for this with questions on one side and the answers on the other.

• Practise drawing diagrams correctly eg dot/cross diagrams in covalent bonding.

• Draw a spider diagram to show information and put it on the wall of your bedroom.

• Attend science clinics if you are experiencing difficulty. See the relevant Head of

Department for information.

33

• Test yourself using the exam-style questions at the end of each topic in the text book. You can get the model answer schemes from the relevant Head of Department.

• Practise answering multi-mark questions and ensure that the number of points which you

make at least equals the number of marks: eg “Describe how giraffes have evolved long necks (5 marks).” In order to achieve five marks for this question you would have to make five key points or explain five key ideas.

• Be sure to purchase a revision book in each of the three sciences. The recommended

Nelson Thornes / AQA ensorsed revision guides can be purchased from the biology prep room, at the reduced price of £10 for all three subjects.

• Ask your teacher for more revision papers/question papers once you have finished the ones

given out in class. Try whole papers or individual questions against the clock – allowing 1 minute for every mark.

• Use your syllabus to ensure that there are no knowledge gaps.

• Use online resources to learn and test yourself. Many have notes, multiple choice questions (immediately marked with feedback to improve) and podcasts to listen to topics on your iPod:

o http://www.docbrown.info/index.htm o http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

• Try a variety of methods, we all learn in different ways; which method suits you best?

• Work productively and actively. Simply reading the material will not help or test your recall of it. You must be active, say it, write it, picture it, draw it!

• Above all – ask if you need help.