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Year 11

‘Raising Achievement Guide’

2016

To support pupils and parents

in achieving full potential in

GCSE examinations

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Dear Pupils and Parents, The following pack has been put together to help you prepare for your GCSE examinations. We hope that you find it helpful in removing some of the perceived barriers to achieving what you are capable of. PUPILS: You must ensure that you have all of the relevant materials for each subject with no gaps in the learning so that you can revise thoroughly. Your teachers have provided you with the education and these resources in lessons and you now need to take it to the next level and secure that knowledge so that you can apply it in response to the examination questions. PARENTS: As parents, you play a crucial role in supporting your son in the build up to their examinations. They will have periods of hard work and sometimes stress (and most often will take this out on you!) in the build up to the start of the exams. To help support you can listen, avoid confrontation, supply drinks and snacks, encourage work AND rest periods, provide stationary and try to remove barriers at home that could interfere with study periods. TEACHERS: As teachers we are committed to supporting you at this important stage of your life and want the very best results for you. We have been running a series of additional revision sessions after school, weekends and during the holidays and hope that these and a range of other intervention strategies will be sufficient in helping you achieve your full potential. From all the staff at Salvatorian College we wish you the best of luck! Yours sincerely Mr D Cooper

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YOUR FIRST EXAM IS ON 3rd MAY

CONTENTS:

SECTION ONE: Planning and Preparing for your

Examinations; Page 4

SECTION TWO:

Knowing how to revise and track progress; Page 10

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SECTION ONE: Planning

Complete all Coursework and Controlled Assessment tasks as early as

possible. It is hard to start revision for final exams with other tasks

requiring attention and time.

Help establish priorities and motivation; find out what really matters and

why, what will be the goals or end game of the GCSE’s.

Familiarise yourself with the requirements of each course. On the exam

board website, the ‘specification’ is the document teachers use to plan –

it lists everything you should know for that subject.

Get a comprehensive revision schedule (there is a template in this

booklet) Start off with a couple of hours a day and build as you approach

the exam period, this will ensure you ‘peak’ at the right time.

Make sure you have everything you need such as practice papers/sets of

questions/worksheets etc.

Ensure you have got all the revision guides and passwords for online

revision sites that you need.

Find a good place in the house for the revision to happen. Many parents

find that the computer needs to come downstairs out of the bedroom!

Revising on the internet can easily turn into working on social media if

you don’t keep your eye on it. However DO NOT ban items but restrict

use of items as a compromise or reward for working.

Equip your son with all of the stationary he may wish for, including

spares, for a variety of revision ideas. We have provided you with a

sample in this pack to get you started.

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Support systems!

Through the revision period, parents should keep asking pupils what

they plan to do that day, and ask if they need anything.

Help set a timeframe for completing tasks. Take an interest and ask if

they are pleased with what they’ve done.

Encourage them to look ahead and see what exams are coming up; help

them work out what needs to be done and when. Try not to nag! Closed

choices can work - “What do you want to do first, history or physics?”

Offer help as a tester, reader, source of knowledge.

Remember that past papers and mark schemes are available on the

internet from each exam board’s website.

Sleep, food and fun are important. Keep things in perspective!

Developing rewards and time off, watching favourite programme, or

catching up with friends, using social media are important.

Revision schedules should be flexible.

BUDDY UP – Try to have a link person for each subject where you can

contact them on a regular basis to discuss a particular issue, and them

with you. By having this discussion you will lead the learning and

therefore secure the knowledge better than if just re-reading.

Try to create study groups where you meet with a group of friends to

revise a specific topic or subject.

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Beating Stress

Exams will be stressful for both students and parents alike. Sources of stress

include: fear of failure, not being able to answer the questions, disappointing

their parents, not being able to get on the course they desire, etc.

Beating stress is important as it blocks your learning so training yourself to

control stress is as important as learning the material.

Constructive self-talk, be positive

Increase oxygen intake, deep breathing

Physical activity releases muscular tension, increases blood flow and releases endorphins, so you feel good! (Healthy body/Healthy mind!)

Balanced diet and sleep patterns are equally important

Listen to music, know how to switch off

Plan rewarding activities and ensure that you still have a social life as well as working hard. Know how to say NO to those that distract!

Encouragement can come from parents but will mostly come from you when you revise, learn and progress

Seek help from those around you as supportive people are good for confidence (this can be as little as a 5min chat!)

Remain calm as a parent!

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Preparation - physical and emotional

Diet

It is important that you have a good diet when revising and also during the exams so that your bodies and brains are ready. Try to ensure that you have fresh fruit and vegetables; try to reduce sugar and fat and ensure that you drink plenty of water. DO NOT use energy drinks, EVER!

On the day of an exam ensure that you have had breakfast/lunch before the exam starts. Plain water bottles are allowed in the exam hall and a well hydrated brain works better than one that is not.

Salvatorian College will run a variety of examination warm ups in the school canteen from 8am for the morning exams. Here toast, fruit and drinks will be served free of charge. PM exams will have the same warm up sessions if staff are available to run them.

Rest

So that the body and brain are ready for the stresses and strains of revision and exams try to ensure that you have a regular sleep pattern, making sure that you get enough sleep (8 hours recommended) and that you are not tired.

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SECTION TWO

Knowing HOW to revise and track progress

LISTENING TO A LECTURE 5%

READING 10%

AUDIO-VISUAL 20%

DEMONSTRATION 30%

DISCUSSION GROUP 50%

PRACTISE BY DOING 75%

TEACH OTHERS 100%

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Know What Type of Learner You Are

Before You START!

VISUAL:

AUDITORY:

KINAESTHETIC:

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Revision Ideas:

Key Word Cards – Write out the definitions of key words on one side of

a piece of card and the key word on the other. Lay them out on a table

and test yourself before reading the definition. If right then put it to the

side, if wrong then put it back on the table to come back to it later.

Condense and Re-condense Notes – reducing the size of notes into

more manageable and memorable information is key to success

Revision Flash Cards – Have one topic per card for a brief summary to

revise from. Keep each subject separate and get someone else to test

you from the information they have on the card.

Mind Map – If you use both sides of your brain, left and right; artistic

and structural, then more information will be remembered.

Use colour highlighters, boxes, circles, stars, abbreviations etc as your

own code. Eg: VI means very important and essential to the course.

Create audio-visual recordings of specific parts of learning to play back.

(You can also access GCSEpod and You Tube for some of these)

Use subject specific revision guides. However these should supplement

your own revision notes and be heavily annotated so that you are not

just reading the information. The A*/A candidates usually need to

elaborate on the points contained in these revision guides.

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Use Mnemonics – order key information into a memorable phrase or

word. Eg: PELT = Pharynx, Epiglottis, Larynx, Trachea

Be the teacher – Imagine you are delivering a session to someone else (a

small child is best) so that you are teaching and explaining the key

concept in depth. Study buddies are great for this but they are not

always available when you want or need them. Try a mirror!

Access the exam board websites – complete as many past papers as you

can. You will notice that the questions change slightly but as you

become better at answering them you realise that they are basically

asking for information about a specific topic. All come with mark

schemes.

Create Learning Posters – Use wallpaper samples to write and draw on

so that you can pin them up in the bedroom or around the house. The

back of the toilet door is an excellent place to do this! It can also be

done with post it notes and A4/A3 mind maps.

Annotation and re-annotation – once you have annotated, a poem for

example, in detail do it again from memory on a blank copy. Remember

annotations can be images and pictures as well as words.

Practice planning and writing essays. A plan should take no more than 5

minutes, particularly in an exam. A detailed plan which can be used

during revision sessions will be much longer and more detailed to begin

with but become shorter as your knowledge increases.

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Create a Revision Plan:

Blank Templates for plans and other useful materials can be found on www.getrevising.co.uk

A blank one has also been included for you to copy and use

for each week in the run up to your exams.

Another example has been included which shows how it

could be filled in.

Remember to write in when your exams are.

Try Colour coding each session so you can track easily how much of

each subject you are doing

Allow time for rest, travel, eating properly, relaxing. Also make sure

you prep the night before!

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BLANK STUDY TIMETABLE

MONDAY

TUESDAY WED/DAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

9-10

10-11

11-12

12-1

1-2

2-3

3-4

4-5

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

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EXAMPLE STUDY TIMETABLE

MONDAY TH MAY

TUESDAY TH MAY

WED/DAY TH MAY

THURSDAY TH MAY

FRIDAY TH MAY

SATURDAY TH MAY

SUNDAY TH MAY

9-10

RE EXAM

HISTORY EXAM

MUSIC EXAM

ART EXAM

ICT EXAM

ENGLISH

REST

10-11

ENGLISH

11-12

REST

12-1

REST REST REST REST REST MATHS

ACTIVITY

WITH FAMILY

PLAY SPORT

VISIT

FRIENDS

1-2

ENGLISH

ENGLISH

MATHS

ENGLISH

MATHS

2-3

REST

3-4

REST REST REST REST REST SCIENCE

4-5

MATHS

MUSIC

SCIENCE

SCIENCE

SCIENCE

5-6

EVENING ACTIVITY

WITH FRIENDS /

FAMILY

MATHS

6-7

REST REST REST REST EVENING ACTIVITY

WITH FRIENDS /

FAMILY

7-8

HISTORY

MUSIC

ART

ICT

REST

8-9

REST

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Get online! Download those revision

apps and access those websites!

The web has a whole host of interactive resources that just keep getting better

and better. Salvatorian College have subscribed to a specific few so they are

free for you to use. Here a few of the key ones you should be accessing:

http://students.pixl.org.uk/

You will have received your log in details

already from the school and once you log in you can select your subjects

specific to you and then all of the revision tools, including tests, past papers,

useful tips and guidance will be available to you. There is also the Personal

Learning Checklists (PLC’s) which are available

There is a feature called the ‘walking and talking exam’ which guides you

through every step of the examination paper in the core subjects.

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www.gcsepod.co.uk

Curriculum content for the digital generation. Pupils can download and listen

the curriculum content for which ever subjects they are following. They can

then listen to these on the way to and from school or from any mobile or

tablet device.

Portable and specific to you. These can often just focus on small parts of the

course so can easily be digested in short spaces of time. Great for that hard to

understand topic!

General Revision Websites: www.getrevising.co.uk www.s-cool.co.uk www.learn.co.uk www.studyzones.com www.bbc.co.uk/soteacher www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ http://www.revision-notes.co.uk/GCSE/ http://lgfl.skoool.co.uk/examcentre.aspx?id=128 Subject Specific Websites: Each subject has indicated what their exam board is at the start of the year in the Year 11 handbook. This was given out at the Year 11 information evening in September. The majority of subjects included information about on-line sites that would benefit the progress in that subject. Teachers will also be making pupils aware of these and new ones as they appear throughout the year.

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Some key terms used in examination questions: Account for =

Explain the process or reason for something being the way it is.

Analyse =

Explore the main ideas of the subject, show they are important and how they are related.

Calculate =

Find out using mathematics.

Comment on =

Discuss the subject, explain it and give an opinion on it.

Compare = Show the similarities (but you can also point out the differences).

Complete =

Finish off.

Conclude =

Decide after reasoning something out.

Concise =

Short and brief.

Contrast = Show the differences ~ compare and contrast questions are very common in exams– they want you to say how something is similar and how it may be different too.

Criticise = Analyse and then make a judgement or give an opinion. You could show both the good and bad points. You could refer to an expert’s opinion within this question.

Define =

Give the meaning. This should be short.

Describe =

Give a detailed account.

Diagram = Make a graph, chart or drawing. (Remember to label it!)

Differentiate =

Explore and explain the difference.

Discuss = Explore the subject by looking at its advantages and disadvantages (i.e. for and against). Attempt to come to some sort of judgement.

Distinguish =

Explain the difference.

Enumerate =

Make a list of the points under discussion.

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Estimate =

Guess the amount or value.

Explain =

Describe, giving reasons and causes.

Express =

Put the ideas into words.

Evaluate = Give an opinion by exploring the good and bad points. It’s a bit like asking you to assess something. Attempt to support your argument with expert opinion.

Factors =

The fact or circumstances that contribute to a result.

Give an account of

Describe.

Give reasons for = Use words like because in your answer as you will be explaining how or why something is that way.

Identify =

Recognise, prove something as being certain.

Illustrate =

Show by explaining and giving examples.

Indicate =

Point out, make something known.

Interpret =

Explain the meaning by using examples and opinions.

Justify =

Give a good reason for offering an opinion.

List =

An item-by-item record of relevant images. This would normally be in note form without any need to be descriptive.

Outline =

Concentrate on the main bits of the topic or item. Ignore the minor detail.

Prove =.

Give real evidence, not opinion, which proves an argument and shows it to be true.

Relate =

Show the connection between things.

Review = Give a summary of the most important factors and compare/criticise where necessary

State =

Write briefly the main points.

Summarise =

Give the main points of an idea or argument. Leave out unnecessary details that could cloud the issue.

Trace =

Show how something has developed from beginning to end.

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Useful Vocabulary:

CONCENTRATION Chemistry / English

SOLUTION Chemistry / Maths / English

RESOLUTION Physics / Maths / English

REVOLUTION Maths / History / Physics

REACT / REACTION Chemistry / English

RESISTANCE Physics / Biology / History / English

TENSION / STRESS / STRAIN Physics / PE / English

INCIDENT Physics / English

PRODUCT Maths / Product Design / English

FACTOR Maths / History / Geography

TERM Maths / History / English

FUNCTION Maths / Computer Science / PE / Biology

RANGE Maths / Geography / English

INTERVAL Maths / Geography / Physics / English

SYSTEMS Computer Science / Biology / Engineering

ILLUSTRATE Art / History / RE / English / Geography

ACCOUNT RE / Business Studies / History

OUTLINE PE / Art / RE / History / Geography / Business Studies

STATE Geography / PE / Physics / Chemistry / English / History

VALUE Maths / English / Geography / Computer Science

TRANSLATE Maths / MFL

REFLECT Physics / Maths / English

FIGURE Maths / Geography / History / RE / English

NET Maths / Business Studies

RATE Maths / Business studies / Geography / PE / Biology / Chemistry

INTEREST Maths / Business Studies / English

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REFLEX PE / Physics / English

ACUTE English / Maths

SOURCE Geography / History / English

RESORT Geography / English

CONTROL Physics / Chemistry / Biology / English

FINISH Art / English

TRACE Art / English

CONTRAST Art / English

ANNOTATE Art / English

SMART Chemistry / English

COMPONENT PE Engineering Tech Physics

BRIEF English / Engineering / Product Design / Humanities

SYMBOL RE / Engineering / Physics

PROJECT Tech / Maths

PLAN Maths / Tech / English

CHARACTER English / Computer Science

EAL SUPPORT

PREDICT SIGNIFICANCE CONSIDER

OBSERVE CONTEXT EXPLORE

VIEW / OPINION RESOLVE EFFECT

BATCH CORE ROLE

TABLE REFER JUSTIFY

IDENTIFY IMPACT EXTENT

CASE STUDY CONGRUENT

MARK (WITH AN ARROW) MARK OUT – (Engineering) MARKS (ie.score)

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Progress check – organisation is the key!

Discuss targets set by you and your teacher with your family. Ask

yourself how close you are to these and how you feel about these

targets that have been set for you.

Do an equipment check as you may have used the supplies purchased

throughout the revision and these may need to be replenished. Some

subjects that require additional materials such as annotated preparation

notes to be taken in. Make sure you check the day before!

Essential Exam Kit:

Pens, not just one, as pupils tend to write a lot in the exams

Pencils

Eraser

Ruler

Calculator/maths kit

Colouring pencils

Tissues

Plain see-through pencil case

Plain water bottle with no label

NO MOBILE PHONES

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Focus - Preparation - Celebrating Success

Encouragement is the key in the build up week to the examinations as you may

start to get really nervous. Keep reminding yourself that you have done the

work and got the knowledge, that you have worked hard and are well

prepared, this is your chance to show off!

Ensure that you use your teachers as a support network and have one last

meeting with them to fill any gaps and make sure you are as confident as you

can be.

Exam Days

To try and make sure that these go as smoothly as possible you can:

Make sure that you arrive to school in plenty of time

Attend the warm up sessions in the school canteen

Ensure that you have had a proper breakfast / lunch

Ensure that you have had a proper night’s sleep – staying up all night the

night before an exam revising is likely to be counter productive

Ensure that you have all the correct equipment - pens, pencils, rulers,

calculators, texts for English exams etc

All equipment should be in a clear plastic pencil case or plastic bag

Make sure that you have a bottle of water for the exam - dehydration

severely affects the performance of the brain.

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Year 11 Additional Curriculum Opportunities 2016

Departments will invite specific groups of students to each session according to their

development requirements.

All sessions run by departments should be attended regularly by pupils to ensure

progress

WEEK DURING SCHOOL

AFTER SCHOOL

MONDAY

ENGLISH

TUESDAY

MATHS (8.30-9.05)

MATHS

WEDNESDAY

SCIENCE (12.50-13.35) FRENCH (12.50-13.35) (Listening + Reading)

SCIENCE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

THURSDAY

PE CIRCUIT TRAINING (8.00-8.30)

COMPUTING ART

FRIDAY

MATHS (8.30-9.05) GEOGRAPHY (12.50-13.35) FRENCH (12.50-13.35) (Speaking and Writing)

HISTORY CATERING

PE will offer a range of seasonal extra-curricular activities before, during and after school