How to approach your
exams like an Olympian
Regular hard training
• Push yourself outside your comfort zone on a regular basis.
• Learn an extra piece of vocabulary or quote every week. Push yourself beyond the tasks your teachers have set you.
• Practice exam questions every week because you want to go over and above to improve your exam performance.
• When you continually push yourself outside your comfort zone you’ll find that your comfort zone shifts: what you used to find hard becomes easy.
'Shaping Futures'
Be mentally strong in
the face of adversity
• Both these athletes overcame major adversity in order to triumph.
'Shaping Futures'
Have a support team
Every single athlete at the Olympics had a team behind them. Physios, family, sports scientists, nutritionists and coaches all played their part in the athletes’ successes.
You need your own team to make your success happen.
'Shaping Futures'
Who will be in your TEAM?
'Shaping Futures'
• Family – the people closest to you should be your emotional support, cheering you on every day. They can also give you practical support like buying books for you, helping you out with chores to free up your time for revision.
• Teachers – supporting you with the knowledge and skills you need to excel in your exams
• Tutors – if you need a bit of extra support with particular subjects
• Mentor– someone who’s focused on you and helping you through your exams.
Training methods to make your
performance peak
'Shaping Futures'
Revision App
i Mind Map
Gojimo
Quizlet Quizlet enables students to create their own revision flashcards, as well as to use sets created by others.
• Make sure they have a comfortable place to work. • Accept that some people can revise better with music or the TV on in the
background. • Establish a revision routine by re-arranging the family’s schedules and
priorities • Be lenient about chores and untidiness as much as you are able • It is never too late to study, revise or ask for help. • Schedule small and frequent rewards for the effort they are putting in. • Don't go in for bribes; encourage them to work for their own satisfaction
• Suggest a special evening or day out as it could give them a treat to look
forward to. • Be calm, positive and reassuring.
Top tips for exam revision
And finally… • There are 13 top tips for managing exams on our school website, however I do have
hard copies to hand out today if you wish to take one with you. • Alternatively there are self help websites , both helpful for students and parents/
guardians for example: www.stressbusters.co.uk www.mind.org.uk • Finally if you have further concerns for your child's well being at this time please
contact us by emailing one of the following.
Mr Griggs [email protected] Mrs Aylward [email protected] Ms Bazell [email protected]
Exams • GCSE English Literature
– Paper 1 22/5/17
– Paper 2 26/5/ 17
• GCSE English Language
– Paper 1 6/6/17
– Paper 2 12/6/17
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English Language
• Paper 1 (1 hr 45 mins)
• Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing (Fiction)
• Paper 2 (1 hr 45 mins)
• Writer’s Viewpoint and Perspectives (Non-fiction)
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English Literature • Paper 1 (1 hr 45 mins)
• Shakespeare- Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth
• 19th Century Novel- The Sign of Four or A Christmas Carol
• Paper 2 (2 hrs 15 mins)
• ‘Modern text’- An Inspector Calls or Animal Farm
• Power and Conflict poetry
• Unseen poetry
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English Language exam
Exams are like long distance running races. In order to succeed you need: • Training • Persistence and
Determination • Strategy and Method • Timing • Ability • Stamina
English Language exam
Writing Stamina Pens- try out different types. You need a reliable pen which works for you. Get a large supply. Finger gym- exercises. Hand stretches and flexing. Flex while you think.
English Language
Unseen texts but questions remain the same.
Skills and practice are vital. Know the format, know the structure.
English Literature
Known texts but questions will change.
Textual knowledge and practice are vital. Closed book exams.
Exam knowledge
How to revise for English Literature
• Revision guides
• Exercise books, class notes and school handouts
• Websites
• Make notes, mindmaps or posters for each character, theme or contextual factor.
• Make quosters (quotation posters)
Revising for English Language Reading:
• Read– fiction and non-fiction such as newspapers, magazines, websites, etc.
• Buy a newspaper – talk about the contents. • Create a reading space and insist on at least 10 minutes
reading per day. • Parents, make the time to ask your son/daughter about
their reading. • You could even read the same articles and then discuss it
with them, trying to draw out the main ideas/arguments of a piece and the writer’s techniques. Let them teach you!
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Writing: • Learn commonly misspelled words (see the list in
their revision guide) using strategies such as read – write – check.
• Get students to check their writing when they have finished to ensure that it is as accurate as possible
• Have a dictionary for checking. • Encourage them to realise that being good at
reading and writing is a skill most people have to work at and they can improve…and will.
Really quick revision
• Working together match the quotations to the poems.
• Then, match the poem to a theme
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The exam requires the students to think quickly and form an opinion even more quickly.
Making revision guides work for you.
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All of the revision guides are available in school.
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Each poem is separate
Colour coded annotations
Key Quotations highlighted
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Remind yourself of the original
Get a clean copy
Annotate the poem again
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A clear summary
Colour coded analysis
Key Questions to work through
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Set time aside
Be prepared
Keep notes logical
Rewrite the key parts
Keep referring
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Short questions on each poem and theme
Practice questions
Use the mark schemes
assess
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There’s no set way
• Flash cards
• Mindmaps
• Rewriting class/revision notes
• Timed questions
• Revision sites
• Youtube revision
Keep the focus and objective
clear
Prioritise in order of your
exams
Try to think about the
links
Learn the key ideas
Support available and useful links Revision guides are available to purchase from school and the Smart Revision guide will soon be available on the school website
Online versions of The Sign of Four, Shakespeare plays and other texts are easily found: e.g. http://literature.org/authors/doyle-arthur-conan/sign-of-four/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zckw2hv this site has useful sections on the English Literature texts (novels, plays and some poems)
Geoff Barton (Headteacher and English teacher) – www.geoffbarton.co.uk (Student resources)
Revision guide and youtube mini lessons - www.mrbruff.com and www.youtube.com
Online newspapers or magazines – www.theguardian.co.uk, www.thetimes.co.uk, www.theindependent.co.uk, www.bbcnews.co.uk
Examination Board website – www.aqa.co.uk (for information and sample papers)
Remember: Success comes from training, stamina,
timing and strategy. Don’t give up.
Working Together: How to prepare for the GCSE maths
exams
Paper 1 (non calculator): Thursday 25th May 9.00 Paper 2 (calculator): Thursday 8th June 9.00 Paper 3 (calculator): Tuesday 13th June 9.00
All 3 papers: 1 hour 30 minutes Higher: Grades available: (3) 4 to 9 Foundation: Grades available: 1 to 5
How to use exam booklets at home Either: - Complete in exam conditions (1 hour 30 for a paper), mark at
the end - Complete in small chunks (20/30 minutes, then break), then
mark - “Teach” somebody at home how to answer the questions,
mark as you go along
CRUCIAL – no music, exam conditions
15 minutes:
Year 11 – can you teach your parents/carers how to answer the questions?
Parents/carers – try using the mark scheme to
check the answers
Booster packs Mr Agbanyo/Miss Griffiths – 6 to 7, 8 to 9 Mr Stanton/Mrs Afford – 4 to 5 Miss Smith, Ms Wilson, Miss Sutton – 4 to 5 Mr Porter/Mrs Gustafson – 4 to 5
Important points: - Don’t forget your equipment, especially calculator for 2nd and 3rd paper - Try different methods with the exam paper booklet and find the one
that works best for you - Try the mymaths booster packs - Speak to a member of staff at the end if you need your mymaths log in
- Let us know if you need any more information or support: - Miss Smith – [email protected] - Mrs Afford – [email protected]