GCSE Support and Guidance: Revision and Examinations

Carre’s Grammar School

GCSE Support and Guidance:Revision and Examinations


THE CURRENT SITUATION

• GCSEs are imminent – 14 May 2012

• Much of this will re-affirm what you already know.

• We are all in this together!


General Advice:

• Communicate - “How can I support you best with revision?”.

• Balance between work and social life and stick to the agreement.

• Reward structure to motivate. • Clear boundaries.• Falling behind – try to flexible.• Communicate the importance of revision to the

family.• Facebook and XBOX• Go Off Line


Supporting your son in setting themselves up for revision

• Talk to your child – What would they find helpful?• The simplest things often get in the way of

starting revision – a revision pack.• Revision guides for each subject.• Help your child to plan their revision timetable. • Nominate a quiet place for revision.• Music without words.• Provide an area where work and revision notes

can be kept safely.• Enable the provision of relaxation time• Plenty of rest.


Support when doing the revision

• Sticking to the revision plan.• Provide favourite snacks and water for revision

periods.• Be flexible.• Be sensitive to the pressure your son will be

feeling.• Keep up with regular ‘check-ins’ and don’t ‘nag’ in

between times. • Pre-agreed rewards for reaching a goal/ target.• Keep things in perspective – there are a range of

strategies and techniques!


Health Tips

• Exams and revision are hard work.

• The right fuel e.g. fresh fruit and vegetables.

• Caffeine vs Water.

• Regular exercise.

• A good nights sleep.


The Infamous Revision Timetable



Revision Checklist.

Topic Notes 1 2 3Percentages

Pythagoras

Nets

Trigonometry

Subject: Maths . Sheet Number: 1


Revision Timetable11.00 –

11.45

12.00 – 12.45

1.00 – 1.45

1.45 – 3.00

3.00 – 3.45

4.00 – 4.45

4.45 – 6.00

6.00 – 6.45

Monday Lunch Evening Meal

Tuesday Lunch Evening Meal

Weds. Lunch Evening Meal

Thursday Lunch Evening Meal

Friday Lunch Evening Meal

Saturday Day Off Day Off Day Off Lunch Day Off Day Off Day Off Day Off

Sunday Lunch



11.45

12.00 – 12.45

1.00 – 1.45

1.45 – 3.00

3.00 – 3.45

4.00 – 4.45

4.45 – 6.00

6.00 – 6.45

Monday English Lang.

Maths RE Lunch Physics English

Lit.

Evening Meal

French

Tuesday Biology History Graphic

ProdsLunch Evening

Meal

Weds. Lunch Evening Meal




Sunday Lunch



11.45

12.00 – 12.45

1.00 – 1.45

1.45 – 3.00

3.00 – 3.45

4.00 – 4.45

4.45 – 6.00

6.00 – 6.45



Lit.

Evening Meal

French


ProdsLunch English

Lang.Maths Evening

MealRE

Weds. Physics English

Lit.

French Lunch Biology History Evening Meal

Graphic

Prods




Sunday Lunch



11.45

12.00 – 12.45

1.00 – 1.45

1.45 – 3.00

3.00 – 3.45

4.00 – 4.45

4.45 – 6.00

6.00 – 6.45



Lit.

Evening Meal

French


ProdsLunch English

Lang.Maths Evening

MealRE

Weds. Physics English

Lit.

French Lunch Biology History Evening Meal

Graphic

Prods

Thursday English Lang.


Lit.

Evening Meal

French

Friday Biology History Graphic

ProdsLunch RE French Evening

MealEnglish Lang.


Sunday Maths RE Physics Lunch English

Lit.

French Biology History


Effective use of time



Guidance on Effective Revision Strategies

• Presenting the information in a different way.

• It’s all about active learning.


Remembering Information

• 10% - If read• 20% - If heard• 30% - If seen• 50% - If heard and seen• 70% - If discussed• 80% - If experienced• 90% - If taught to someone else


For example, turn…

• Linear notes into mind maps• Mind maps into linear notes• Diagrams into words• Words into diagrams• Notes into a spoken explanation• 2 pages of notes into1 page• 1 page into a postcard• Poster and Post-it Power• Topics into PowerPoint presentations• Record notes to create a Podcast • Revision groups (and parents!)• Email tests and answers through to a revision group• Past papers and mark schemes


• Each time a topic is returned to, condense it into half the space used before, by choosing key words and ideas.


Mind mapping…


Mind mapping as a study skill

• To understand & remember key issues and ideas.

• Follow 5 steps:• Skim• Read• Mind map• Study• Personalise


Skim read

• The abstract, topic sentences, introduction, conclusion, key headings or chapter headings.

• Observe any diagrams, pictures or graphs.


Read

Read the article in one sitting (Chunk it into sections/chapters

if it is a whole book).

Go over (read again) any parts you are not quite sure of.

Look up the words you do not understand.


Mind Map

Do it from memory at this stage!


Study

• First version: – showing areas that have been understood– showing areas where there is less confidence

• Study the first version:– discover the gaps in knowledge– refer back to the source material– fill in any of these gaps


Personalise

• Use colours & symbols

• Make links and connections between different ideas.



Regular Reviews of the Information

• SHORT-TERM MEMORY - holds up to seven ideas at once

• WORKING MEMORY - repeats and embeds ideas or information

• LONG-TERM MEMORY - your mental ‘filing cabinet’ - keep reviewing so it sticks…

Review after…..

- 24 hours- A week- A month- Just before your exam.


“He who learns quickly also forgets quickly."

Hermann Ebbinghaus

(1885)


The ‘Exam Game’• Understand what the examiners are

looking for.

• Learn how to give the examiners what they are looking for.

• To do this it is necessary to….


Exam Skills• Understand how the exam papers are

structured:

a) How long is the exam?

b) How many questions do you have to

answer?

c) What format are the exam questions?

d) How are the marks divided?

e) How are the exams marked?

• It is also necessary to……


Exam SkillsPractice in conditions as near to the

real event as possible.

• Practice old exam questions.a) Command words.b) Trigger words.• Work under time pressure.• Check answers afterwards (mark

schemes)• Learn to work quickly in planning,

writing and checking answers.• Set up mock exam conditions.


Common irritations for examiners

• Answers wrongly numbered

• Unclear which question student is answering

• Difficult handwriting

• ‘Waffle’


Remember…..


This will soon be

over!


Exam results released on Thursday 23 August 2012


• If it is not possible for your son to collect the results:

a) A named and SAE brought into school.

b) A signed letter from your son giving permission for a named person to collect his results.


• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5mqbKs1PoI

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDU3kkD6VUQ&feature=related

Documents

GCSE Support and Guidance: Revision and Examinations