PONTELAND HIGH SCHOOL

YEAR 11 REVISION GUIDE

MAKING REVISIONWORK FOR YOU

GCSE EXAMS 20141

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction 3

Students – How to revise 4

Some useful revision resources 5

Parents – How you can help 6

Subject-by-Subject Information and Tips:

Art & Design 7Business Studies 8English Language 9English Literature 10Expressive Arts:

Drama 11Media Studies 12Music 13

Humanities:Geography 14History 15

Mathematics 16Modern Foreign Languages:

French 17German 18Spanish 19Support for parents/students 20

P.E. / Sports Studies 21Sciences (Separate and Additional) 22-23Technology:

Food and Nutrition 24Health & Social Care 24Textiles Technology 24Graphics 25Resistant Materials 25

Revision Timetables (Examples) 26-27

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to your copy of “Making Revision Work for You” for the 2014 GCSEs.

The next few weeks and months are an important time for Y11 students as you prepare for your examinations. This booklet is aimed at helping all students plan and use revision time effectively as well as giving your parents/guardians some tips on how they can help you.

The February half term and Easter break are particularly crucial; making good use of these is essential if you are to do your best in the exams. It is important to have a balance between work, social time and family time but now is the time that clear, focused revision begins in earnest.

This booklet includes some tips on how parents can encourage, enable and support students to revise effectively. It also contains subject-by-subject revision advice which, in some cases, will be supported by material that you will receive directly from your subject teachers.

Please read this revision support booklet and;as a parent help your child to get organised, and as a student work with your parent to ensure a good, focussed revision schedule.

Checking progress from time to time is very helpful, too. Subject teachers are more than happy to provide any other guidance that may be needed.

You will achieve your potential with: a clear revision schedule (see back of booklet for photocopiable timetables) concentration on areas in need of improvement determination support from family, peers and staff sustained effort hard work.

Work well. Travaillez bien.

Jim Balkwill Assistant Headteacher

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Students – How to revise Make sure you understand – if you understand something, you are far more likely to remember it

easily. If you aren’t sure about something, ask a teacher, a friend, or a member of your family.

Plan your work – draw up a timetable of what you need to revise, and when you plan to do it.

Don’t be too ambitious – set targets which are hard, but achievable.

Revising often for shorter periods is better than studying for long stretches, less frequently. Most people begin to lose concentration after 20 minutes. Most people learn best near the beginning and ending of a revision session – so, the more breaks you have, the more beginnings and endings there are.

If you find your attention drifting, take a 10 minute break – physical activity, such as a short walk or stretching, can be helpful – then go back to your studies. Taking a drink of water helps keep your body hydrated and alert.

You will be aware from school that people learn best in different ways. Think about how you learn best.

Don’t just re-read notes, try:

highlighting key words making mind maps, spider diagrams, timelines, flow charts, Venn

diagrams, etc. summing up key points making lists writing down key points on cards and using them to test yourself, or getting someone else to test you teaching or explaining to someone else what you have learned producing a poster making up a rap, poem, or song, based on what you are learning producing a storyboard or cartoon, based on what you are learning going for a walk and talking over what you have learned either in your mind, or out loud, or to someone else using different rooms, or different areas of one room, to study different topics – when you return, each location should remind you of what you have learned, and thinking about each location during the exam can trigger memories, too walking around or assigning a gesture or movement to a fact or topic can help some people to learn reviewing what you have learned so far, ideally by testing yourself, doing a mind map or list etc., before beginning something new.

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Some useful resources

The Internet offers a wealth of revision material – so long as you do not make the mistake of spending too long surfing.

Materials available on the school’s online learning site, NorTLE, are accessible in the Year 11 cross-curricular folder, unless otherwise indicated.

Here is a list of some useful addresses:

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision - BBC Bitesize is one of the best-known educational websites, and covers a variety of subjects. Recent additions to the site include revision help for students studying PE and Information Technology.

www.schoolsnet.com - this is mainly aimed at teachers, but it also contains links to around 140 revision sites on all the major National Curriculum subjects.

www.gcse.com - useful revision information.

www.letts-successzone.com, www.s-cool.co.uk, www.whsmith.co.uk - all of these addresses provide information on revision guides.

www.britannica.com - general information.

www.gcsepod.co.uk/home/ - some excellent revision materials for a wide variety of subjects.

Revision Books/Guides: There is a huge range of revision books available from well-known publishers like Letts and York Notes, many of which can be found on the shelves of WH Smiths, Waterstones and other good bookshops. If unavailable, you can ask the shop to order you a copy.

CD ROMS are a popular method of helping with revision, and are also widely available from outlets such as WH Smith. Again, if what you need is not in stock, the shop will order you a copy.

All BBC Bitesize television programmes are worthwhile viewing for students revising for exams.

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Parents – How you can help We all remember how stressful exam time is, and how important the right kind of support from

parents – and other members of the family – can be. Try to ignore the occasional slammed door, long silence or tantrum.

Read through Students – How to revise (above), and the various subject-specific pages, and see what you can do to help.

Providing a quiet study room, away from distractions, is important. However, different people learn in different ways: some people learn better if there is appropriate background music, or by talking aloud, or pacing, so absolute silence isn’t always the best approach.

Showing an interest in progress, and providing regular praise or rewards can be very supportive – sometimes, even a simple “Well done!” can mean a lot.

Remember, one of the best ways of understanding and learning something is explaining or teaching it to someone else – so make yourself available, ask questions and so on.

Make sure your child sets a realistic revision timetable, starts early, and sticks to it, without overdoing things.

Timetabling in ‘down time’, exercise or sports, meals (of course), social and relaxation time is also important to a successful and fruitful revision schedule. Finding the right balance is key.

ACTION:Help your son or daughter produce a week by week revision timetable.You will find at the back of this booklet example weekly timetables for:

whilst still in school and following normal lessons whilst on holidays (Feb ½ term / Easter / May ½ term) or exam leave

Please copy as required to create a week by week revision schedule from February half term onwards.

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ART and DESIGN Course Assessment

Portfolio of work (controlled test - coursework) – 60%Externally set controlled test (exam) – 40%

Portfolio of work - Throughout year 10 and year 11 students will have completed a portfolio of work demonstrating

their ability to respond to different project briefs and explore a variety of material and techniques.

- Opportunity will be provided for ‘one to one’ portfolio improvement sessions at lunchtimes and after school.

- Students will also have a copy of the assessment. - Objectives and clear guidance will be given to ensure individual success.

Controlled test (exam)

- The controlled test will take the form of a 10 hour exam in which the students produce a personal outcome in response to a chosen theme, set by the exam board.

- The students will be given approx 8 weeks starting in January 2014, to prepare for the exam, in which time they will produce a sketch book of research and development work.

- A checklist and support materials will be given to all students and sent home to parents.

Top tips for parents

Encourage visits to art galleries and exhibitions. Encourage use of sketchbook work at home – drawing, painting, photography, etc. (minimum

of one hour per week) Encourage students to discuss their artwork and share their ideas.

Useful websites

The students will be directed to relevant websites appropriate to their themes.The following websites are useful in provided a broad and varied selection of art and design:

www.tate.org.ukwww.nationalgallery.org.ukwww.designmuseum.orgwww.vam.ac.uk

GCSE exam dates: 11D and 11E: 31March and 1 April 11C: 2 and 3 April

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BUSINESS STUDIES GCSE

Students have two final examinations worth 75% of their final mark in May. The exam will test their understanding and skills in the following units:

Unit 1:a) Business and b) People Unit 2:a) Production, b) Finance and accounts and c) External influences

March/April 2014: Case study with “getting to know you questions” . Students should read through the case

study numerous times to ensure that they are very familiar with it before returning to school.

Revision programme:

Class based programme . Students will work systematically through the five examined sub-units and apply what they have learned to the exam case study, as appropriate. During this time we will focus intensively on exam technique.

Unit revision guides (written by staff). Students will be given 5 revision guides covering Business, People, Production, Finance and External Influences. Students should revise from these regularly. In each case there will be a mock exam for students to complete at home linking that unit to the potential questions in the case study.

Weekly support and enhancement classes (after school). All students are very welcome to attend although a letter will be sent out in April to indicate which students should definitely attend.

F:/Drive. All revision lessons, revision guides and past papers will be available to download from the school’s F:/Drive (Business).

Top Tip for parentsThe first thing you can do to help is to work through each of the five revision guides and practice papers with your son or daughter. These will be sent home to you via students. Secondly, please ensure that your son or daughter has access to the additional materials on the F:/Drive (Business folder). In addition students may find GCSE Bitesize (Business) useful as an additional resource.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Collect a range of non-fiction texts and try the tasks below:- Identify GAP: Genre, Audience and Purpose- Focus on the presentation features (photos, pictures and

Illustrations, different font sizes and styles, colour, layout features) Think about why these have been chosen.

- To get to grips with the content and meaning of the text, trace its structure (the way it’s built) and development (the direction in which it’s heading).

- Pick out and underline some key words and phrases that you think are very interesting, unusual or striking in helping to get the message across. (e.g. emotive vocabulary, rhetorical devices, formal/ informal language, pronouns…)

Look at the selection of past papers and sample answers on NORTLE. Have a go at these papers and bring them to your teacher for marking.

Really useful revision websites include:www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ gcse bitesize/ english www.gcseresult.co.uk

Please find below a list of revision guides for ENGLISH LANGUAGE that have been approved by AQA (our examining body). These can be purchased online or through a bookshop.

Publisher Title ISBN Nelson Thornes English & English Language Higher Student

Book 978 1 4085 0595 3

Nelson Thornes English & English Language Foundation Student Book

978 1 4085 0596 0

Nelson Thornes English & English Language Online 978 1 4085 0687 5 Nelson Thornes English & English Language Higher Revision

Guide 978 1 4085 0691 2

Nelson Thornes English & English Language Foundation Revision Guide

978 1 4085 0692 9

Phillip Allan AQA GCSE English: Skills for Language & Literature

978 1 4441 0874 3

Harper Collins English GCSE for AQA 2010 English Student Book Targeting Grade C

978 0 0073 4219 8

Heinemann AQA GCSE English and English Language Student Book: Achieve a C

978 0 4351 1814 3

Heinemann AQA GCSE English and English Language Student Book: Achieve an A*

978 0 4351 1812 9

Heinemann AQA GCSE English and English Language Student Book: Basic Skills

978 0 4351 5130 0

Hodder AQA GCSE English, English Language and English Literature: Higher Student's Book

978 1 4441 0869 9

Hodder AQA GCSE English, English Language and English Literature Foundation Student's Book

978 1 4441 0868 2

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ENGLISH LITERATURE

MODERN TEXTS (Drama or Prose)Reread your set texts as many times as you canEnsure that you make notes on:

character plot themes language writer’s intention effect on the reader.

POETRYFor the poems in your anthology, ensure that you make notes on title, shape, personal response, voice, vocabulary, imagery, structure and interpretation. Please see suggested revision guides below:

Publisher Title ISBNNelson Thornes English Literature Poetry & Anthology

Student Book 978 1 4085 0599 1

Nelson Thornes English Literature Poetry & Anthology (online)

978 1 4085 0688 2

Phillip Allan AQA GCSE English: Skills for Language & Literature

978 1 4441 0874 3

Heinemann AQA GCSE Working with the Anthology Student Book: Achieve a C

978 0 4351 1852 5

Heinemann AQA GCSE Working with the Anthology Student Book: Achieve an A*

978 0 4351 1850 1

Hodder AQA GCSE English, English Language and English Literature: Higher Student's Book

978 1 4441 0869 9

Hodder AQA GCSE English, English Language and English Literature Foundation Student's Book

978 1 4441 0868 2

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EXPRESSIVE ARTS

DRAMA GCSE

GCSE DRAMA YEAR 11 GUIDELINESPREPARING FOR THE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION

Below is a checklist of work and strategies that all Drama students can employ to be well prepared for the practical element of the examination.

Make efficient use of rehearsal time experimenting with a range of voice and movement ideas.Make use of what you have learnt during the course about how to use key drama elements to engage the audience.Look forward to the practical examination and appreciate that it is an opportunity to share your work with others.Work to a production plan which makes full use of the plenary part of every lesson to reflect on progress and set action points for subsequent rehearsals.Understand what is expected of you individually so that you can work independently in between rehearsals.In rehearsals observe carefully and concentrate fully so that you can give and receive constructive advice.Be prepared to learn from others and make effective use of constructive advice given to you by others.In devised theatre employ a range of drama devices which explore significant issues.Write and deliver thought-provoking dialogue which communicates your chosen themes.In performance, control and vary the pace delivery, thinking how to highlight key moments.Make varied and intelligent use of the acting space to engage the audience.Modulate and project your voice with clarity and precision to communicate the dialogue.Think carefully about the technical aspects of your performance and use costume imaginatively to communicate aspects of character.Plan the transitions between the scenes and use set and lighting creatively to ensure pace and control.Stay positive and focused, maintaining a willingness to experiment until happy with the outcome.Make sure you have a technical and dress rehearsal so that you are fully prepared for the practical examination and feel confident about doing well.Delight the audience with your energy and enthusiasm.

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EXPRESSIVE ARTS

MEDIA STUDIES

Unit 1: Promotion and Marketing of Video Games

All work on Unit 1 is to be covered after the February half term 2014. This unit is worth 20% of the Double Award.

Units 2 and 4: Coursework

Units 2 and 4 will have been covered in class throughout the GCSE Media course.

Unit 3: Exploring media industries

The aim of this unit is to encourage candidates to explore media industries and how they operate.

This unit is worth 20% of the Double Award.

Students should revise all of the work carried out on our two local media organisations; The Tyneside Cinema and Radio Newcastle

Students need to have a broad understanding of:• how the industry creates a range of products to sell to particular audiences• how the industry and the products they make are influenced by ownership and control• the job roles and working practices within the organisation • how the organisation is financed and regulated• the effects of developments in technology within this industry.

Students should practise applying this knowledge by working through sample papers and the revision booklet.Supporting material, sample exam papers, mark schemes and examiners’ reports can be found on NorTLE.

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EXPRESSIVE ARTS

MUSIC

Students have a final examination worth 40% of their final mark at the beginning of June.

The final exam will consist of two sections. Section A will have 8 compulsory questions that require students to respond to extracts of music. Section B has two questions, of which students choose one to answer, it will require an extended, essay-type answer.

Both sections are based on twelve 'set works' - pieces of music that students will have studied during the course. The set works are drawn from 4 areas of study: Western Classical Music, Music in the 20th Century, Popular Music in Context and World Music. Students are given full revision notes for all twelve set works and templates for Section B are available on the school network.

In order to do well, students must engage fully in listening lessons and complete all tasks set - this will frequently involve learning facts about the set works in preparation for the exam. Listening to a wide range of music, attending live music performances and performing music from a wide range of repertoire will also help students to gain the musical understanding required for this area of the course. Thorough revision as the exam approaches is also essential.

Over Easter:

I will be running a ‘Revision Day’ in school for Year 11. I would encourage all students to attend, however if students are unable, I will send copies of the notes home.

Revision programme:

Class based work – Students will work through practice papers of both Section A and Section B, which will focus on examination technique.

Weekly Support – The Music Department has set aside Friday lunchtime for GCSE students to discuss techniques, set works and exemplar material.

Element focus – A key aspect of the Listening Examination are the Elements of Music. Using the notes given by myself and Mr Reid students should revise from these regularly. The main elements are; Melody, Dynamics, Texture, Harmony & Tonality, Rhythm, Timbre and Tempo.

Top Tips for parentsThe first thing you can do is help is to work through the revision sheet with your son or daughter. These will be sent home to you via students. Secondly, please ensure your son or daughter are listening to the set works at every opportunity. YouTube has a good channel with all twelve set works. Its web address is http://www.youtube.com/user/GCSEMusicEdexcel. The GCSE Bitesize website is also useful.

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HUMANITIES

GEOGRAPHY

There are 3 examination papers in the summer. Each paper is worth 25% of the total mark for the course. The examinations:Tuesday 13th May - Paper 1 - 1 hour - Skills and Challenges for the Planet.Thursday 22nd May - Paper 2 – 1 hour 15 minutes – The Natural EnvironmentFriday 6th June - Paper 3 – 1 hour 15 minutes – The Human Environment

Revision:There is a Geography revision booklet and unit summary sheets. These are issued by the class teacher. All revision materials will also be available on NorTLE.A revision book – Revise Edexcel GCSE Geography A Geographical Foundations Revision Guide (Pearson) can also be purchased through the Geography Department at a cost of £2.

Revision ScheduleIn terms of devising a revision schedule, students have already been advised to start reading their booklets on each topic, primarily to revisit case studies and geographical processes within material covered in Year 10 and 11. Cue cards and mind maps can be helpful revision aids to make at this point.

Once students are confident with the topic material, they should then progress to past papers and exam questions.

Revision sessions will take place before and after the Easter break during lunch time and after school. These sessions will focus on a different topic each session as well as cover exam technique and levelled marked questions.

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Top Tip for Parents

Parents can help bytesting students

usingpast questions andmaterial from the

booklets.

HUMANITIES

HISTORY

Paper One History revision booklet to be issued to students February 2014Paper Two History revision booklet to be issued to students before Easter Holidays. (Teaching of course still ongoing)

A supporting OCR GCSE Modern World History Revision Guide by Ben Walsh (Principal Examiner Paper Two), tailored to the current specification, can also be purchased to supplement the department issued revision guides. Previous students have commented that this resource has proved to be an invaluable revision tool.

Material available on NorTLE

Revision Schedule

In terms of devising a revision schedule, students have already been advised to start reading their summary sheets, primarily to start familiarising themselves with material covered in Year 10, which will make up the Paper One exam.

Once students are confident with the summary sheets material, they should then progress to wider reading, including their folder notes.

Lunchtime revision sessions will start in the summer term. These sessions will focus on specific exam skills, such as source analysis and how to answer certain question types.

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Top Tip for parents

Parents can help by testing

students using summary tests in

the History revision booklet.

MATHEMATICS

Students sometimes talk about wanting or needing a certain grade in maths but when you enquire about how much additional revision they have done it is clear that they must not want the grade as much as they claim. Students should be doing about five hours of maths a week in the run up to exams, this time needs to effective. Targeting weak topics is essential because these will be the questions that will increase grades. Revision should be a mixture of learning key facts and practising questions.

Students will sit AQA Linear Maths 4365. Those students who have already gained a C grade or are in the top four sets will sit the higher paper. Those students who are yet to achieve a C grade will have another attempt at the foundation tier. The non-calculator paper is on Monday 11th June and the calculator paper is on Wednesday 13th

June.

REVISION RESOURCES

Revision cards (foundation only): Students who sat an exam in November already have these. These contain key facts that students must know in order to get a C grade. It is essential that these are learned over a period of time rather than trying to learn them all a few of days before the exam. If students have lost these cards, please ask for another set.

MyMaths.co.uk: School login: ponteland Password: square. This is an excellent interactive website that students are familiar with. If students have any tasks on their task list then they should get these done first and then they should target topics that they know they struggle with. Students sometimes complain that they don’t like using this site but this is mainly because they get frustrated by scoring poor marks and then rush through the attached lesson and then claim it does not help. If a student scores poorly on a task they need to slowly go through the revision lesson one step at a time and make notes about the key points. They should always use a pen and paper when using the site for working out, students sometimes they should just do it all in their head, this will not lead to good marks.

10 key questions: This is a booklet with 10 examples of key questions that often make the difference between a certain grades. These are accompanied by worksheets with similar questions. Students attempt the sheets and when they are stuck they look in their booklet for help. By the time they are doing the last sheet, they should no longer need to look up anything.

Past papers: These are an essential part of revision for maths but for them to be useful students must devote sufficient time to them. If there is a question a student cannot do then they must not ignore it. By going to the effort of looking up the topic and working out how to tackle the problem, students will be well equipped to tackle a similar problem in their real exam. If past papers highlight a weak topic then this topic should become a priority for revision.

Revision Guides and Workbooks: Most Year 11 students have purchased these already and they are an excellent resource providing that students remember to open them. If students have not yet purchased these and would like to then they should ask their maths teacher for an order form.

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MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGESThere are a number of published and internally created aids to revision available in all modern languages, all aimed at enabling pupils to practise, review and develop their knowledge of vocabulary, structure and grammar.

FRENCH

Letts Revision Guide- Books available from school for help with all aspects of the French exam. These can be purchased from the subject teacher at a cost of £3

GCSE Exam Practice in French – Authentik.

NorTLE. Students should attach themselves to 11a Fr1 and there is a link to revision websites and listening exam practice papers with answers.

There are also podcasts for all languages. Students will also find them on NorTLE under Learning Resources then GCSE POD

GCSE specific Revision web sites

www. bbc .co.uk/schools/ gcsebitesize / french / Useful for exam practice with both foundation and higher listening and reading tests

www.gcse.com/french/index.htmwww.linguascope.com

Username - ponthigh Password - redhotday Best for all grammar and structures and more advanced vocabulary. Choose Intermediate level

www.languageskills.co.uk for practice in all skills, though it is a little more difficult than the real GCSE level (Zut) account id- 1250 password- lechatnoir

www.frenchrevision.co.uk Intermediate section

www.languagesonline.org.uk best for grammar and structures. Exercises gradually increase in level of difficulty.

www.aqa.org.uk Excellent for past listening and reading papers/markschemes

www.memrise.com

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Students create their own account. This is a fantastic website for vocab revision for the listening and reading papers- students should see their class teacher to find out the specific programme they should follow ( AQA GCSE vocab)

GERMAN

Letts Revision Guide- Available from school for help with all aspects of the German exam. These can be purchased from the subject teacher at a cost of £3

GCSE Exam Practice in German – Authentik.

Reading and listening exercises at both foundation and higher level can be found on NorTLE under 11C/DE1 or can be borrowed from Miss Ridsdale

German Revision Siteswww. bbc .co.uk/schools/ gcsebitesize / german /

Useful for exam practice with both foundation and higher listening and reading testswww.klar.co.uk

Fantastic for everything Username: ponthigh Password: pontlangs

www.yjc.org.uk Online revision games on all topics

www.atantot-extra.co.uk Especially good for foundation but higher students will find this useful for key vocab.

www.linguascope.com Best for all grammar and structures and more advanced vocabulary. Username - ponthigh Password – redhotday (Choose Intermediate level)

www.languageskills.co.uk For practice in all skills, though it is a little more difficult than the real GCSE level (GUT) account id- 2752 password- dasklavier

www.languagesonline.org.uk- Excellent for revision games on all topics

www.aqa.org.uk- Excellent for past listening and reading papers/markscheme

NorTLE. Students should attach themselves to 11c De1 and 10C/De1. There is then a wealth of PowerPoints, revision activities and worksheets under both these sections as well as all the AQA specification vocabulary and a link to the AQA website for specification details. In addition there are also podcasts for all languages. Students will find them on Nortle under Learning Resources then GSCEPOD

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www.memrise.com – students create their own account. This is a fantastic website for vocab revision for the listening and reading papers- students should see their class teacher to find out the specific programme they should follow ( AQA GCSE vocab)SPANISH

Letts Revision Guide- Available from school for help with all aspects of the Spanish exam. These can be purchased from the subject teacher at a cost of £3

GCSE Exam Practice in Spanish – Authentik.

NorTLE. Students should attach themselves to 11bSp1 and there is a link to revision websites and listening exam practice papers with answers.

There are also podcasts for all languages. Students will also find them on NorTLE under Learning Resources then GCSE POD

Spanish Revision sites www. bbc .co.uk/schools/ gcsebitesize / spanish /

Useful for exam practice with both foundation and higher listening and reading testswww.mflgames.co.uk (español extra)

Username - ponthigh Password - callerton Best for vocabulary games/grammar

www.linguascope.com Username - ponthigh Password – redhotday Best for all grammar and structures and more advanced vocabulary. Choose Intermediate level

www.languageskills.co.uk For practice in all skills, though it is a little more difficult than the real GCSE level (OYE) account id- 1327 password- oye

www.languagesonline.org.uk Best for grammar and structures. Exercises gradually increase in level of difficulty.

www.atantot-extra.co.uk Especially good for foundation students but higher students will find this useful for key

vocab.www.aqa.org.uk

Excellent for past listening and reading papers/markschemewww.memrise.com

Students create their own account. This is a fantastic website for vocab revision for the listening and reading papers- students should see their class teacher to find out the specific programme they should follow ( AQA GCSE vocab)

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Yr 11 Languages GCSE – Support for Parents/Students

Speaking Controlled Assessment (CA) Information:There are 2 speaking CAs throughout the GCSE Each CA is a 4-6 minute conversation on a specific topic.Students will normally have completed their 2 speaking CAs by Easter, butin some circumstances a number of students might be attempting an additional speaking test to try to boost their grade.

For the speaking controlled assessments each student must: Have a task sheet with the required elements on Have prepared some answers to the bullet points on the task sheet Have prepared a planning sheet to help remember the conversation (40 words at the most in the

target language or English. No pictures/drawings/symbols/conjugated verbs are permitted)

Parents can support this learning by: Helping their child prepare an effective 40-word plan Test the conversation questions by asking each question and prompting the child when necessary Know the time and date of the speaking exam and encourage their child to be prepared mentally as

well as in terms of revision

Listening/Reading exam Information: These exams are in the main Summer examination period There are two exams of 30 mins each foundation/ 50 mins higher On the listening exam they hear a CD of French/Spanish/German questions

and note their answers On the reading exam they read small passages in French/Spanish/German and note down answers

(mainly multiple choice) Vocabulary revision is of utmost importance for these exams

By the listening /reading exam each student must: Have a list of common exam vocabulary learned Have practised the past papers in class and at home via the VTLE Have listened to/read French/Spanish/German in the morning of the exam to prepare themselves

mentally for the exam

Parents can support this learning by: Testing their child on the vocabulary lists Encouraging their child to listen to and read French/German/Spanish via the VTLE or other exam

revision websites for focussed learning Encouraging their child to attend the pre-exam practice in school

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PE / SPORTS STUDIES

Access AQA website for past papers and mark schemes.

Internet revision.

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

www.samlearning.com (school has issued passwords)

www.aqa.org.uk once on this site follow the links to PE and access past papers and exam tips.

Your class teacher will provide you with a list of key words and their meanings. Try to learn them all.

Revision classes will be arranged after school on days convenient to staff and students. Dates will be circulated with topics to be covered.

Check all your work books are up to date and request new ones if you have lost them. They are a very useful guide for all you need to know.

Practice as many different types of questions as you can.

Section A includes multiple choice and short answers, one word or one/two sentence answers.

Section B is the scenario section where you have to answer in sentences and also continuous prose.

Don’t be shy! If there is anything that you are not sure of or need help with ask your teacher. Chances are you will not be the only one.

Go through all of your work and make notes on your notes.

Use a variety of techniques to help you cover all your work;

o spider diagrams; o power points; o blind reveal.

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SCIENCE

(Separates & Additional)

Your preparation for science modular exams should include two stages: learning and revising the work covered in lessons and applying your understanding to answer exam questions.

Learning & revising

Download a copy of the syllabus from the OCR website (www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/by-subject/science/). If you cannot find it, ask your teacher.

Go through the syllabus statements identifying those you understand and the statements that require further study.

Write a set of revision notes based on the topics you do not understand. Topics in bold are for higher tier students only and modules B7,C7,P7 are for Separate Science students only.

Using either the course textbook or revision guide, read the information on the topics that you do not understand. Reading alone rarely leads to remembering and understanding, so re-write information that you have read in your own words, draw concepts maps to link topics, create question and answer cards, or try to teach your family and friends new and difficult concepts. Revision guides are available from the science prep. room and cost £5 each. The course textbooks can be purchased from this website: http://global.oup.com/

Use the online revision resources to revise units 1-6. Visit the website http://kerboodle.oxfordsecondary.co.uk and enter the login details that you have been issued with in class. If you have difficulty login on or have lost your details, speak to Mr Warland. Once on the site you will be requested to change your password. You can then either complete tasks set by your teacher or ones in the bank of practice tasks.

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Applying your understanding

Once you have learnt and revised the material you now need to practise applying your understanding to answer exam questions. Complete as many past exam papers as possible, including those on NorTLE and the hardcopies given to you by your teacher. Remember the most important questions are those that you find difficult. Use the mark schemes on NorTLE, textbooks, revision guides, lesson notes and the internet to ensure all questions are attempted.

Other sources of GCSE style questions include the exam practice questions in the textbook at the end of each module, the questions in the revision guides, workbook questions issued by your teacher and redoing class module tests.

Out of lesson support

Your science teachers are there to help you so if you have a question or are confused by a topic make the effort to see them before or after the lesson, before and after school or at break and lunch.

The science department will also be running afterschool revision sessions in May & June as well as intensive revision sessions during school time closer to the summer exams.

If in doubt ask!

Other Useful Websites

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/

www.youtube.com/user/virtualschooluk

www.khanacademy.org/

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TECHNOLOGY

Food & Nutrition

A revision programme will be in place in lessons when the CA task is complete.

The programme will include revision notes and each topic will be related to exam questions.

Students should work through their file making notes – bullet points, charts, spider diagrams to aid memory of key facts.

A revision checklist and booklet will be provided to support revision at home.

Health & Social Care

A revision booklet will be issued to cover the content of Unit 1(singles and doubles) and Unit 4 (Doubles only).

Revision lessons are taking place with the emphasis on improving exam technique.

Students should use all notes from their previous units to help with revision questions set in class and for homework

Textiles Technology

A full revision programme will be in place in lessons when the controlled assessment task is complete after Easter.

The programme will include revision notes and each topic will be related to exam questions.

A revision lesson once a fortnight has been taking place since the beginning of Year 11, with the emphasis on improving exam technique.

Within ‘self study time’, students should work through their file making notes – bullet points, spider diagrams to aid memory of key facts.

A revision checklist and the second part of a comprehensive booklet will be provided to support revision at home. (The first part was distributed prior to mock exams).

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TECHNOLOGY

GRAPHICS &RESISTANT MATERIALS

Once coursework is complete, students concentrate on exam preparation in lessons.

Every year the exam board supplies pre-release material for the written examination known as the ‘prep sheet’ for every student.

This year’s pre-release themes in Graphics and Resistant Materials will be received in March 2014. When students receive notification of these themes they must type the titles into Google. The themes will be on the first page of sites.

Worksheets and revision notes are created in lessons.

Lonsdale Revision guides available for Resistant Materials and Graphic Products, in school for £3.

Internet Revision: GSCE Bitesize www.designandtech.com www.technologystudent.com (there are lots of further links on this site!!!)

Under the Start Programs under Technology, on school computers, select either:

1. Reel2. MTTA3. Technogames4. Fantastic Plastics5. Focus Technology6. Resistant Materials

These contain video clips, tonnes of information on manufacturing processes, materials information and mechanisms if you look for them.

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PONTELAND HIGH SCHOOL REVISION/CLASS/EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

WEEKLY TIMETABLE (EXAMPLE) DURING SCHOOL TIME

Session Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Before school

Morning Morning

Period 1

Period 2

BreakPeriod 3

Lunch Afternoon AfternoonPeriod 4

Period 5

AfterSchool

DinnerEvening Evening Evening

Factor in your lessons, examinations , Controlled Assessments superlearning events, relaxation times, tv viewing, socialising with friends and family/sporting activities.

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Week Beginning:

PONTELAND HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION/REVISION/ACTIVITIES

WEEKLY TIMETABLE (EXAMPLE) HOLIDAYS and EXAM/STUDY LEAVE

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

8.00am

9.00am

10.00am

11.00am

12.00pm

1.00pm

2.00pm

3.00pm

4.00pm

5.00pm

6.00pm

7.00pm

8.00pm

9.00pm

10.00pm

Factor in your examinations, subject revision slots , superlearning sessions, relaxation times, tv viewing, socialising with friends and family/sporting activities.

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Week Beginning: