Physics Department

BEECHEN CLIFF

Year 11 Exam and Revision Information Evening

Tuesday 11th October 2016

Physics Department

Physics Department

Outline Of This Evening

• Introductions

• Exam information & revision timetables Mr Tim Markall (Assistant Head)

• Supporting studying at home & revision techniques • Mr Darrell Sayers (Assistant Head)

• Using exam papers and mark schemes Mr Kant Mann (Assistant Head)

Physics Department

Exam Information

• Trial Examinations 14th- 18th November (information letter, timetable received today – any queries please contact the Exams Officer) • Mock Results Day Friday 2nd December • GCSE Exams likely to begin w/c 1st May (details on study arrangements to be provided nearer the time)

Physics Department

School Reports

• Snapshot report - published tomorrow

• Progress Report – published 2nd December

• Year 11 Parents Evening – 5th December

• Full Report – published 21st March

Physics Department

Revision Support In School

• Year 11 Revision Skills Afternoon

Wednesday 19th October (For those boys on Languages exchanges – to be done on 12th October at lunchtime) • Year 11 Exam Preparation Seminars Wednesday 8th February

Physics Department

The Build-up to GCSE Exams

• Exam briefing for all pupils with the Exams Officer before the Trial Exams and again before GCSE Exams

• Year 11 Prep from November onwards

• Tutor based mentoring for all pupils from January onwards (including revision timetables)

• After-school revision classes/coursework catch-up sessions

for all subjects from January onwards (details in Wednesday Newsletter nearer the time)

• In-class subject revision and past paper practice

Physics Department

Revision Information Online

• Key dates

• Specific guidance on subject webpages

• Exam Board and Specification Information

• Recommended revision guides and websites (also see hand out)

http://www.beechencliff.org.uk/school-life/academic/exams-assessment/gcse/

Physics Department

Revision Skills Guide

Pearson Revise GCSE – Study Skills Guide £5.99 Revise GCSE – Revision Planner £8.99 Special Offer: Both for £9 if you purchase on Parent Pay by 3pm on Friday 14th October

Physics Department

Revision Timetables

Recommendations: • Plan ahead • Begin revision well in advance of the exams

• Put exams on the timetable first

• Work out how much time you have to spend on

revision

• Allocate subjects/topics and timings

Physics Department

Revision

(verb)

‘The act of eating, texting and listening to music and/or watching TV whilst being in a

room with an open textbook roughly nearby’

Physics Department

Supporting At Home -

Objectives

• How to help your son

• How to support the school

• Provide useful strategies

Physics Department

What are the most common

frustrations for parents?

‘He leaves everything to the last minute – then he gets stressed and stroppy’ ‘I didn’t even do GCSE’s – how can I help him?’ There are a million websites – how do I know which ones are any good?’ ‘Surely he shouldn’t be going out again when he’s got all this work to do’ ‘He’s always panicked in exams – when I try to help it ends in an argument and we all get stressed’

• Talk to them and ask what they would like!

• Provide the materials they need – folders, stationery, equipment etc.

• Empty their bags at the end of the day and file the hand outs they have received

• Help choose one good revision guide for each subject

• Help your son plan their revision timetable

How can I help my son?

• Motivator: Talk to them and ask what they would like! • Logistics co-ordinator: Ask your son about his exams –

when, where, what paper etc. If there are problems ask the school.

• Office manager:Provide the tools • Attendance officer • Study advisor – show an interest in their work and help

them/test them • Project manager – agree rules for revision, and balance

work and ‘fun stuff’ • Information provider – source websites, books, guides, past

papers

How can I help the school?

• Help them stick to their timetable (rewards work well and if necessary agree to a rewards structure).

• Organise a work box

• Provide snacks and water for revision periods

• Be prepared to be flexible

• Be sensitive to the pressure your son is under

• Keep your interest in how things are going

• Keep things in perspective – it may not be your way, but ensure they are doing the best they can in the way that works for them best at that stage.

Help ‘doing’ revision

• Revision is more effective when its active rather than passive

• Try out some strategies

• Evaluate the most effective and use them

• Feel free to contact your son’s teachers

Help ‘doing’ revision

Physics Department

Keeping revision active

More effective and less boring

Physics Department

Revision by association

The brain accesses information via the senses – touch, sight, smell, taste, sound We access our memories by linking events to our experiences. We don’t remember things in isolation – we often remember insignificant things when we are exposed to other things that also happened at the time – we associate memories with triggers In short – ‘that reminds me of…’

Physics Department

RHYTHM

• How did you learn your ABC? Try reciting it monotone.

• Ask a fan of Jay Zed to sing his greatest hits – he’ll know all the words but struggle with the first 2 lines of a Shakespeare sonnet!

• Try to remember facts by assigning rhymes to them

Physics Department

MNEMONICS AND ACRONYMS

- sound

Get your son to make things into a mnemonic or an acronym e.g. Guilt Armed Forces reduction Reparations German land loss League of Nations Everyone suffered

= Terms of Versailles

Physics Department

POST IT PLACES - sight

Write important facts or key phrases on post-it notes Stick them around the house You will picture the location and associate it with what is written on the post-it This will act as a prompt to what needs to be remembered

Physics Department

Note Taking

Make notes of key words and definitions using: • Underlining/highlighting • Pictures and symbols

• Spider diagrams or mind maps

Physics Department

Other Examples

COLOUR CODE YOUR DIAGRAMS PICTURE ASSOCIATION PHYSICAL ASSOCIATION

Physics Department

And finally from me

Persistence and support is crucial Remember their way may not be your way – let it go Support and help rather than be accused of ‘interfering’ or confronting Put on a happy face!

Physics Department

Using Exam Papers

• Past papers (specimen/practice papers)- useful resource when carrying out revision.

• Gauge your subject knowledge and uncover

your strengths and weaknesses.

• Understand what areas you need to devote more time to and conversely, what areas you can devote less time to.

• Adjust revision timetable accordingly.

Physics Department

Using Exam Papers

EXAM PAPER

MARK SCHEME

EXAMINER REPORT

EXAM PAPER

PARENTAL HELP REVISION GUIDE ? TEACHER? REVISION TIMETABLE

Physics Department

Using Exam Papers

AQA: www.aqa.org.uk WJEC(EDUQAS): www.wjec.co.uk OCR: www.ocr.org.uk PEARSON(EDEXCEL): http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL: www.cie.org.uk CAMBRIDGE NATIONAL: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/by-type/cambridge-nationals/

Physics Department

Using Exam Papers

GCSE Maths (9-1)

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-8300/assessment-resources

iGCSE English (9-1)

http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-english-first-language-9-1-england-0627/

Physics Department

Questions or Queries?

• Presentation and hand out will be on the school website tomorrow

• Please stay behind to ask

• Contact us at school