YEAR 11 REVISION STRATEGIES Maria Piatelli March 15

1. YEAR 11 REVISION STRATEGIESMaria Piatelli March15 Supporting Your Child Through Exams

2. Supporting Your Child Through Exams The following slides contain suggestions, strategies and tips for parents of students in Years 10 and 11 whose children are taking exams. The information is a compilation of information from web sites, from our own SEN/Inclusion Team at Grey Court School and from our Educational Psychologists.

3. REVISION One of the secrets to doing well in exams is planning.

4. REVISION Helping your child to create a clear revision plan and method of studying will make them feel in control of their work.

5. REVISION Work out a revision timetable for each subject.

6. REVISION Pin up your revision timetable where you can’t avoid seeing it.

7. REVISION Start with the subjects you dislike. Spend more time on them. Your favourite subjects will be easier.

8. 20 MINUTES A tried and tested and very successful technique for revising.

9. 20 MINUTES This technique is recommended by therapists to reduce exhaustion during revision and to promote the best possible learning. The technique is based on hourly periods of revision study broken into 3 x 20 minute bites. Step 1: Scan quickly what you have set yourself to learn or revise; this is so the brain knows what its goal is. Step 2: Revise the topic for 20 minutes Step 3: After 20 minutes, stop, get up, preferably leave the room,  take 1 minute break, no longer, then take a sip of water and return to your desk. Step 4: Quickly scan what you have just learned; use coloured pens to pick out the most important phrases/words. Repeat steps 1-4 again two more times with two new topics. At the end of 3 of these 20 minute sessions, you should leave the room where you are revising and take either a 10 min break doing something completely different or a proper break such as lunch for up to 1 hour.  Use the 4 step process to revise a new topic for another hour The important thing is the brain remembers beginnings and endings so the scanning is extremely important.

10. 20 MINUTES • Being in a relaxed yet alert state helps.  This is state dependent learning.  • A really good way to start any new learning/revising is to stand up, have your head forwards but eyes up and smile.  Hold for a few seconds, say YES out loud then sit down and begin.  This activates neural networks in the brain which make you feel good and put you in a positive frame of mind to work.

11. ORGANISATION If your child has a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, SLCN or ASD, they are likely to have difficulties with organisation. As a parent, you will need to gently take control

12. EXAM CONCESSIONS Does your child have exam concessions?

13. EXAM CONCESSIONS If your child is entitled to: a computer – encourage them to practise writing answers on the computer. a reader – read for them. Remember, because the English reading exam tests reading, your child can’t have a reader. However instructions can be read to the student.

14. EXAM CONCESSIONS If your child has exam concessions, make sure they know where to go for the exam.

15. READING PAPERS A helpful strategy when doing practice papers and the exam itself is to read the questions before reading the text. By doing this you have a head start in understanding what you are going to read and what you will need to pay attention to during the first reading.

16. DON’T PANIC Students can ask if they don’t understand which question they are supposed to answer.

17. SHOPPING Make sure your child has all the essential books and materials

18. MORE SHOPPING! Buy new stationery, highlighters and pens to make revision more enjoyable.

19. Revision and Shopping • Research has shown that if you take an exam in the same room as you do revision, you will remember more; on that premise, it would make sense that doing an exam with the same pen and equipment will help memory as well. • Check your child has a spare set of maths equipment, art equipment, pens, erasers etc.

20. HIGHLIGHTERS Highlight key words in the question. Discuss Contrast: Evaluate: Comment Argue Define Demonstrate

21. POSTCARDS Time attempts at practice papers. Condense notes onto postcards to act as revision prompts.

22. LISTEN Read through and summarise revision notes or listen while they revise. Ask questions about the topic and encourage them to answer in sentences. If you understand something, you can explain it to someone else.

23. STUDY LEAVE During study leave, try to be at home as much as possible so that you can share breaks and a chat together.

24. Calm Another way to support your child during the stress of revision and exams is to make home life as calm and pleasant as possible.

25. Family It helps if siblings are supportive and sensitive. Remind them that one day soon they will be in the same position.

26. DON’T WORK TOO LATE Stop work an hour before you go to bed or your brain will be churning all night.

27. SLEEP It's important to get a good night's sleep before an exam, so discourage your child from staying up late to cram. Make sure he or she eats a good breakfast on the morning of the exam.

28. Sleep Well ..so discourage your child from staying up late to cram .

29. EATING Make sure there are plenty of healthy snacks in the fridge and try to provide good, nutritious food at regular intervals.

30. EATING and SLEEPING Try to have breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up; this will give you energy throughout the day. If you can’t eat breakfast have a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts because protein is important.

31. SLEEPING A tech free bedroom is the best environment to achieve a good night’s sleep. Turn off all devices at least half an hour before bedtime and keep them covered or out of sight

32. SLEEPING Just before going to sleep try to think of something that has made you happy during the day e.g. something nice someone has said to you during the day

33. A Relaxation Technique • If you can’t get off to sleep or if you wake during the night gently focus on breathing slowly and deeply … imagine your body relaxing and softening beginning with your toes and work your way up to your head.

34. EATING • Encourage your child to join family meals, even if it's a busy revision day - it's important to have a change of scene and get away from the books and computer for a while. Provide foods which are slow release energy foods such as pasta and dark chocolate.

35. EATING • Cashews, peanuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds provide energy. They are calorie dense and high in fats so if you want a boost without a crash, grab a handful of nuts or seeds. • Protein-rich foods like eggs, meat and full-fat dairy products are some of the best foods for sustained energy

36. Water Drink plenty of water and take a bottle of water to school

37. BREAKFAST Encourage breakfast no matter how small. Taking exams is hungry work.

38. EXERCISE Take regular exercise and take breaks during revision.

39. MOANING Try not to nag or make too many demands during exam time.

40. IS BRIBERY A GOOD IDEA? Bribery is not a good idea-it implies that the only worthwhile reward for hard work is money. Although bribery isn't advisable, it's fine to provide small treats by way of encouragement.

41. Success for it’s own sake Encourage your child to do well for his or her own sake rather than for money or to please you.

42. Your best is good enough Make sure your child knows you're interested in their work and that their best is good enough.

43. CELEBRATE The end of exams could be celebrated with something the family can share.

44. GOOD LUCK The very best of luck to our Year 11 students and their parents