490 likes | 861 Views
Ten Top Tips. Preparing for GCSEs. Top Tip 1. Climate for Learning Removing the Barriers. Learning environment Habitual or learned behaviour. www.ucc.vt.educ/studysk/studydis.html. The perfect learning environment. Quiet, comfortable, warm room. Well ventilated. No clutter.
E N D
Ten Top Tips Preparing for GCSEs www.kowessex.co.uk
Top Tip 1 Climate for Learning Removing the Barriers www.kowessex.co.uk
Learning environmentHabitual or learned behaviour www.ucc.vt.educ/studysk/studydis.html
The perfect learning environment Quiet, comfortable, warm room Well ventilated No clutter Comfortable chair Well lit Spacious desk No interruptions Books and files to hand No distractions - TV, music, e mail, phone
Other factors • Regular routine • Agreed timescale • Physical exercise / relaxation / social life • Normal pattern of sleep • Avoid caffeine / chilli – not withdrawal • Healthy eating / water • Employment Law (from www.qca.org.uk) i) Not before 7am or after 7pm ii) Recommended no more than 8 hours in any shift iii) Not more than 8 hours per week iv) Can have a detrimental effect to exams
Top Tip 2 Organisation and Timetable
Timetable • Revision Timetable – Invest time in making a revision timetable or wall chart which specifies which revision per evening/day • Know what they need to revise – for each subject you need a list of topics • Ensure that other commitments are highlighted & worked around • Plan breaks & social time • Ensure that the exams/time & place are shown • Display a copy in your kitchen or communal area as well as the place where your son/daughter studies • Use ticks to indicate jobs done
Organisation • Work space & equipment • Remove distractions • The right equipment • Box with pens/paper/hole punch/ highlighters/ equipment • File for revision notes/dividers • Box of plain postcards • Revision Guides
Top Tip 3 Resources Internet and Websites
Why use the internet to revise? • Updated • Interesting/eye-catching/motivating • Visual/auditory learners • Break up traditional methods • Personalised revision plans • Links to exam specifications
What types of resources are effective? • Past papers • Revision Topics • Summary checklists • Tests/ Question and answers • Revision tips/ideas
Practical revision • Plan short blocks of revision and review • Check what needs to be revised • Bookmark favourite websites • Write out notes/mind maps • www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ • www.samlearning.com BS27KO • Supplement not replace!
Top Tip 4 SAM Learning Past Papers www.kowessex.co.uk
SAM Learning? • SAM – Self Assessment Method • 750,000 students will use SAM Learning this year • Second most “hit site” UK web site during last May • Used by more than half of all English state secondary schools
SAM Learning at Kings • After 1 month, students have already put in 700 hours of revision and exam practice. • Revision exercises for reinforcing basics • Exam practice with answers. • Link from www.kowessex.co.uk • CentreID : BS27KO • Userid: DDMMYYAB • Password: DDMMYYAB
Exam Boards • www.aqa.org.uk • www.ocr.org.uk • www.edexcel.org.uk
Top Tip 5 Revision Guides www.kowessex.co.uk
Top Tip 6 Memory Mind Mapping www.kowessex.co.uk
Left Brain The left side of the brain controls: • Verbal ability • Attention to detail • Reasoning Left brained people are good at: • Communication • Persuading others • Maths • Logic • Your left brain prefers reading, quiet and dogs www.kowessex.co.uk
Right Brain The right side of the brain controls: • Creativity • Flexibility Right brained people are : • Daring • Intuitive • Creative with writing and art • Your right brain prefers day-dreaming, philosophy and sports. www.kowessex.co.uk
Top Tip 7 Memory Note Taking www.kowessex.co.uk
Top Tip 8 Study Buddying www.kowessex.co.uk
Study Buddying Working with your child • Explanation, question and answer • Be the student • Testing Revising with friends • Ensure the focus is on studying • Keep promises to one another • Arrange to have breaks together at particular times • Act as tutors for each other • Ensure the arrangement is equal and beneficial • Regular rewards for working well are worthwhile
Top Tip 9 The Day of the Exam www.kowessex.co.uk
The Day of the Exam www.kowessex.co.uk
Before the exam • Know the exam timetable: KingsNET • KingsWEB >> Exam Info & Timetable >> Combined Summer Schedule 2007
Ensure that your son/daughter: • Knows where to be each day • Knows the start time for each exam • Gets there early: allows contingency time! • Allows time for brain to wake up-shower! • Eats breakfast or takes energy rich food • Attends the Exam Briefing
Be practical! • Encourage a normal routine for exams • Going to bed and getting up at sensible times
Be practical! • Check your child has all the correct equipment - including spares • Plus any notes or books allowed in the exam in the correct format • Remind them to use the toilet beforehand! • Bring water to exam and sip throughout
Calming influence • Keep anxieties at bay. Be reassuring. • “You’ve done the best you can!” • Remind them of strategies to keep calm • “It’ll all be over by three!” “It’ll be fine” • Shelve issues that are not of immediate importance! • Don’t insist on lengthy post mortems
Just before the exam • Last minute revision? • Do what’s right for you • A moment to yourself
During the exam • Nervousness is normal – extra adrenaline! • Deep breaths: “I can handle this!” • Read the instructions AND then through the WHOLE PAPERbefore picking up pen • Write down key formulae, facts, quotes
During the exam • Mark the questions you will answer • Stick to the time-scale for each question • Answer the questions you are most confident about first • Allow a few minutes “checking time” at the end
Top Tip 10 What the research says? www.kowessex.co.uk
Research shows that you remember the most when: • You revise in short sessions with short breaks in between • You revisit your revision a number of times over a period of time • You practice the tasks that you will be required to do in your exam