Revision Strategies

1. Revision Strategies for Year 11

2. Why Revise? Every year in August when the GCSE results arrive there are those who are elated, those who are satisfied and those who are disappointed. Those who are pleased will generally be able to say “I worked hard and I revised thoroughly”. Those who are disappointed generally say the opposite: ”I should have worked harder; I should have done more revision”. While there are always a few exceptions to the rule, it is generally true that students ‘get what they deserve’. There are lots of good reasons to revise before exams: Sense of satisfaction – you want to know you have performed as well as you could. To please parents – they have supported and encouraged you, and you want them to be proud of you. You want the results to allow you to move on to the next stage in your education. This may mean attaining C grades or better in English and Maths, and B grades for some A Level subjects. College courses also have minimum entry requirements – you will want to meet these. Many universities also consider GCSE results when selecting their students.

3. Before anything else… • Get your brain into shape!

4. Interesting brain facts and food for thought! • Take a close look at your diet. Certain "brain foods" may help boost your brain growth -- plus improve brain function, memory, and concentration • The brain is a very hungry organ -- the first of the body's organs to absorb nutrients from the food we eat • If you don’t have breakfast, by 10.30 am you have the reaction times of a 70 year old • OMEGA 3 – GET IT INTO THEIR DIET NOW! Omega can improve brain function at the very simplest level, by improving blood flow • WATER – “Young people who have a drink of water before sitting tests fare up to a third better” • POTASSIUM - Bananas are high in potassium, which helps the brain transmit messages. Experts recommend that you eat a banana 1 hour before the exam

5. Brain Food • Foods that are rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids • Oily fishes such as Salmon, Sardines, Mackerel, Herring, Trout, Halibut, Tuna and Pilchards • Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Flaxseeds • Green Leafy Vegetables • Soy and Tofu • Some eggs are enhanced with omega-3s • Fruit - Figs, Bananas, Apricots, Strawberries, Raisins • Baked Potato • Veggie Burgers

6. Getting Started • Before you start your revision program you need to have a plan. This involves several stages. Firstly, you need to know the dates of your exams. A copy of the exam timetable is provided. You need to mark the dates of all your exams on a calendar and then stick this calendar up in your room or the area where you study. Two monthly calendars have been provided. (May) (June) You should print these off and mark the dates of all of your exams. • Next, you need to create a weekly revision timetable. Mark on this timetable your commitments for the week, together with the days and times that you will complete your homework and your revision. An example is provided to help guide you. Note that you need not complete your own revision timetable in this much detail – the example here is to show you how to organise your time, but also to show you that if you are organised, you can pursue all your other activities and still have plenty of time for homework and exam revision. • Further guidance can be found at http://getrevising.co.uk/ Be aware that to access this site and its various materials you need to sign up. • You should complete a weekly planner at the start of each week. Note that as your exams approach, you should be increasing the amount of time devoted to study. • Here’s a further resource on preparing for exams which you might find useful.

7. Seven rules of revision • Make your own revision notes. You'll learn as you write and, once you've got them, you're halfway there. • Be brief. Check the syllabus or ask a teacher to make sure you‘re aware of the key areas of each course. • Concentrating on the plus points of revision helps keep you going. Start by thinking how much easier you'll find the exams. • Don't overdo it. Your concentration lapses after a couple of hours, so take regular breaks. • Experiment with different revision techniques. Variety beats boredom. • Focus. Don't make pointless notes. Look at past exam papers and see how questions could be asked. • Get confident. If you're positive about exams, you should take in more information and remember it when it counts.

8. Six simple techniques • Condense. Fitting notes onto one side of paper makes them easier to stomach, so rewrite and cut down as you go. • Highlight. Target key areas using colours and symbols. Visuals help you remember the facts. • Record. Try putting important points, quotes and formulae on tape(or record on your phone / computer). If you hear them and read them, they're more likely to sink in. • Talk. Read your notes out loud; it's one way of getting them to register. • Test. See what you can remember without notes, but avoid testing yourself on subjects you know already. • Time. Do past exam papers against the clock, it's an excellent way of getting up to speed. And just keep telling yourself, ‘you can do it!!!!!’

9. Subject Information • The slides which follow provide information which has been supplied by the Subject Leaders of each Department. In each case you will be directed to resources which have been prepared or to websites which are relevant. • From this week onwards you will have some PSE time in which to begin revision. As the weeks go by, a number of BTEC courses will also finish, and teachers in these subjects may perhaps give you further time to devote to revision. Use this time wisely. • Your class teachers will also provide you with further study materials and possibly web links. It is important to keep all subject materials together. Have a separate folder (or section of a folder) or a display book for each subject for which you have an exam.

10. Past Papers • One of the key strategies for preparing for exams is to practise past papers. Your class teachers will probably provide you with at least one of these. Further papers can generally be obtained from the website of the relevant Exam Board. The three Exam Boards used by JCC for GCSE exams are: • AQA http://web.aqa.org.uk/exams-office/exams-guidance/qp-ms_finder.php?id=01 • For Modular Maths, Geography, Dance, Economics, Graphics, Textiles, Sociology, EPM. • EdExcelhttp://www.edexcel.com/i-am-a/student/Pages/pastpapers.aspx • For Physical Education, French, Spanish, Linear Maths. • OCR http://www.ocr.org.uk/i-want-to/prepare-and-practise/past-papers-finder/ • For Business Studies, Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Gateway OCR), Music, History, Additional Science. • NOTE: Media Studies is taken through a different Exam Board. Past papers will be provided by class teachers. • Solutions to Past Papers can also often be accessed as well. Teachers will be able to point you towards mark schemes to enable you to correct any past papers which you have attempted.

11. Maths • In preparing for your Maths exam (if you are doing a Linear paper you will have 2 exams), you need to be aware of what paper(s) you will be sitting. Are you preparing for a Modular or Linear exam? Are you taking a Higher or a Foundation paper? If you are not certain, ask your teacher to make sure. • There are a number of ways to prepare for your exam. However, all involve doing lots of practice questions, then checking that you have obtained the correct answers. You can: • Use Revision guides and accompanying Workbooks (can be obtained from the Cash Office in the LRC) • Use online resources: • http://www.mymaths.co.uk/ • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/maths/ • Practise Past Papers(AQA for Modular, EdExcel for Linear)

12. English • Re-read ‘Of Mice and Men’ – you have your own copy. There is also an audio version of the novella available in the Shared area on the school network. You can download this onto your phone or onto a memory stick. Listen to this as you read the book. • There is also an audio file of ‘An Inspector Calls’ available from the Shared area on the school network. This too can be downloaded. • If you go onto the VLE there are loads of things for you to do on the 2 set texts. (An Inspector Calls and Of Mice and Men) • Do timed responses or plan timed responses – you can obtain questions from your English teacher. • Do any revision activities that your teacher has set . • You could also be working your way through the English Language paper if you are doing the re-sit for that.

13. Biology • If you have not already done so, you can obtain a Revision Guide from the Cash Office in the LRC. You should work systematically through this guide. • You have been given (or will shortly be given) question booklets containing Past Paper and practice 6 mark questions which have been prepared by the Biology staff. You should also make sure you complete all of these booklets. • In addition, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/

14. Chemistry • If you have not already done so, you can obtain a Revision Guide from the Cash Office in the LRC. You should work systematically through this guide. • You have been given (or will shortly be given) question booklets containing Past Paper and practice 6 mark questions which have been prepared by the Chemistry staff. You should also make sure you complete all of these booklets. • In addition, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/

15. Physics • If you have not already done so, you can obtain a Revision Guide from the Cash Office in the LRC. You should work systematically through this guide. • You have been given (or will shortly be given) question booklets containing Past Paper and practice 6 mark questions which have been prepared by the Chemistry staff. You should also make sure you complete all of these booklets. • In addition, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/

16. Science (Ex-OCR Nationals) • If you have not done so already, buy a revision guide from the Cash Office. • Work through the revision guide section-by-section together with your exercise books, and correct any questions you didn't get right on all worksheets and homeworks. • Make a revision list of all key words and their definitions. • Attempt past papers from the OCR website: • http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-gateway-science-suite-science-b-j261-from-2011/ • Use the revision website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/   • Practice extended writing tasks which occur as 6 mark questions in exams - these often ask you to describe or explain aspects of science. Answers should be detailed, and include key scientific words and phrases.

17. Additional Science • If you have not done so already, buy a revision guide from the Cash Office. • Work through the revision guide section-by-section together with your exercise books, and correct any questions you didn't get right on all worksheets and homeworks. • Make a revision list of all key words and their definitions. • Attempt past papers from the OCR website: • http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-gateway-science-suite-additional-science-b-j262-from-2011/ • Use the revision website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/   • Practice extended writing tasks which occur as 6 mark questions in exams - these often ask you to describe or explain aspects of science. Answers should be detailed, and include key scientific words and phrases.

18. French and Spanish • The teachers have prepared a document to help prepare you for the Listening and Reading exam. This document also directs you to vocabulary books prepared by the exam Board. You should work systematically through the relevant guide (2 or 3 pages each night). Have a friend or parent test you on your knowledge of the vocabulary. As you go, place ticks beside the words/expressions you know, then go back again and try to learn the examples you did not know the first time. • French Vocabulary book • Spanish Vocabulary book • In addition, go to • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/french/ • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/spanish/

19. History and Humanities • Humanities students should be using the Unit 2 pre release booklets which you have been given to familiarise yourselves with all the content within the sources. You have also been given a handout about this booklet as well as sets of past exam papers to revise from. The two topics you should revise are Global Inequality and Prejudice and Persecution. You need to learn case studies for everything on the exam specifications ( which are given in the past paper booklet). • History students have been given sets of Paper 2 past exam papers as well as 21 topic booklets full of sources. You need to revise the three topics for the British Depth Study which are : • The Liberal reforms • Votes for Women • The Home Front in World War 1 • As well as learning detailed contextual knowledge you need to practise comprehending and analysing primary sources. • In addition, History students could refer to: • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/

20. Geography • The Geography exam will be based on your study of three units. These are: (1) The Living World (2) The Restless Earth (3) Ice on the Land • You have (or will shortly be given) Revision Booklets and sample exam questions on each of these three units. You should work systematically through these, dividing your time equally between the three sections of the course. • In addition, you have also been given (or again, will shortly be given), Mind Maps / Spider diagrams illustrating the key concepts relevant to two of these units. Your first task is to develop a similar diagram about the content of the third unit on ecosystems (The Living World). The diagram should be completed on A3 paper and then handed to your teacher when it has been completed. • In addition, Geography students could refer to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/

21. Ethics, Philosophy and Morality • Each student in EPM has been given a revision booklet. This booklet contains revision notes and sample exam questions on the following topic areas: • The Existence of God • The Characteristics of God • Revelation and Enlightenment • The Problem of Evil • The Compatibility of Science and Religion • The Afterlife • You should work systematically through this booklet, planning your time so that you are able to give approximately equal consideration to each of the topic areas. • Remember that the EPM staff will be happy to correct any answers to the sample questions which you prepare throughout your revision.

22. Physical Education • All students have been given a revision booklet to work through. • In addition, you can refer to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/pe/

23. Graphics Things that Graphics students can do to help with revision. • 1. Practice being ANALYTICAL and EVALUATIVE – almost everything in the world around you has been designed at some point – ask yourself why you think the designer did it in a certain way, and what is the impact of this? What materials and processes are used and why? If you had to redesign something, how would you develop it and why? Make justifying your reasons (explaining yourself!) second nature. • 2. Your exam theme this year is ‘packaging that is used to promote products’. Look at packaging when you walk around the shops, or when you buy something. What is there about the packaging that promotes the product? How does the typography, imagery, styling of the packaging promote the contents? How does the packaging show the product to the potential consumer? How could you develop it? How could you apply the same principles to other products. Try sketching your own designs to promote different types of products. • 3. Be technical – as well as the above, think about how the product would be made in industry. What materials is it made from, and would this have an effect on the processes that the company use? What does the net look like? How do they hold the product in place? • 4. There is a wealth of information on http://www.technologystudent.com/designpro/drawdex.htm that you can work through – if you scroll down far enough there is even some specific info for this year’s exam theme (you need to look quite carefully for it). • 5. Think about how other factors can influence design – what about moral and social issues, environmental issues? What about comfort and ease of use (ergonomics) and the way that it looks (aesthetics)?

24. Textiles • Theme for GCSE 2013 Section A: World wide Transport • Design topic: educational products for children • PPT relating to this attached • Help sheet which explains the design question attached • Practice design question attached • Revision topics list attached. • All students are working on the design question at the moment and have to complete the practice paper as homework over Easter. • In addition, students must find and revise notes from Year 10. • Year 10 Theory notes: • Red folder - Health and safety • Green folder - environmental and moral issues • Blue folder - decoration techniques • Black folder - fibres, yarns and fabrics • Lilac folder - stitches and seams construction techniques project

25. Sociology • Sociology students undertaking revision should… • 1. Purchase a revision guide from the cash office (containing activities and sample questions) • 2. Access past papers from www.aqa.org.uk and complete under timed conditions • 3. Work on developing your extended writing (12 mark) questions which can also be found on past papers. • Teachers in the Social Sciences Department are happy to mark any work you complete outside of lessons.

26. Business Studies • Produce flash cards of key terms or definitions - this could be done on a smart phone app • Produce a mind map of key theory • Produce a poster using an internet blogging account - try glogster split the work with your friends and you can share the results after - useful for exam technique, questions or knowledge • Produce a context quiz & answers on information from the case that you can trade with a friend - true or false or multiple choice (try and trick them out) • Produce a quiz for a friend asking for specific information and get your partner to find the page and line numbers to help you find info quickly in your exam. • Reread the case • Reprint the case and highlight sections of theory in different colour highlighters. • Use any departmental revision guides

27. Music Music students undertaking revision should… • 1. Use your CGP revision guide given to you. Answer the questions at the end of each Area of Study. • 2. Make mind maps, posters, or other visual materials containing key musical vocabulary relevant to each topic. • 3. Use YouTube to find and listen to further examples of each genre of music. • 4. Partner up with another student and make a 20 mark quiz for each other using notes from lessons. • In addition, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/

28. Drama • Drama exam is May 10th with the examiner - mark this on your revision calendar. • Revision comprises extra rehearsals / drop ins both after school and lunchtimes and one to one support with Working Records.

29. Dance • You have been given 3 revision packs; 'Still Life', 'Swan Song' and ‘General Information'. All packs have now been completed in lessons and therefore you need to use these for revision, ready for all the timed mock papers given after Easter. • Also after Easter, the revision sessions in targeted groups will begin after school, focusing on specific key words for revision.

30. BTEC Subjects • There are no exams for BTEC subjects. However, in order to satisfactorily complete any BTEC subject you must have completed all sections/units of the course to at least a Pass level. • Some subjects (ICT, Public Services etc.) have most of their assignment work posted on the VLE. This can be accessed from any computer with Internet access. • You should check with your classroom teacher to ensure that all tasks have been completed satisfactorily. Remember, it is your responsibility to check that you have completed all the work.

31. Other Helpful Websites • Finally, here are a few more web links relevant to revision: • https://haspvle.itslearning.com/Index.aspx?MustUseSsl=true& • You will need your Login information to access the VLE • Here’s a helpful site for revision planning, tips and strategies • http://www.ehow.com/how_6110453_make-cue-cards.html