160 likes | 279 Views
Standard Grades. National Qualifications. 2010-2011. 2011-2012. How are NQs different?. Units Final Exam MUCH harder MUCH more expected of you 1 year course instead of 2 year course In reality … 30 weeks in school – So if you miss June you miss more than 10% of the course!
E N D
Standard Grades National Qualifications 2010-2011 2011-2012
How are NQs different? • Units • Final Exam • MUCH harder • MUCH more expected of you • 1 year course instead of 2 year course • In reality … 30 weeks in school – • So if you miss June you miss more than 10% of the course! • NQs are grown-up qualifications for grown-ups!
Pathways • Credit • General • Foundation HIGHER INTERMEDIATE 2 INTERMEDIATE 1 … but there are sometimes exceptions because NQ courses are VERY different from Standard Grades
Units and the external exam • Most subjects have three or four units • Each unit has one, two or more “unit assessments” which you MUST pass to get through the course • The final exam tests the whole course • To get an award you have to • Pass all the units • Pass the final exam
An example - Geography • Unit 1 – Environmental Interactions • Unit 2 – Human Environments • Unit 3 – Physical Environments • Prelims • Final Exam
The final exam 70% = A 60% = B 50% = C 45% = D <45% = No Award Incomplete
Taking responsibility • As you get older you need to take more responsibility for your work. • Education is not about just receiving information and explanations. • You must be actively involved in your own learning!
Coping with the demands … some factors to consider … • How much work are you prepared to do per subject? • SQA recommendation is 3 hours per subject per week! • What might get in the way of that? Hobbies? Work? Social Life? • Decisions need to be made! • More about this during the Induction days
S5 How much do you need to change? STAFF SURVEY A – The year group are ready to take on the challenges of S5 B – The year group will need to make some minor improvements in their study habits to meet the challenge of S5 C – The year group will need to make major improvements in their study habits to meet the challenge of S5 3.7% 29.6% 66.7%
What will help you to succeed? • Target setting (and the steps along the way) • Class teaching • Feedback • Peer and self assessment • Private Study periods • Additional classes • Parents evenings • Personal support • In school • At home
Tracking • Target agreed with teacher – a grade (A, B or C) based on previous attainment • Progress against target checked through the year • Advice about getting back on track or moving ahead of target • Involvement of parents/carers • Emphasis is on YOU keeping on track! • But the key point is how you plan the journey from where you are now to the point where you reach your target grade.
Tracking • November – check how you are getting on as you work towards your target. Parents informed. • January/February – prelims. Report card issued to parents. • March – a final check on how you are getting on as you work towards your target. Parents informed.
The Pupil Experience • What is it actually like to move from S4 into S5? • Cameron and Ruth
Conclusion • You have a busy year ahead. That is your challenge. • The key person in terms of your success is YOU but you are in partnership with the school and your family. • You need to be • Organised • Clear about how to progress • Hard-working • Responsible • Committed to improvement • Resilient
How Will You Cope? • The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work. ~ Harry Golden (an American writer) • If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down.~ Mary Pickford ( a Canadian actress)