GCSE Support and Guidance Revision and Examinations Carres

GCSE Support and Guidance: Revision and Examinations Carre’s Grammar School

THE CURRENT SITUATION • GCSEs are imminent – 14 May 2012 • Much of this will re-affirm what you already know. • We are all in this together! Carre’s Grammar School

General Advice: • Communicate - “How can I support you best with revision? ”. • Balance between work and social life and stick to the agreement. • Reward structure to motivate. • Clear boundaries. • Falling behind – try to flexible. • Communicate the importance of revision to the family. • Facebook and XBOX • Go Off Line Carre’s Grammar School

Supporting your son in setting themselves up for revision • Talk to your child – What would they find helpful? • The simplest things often get in the way of starting revision – a revision pack. • Revision guides for each subject. • Help your child to plan their revision timetable. • Nominate a quiet place for revision. • Music without words. • Provide an area where work and revision notes can be kept safely. • Enable the provision of relaxation time • Plenty of rest. Carre’s Grammar School

Support when doing the revision • Sticking to the revision plan. • Provide favourite snacks and water for revision periods. • Be flexible. • Be sensitive to the pressure your son will be feeling. • Keep up with regular ‘check-ins’ and don’t ‘nag’ in between times. • Pre-agreed rewards for reaching a goal/ target. • Keep things in perspective – there a range of strategies and techniques! Carre’s Grammar School

Health Tips • Exams and revision are hard work. • The right fuel e. g. fresh fruit and vegetables. • Caffeine vs Water. • Regular exercise. • A good nights sleep. Carre’s Grammar School

The Infamous Revision Timetable Carre’s Grammar School

Carre’s Grammar School

Revision Checklist. Subject: Maths Sheet Number: Topic 1 Notes . 1 2 3 Percentages Pythagoras Nets Trigonometry Carre’s Grammar School

Revision Timetable 11. 00 – 12. 45 11. 45 1. 00 – 1. 45 – 3. 00 – 3. 45 4. 00 – 4. 45 – 6. 00 Monday Lunch Evening Meal Tuesday Lunch Evening Meal Weds. Lunch Evening Meal Thursday Lunch Evening Meal Friday Lunch Evening Meal Saturday Sunday Day Off Lunch Day Off 6. 00 – 6. 45 Day Off Lunch Carre’s Grammar School

Revision Timetable 11. 00 – 12. 45 11. 45 1. 00 – 1. 45 – 3. 00 – 3. 45 4. 00 – 4. 45 – 6. 00 – 6. 45 Physics English Lit. Evening Meal French Monday English Lang. Maths RE Lunch Tuesday Biology History Graphic Prods Lunch Evening Meal Weds. Lunch Evening Meal Thursda y Lunch Evening Meal Friday Lunch Evening Meal Saturday Sunday Day Off Day Off Lunch Carre’s Grammar School

Revision Timetable 11. 00 – 12. 45 11. 45 1. 00 – 1. 45 – 3. 00 – 3. 45 4. 00 – 4. 45 – 6. 00 – 6. 45 Monday English Lang. Maths RE Lunch Physics English Lit. Evening Meal French Tuesday Biology History Graphic Prods Lunch English Lang. Maths Evening Meal RE Weds. Physics English Lit. French Lunch Biology History Evening Meal Graphic Prods Thursda y Lunch Evening Meal Friday Lunch Evening Meal Saturday Sunday Day Off Day Off Lunch Carre’s Grammar School

Revision Timetable 11. 00 – 12. 45 11. 45 1. 00 – 1. 45 – 3. 00 – 3. 45 4. 00 – 4. 45 – 6. 00 – 6. 45 Monday English Lang. Maths RE Lunch Physics English Lit. Evening Meal French Tuesday Biology History Graphic Prods Lunch English Lang. Maths Evening Meal RE Weds. Physics English Lit. French Lunch Biology History Evening Meal Graphic Prods Thursda y English Lang. Maths RE Lunch Physics English Lit. Evening Meal French Friday Biology History Graphic Prods Lunch RE French Evening Meal English Lang. Saturday Day Off Lunch Day Off Sunday Maths RE Physics Lunch English Lit. French Biology History Carre’s Grammar School

Effective use of time Carre’s Grammar School

Carre’s Grammar School

Guidance on Effective Revision Strategies • Presenting the information in a different way. • It’s all about active learning. Carre’s Grammar School

Remembering Information • • 10% - If read 20% - If heard 30% - If seen 50% - If heard and seen 70% - If discussed 80% - If experienced 90% - If taught to someone else Carre’s Grammar School

For example, turn… • • • Linear notes into mind maps Mind maps into linear notes Diagrams into words Words into diagrams Notes into a spoken explanation 2 pages of notes into 1 page into a postcard Poster and Post-it Power Topics into Power. Point presentations Record notes to create a Podcast Revision groups (and parents!) Email tests and answers through to a revision group • Past papers and mark schemes Carre’s Grammar School

• Each time a topic is returned to, condense it into half the space used before, by choosing key words and ideas. Carre’s Grammar School

Mind mapping… Carre’s Grammar School

Mind mapping as a study skill • To understand & remember key issues and ideas. • Follow 5 steps: • Skim • Read • Mind map • Study • Personalise Carre’s Grammar School

Skim read • The abstract, topic sentences, introduction, conclusion, key headings or chapter headings. • Observe any diagrams, pictures or graphs. Carre’s Grammar School

Read the article in one sitting (Chunk it into sections/chapters if it is a whole book). Go over (read again) any parts you are not quite sure of. Look up the words you do not understand. Carre’s Grammar School

Mind Map Do it from memory at this stage! Carre’s Grammar School

Study • First version: – showing areas that have been understood – showing areas where there is less confidence • Study the first version: – discover the gaps in knowledge – refer back to the source material – fill in any of these gaps Carre’s Grammar School

Personalise • Use colours & symbols • Make links and connections between different ideas. Carre’s Grammar School

Carre’s Grammar School

Regular Reviews of the Information • SHORT-TERM MEMORY - holds up to seven ideas at once • WORKING MEMORY - repeats and embeds ideas or information • LONG-TERM MEMORY - your mental ‘filing cabinet’ - keep reviewing so it sticks… Review after…. . - 24 hours A week A month Just before your exam. Carre’s Grammar School

“He who learns quickly also forgets quickly. " Hermann Ebbinghaus (1885) Carre’s Grammar School

The ‘Exam Game’ • Understand what the examiners are looking for. • Learn how to give the examiners what they are looking for. • To do this it is necessary to…. Carre’s Grammar School

Exam Skills • Understand how the exam papers are structured: a) How long is the exam? b) How many questions do you have to answer? c) What format are the exam questions? d) How are the marks divided? e) How are the exams marked? • It is also necessary to…… Carre’s Grammar School

Exam Skills Practice in conditions as near to the real event as possible. • a) b) • • Practice old exam questions. Command words. Trigger words. Work under time pressure. Check answers afterwards (mark schemes) Learn to work quickly in planning, writing and checking answers. Set up mock exam conditions. Carre’s Grammar School

Common irritations for examiners • Answers wrongly numbered • Unclear which question student is answering • Difficult handwriting • ‘Waffle’ Carre’s Grammar School

Remember…. . Carre’s Grammar School

This will soon be over! Carre’s Grammar School

Exam results released on Thursday 23 August 2012 Carre’s Grammar School

• If it is not possible for your son to collect the results: a) A named and SAE brought into school. b) A signed letter from your son giving permission for a named person to collect his results. Carre’s Grammar School

• http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=j 5 mqb. K s 1 Po. I • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=x. DU 3 kk D 6 VUQ&feature=related Carre’s Grammar School