COPING WITH GCSE EXAMS

WHERE ARE (WERE) WE?? Friday 5 th February Tuesday 17th May (French) to Friday 24th June (Physics)

PAYBACK!!! Most of you will complete your exams by WEDNESDAY 15 TH JUNE PARTY TIME!!!!

What are the Big Questions for Now? Do you have a copy of your Exam Timetable? (On School Website – Curriculum – Exam Dates 2015/16) Are your Subject Folders / Notes organised? Are you missing important notes? Are you aware of Syllabus Content / Key Topics?

AVIODANCE TACTICS!!! DO NOT SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON A SUBJECT THAT YOU ARE GOOD AT AND REALLY ENJOY TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHERS!!!! DO NOT SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON A SUBJECT THAT YOU ARE GOOD AT AND REALLY ENJOY TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHERS!!!! FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY PREFER TO SPEND TWO HOURS ON ART RATHER THAN MATHS!!! FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY PREFER TO SPEND TWO HOURS ON ART RATHER THAN MATHS!!!

DO NOT GIVE UP ON ANY SUBJECT! “I only need Maths and English” “I only need Maths and English” “I’m so far behind in Science, I’ll write it off” “I’m so far behind in Science, I’ll write it off” “I can’t do Geography….I regret taking it” “I can’t do Geography….I regret taking it”

REVISION TECHNIQUES One of he most effective methods is condensing your work into: Flash cards / Bullet points Flash cards / Bullet points Mind Maps / Spider grams Mind Maps / Spider grams Visual cues Visual cues

COPING WITH EXAMS STAY POSITIVE! STAY POSITIVE! Be wary of NEGATIVE INFLUENCES!! Be wary of NEGATIVE INFLUENCES!!

COPING WITH EXAMS BE SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER!

COPING WITH EXAMS FINAL PREPARATIONS Do not overdo your revision – “cramming”!! Use some of the time to refresh your memory on a few of the difficult or essential points Remove distractions – phones!!

‘WORK AROUND THE EXAM TIMETABLE’ 17 th May – FRENCH (Units 1 & 2) BIOLOGY (Modules B1, B2 & B3) 18 th May – RE (Spec A: Unit 3 – Roman Catholicism 1) 19 th May – CHEMISTRY – (Modules C1, C2 & C3)

‘WORK AROUND EXAM TIMETABLE’ WHAT OTHER EXAMS ARE THERE BEFORE HALF-TERM?? SPANISH (Units 1 & 2) SPANISH (Units 1 & 2) PORTUGUESE (Reading) PORTUGUESE (Reading) PE (Unit 1 – Theory of PE) PE (Unit 1 – Theory of PE) ENGLISH LITERATURE – P1 (Novel & Play) ENGLISH LITERATURE – P1 (Novel & Play) DRAMA (Unit 1) DRAMA (Unit 1) FOOD TECHNOLOGY (Unit 1) FOOD TECHNOLOGY (Unit 1)

WHAT OTHER EXAMS ARE THERE BEFORE HALF-TERM?? GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY BUSINESS STUDIES (Unit 1) BUSINESS STUDIES (Unit 1) PORTUGUESE (Listening) PORTUGUESE (Listening) PHYSICS– (Modules P1, P2 & P3) PHYSICS– (Modules P1, P2 & P3) MATHS (P1 F & P3 H) MATHS (P1 F & P3 H) LATIN LATIN ENGLISH LITERATURE – P2 ENGLISH LITERATURE – P2 (Unseen texts & Poetry – Sec C Anthology)

BE CLEAR ABOUT THE FORMAT, TIMINGS & CONTENT OF EACH PAPER ENGLISH LITERATURE PAPER 1 1 HOUR & 45 MINUTES SECTION A: DRAMA: AN INSPECTOR CALLS – 1 question from 2 options – (30 MARKS) SECTION A: PROSE: OF MICE & MEN / TKAM 1 question from 2 options – (30 MARKS)

COPING WITH EXAMS THERE IS A LOT TO BE GAINED BY MAKING A POSITIVE START

COPING WITH EXAMS HOWEVER…… DO NOT GET TOO DOWN ABOUT SETBACKS DO NOT GET TOO DOWN ABOUT SETBACKS MOVE ON TO THE NEXT EXAM AND STAY POSITIVE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT EXAM AND STAY POSITIVE

COPING WITH EXAMS GET PLENTY OF REST – SLEEP WELL BEFORE EACH EXAM GET PLENTY OF REST – SLEEP WELL BEFORE EACH EXAM (YOUR PHONES WILL PUT YOU INTO OVERLOAD LATE AT NIGHT!) EAT WELL - A GOOD BREAKFAST IS ESSENTIAL EAT WELL - A GOOD BREAKFAST IS ESSENTIAL ARRIVE IN GOOD TIME (AM & PM) ARRIVE IN GOOD TIME (AM & PM)

IN THE EXAM HALL AVOID DISTRACTIONS – GET INTO YOUR OWN ZONE!!

IN THE EXAM HALL READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY BIOLOGY Plants respond to different environmental factors. Describe how different environmental factors affect: the direction of growth of roots the direction of growth of roots the direction of growth of shoots. the direction of growth of shoots. In your answer you should refer to the role of plant hormones. Do not refer to the artificial use of plant hormones by gardeners or scientists.

MANAGE YOUR TIME CAREFULLY

KEEP YOUR MOMENTUM SOME OF THE LATER EXAMS 16 th June – RESISTANT MATERIALS (Unit 1) 22 nd June – CHEMISTRY (Module C7) 24 th June – PHYSICS (Module P7)

AN INCREDIBLE FEELING!