Year 11 Examination Success

Claire Lockwood – Director of English Year 11 English Language Claire Lockwood – Director of English

GCSE English Language (new from Sep 2015) Both exams are at the end of year 11 20% of the course is oracy (recorded) 10% individually researched presentation 10% interacting and responding (discussion) 80% is externally examined Unit 2 (40%) description, narration or exposition, including editing and proof-reading, and a choice of 2 writing tasks Unit 3 (40%) persuasion and argumentation and 2 pieces of writing Writing accuracy features as 50% of all writing tasks (sentence structure, punctuation, spelling and grammar)

Skills Students have been and will be regularly assessed. The language papers test a variety of reading and writing skills, and the reading section includes both continuous and non-continuous, texts, both fiction and non-fiction. Reading Skills: Deduction & retrieval Verbal reasoning Explanation Interpreting word meaning Summarising Inference Synthesis Sequencing Editing Writing skills: Proof-reading Narration: Describe an occasion when … Write an account of … Exposition: Essay Persuasion and Argumentation Letter (formal or informal) Speech Report Article Review Leaflet Guide

Outline of course Year 11 Learning & Teaching Focus Assessment Focus Autumn 1 (7 weeks) Individual presentation preparation Unit 3 preparation Individually researched presentation (10%) Unit 3 Mock exam (Oct) Autumn 2 Unit 2 preparation Unit 2 Mock exam (Dec) Spring 1 Discussion preparation Interacting and Responding (10%) Unit 3 Mock exam (w/c 13th Feb) Spring 2 (6 weeks) Unit 2 and 3 preparation Unit 2 Mock exam (w/c 3rd April) Summer 1 (5 weeks) Skills weeks where assemblies are hosted and students are retaught specific reading skills Unit 3 Mock exam (w/c 15th May) Summer 2 Walking Talking Mocks Unit 2 External Exam: Tuesday 6th June Unit 3 External Exam: Monday 12th June

Ways of supporting your child £4.95 Amazon £4.95 Amazon Apps (BBC Bitesize, Gojimo) WJEC website – educational resources Recommended revision book from WJEC Homework – parents have been contacted regarding the schedule of homework until the exams Expose them to as many different text types a possible: newspapers, magazines, blogs, documentaries, fiction texts. £7.99 Amazon £7.99 Amazon

Questions

Year 11 Science Philippa Wallington – Science Coordinator

Two Science qualifications IVQ or GCSE Both course types (IVQ and GCSE) are examined All students are currently entered for at least two GCSEs or IVQs GCSEs progress to traditional A levels IVQs progress to level 3 courses

Assessment for GCSEs and IVQs are different GCSEs are 75% examination 25% controlled assessment GCSEs are scored A* to G GCSE exams are tiered Foundation up to C; Higher A* to D HOWEVER you can get a B from foundation tier exams if your coursework is good enough with high marks on the paper. This has been a successful strategy for some who find harder questions in exams stressful. IVQs are 75% controlled assessment 25 % examination IVQs Distinction (A*/A) Merit (B) Level 2 Pass C Level 1 Pass D fail. No tiers– but we will withdraw students if they have not completed all controlled assessments

Exam Dates GCSE IVQ Biology – afternoon 16th May Chemistry – morning 18th May Physics – afternoon 24th May IVQ Applied science – afternoon 5th June Science in work – afternoon 12th June

Ways of supporting your child For recommended GCSE revision book from WJEC (additional only) WJEC website – digital resources revision guide, question bank Check planners and question your child about the work they have been producing in lessons. £7.9 Amazon £7.99 Amazon ISBN-10: 1444171623 Available from Amazon

Questions

Dan White – Director of Mathematics Year 11 Mathematics Dan White – Director of Mathematics

New Specifications (new from Sep 2015) Your son or daughter will be sitting the Mathematics-Numeracy and Mathematics GCSE examination in June 2017. The only pupils who will not be sitting those, are pupils who have had A/A* who are doing Additional Mathematics. They are the first year group to sit the new double GCSE. There are two papers for Mathematics-Numeracy and two papers for Mathematics. The first paper of each is Non-Calculator and the second is Calculator allowed. Mathematics-Numeracy focuses on the application of Mathematics with questions being put into a real life context. Very detailed worded questions. Mathematics covers a wider range of topics and is assessing pupils knowledge and understanding of Mathematical Methods.

Key Dates Mathematics-Numeracy Unit 1 Non Calculator Thursday 25th May 2017 (AM) Mathematics-Numeracy Unit 2 Calculator Thursday 8th June 2017 (AM) Mathematics Unit 1 Non Calculator Tuesday 13th June 2017 (AM) Mathematics Unit 2 Calculator Tuesday 20th June 2017 (AM) Additional Mathematics examination Thursday 22nd June 2017 (AM) All Foundation examinations are 1 hour 30 minutes and all Intermediate a and Higher Tier examinations are 1 Hour 45 Minutes.

Tiers of Entry The New GCSE have three tiers of entry - Foundation Tier Grades G to D Intermediate Tier Grades E to B Higher Tier A* to C

How to help your Son/Daughter? Useful websites available – Hegarty Maths Username: Their Name Password: They have already set up a password/if not it is their DOB Corbett Maths No login required Wjec Question Bank https://padlet.com/mrashtonmaths/NumeracyGCSEInt1 https://padlet.com/mrashtonmaths/NumeracyGCSEInt2

Things in place to support your Son/Daughter After school and lunchtime revision available for all tiers. Additional intervention lessons being run with our numeracy specialist. Revision sessions during Easter and May half term. Sunday revision sessions. Weekly past papers being set for homework and item level feedback given for completed papers.

Revision Timetable DAY TIME CLASS TEACHER ROOM Monday After School GCSE Higher Mr Crosse 18 Tuesday Lunchtime Additional Maths GCSE Mixed Mr Denison-Kurg Mrs Ferguson Mr Duly 20 14 9 Wednesday GCSE Intermediate Mr Humphreys 8 Mr White 13 Mrs Smith 17 Thursday Friday Mrs Clemas 16

Questions

Wellbeing during exam season Year 11Success Evening Mrs Davies Psychology/ Health & Social Care

Teens and stress We know that… teens are under more stress than at any other time of life because of….. Physical Emotional Social ACADEMIC changes

Big changes in year 11 More work and it’s harder! Controlled assessments ‘Proper’ exams GCSE’s! Great expectations

Are they ready? If not they (and you) may be feeling stressed….. Anxious Lack concentration Lack of confidence Poor performance in studies – you may need subject help here Just feeling it’s all too much and you can’t cope

They may have a time management problem. Lots of people use more “crisis management” than time management: This can happen if you have missed school – attendance is VERY important. Crisis vs. Time “I wish I had more time” “My mark reflected the time I spent” “I know I’ll get a bad mark” “I’ll get a good mark” “I don’t want to see my grade” “I can hardly wait to see my mark!” “Everyone will do better than I will” “I feel good about myself and my work”

A possible solution! Work out how much time you have for studying Organise to avoid stress (list some things on your mind) What is urgent? Any controlled assessments What is important? Summer exams What can be put off? Playing games. What is unimportant? (can be ignored) TV you can watch again all summer holidays!

It’s all in the planning! Fail to prepare – prepare to fail! The REAL exams are not far away!!!! So start planning for them too. FACT – from today…. 8 school weeks to Easter Holidays (2 weeks off) 4 weeks to GCSE’s after Easter

Where to start? Reflect on your mock exam results January report January Parents Evening! Work out where you need to improve and ACT on it ASAP– ask for help, revision guides, past paper practise, time management, planning etc Start a slow and steady revision schedule – help available in school.

Any Questions?