YEAR 11 ACHIEVING SUCCESS AT GCSE EVENING Tuesday 31 October 2017

WELCOME

Year 11 Dates Monday 4 December – Friday 15 December 2017 Mock Exams/Study Leave Monday 18 December Intervention Friday 12 January 2018 Year 11 Mock Assembly Tuesday 16 January Year 11 Parents Evening Monday 26 February – Friday 2 March Year 11 Spring Mocks Friday 16 March Year 11 Photographs Tuesday 3 April – Thursday 5 April Easter Revision Wednesday 25 April – Friday 27 April GCSE Art Exam Monday 14 May Year 11 Study Leave Commences

STUDY SKILLS Homework and revision is a high priority Organise revision and get into a consistent routine Create an area of study Test yourself and teach someone Important to eat breakfast Avoid distraction by putting phone away and not listening to music Build in time for fresh air and exercise Get a good night’s sleep

ENGLISH

Mock Exam – English Language Two Exams Practise responding to unseen fiction (Paper 1) and non-fiction (Paper 2) texts Use the formulas they have been given by their teacher to structure their responses Complete practice papers Go back through Year 10 mock and act on targets set Practise planning, structuring and writing the imaginative (Paper 1) and persuasive (Paper 2) questions in timed conditions (45 minutes) Spend time making SPG corrections identified by teacher and improving marked work Use the revision websites to improve literacy for SPG marks in exam READING QUESTION WRITING QUESTION

Mock Exam – English Literature Two Exams Reread Frankenstein, Macbeth, An Inspector Calls and the Poetry Anthology (Conflict Section) Some students have bought their own copies of the texts from Student Reception so they can annotate them in detail Memorise key quotes for characters and themes and make revision cards. It is a closed book exam A revision guide (CGP or York Notes)or using online revision guides Revise all notes from English folder and book, including key quotes Use Year 10 mock and classroom assessments to identify where need to improve Improve work using exemplars from teacher Plan and practise doing practice papers in timed conditions (45 minutes per essay)

MATHEMATICS

Aims of GCSE Course Develop fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts Acquire, select and apply mathematical techniques to solve problems Reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences and draw conclusions Comprehend, interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms appropriate to the information and context

What Maths do Students Need to Know? There are six areas of mathematics students need to be familiar with 1. Number 2. Algebra 3. Ratio, proportion and rates of change 4. Geometry and measures 5. Probability 6. Statistics All of this will be following on from the work students have done in Years 7, 8 and 9

Examinations Breakdown Paper 1: Non-calculator 1 hour 30 minutes written exam 33 ⅓ % of mathematics assessment Paper 2: Calculator 1 hour 30 minutes written exam 33 ⅓ % of mathematics assessment Paper 3: Calculator 1 hour 30 minutes written exam 33 ⅓ % of mathematics assessment All exams will consist of a mix of question styles, from short, single mark questions to multi-step problems . The mathematical demand will increase through the paper.

Foundation or Higher? There are two tiers at GCSE mathematics Higher tier will assess grades 4-9 Foundation tier will assess grades 1-5 With the nature of the more difficult course, more students will now be taking the foundation tier paper Not all students will currently know what tier they are sitting A definitive decision on which tier students will be taking will not be made until some point during Year 11

How to Revise Maths The best way to revise maths is by practising Do small amounts often – start revising now! Use mymaths.co.uk to further practice with online lessons Go through past paper questions Use their target sheets to complete work on Mathswatch.

Questions to Ask Your Child Have you got your online username and passwords? Have you got your calculator? What tier are you sitting? Are you using Mathswatch to address your targets? Do you know what formulae will and will not be given to you in your exam?

SCIENCE

GCSE Combined Science In Year 10 students will have completed the topics covered in their first 3 examinations In Year 11 students will have covered some of the topics for the second set of examination papers Mock exams will be developed from past and specimen papers that will cover these modules: Paper 1 - Biology topics 1 – 4 Paper 2 - Chemistry topics 8 – 12 Paper 3 - Physics topics 18 – 21 Paper 4 - combination of topics from year 11 work Each paper includes extended written responses, numerical calculations and questions on practical skills

Separate Sciences Biology Chemistry Physics Completed topics for first exam in Year 10 Mock exams will be developed from past and specimen papers that will cover these modules: Paper 1 - B1 to B9 Paper 2- B10 to B18 Each paper includes extended written responses, numerical calculations and questions on practical skills Chemistry Completed topics for first exam in Year 10 Mock exams will be developed from past and specimen papers that will cover these modules: Paper 1 - C1 to C7 Paper 2 - C8 to C16 Each paper includes extended written responses, numerical calculations and questions on practical skills Physics Completed topics for first exam in Year 10 Mock exams will be developed from past and specimen papers that will cover these modules: Paper 1 - P1 to P8 Paper 2 - P9 to P16 Each paper includes extended written responses, numerical calculations and questions on practical skills

Foundation or Higher? There are two tiers at GCSE Science Higher tier will assess grades 4-9 Foundation tier will assess grades 1-5 As the GCSE is a new more challenging course, more students will now be taking the foundation tier paper and not all students will currently know which tier they are completing A definitive decision on which tier students will be taking will not be made until some point during Year 11

What can You do to Help? Check your child’s diary to ensure they are recording homework Have all the correct equipment for the examinations (including a ruler and a calculator) Communicate with the subject teacher if there are queries Help your child to plan and commit to a revision timetable for the Autumn term to prepare for the mock exams Practising for the questions by discussing topics at home – which will help with the extended written questions that are often based on contemporary topics Learn the meaning command words (discuss, explain, describe, evaluate, compare, suggest) Reassure them that as long as they do their best, whatever they achieve will represent success

How to Revise – Exam Tips Use the revision guides provided by the school One for Combined Science students Three for the separate science students Online resources Log onto SAM Learning BBC Bitesize AQA exam board website – access past papers Write revision cards Display key facts/diagrams on the walls Make revision notes and test yourself

HUMANITIES History

What is the Mock Exam Format? What Topics Need to be Covered? History – two examinations in the December mocks PAPER 1: Crime and Punishment c1000-present day PAPER 3: Weimar and Nazi Germany 1919-1939 (Paper 2: Elizabethan England and Cold War will be examined in the Spring mocks)

PAPER 1: Crime and Punishment c1000 to present day. 7 December 2017 Written examination: 1 hour and 15 minutes 52 marks Historic environment - Policing in Whitechapel c1870-1900 (16 marks) Thematic study – Crime and Punishment c1000-present day (36 marks)

PAPER 3: Weimar and Nazi Germany Written examination: 1 hour and 20 minutes 30% of the qualification 52 marks

History Key Advice Essential to use the course booklets. The updated versions were given to students just before half term. Parents have been emailed copies recently as well Practise past questions and know how your answers are awarded marks Chronological understanding is really important. Test yourself Always feel confident to ask your teacher for help and advice Use key terminology throughout

HUMANITIES Geography

What is the Mock Exam Format? What Topics Need to be Covered? Geography (AQA - 2016 Specification) Two examinations Complete Paper 1 Living with the Physical Environment; the Challenges of Natural Hazards, Physical landscapes in the UK Adapted Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment; Urban Issues and Challenges, the Changing Economic World

Geography Learn an appropriate case study for each topic on the exam Become familiar with the expectations for 3, 6 and 9 mark questions Build up your knowledge over time, don’t cram at the end Use flashcards to revise key terms/vocabulary – you must use these to get better than a 4 Focus on what the question asks after reading it carefully- underline the key words and the command words in the question to help you

How Parents can Support Students Encourage home learning as a routine, small chunks, and in a suitable learning environment Try to be involved. Test them – the revision guide is excellent for this Reassure them that as long as they do their best, whatever they achieve will represent success Check they have the correct revision materials and they are being used regularly

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Key Changes To New Exams All 4 units (listening, reading, speaking & writing) are worth 25% each (different to previous specification) Students must be entered either for Foundation or Higher tier, mix and match is not permitted) Key focus on accuracy of grammar, especially correct use of verbs Foundation Tier grade now 6 (approx. B equivalent) compared to old Foundation Tier (C grade) A new skill of translation (English to French and French to English) introduced for assessment The inclusion of literary texts in the reading paper

Exam Structure Details contained in accompanying booklet Separate papers for: Listening, Reading, Writing Speaking exam conducted earlier – from April in any given exam year Points awarded for each paper accumulate to calculate the final grade

Exam Timings Listening exam – Foundation 35 minutes, Higher 45 minutes (includes 5 minutes’ reading time) Reading exam – Foundation 45 minutes, Higher 1 hour Writing exam – Foundation 1 hour, Higher 1 hour 15 minutes Speaking exam of 3 sections – Foundation 7-9 minutes, Higher 10-12 minutes. Both also have 12 minutes of supervised preparation time.

Topics for Revision for the December Mocks For themes to revise, please see the revision guide. For vocabulary lists, students may use Their vocabulary booklets The online version of the text book French (page 10- onwards) http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/French-8658 German (page 10 onwards) http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/german-8668 Spanish (page 10 onwards) http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698

“Do I know my vocabulary?” All students have been in the routine of revising key vocabulary and have been tested at the beginning of each lesson this term Listening and reading are two very important skills which require the students to have read their vocabulary lists and checked the grammar You will also be able to check whether your son/daughter is completing this work by testing them regularly using the AQA Vocabulary booklet

Useful Websites and Links Moodle on the School Website www.atantot.com www.linguascope.com www.yahoo.fr www.yahoo.de www.yahoo.es www.bfmtv.fr www.presseocean.fr

FACULTY SESSIONS VISIT SUBJECT AREAS Each subject will be offering a revision presentation session at the following times   5.35pm - 5.50 pm 5.55pm - 6.10pm 6.15pm End DEPARTMENT ROOM STAFF Art A212 Mr Warren Business Studies A232 Mr Gill Child Development A135 Ms Ozen Computer Science A231 Ms Sheikh Drama A213 Ms Norman Economics A230 Ms Bartholomew Food Technology A220 Ms Makepeace Health & Social Care A146 Ms Bell ICT A233 Ms Bashir-Ali Media A110 Ms Smith Allen Music A131 Ms Mirsky PE A107 Ms Paine Philosophy and Ethics A108 Mr Walcott Product Design A222 Mr Devine Sociology A109 Ms Merrigan