GCSE Focus- Reaching Potential

Aims for Parents/ Guardians How to support your child during the GCSE Examination Season How to help your child with Maths, Science and English Revision Strategies Examination Preparation Opportunity to discuss any issues with a member of staff

GCSE Examinations Students will have an examination timetable Ensure that they know which examination that they have on each day. Is it in the morning or the afternoon? Check that they know what equipment they should have for each examination

Any issues during the Exams Illness – Contact the School and get appointment at the GP Pastoral Issues – Contact Mrs Young for support Subject Concerns – Speak to Mrs Moore

English Language English Literature Examination Dates 2018: 09:00 Tuesday 22nd May Literature Paper 1 1 hour 45 mins 64 marks 09:00 Friday 25th May Literature Paper 2 2 hours 15 mins 96 marks 09:00 Tuesday 5th June Language Paper 1 1 hour 45 mins 80 marks 09:00 Friday 8th June Language Paper 2 1 hour 45 mins 80 marks Mr P Bayley CTL for English

The Papers: English Language 4 questions based on an unseen 20th or 21st century fiction text (40 marks) 1 question from a choice of 2 on descriptive or narrative writing (40 marks) Paper 2: 4 questions based on two unseen non-fiction texts, one from the 19th century and one from either the 20th or 21st century (40 marks) 1 question on a transactional, non-fiction piece of writing (40 marks) Key information 4 marks = 5 minutes (this gives enough time to read the extracts and write the response) – BE STRICT Section B – accuracy in your writing is worth 16 marks, content is worth 24

English Literature Paper 1: 1 question on Macbeth, with an extract (34 marks) 1 question on Jekyll and Hyde, with an extract (30 marks) Paper 2: Choice of 2 questions on An Inspector Calls (34 marks) 1 question on the poetry anthology, comparing 2 poems, one of which is printed for you (30 marks) 2 questions on unseen poetry (24 marks and 8 marks) Key Information Section A & B – Approximately 50 minutes on each Section C – Approximately 30 minutes Unseen Poetry – Approximately half on the printed poem, half on your chosen 2nd poem

How to Revise English DO NOT HAVE ANY DISTRACTIONS IN THE ROOM – These break your focus JUST READ FROM A REVISION GUIDE, THE TEXTS OR THE INTERNET – You need to engage with the material DO CREATE YOUR OWN REVISION MATERIALS – These could be mind-maps, tables or flash-cards ENSURE YOU ADDRESS YOUR WEAKNESSES WITH THE TEXTS– establish whether you need more quotations for Macbeth, more contextual information for Jekyll and Hyde or more ideas for comparisons between poems and work to address these issues VISIT THE SCHOOL WEBSITE – Tasks are being added to address your specific weaknesses on a weekly basis

Mathematics 2018 Examination Dates 2018: 09:00 Thursday 24th May (Non-calculator) 1 hour 30 mins 80 marks 09:00 Thursday 7th June (Calculator) 1 hour 30 mins 80 marks 09:00 Tuesday 12th June (Calculator) 1 hour 30 mins 80 marks Any topic can be part of any paper Mr M Higgins Trust Director of Mathematics

How to Revise Maths DO NOT JUST COMPLETE PAST PAPERS – DO USE MATHSWATCH (online) – all pupils have a username and password USE THE GCSE REVISION WORKBOOK – these are for sale through the school USE AT LEAST ONE PAST PAPER PER WEEK IN ADDITION TO YOUR REVISION – these are all on Google Classroom, so are mark schemes and example solutions

Revising Maths: A Revision Cycle ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ Find the section with the correct target grade Red/Amber/Green flag the topics Search for the relevant MathsWatch video MAKE NOTES AS IT PLAYS When MathsWatch shows a question PAUSE – ATTEMPT – PLAY - CORRECT Now use the Revision Workbook Once you have completed at least four topics attempt a past paper Compare your paper to the example answers

By Mr N Ali Trust Director of Science How to help support your child in preparation for the upcoming Science exams… By Mr N Ali Trust Director of Science

Science Exam Key Dates Tues 15th May 2018; Start 13.30PM Biology Triple Paper 1: Duration 1 hour 45 mins Combined Science Biology (Trilogy) Paper 1: Duration 1 hour 15mins Thurs 17th May 2018; Start 9.00AM Chemistry Triple Paper 1: Duration 1 hour 45 mins Combined Science Chemistry (Trilogy) Paper 1: Duration 1 hour 15mins Weds 23rd May 2018; Start 13.30PM Physics Triple Paper 1: Duration 1 hour 45 mins) Combined Science Physics (Trilogy) Paper 1: Duration 1 hour 15mins Mon 11th June 2018; Start 9.00AM Biology Triple Paper 2: Duration 1 hour 45 mins Combined Science Biology (Trilogy) Paper 2: Duration 1 hour 15mins Weds 13th June 2018; Start 9.00AM Chemistry Triple Paper 2: Duration 1 hour 45 mins Combined Science Chemistry (Trilogy) Paper 2: Duration 1 hour 15mins Friday 15th June 2018; Start 9.00AM Physics Triple Paper 2: Duration 1 hour 45 mins) Combined Science Physics (Trilogy) Paper 2: Duration 1 hour 15mins

Revision Tips Break up the Science revision into different areas by using the exams timetable…(Biology, Chemistry and Physics) Focus on the content of each of the papers and the topics that will turn up on the paper Use resources on Google classrooms to complete question packs and revision resources Vary the revision so that students are doing different types of activities…(drawing diagrams, learning formulae, mind-maps, summary sheets, loop games and flash cards) Use the mock papers to identify areas of weakness and tackle these areas first Become a revision buddy for your son / daughter

KEY TOPICS in Triple Science Biology 1 Cell biology 2 Organisation 3 Infection and response 4 Bioenergetics 5 Homeostasis and response 6 Inheritance, variation and evolution 7 Ecology Chemistry 8 Atomic structure and the periodic table 9 Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter 10 Quantitative chemistry 11 Chemical changes 12 Energy changes 13 The rate and extent of chemical change 14 Organic chemistry 15 Chemical analysis 16 Chemistry of the atmosphere 17 Using Resources Physics 18 Energy 19 Electricity 20 Particle model of matter 21 Atomic structure 22 Forces 23 Waves 24 Magnetism and electromagnetism 25 Space KEY TOPICS in Triple Science

KEY TOPICS in Science Combined Biology 1 Cell biology 2 Organisation 3 Infection and response 4 Bioenergetics 5 Homeostasis and response 6 Inheritance, variation and evolution 7 Ecology Chemistry 9 Atomic structure and the periodic table 10 Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter 11 Quantitative chemistry 12 Chemical changes 13 Energy changes 14 The rate and extent of chemical change 15 Organic chemistry 16 Chemical analysis 17 Chemistry of the atmosphere Physics 20 Energy 21 Electricity 22 Particle model of matter 23 Atomic structure 24 Forces 25 Waves 26 Magnetism and electromagnetism KEY TOPICS in Science Combined

How can I help my child? Ask if they need help on regular occasions. Gentle reminders work best! Stay calm. Teenagers taking exams can get tunnel vision, so rows can be common place at the stressful time. Anger can be a cover for fear You can’t make them study, but you can emphasise why they need to study Try to diffuse negative thoughts. Try to be realistic. Ensure you child is eating regular meals and eating food that will help them

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “ There is so much to learn” Have a revision calendar Write on the Exams and key dates Divide the day into three sessions (morning, afternoon and evening) Focus on subject topics Have variety in subjects and activities

How to help you child deal with common exam issues 40 minutes revising 10 minutes testing 10 minutes resting

Spend time making a thorough revision timetable and STICK TO IT How to Revise… MON TUES WEDS THURS FRI SAT SUN Morning SCHOOL HIST - WW2 FRENCH - writing Afternoon RELAX RECAP Evening MATHS - algebra ENG – poems BIOL - nerves – algebra - poems CHEM – salt - salt Spend time making a thorough revision timetable and STICK TO IT

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “ I can’t concentrate!” Concentration levels do vary for each individual Begin working for short periods Introduce the ideas of rewards and goals

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “ This is so boring…..” Revision is not fun! Get actively involved with the materials Use a range of techniques Have variety and goals

Ways to revise… Games and quizzes Websites Group revision Video/audio Become a teacher Just a minute Mindmaps Index/flash cards Past papers Memory skills Look/cover/write/ Check Posters Topic ranking

Write the key term or concept on one side of the flash card Write short, concise notes on the other side of the flash card Make sure your writing is large, clear, and well-spaced Write in bright colours Use shorthand to save space

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “I like studying in bed” Have a quiet place without distractions Insist on no TV, no computer games and no phone calls when revising Ensure a place at a table or desk Quiet music in the background

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “I can’t remember anything” This is a panic cry Try to recall information after a revision session Use strategies such as charts to jog memories, post-it notes of key terms

Create a Central Idea. The central idea is the starting point of your Mind Map and represents the topic you are going to explore Add branches to your map. The next step to get your creative juices flowing is to add branches Add keywords Colour code your branches Include images

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “I don’t understand” Contact Mrs Moore Use a range of resources including textbooks, revision guides and notes Examination Boards have guidance

Tips from Parents “As a parent it is never good to get caught up in arguing about revision, however frustrated you may get. Try to remain calm and be open to negotiation when it comes to free time/rewards” “Don’t try to make your child sit at a table for hours revising. It doesn’t work. Encourage short timed sessions of revision”

Tips from Parents “Encourage them to talk to you about what they have been doing. It’s good for them to know that you are interested!” “Help them to stay calm. It’s always about trying to do their best and come away knowing that they have tried their hardest!”

“Organisation! Organisation! Organisation!” Tips from Parents “If you find yourself getting stressed out, step back. Ask for support from a family member. Share the worry!” “Plan in ‘guilt- free’ me time. This will reward revision. Let them enjoy playing on the computer game, watching TV etc” “Organisation! Organisation! Organisation!”

Tips from Parents “Make sure they have a dedicated study area. Try to organise work by subjects. Stick the revision timetable up somewhere” “Keep in touch with them. Encourage them every day…..don’t nag!”

Tips from Parents “I leave for work at 7.30am and my child is still in bed. I don’t think they will revise if I’m not there”. “Wake them up before you go. Keep in touch with them. Link to a reward system (as long as you see evidence!) Test them when you get back on all they have revised that day while you are at work! Ask relatives to check in with your child on a regular basis”.

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