Year 11 Information Evening November 2017

Welcome and Introductions Significant changes to Key Stage 4, tougher exams, less coursework, exams at the end of the two year course, new grading system. Gap between Boys and Girls is widening, probably around 10% Boys in single sex schools perform better than boys in mixed schools Why the gap?

SFX response Extra time in Maths, English & RE New Science Curriculum model Smaller groups in Maths, English and Science New “Attitude to Learning” policy Higher expectations – attendance, equipment, behaviour, presentation, homework etc. Progress measures have already risen significantly :in line with national for boys :expected to rise further

Mock exams and conduct during examinations Week beginning 4th December Sat in the hall Routines as in the real exam

AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE COURSE 2016-2018

AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Paper 1: What’s assessed? Section A: Reading one literature fiction text Section B: Writing a descriptive or narrative piece Questions Reading (40 marks) (25%) – one single text 1 short form question ( 1 x 4 marks) 2 longer form questions ( 2 x 8 marks) 1 extended question (1 x 20 marks) Writing (40 marks) (25%) – one extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for accuracy) Paper 1: How it is assessed Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 80 marks 50% of GCSE

AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Questions Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts 1 short form question ( 1 x 4 marks) 2 longer form questions ( 1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks) 1 extended question (1 x 16 marks) Writing (40 marks) (25%) – one extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for accuracy) Paper 2: What’s assessed? Section A: Reading one non fiction text and one literary non-fiction text Section B: Writing to present a viewpoint Paper 2: How it is assessed Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 80 marks 50% of GCSE

AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE Paper 1: Shakespeare & C19th Novel What’s assessed? ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens Questions Section A: Macbeth – one question. Pupils write in detail about an extract as well as about the play as a whole. Section B: A Christmas Carol – one question. Pupils write in detail about an extract as well as about the play as a whole. Paper 1: How it is assessed Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 64 marks 40% of GCSE

AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE Questions Section A: One question on An Inspector Calls. Section B: Poetry – one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster. Section C: Unseen Poetry – one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem. Paper 2: Modern Texts & Poetry What’s assessed? An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley Anthology Poetry Unseen Poetry Paper 2: How it is assessed Written exam: 2 hour 15 minutes 96 marks 60% of GCSE

Studying KS4 Science at St Francis Xavier’s College Combined Science (Trilogy) 8464 Biology 8461 Chemistry 8462 Physics 8463

Combined Science (Trilogy) 8464 2 hours of Biology, Chemistry and Physics per week taught by specialist teachers. Two papers in each subject Six units to be examined in total, each examination will be one hour 15 minutes in length. No controlled assessment Combined Science will lead to students gaining two GCSE Science qualifications. Foundation students can be awarded grades from 1 to 5. Higher tier students can be awarded grades from 4 to 9.

Combined Science (Trilogy) 8464 Required Practicals - attendance is crucial to success. 7 for Biology units 6 for Chemistry units 8 for Physics units Exam Questions on any of these (inc 6 mark extended writing questions)

Equation sheets in Trilogy (physics exam) You will be given just 7 equations. You need to learn the other 21 and their units and how to use them, particularly in mult step calculations using more than one equation. Songs out there to help! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3K6ZdtFZlg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wqrw4G79Kc

Separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry & Physics) 2 hours of Biology, Chemistry and Physics per week taught by specialist teachers. Two papers in each subject; examinations to take place in the summer of year 11. Six units to be examined in total, each examination will be one hour 45 minutes in length. No controlled assessment.

Separate Sciences Biology, Chemistry & Physics Required Practicals: 10 in GCSE Biology 8 in GCSE Chemistry 10 in GCSE Physics Exam questions could involve any one of these in each paper especially 6 mark written questions and multi step calculations in Physics

Equation sheets in Physics In GCSE Physics student are given just 12 equations now. You need to learn 23 equations and their units and how to use them in multi step calculations using more that one equation.

Literacy -Why is literacy so important in science? It's vital to pupils' achievement at Key Stage 4. Pupils need to demonstrate their understanding in writing. Keywords; a huge number of keywords in each subject. Scientific terminology needs to be used appropriately. Again, key to answers involving extended writing (6 marks)

Maths in Science - Why is maths so important in science? It's vital to pupils' achievement at Key Stage 4. Increased weighting on the examinations (Biology: 10% Chemistry: 20% Physics: 30%) Standard form and order of magnitude calculations Estimates and significant figures Averages Simple probability Algebra skills Graphs Geometry and Trigonometry

Success in Science Ask questions in class. Answer questions in class. 100% Attendance to school. Punctuality for all Science lessons. Completion of all Science classwork. Completion of all Science homework (Doddle) Attend any relevant revision or catch-up sessions. Excellence in English & Maths.

GCSE Maths 3 paper for both Foundation and Higher Each paper is 1 hour 30 minutes long 1 non calculator and 2 calculator papers See booklet for further information

Maths Exam Dates 2018 24th May 2018 - Paper 1 7th June 2018 - Paper 2 All Maths examinations will be sat in the Morning session.

Pupil Advice Know and understand the course content Visit the exam board websites regularly (e.g. aqa.org.uk ; ocr.org.uk etc) Be familiar with mark schemes Constantly practise using past papers and mark schemes Use study websites (e.g. bbc bitesize revision) Attend extra classes in school Be organised and plan your study Stay healthy – exercise, sleep well, eat well

Revision - Parental Support Supplies – stationery, snacks and revision aids Structure – timetable / Rest breaks Timing – 2-3 hours per night Mobile phones, iPods and music Past papers and mark schemes – checking and recording progress Room for study (bedroom vs dining room) Internet, friend or foe? Internet History Social Media Toolbar and tabbed browsing Turn off your router

On line Resources

BBC Bitesize From a computer/ laptop App based for Android or an iphone

BBC Education highlights page

Google for Education is a free learning platform which the school has signed up for. It allows pupils access to: an e-mail account linked to the school a cloud based drive for storing school work. work that can be completed independently or collaboratively at home or in school. work that can be marked by a class teacher and returned electronically. question remotely in a secure environment other classmates or the teacher.

Producing a REVISION PLAN Step one - please allow 1-2 hours for this Sit down with you son and list all the subjects that he needs to revise, then break those down into topics. Estimate how much time will need to be spent on each topic. Your son may need to speak to his subject teacher for advice. Time needed Completed/ get help/notes Science paper 1 Total 20 hours Inheritance and selection 3 Structures and bonding 4 Waves and radiation Humans and organisms Maintenance of life Metals

Step 2 - planning revision period This is the main revision period. Start revision for the mocks as soon as possible, make a chart like the one below dated and divided up into AM, PM and evening. In the support available column you can put in a member of the house to help your son with his work or be around to supervise e.g. older brother or sister, cousin aunt or grandparent as well as yourself. Also TV programmes and web based help can be listed here. Date AM PM Evening Support available Sat 4th November Away Sunday 5th November Football French speaking test Maths PAPER 1 French test Bitesize support. Older brother to help. Maths paper homework Monday 6th November School Out with friends. Science Doddle revision Anthology use revision guide from school Tuesday 7th November Geography past paper Revision from textbook in afternoon Mum to help. Download past paper from exam board website for evening Wednesday 8th November Maths Algebra Science paper one homework. History use revision questions and notes in exercise book and Maths use Bitesize

Step 3 – Feedback Make sure that the revision plan is discussed at the end of each week and any changes made and agreed this is particularly important when you son is on study leave for the exams in the Summer. Mark in days when exams take place as these will not be available for revision, for mocks use the sheet that will be sent home and take the dates from the certificate of entry in the Summer. April AM PM Evening Support available Sat 2nd December Science: structures and bonding Geography Out with friends GCSE revision guide and help from older brother with science. Use Geography notes Sunday 3rd December Swimming Economics revision Maths: Graphs Download economics paper from the internet. GCSE revision guide and dads help for Maths Monday 4th December Maths exam Economics ICT Attend extra ICT session Tuesday 28th November ICT exam School Geography past paper Attend extra ession 3.00-4 .00 RE with Mrs Barker 4.30 – 6pm Geography Bitesize app Wednesday 29th November RE exam Geography exam Product design Work through the revision booklet provided. Use Internet for help

Literacy across all subjects GCSE specifications and mark schemes have been revised in order to promote and reward good standards of written communication across the curriculum. Spelling, punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) has been introduced into the assessment of History, RE and Geography GCSE qualifications, 5% of the total marks is allocated to the assessment of candidates’ spelling, punctuation and grammar.

How will SPaG be made clear on the exam paper? There will be an instruction for candidates before any question that has SPaG marks available stating that spelling, punctuation and grammar will be assessed in that question.

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