Succeeding at IGCSE

Succeeding at IGCSE This evening, you will: Receive advice and top tips from our highest performing students from the recent IGCSE examination session. Be introduced to IGCSE syllabi, as well as how you can find and use them. Consider what it takes to get an A* grade. Receive advice regarding wellbeing related issues. Have an opportunity to ask questions to members of our Secondary Leadership Team.

Our recent success at IGCSE

Our recent success at IGCSE Shann Chongwattananukul Ashcharya Kela Cheshta Kela A* in Additional Mathematics A* in Biology A* in Business Studies A* in Chemistry A in First Language English A in History A* in Physics A* in World Literature A* in Mathematics (Year 10) A* in English as a Second Language (Year 9) A in Biology A in Chemistry A* in First Language English A* in Foreign Language Mandarin A* in Mathematics A* in Physics A* in World Literature A in English as a Second Language (Year 9) A* in Chemistry A* in Design and Technology B in First Language English A* in History A* in Information and Communication Technology A* in Mathematics A* in Physics A in World Literature A in English as a Second Language (Year 9)

How we succeeded in our IGCSE’s By Ash, Shann, Cheshta

This will be subjective and may not work for everyone else. Disclaimer This will be subjective and may not work for everyone else.

Coursework Don't leave it to the last minute Keep it top priority until its deadline Look at the syllabus criteria and ask your teacher what to improve on Read over the drafts with an open mind and in the perspective of the examiner Don't leave it to last minute - if your going to leave it till last minute, you will struggle a lot so you should already aim to finish your coursework around 2 weeks before the deadline set so you have time to improve Keep it top priority until its deadline - it should be your main priority because coursework counts 50% of your exam grade you get Look at the checklist/syllabus and ask your teacher - you should look at what you need in your coursework to get the marks you need for your grade and if you have any concern go ask the teacher what you can do to improve Make sure you know what scores top marks. You can do this by looking through A and A star material to compare what they do

Revision Know when to stop Reward yourself Prioritize Past papers are important Don’t give up on sports You want to use flash cards Explore your topic Understand the markscheme - what’s required and what’s not Pomodoro techniques Study timetable and have a checklist Know when to stop - If you feel as if your current revision session is going nowhere, go do something else. There is no point to continue if you are not 100% in focus Prioritize - Prioritise your worst subjects first. Aim for consistency and balanced scores across your subjects Past papers are important - Do all the hardest questions in the paper. Skip over to the last few questions, the ones that you aren’t confident with Don't give up on sports -Unless you are really struggling, there’s no reason to stop after school or outside activity, especially if you know you will not get work done at home anyway

How to prepare right before an exam Get your sleep (If you can’t then study) - at least 7 hours Recap your worst topics Blank paper exercise Maintain your diet Don’t waste time Get your sleep - make sure to get your sleep because it is very necessary and you won't feel tired, If you really can’t sleep and end up playing on your phone, that time could be used for revision Don't stress yourself and don't think about the exam - Worrying about the exam will make it worse so try and stay positive and stay relaxed Cram your worst topics -You shouldn’t rely on cramming to pass you the exam, but there is no harm in quickly going over your weakest areas the hour before the exam

5 Top Tips Know how to solve the harder questions Study groups/ teach someone Test yourself Scan through the exam Don’t do the whole past paper if time is short Cambridge often likes to repeat questions, so don’t assume that a hard question or topic you saw in last year’s paper won’t appear again Test yourself with blind papers, flashcards with friends,

IGCSE syllabi How to find them: GIS IGCSE blog options.gardenrayong.com Searching on Google Ask your teacher

IGCSE syllabi How to use them: To break down a topic into bitesize chunks. To focus on learning only what you need to know (and not worrying about concepts that you don’t need to learn right now). Do I need to know: Causes of health problems Effects of health problems Prevention strategies

IGCSE syllabi How to use them: To know what you will be asked about in an examination.

How are IGCSE’s graded? The examinations and coursework that you complete is sent to Cambridge Assessment in the UK. The examination papers and coursework is marked, with integrity, by professional examiners. The mark that you achieve is converted into a grade. The highest grade possible is an A*. The lowest grade possible is a G (with a U grade given to students who don’t achieve the mark needed for this). Most organisations, including GIS, view an A*-C grade as a ‘pass’ grade.

How to get a C grade Do everything that your teacher asks you to do. Complete all lesson tasks and activities. Complete your homework, and submit it on time. Be diligent in your studies.

How to get a B grade Do everything that your teacher asks you to do. Complete all lesson tasks and activities. Complete your homework, and submit it on time. Be diligent in your studies. Tell your teacher when you don’t understand something. Ask your teacher to explain a concept again. If you get 7/10 in a test, ask how to get the other 3 marks.

How to get an A grade Do everything that your teacher asks you to do. Complete all lesson tasks and activities. Complete your homework, and submit it on time. Be diligent in your studies. Don’t rely on your teacher to tell you everything that you need to know. If you don’t understand something from a lesson, challenge yourself to learn it by yourself. Ask your teacher to confirm that what you have learned is correct.

How to get an A* grade Do everything that your teacher asks you to do. Complete all lesson tasks and activities. Complete your homework, and submit it on time. Be diligent in your studies. Take an active interest in the subjects that you are studying. Know the syllabus inside-out. Read news stories related to the subject. Take on full responsibility for your own learning.

Attainment Targets

Advice: Extra-curricular activities Take part in extra-curricular activities while you are in Year 10. School production. Summer Concert, Band Slam. FOBISIA sports. Model United Nations. Year 11 is a year to increase focus on your studies. Focus on making your coursework as good as you possibly can. Focus on revision throughout the whole year, so that you can be your best in the examinations.

Advice: Wellbeing and Health Exercise Join after-schools sports clubs Go for a jog/swim in the evenings. Clear your mind. Diet Cut down on sugar intake. Fruit and vegetables. Food that makes you feel good (after you’ve eaten it). Drink water rather than sugary soda drinks. Sleep The later you go to bed, the less you sleep. If you feel tired during the day, you didn’t get enough sleep.

How you can help, as a parent As a parent, you can help by: Providing a healthy home life in regard to diet and sleep. Attending parent conferences. Checking and talking to your child about their Grade and Report Cards. These are a valuable way of seeing how your child has made progress. Ensuring high attendance and punctuality, especially for mock examinations. Ensuring academic honesty.

How you can help, as a parent As a parent, you can help by: Supporting your child with their studies as best you can. Speaking to your child’s teachers and / or the Secondary Leadership Team when you feel your child needs help or support. Staying informed through the Engage Parent Portal.