1. SUCCESS AT GCSE EVENING
YEAR 10
SUCCESS AT GCSE EVENING

2. GCSE REFORM

3. GCSEs: the main changes
The new GCSEs will:
make more demands of students, to help them achieve as much as students in countries with the best education systems
be awarded in grades from 1 up to 9, with grade 9 being the highest grade
Where possible students will be assessed by exam, with other forms of assessment only for particular subject skills (e.g. in art and design or physical education)
All exams will be at the end of a two year course of study
In most subjects, students will not be grouped in different ability tiers for the purposes of assessment – only maths, sciences and languages will have different papers for different groups of students

4. GCSE reforms timetable
September 2015 (first exams 2017)
New GCSEs - English language, English literature and Mathematics
September 2016 (first exams 2018)
New GCSEs – History, Science, Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, Art and Design, Citizenship, Computer Science, Dance, Drama, Music, Physical Education, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Religious Studies
September 2017 (first exams 2019)
New GCSEs – other subjects which Ofqual decide will be developed as reformed GCSEs.

5. New Grading System

7. English
Ms L Graham

8. English at Drayton Manor
Exam board: AQA
2 GCSES
English Language
English Literature
(Programme 1: English Language)
No Coursework or Controlled Assessments
Additional support
Additional English
Functional Skills and Literacy

9. Examinations Breakdown
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Paper 1: 50% - 1 hour 45 minutes
Paper 2: 50% -1 hour 45 minutes
Equally weighted for reading and writing skills.
Spoken Language
Students will also get an additional accreditation for speaking and listening completed in class.
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to present using Standard English.
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Paper 1: 40% - 1 hour 45 minutes
Shakespeare (Macbeth) and 19th
Century Novel (Frankenstein)
Paper 2: 60% - 2 hours 15 minutes Post 1914 Literature (An Inspector Calls) and Post 1789 poetry

10. Course Content ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENGLISH LITERATURE Reading Unit 1
Analysis of unseen non-fiction texts
Analysis of unseen fiction
Appreciation of a writer’s intentions, structure and language
Writing
Ability to write creatively and accurately
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Unit 1
Shakespeare (Macbeth) and 19th
Century Novel (Frankenstein)
Paper 2
Post 1914 Literature (An Inspector Calls)
and Post 1789 Poetry including Unseen
Poetry

11. How to help your child prepare for English/English Language examinations
Read, read, read…anything and everything that is non-fiction
Form, audience, purpose, language and meaning
Learn language techniques
Use P-E-T-A-L structure
READING QUESTION
Research non-fiction organisation and structure to support planning
Help to widen vocabulary
How do we write for different people and in different forms?
Check their books and get students to draft and redraft work
Accuracy
WRITING QUESTON

12. What can you do?
Know their teacher’s names/codes so communicate with the subject teacher if there are queries
Check their folders and feedback
Check their diary to ensure they are recording homework (two pieces a week)
Encourage your child to attend study and support classes
Read over your child’s work before they submit it
Reassure them that as long as they do their best, whatever they achieve will represent success

13. How to revise English Buy set texts and make detailed annotations
Use notes they have made in class to revise themes
Re-read the poetry anthology and novels and LEARN key quotes
Reading a range of non fiction texts
Practise in timed conditions

14. Maths
Mr Booth
Head of Mathematics

15. Why is Maths important? Develops a way of thinking
“Will I ever actually use Sin, Cos and Tan?”
Develops a way of thinking
Banks, bills, and bonuses
Requirements of colleges, universities
and employers

16. Aims of the 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.

17. What Maths do students need to know
There are six areas of mathematics students need to be familiar with
Number
Algebra
Ratio, proportion and rates of change
Geometry and measures
Probability
Statistics
All of this will be following on from the work students have done in Years 7, 8 and 9

18. Paper 1: Non-calculator
Examination Breakdown
Paper 1: Non-calculator
1 hour 30 minutes written exam
% of mathematics assessment
Paper 2: Calculator
1 hour 30 minutes written exam
% of mathematics assessment
Paper 3: Calculator
1 hour 30 minutes written exam
% 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.

19. 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.

20. How to revise for Maths The best way to revise maths is by practising
Do small amounts often – start revising now!
Use their text books to help them with the skills they require for the exams
Use mymaths.co.uk to further practice with online lessons
Go through past paper questions
Use their target sheets to complete work on mathswatch

21. All students will have target sheets from each of their assessments

22. Student target sheets refer to work that could be done on Mathswatch

23. These include online lessons with worksheets attached

24. Questions to ask your child
Have you got your online username and passwords?
Have you got your calculator?
Are you using Mathswatch to address your targets?
Do you know what formulae will and will not be given to you in your exam?

25. Science
Mr Mann
M Man

26. GCSE Combined Science
Examinations at the end of year 11 are worth 100% of the marks
Six exams at the end of Year (linear assessment rule)
Each exam is 1 hour 15 minutes long
Two cover Biology topics
Two for Chemistry topics
Two for Physics topics
No longer any controlled assessment or coursework or separate GCSE core/additional awards
21 core science practical experiments over Years 10 and 11 which will be assessed in the written papers

27. Also no Controlled Assessments or coursework
Separate Sciences
Also no Controlled Assessments or coursework
Biology
Biology topics with extended topics taught over Years 10 and 11
Eight core science practical experiments to complete
Two 1 hour 45 minutes exams at the end of Year 11
Chemistry
Biology topics with extended topics taught over years 10 and 11
Eight core science practical experiments to complete
Two 1 hour 45 minutes exams at the end of Year 11
Physics
Physics topics with extended topics taught over Years 10 and 11
Eight core science practical experiments to complete
Two 1 hour 45 minutes exams at the end of Year 11

28. Questions you should ask your child
What Science course are you studying?
Where are your revision guide(s)?
How many hours have you spent on SAM Learning?
What modules have you studied so far?
Have you completed any core practicals?
Have you had any tests? If so, how did
you do?

29. Exam tips Use the revision guides provided by the school SAM Learning
BBC Bitesize
Practice past papers
Have all the correct equipment for
lessons and the examinations
(including a ruler and a calculator)

30. Literacy, numeracy and practical skills
The examinations will also assess students ability to write extended answers, complete calculations and recall formulae in each exam
Questions are based on the modules taught, although many are in reference to contemporary topics
Practical skills will account for 15% of questions based upon the core practicals completed
Practising for the questions by discussing topics at home
Learn the meaning command words (discuss, explain, describe, evaluate, compare, suggest)

31. Success at GCSE in MFL
Mr Mann Mr

32. The Exams Mr Mann Mr How it's assessed
Paper 1: Listening
Paper 3: Reading
How it's assessed
Written exam: 35 minutes (Foundation Tier), 45 minutes (Higher Tier)
40 marks (Foundation Tier), 50 marks (Higher Tier)
25% of GCSE
Written exam: 45 minutes (Foundation Tier), 1 hour (Higher Tier)
60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier)
Paper 2: Speaking
7–9 minutes (Foundation Tier) + preparation time
10–12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time
Paper 4: Writing
Mr Mann Mr

33. The Speaking exam will take place in April/May 2018
Exam Dates
Listening, Reading & Writing May 2018
The Speaking exam will take place in April/May 2018
Mock Speaking exams will take place in June 2017, December 2017 and March 2018
Mr Mann Mr

34. Mr Mann Mr Listening and Reading
Follow the revision list systematically and tick off topics covered
Revise vocabulary lists
Start revision now and do small chunks rather than bigger block later
Use revision guides
Use websites with practice activities
Download past papers from
Make topic based revision cards
Stick grammar lists on to the wall by your bed to help you revise
Revise all grammar
Make mind maps, flow charts to help revise vocabulary
Change your settings on your phone/computer
Mr Mann Mr

35. Listening Foundation Tier and Higher Tier
• Section A – questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally
• Section B – questions in French, to be answered in French or non-verbally

36. Reading Foundation Tier and Higher Tier
• Section A – questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally
• Section B – questions in French, to be answered in French or non-verbally
• Section C – translation from French into English (a minimum of 35 words for Foundation Tier and 50 words for Higher Tier)Reading

37. Speaking
The Speaking unit is worth 25% of the qualification as a whole
Role-play – two minutes at Foundation Tier; two minutes at Higher Tier
Photo card – two minutes at Foundation Tier; three minutes at Higher Tier
General conversation - three to five minutes at Foundation Tier; five to seven minutes at Higher Tier
Mr Mann Mr

38. Writing
Students in either Tier will write a short passage of continuous text in response to four brief bullet points, approximately 40 words in total / 90 words for Higher Tier
Translation from English into French (minimum 35 words & 50 words for Higher Tier)
Structured writing task (student responds to four compulsory detailed bullet points, producing approximately 90 words in total / 150 words in the Higher Tier)
Mr Mann Mr

39. How can you help your son/daughter?
Encourage your son/daughter to read and listen to as much of the Foreign Language as possible – for work and pleasure
Ask to see their portfolio of written work
Ask them to show all the main tenses in their written work
Encourage them to translate short passages
Encourage them to be respond in the language at dinner or on holiday
Mr Mann Mr

40. Useful Websites/Links:
French:
German:
Spanish:
Moodle
Mr Mann Mr

41. Humanities
Mr Wakefield

42. Success in Humanities Assessment – History
Paper 1: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000–present and Whitechapel,
c1870–c1900: crime, policing and the inner city.
Examination.
30%
Paper 2: Early Elizabethan England, 1558–88
and the Cold War
40%
Paper 3 – Weimar and Nazi Germany

43. Assessment - Geography
Success in Humanities
Assessment - Geography
PAPER 1: Living with the physical environment
Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
35%
PAPER 2: Challenges in the human environment
PAPER 3: Geographical applications
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
30%

44. How to be a successful student in History and Geography
Success in Humanities
How to be a successful student in History and Geography
Be in school
Be prepared to ask questions to clarify understanding and ask for help
Continually try to learn topics a little at a time - memory builds up. Be constantly revising
Access past papers and mark schemes on the Edexcel website
Complete homework and exam questions
Correct answers when they are wrong

45. How to be a successful student in History and Geography
Success in Humanities
How to be a successful student in History and Geography
Learn case studies (Geography) and chronology (History)
Make a point , use data / source evidence to support your point. Explain
Be accurate with spelling, punctuation and grammar
Use the revision booklets to support your classwork – don’t rely just on them. Annotate them with class notes and extra reading
Understand key terms and their meaning – create a glossary
Read all questions carefully; know the question stems that are going to come up in the exam

46. Success in Humanities How can parents help?
Recognise that studying and examinations can be difficult for everybody
Encourage routines and set aside time to study in the right environment
Ask questions / look at their work
Liaise early with staff if you are concerned
Purchase course text books to support their learning and ensure they have the right equipment