1. Year 11 Information Evening
November 2017

2. 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?

3. 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

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

7. AQA GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE COURSE 2016-2018

8. 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 % of GCSE

9. 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 % of GCSE

10. 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 % of GCSE

11. 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 % of GCSE

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

13. 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.

14. 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)

15. 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!

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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)

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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

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

24. 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

25. 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

28. On line Resources

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

30. BBC Education highlights page

31. Google for Education is a free learning platform which the school has signed up for. It allows pupils access to:
an 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.

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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 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

35. 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.

36. 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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Thank You
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