1. NUMBER 35

2. Number of school weeks until exams start 29 (Week beginning: 11th May) Number of holiday weeks 6 (October, Christmas, February, Easter)

3. NUMBER 13

4. Number of weeks until mock exams
Seven weeks this half term plus five weeks after October half term -plus October half term!

5. NUMBER 15

6. On average the number of exams your child will sit over the exam period
English (3), Maths (2), Science (3/6/9), plus four options
2 weeks before May half term and then 3 weeks after that

7. Teenage Myths I’ve got no homework…
It doesn’t matter how I do in the mocks…
I can re-do my coursework….
The best way to revise is…..
My target grades are B’s, so I will be OK…

8. Year 11 is not a ‘Full Year’
Exams start on 11th May

9. Changes to Exams from last year.
All exams are linear with terminal exams at end of Year 11.
No re-sits/multiple chances *.
Controlled assessments are units, moderated & awarded at end of Year 11.
English Language is now:
60% written exam
40% controlled assessment
Speaking & Listening is graded separately.
*Last years Core Science (Science A) will be able to re-sit in Yr 11 but 1st entry grade counts for the school.
The mock exams will be run to a ‘normal” exam timetable (9.00am and 1.00pm start times).

10. Overview & Focus
Reports
Mock Exams
Parents Evening
External Exams

11. Dates
Reports; th Oct.
Mock Exams; 8th Dec.
Results Day; th Jan.
Parents Evening; 26th Feb.
Easter;28th Mar – 13th April
Exams Start; 11th May

12. Other important dates re: Progression post 16.
Opportunities at post 16 Evening. 11th Nov.
Post 16 Open Evening th Jan.
1:1 Interviews begin
re: Post 16 option choices nd March

13. Tracking 1st Half-term (October) Data Drops January February
Other Information
Tracking 1st Half-term (October)
Data Drops
January
February
Parents Evening
March
April

14. Need to hit the ground running.
1st Indication of progress will be from the reports issued in October.
Preparation for Mocks
Must have a structured, planned approach.
Not ‘How much do I know without revising’.

15. For success Revision needs to be:-
Organised
Focused
Structured
Regular

16. Reports Mocks Parents Evening Data Drops
As parents you will get information/help from:-
Reports
Mocks
Parents Evening
Data Drops

18. English
Mr N A Hamilton

19. GCSE English Literature (9715)
Exam Board AQA
Two Levels of entry –
Foundation
Higher
Your son/daughter will know which they are entered for by October half term

20. GCSE English Literature
Students completed the coursework element in Y10 worth 25% of their total mark
All students will have their results in the next two weeks, subject to moderation
We are now working towards the two written exams in May
Unit 1 (1hr 30) – ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘DNA’
Unit 2 (1hr 15) – ‘The Moon on the Tide’ Anthology - the ‘Relationships’ cluster and an unseen poetry question.

21. English Language Two routes –
AQA GCSE English Language (4705) – two levels –
Foundation
Higher
Cambridge iGCSE English Language (0522)
You will have been informed by letter if your son/daughter is being entered for the iGCSE, if not it will be AQA GCSE

22. English Language Both routes have an element of coursework -
GSCE students have started this and have received their marks to date – they still have 2 pieces to do
‘Of Mice and Men’ – before October half term
Spoken Language study – Jan/Feb
iGCSE students have 4 short assignments to complete before Christmas – 3 written and one Speaking and Listening.
The coursework component is 40% for GCSE and 60% for iGCSE of the total mark.

23. English Language
Both routes have a final written examination in May/June – GCSE Unit 1 (2hr 15) – Section A tests reading, Section B tests writing. iGCSE Paper 1 (Core) (1hr 45) – two questions testing both reading and writing

24. Three Top Tips for English
Become familiar with the texts your son/daughter is studying and discuss them.
Past papers and mark schemes are available for both routes on their respective websites.
Encourage your son/daughter to read and discuss non-fiction texts e.g. newspapers, leaflets, magazines

25. Revision Guides
English Literature – specific text guides are commercially available to buy
English Language guides are available in the library or to buy commercially (Pearson ‘Always Learning’ Revise AQA GCSE – by Tier)
English Language workbooks also available commercially (Pearson ‘Always Learning’ Revise AQA GCSE – by Tier)
Cambridge iGCSE 0522 study guides are available commercially

26. Maths
Mr M Smith

27. GCSE Maths Two Tiers Higher Tier – Edexcel 1MA0H
Foundation Tier – OCR J567F

28. NO Coursework!
Both a blessing and a curse.

29. End of year 10 exam
Every student has received an individual list of the topics based on this test that they need to work on during this term
This work is supported with online and paper resources and of course by their teachers

30. QWC Questions (4 Marks)

31. QWC Questions (5 Marks)

32. QWC Questions (5 Marks)

35. Top Tip for Maths
Be positive about maths – it is a key qualification for all students
Encourage them to begin working independently – 30 mins twice a week at this stage would be ideal
Don’t revise things that they already know how to do – challenge themselves to improve/ perfect 1 new skill each time they revise.
Don’t be discouraged – we all make mistakes but over time these will reduce and the marks will improve.
Practise, Practise, Practise!!!

36. Maths Revision Guides One revision guide, one workbook sold as a pair.
They cost £5 (50%RRP) for the pair.

37. Science
Miss S Neale

38. GCSE Sciences Exam Board AQA Two Routes
Science A and Additional Science
Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Both routes prepare students for Level 3 study of Science subjects

39. Science A and Additional Science
Students took the Science A qualification in year 10. They have their result.
Students can retake this qualification this year. They must resit all three exams (B1, C1 and P1) in June.
Retake ISA date: Tuesday 11th November

40. Science A and Additional Science
This qualification is completely separate from Science A.
Students will take one exam in Biology (B2), Chemistry (C2) and Physics (P2) in May.
ISA date: Thursday 5th February

41. Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Students will take three exams in each subject in May and June. These marks are combined with the ISA mark to give an overall grade.
All modules have equivalent weighting (25%)

42. Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Biology ISA date: Wednesday 1st October
Chemistry ISA : Completed in Year 10
Physics ISA : To be completed in lessons during the last week of September
Resit ISA : Thursday 5th February

43. Investigative Skills Assignment
What is an ISA?
Investigative Skills Assignment
Research
Exam 1: Hypothesis, Plan, Results Table
Practical Work
Graph
Exam 2: Own results analysis, Case Studies

44. What is an ISA?
Specimen ISAs and examiners commentaries are available on the AQA website

45. QWC Questions (6 Marks)
In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.
Students are presented with an A4 side of information to read, often including charts or graphs.

46. QWC Questions (6 Marks) They are then asked to describe a process
give advantages/disadvantages
evaluate a new development
explain the data
In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.

48. Three Top Tips for Science
Download past exam papers and mark schemes from AQA website
Watch and make notes from the website myGCSEScience
Encourage your child to use the BBC website:
use the bitesize revision materials
watch science programmes from iPlayer
browse the scientific news articles

49. Science Revision Guides
Nelson Thornes revision guides are available from the science technicians.
They cost £3.25 (50%RRP) each.