Bullers Wood School

Year 11 Examination Information Evening

Wednesday 7th November 2012

She always leaves everything

to the last minute – and it’s always when the printer is broken!

She always says she has no work

to do! I don’t understand all this course work, levels and

modular exams – it’s completely different from

when I was at school

There are a million websites to help but how

do you know which are any

good?

Reports

Mock Examinations

Targeted Intervention

SAM Learning Secondary

www.samlearning.com

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Password: e.g.160796SB

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Revision Exercise -Maths

Topic Questions

Student Progress Report

Questions

Please see Mrs. May at the end of the evening in L4

ENGLISH GCSE

•ENGLISH LANGUAGE

•ENGLISH LITERATURE

ENGLISH LANGUAGE• Exam is 2hrs 15 min• Early Entry exam 10th January 2013• Summer exam 4th June 2013• Reading section A: Read 3 non fiction

texts and answer questions about them.• Writing section B: Write 2 pieces:

inform, explain, describe persuade and argue

REVISION FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Recommended Guides:

• AQA GCSE English and English Language Foundation Revision Guide

• AQA GCSE English and English Language Higher Revision Guide

REVISION FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Online Resources:• BBC Bitesize: use the GCSE English Reading and

Writing sections for top tips and quizzes.http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/• SAM Learning: use the GCSE English section (AQA)

to practice skills and self-mark.https://platform.samlearning.com• Podcast revision: click on the ‘resources’ tab for free

podcasts about key English skills.http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk/

ENGLISH LITERATUREAQA English Literature: 2 exams Unit 1 Exam – 40%20th May 2013 Exploring Modern Texts: 1hr 30minsSection A: Essay on 1 Modern prose or drama text(The Crucible/An Inspector Calls/Lord of the Flies)Section B: Essay on 1 Exploring Cultures text(Of Mice and Men/To Kill A Mocking Bird) Unit 2 Exam – 35%23rd May 2013 Poetry Across Time: 1 hr 15 minsSection A: Essay on Moon on the Tides poetry (45 mins, 23%)Section B: Responding to an unseen poem (30 mins, 12%)

Recommended Revision Guides:

York NotesCGP 

REVISION FOR LITERATURE

 Online Resources:

BBC Bitesize: use the GCSE English Literature sections for revision videos, notes and quizzes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/

• SAM Learning: use the GCSE English Literature AQA sections on Of Mice and Men, To Kill A Mockingbird & Comparing Poems to test your knowledge, practise exam skills and self-mark.

https://platform.samlearning.com

 

REVISION FOR LITERATURE

 Online Resources:

• Spark Notes: detailed summaries, key quotes & character analysis

http://www.sparknotes.com/

• Schmoop: detailed summaries, key quotes, character analysis & quizzes in a lively style

http://www.shmoop.com/

 

REVISION FOR LITERATURE

WHAT CAN I DO?• Ensure that you and your daughter know when

the exams are.• Make a quiet and comfortable revision space at

home.• Use one or more of the recommended revision

guides.• Ensure that your daughter attends any after

school/breakfast revision sessions.• Encourage small amounts of revision during

any free time.

GCSE MATHEMATICS 2012-2013

 

What maths resources are available?There are numerous revision websites available but especially:

Maths WatchThe Maths Watch CD is an excellent revision resource that students can use at home

  The Maths area of school VLE has other resources specifically targeting  D to C grade work 

How can you help your daughter to prepare for these important exams?

• Make sure she has access to the appropriate revision materials – and encourage her to use them regularly

• Encourage her look up the things she doesn’t know and to ask her teacher for individual help

• Ensure that she is completing the practice papers to the best of her ability – and handing them in on time

• Check her contact book for any messages from her teacher regarding not completing or handing in papers on time.

• Make sure that she attends any specific revision sessions provided by her teacher

Other good sites include .....

When are the exams?

• All students are taking the LINEAR specification which comprises of TWO papers – one calculator and one non-calculator 

• All students (except the early entry students in  11.5 and 11.6) will be entered for the March series of exams 

When are the exams?

 The dates of the exams are:

• Wednesday 27 February (pm)

• Monday 4 March (am)

What happens after March?• Set 1 will begin studying for the FSMQ in Additional Maths • Students in Set 6 (if they achieved grade C in the November 

exams) will transfer to Higher Tier and work towards a grade B or above in the June exams.

• Students in Set 5 (who have already all achieved a grade C) will carry on working towards a grade B or above at the Higher tier.

• All other students will continue to study maths and prepare for the June exams. 

• Only once the results of the March exams have been issued, will discussions take place with individuals about possible resits or about using the time to concentrate on their other subjects.

How do you know how well your daughter progressing?

•  Ask your daughter to show you the       practice papers she completes and the      marks and comments she receives.                   

Help her to improve her performance                    on these papers by encouraging her to look 

                        up things she has forgotten and by testing                        her on key facts

• Encourage her to complete as much of each paper as she can and check that she is handing them in on time!

How will you know how well your daughter is progressing?

All students will be taking Mock GCSE Maths exams during Mock Exam week which is from

26 – 30 November    Students will be taking past GCSE exam papers and so the results of these will give you an up-to-date picture of your daughter’s achievement in Maths in terms of a current GCSE grade. 

Is there anything else can you do to support your daughter?

Please make sure they have all the necessary resources to support the learning - including their own calculator and suitable maths equipment.

GCSE Additional Science

•Most students June.  •Triple Science January.  

Number of Papers

3 exam papers at Foundation or Higher

•1 x 45 minute Biology•1 x 45 minute Chemistry•1 x 45 minute Physics•ISA done in school

What we are doing in school?Working through the syllabus in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.Doing lots of past paper questions.Doing ISAs.Setting homework regularly.

Topics

 Biology Chemistry Physics

CellsPlants

Food ChainsWasteEnzymesBodies

Inheritance

AtomsStructuresPropertiesRatesEnergy

Useful chemistry

MovementEnergy

MomentumStatic Electricity

CircuitsMains Electricity

PowerNuclear Reactions

What you can do at home• Continue to take an interest. • Encourage, especially the use of SAM 

learning. • Support us if we ring home.• Make sure she brings work to lessons.  

Calculator to exams, etc.  • Make sure she is attending any after school 

or holiday sessions.

Mock PreparationNote Additional Mocks in January

Preparation for mocks:•Organisation.  •Use of revision guide (£3.50).•Bitesize / SAM Learning.•AQA Website past questions.  

Revision Classes

Easter Holidays

Attendance, Punctuality & Behaviour

Empirical research shows that students with between 95 - 100% attendance are more likely to achieve 5+A*-C Grades at GCSE

Structured Revision Sessions

Year 11 Parents’ Evening

Tuesday 15th January 2013

Sixth form Open Evening

Thursday 15th November 2012

Applied subjects talk in the DALO with Mrs Carter

SAM Learning demonstration in L4 with Mrs May and Mrs Hatch