Making a

Difference

Advice for students and parents/carers on preparing for

GCSE Exams

Exam Timetable Dear Parents / Carers Your involvement as a parent/carer during this crucial time can make all the difference between success and failure. You do not have to be an expert in the GCSE subjects and exams that your child will be sitting to make a difference. You just need to know how to best spend your time supporting your child’s learning at each stage of the GCSE process.

The aim of this booklet is to provide parents / carers and students with key dates, revision tips, key words, exam board information, coping tips, outline timetables. GCSE examinations start in May. Some practical or speaking tests take place before this period. An examination timetable is on the website for all subjects and students will have received a personalised exam timetable. There will be no exams during the week of the bank holiday when school is on half term break. This year, the half term holiday is 30 May – 03 June. There will be revision sessions in some subjects during the Easter holidays and during half term.

Taking a little time off over the holidays is a good idea, but students will need to do plenty of work too. Where holidays have been booked then students should take some work with them!

Revision Techniques Check your notes are complete. If they are not, you have several sources from which to find out the missing information

Summarise your notes, forming condensed packets of information which are handy to read and you can take them anywhere with you!

Find the best way for you to revise

Revision

guides

Revision sites on

the internet

internet

Text books

Other

students

Teachers

Revision

Techniques

Bullet point

concise lists

Dominoes

Q & A sheets

Sing it Chant it

Journey Pegs

Recording essential

information onto CD / computer

Stepping Stones

Flash Cards

Post it notes

Mind Maps

Diagrams

Colour coding

information

Posters

Games

Cover then tell

Work with a friend to question

each other

The main problems with revision are…

Interference…. when one bit of information gets confused with another

Lack of meaningful revision – a ‘ sense ‘ of work without real work….

when you think you are revising but really you are thinking about something else

Panic / stress…. when perhaps you have not given enough time to revision

Top Tips Start your revision programme early ~

Preparation and Practise = Progress and Performance

Pay attention to how you learn, not just what you have to learn. Do you sit upright at a desk, lie on the floor, sit on the bed….?

Do you study best before dinner, after eating, whilst snacking…?

Plan for half-hour sessions or an hour at the most. Any longer and it is likely that nothing more will sink in.

Take a short break in between sessions and have a glass of water or something similar to drink. In the evenings, plan to revise one or two subjects only. Leave a little time for relaxation Plan to revise specific topics in each subject, not everything at once. Ensure that each session starts

with tackling the most difficult bits.

Plan to cover each subject several times and revisit each one nearer to the exam

Having your favourite music playing in the background may help – but

this is not the case for everyone! Mobile phones are a distraction!

Think about your learning style – visual, auditory or kinaesthetic learner. Doing something with the material you want to learn is 100% more effective than just reading it, because it forces you to check that you understand it. Things need to be practised not just read. Research is good too – read around the topics!

Revise the same material in different ways, so your ‘ repetition ‘ isn’t just doing the same thing again and again. This makes sure that you have used a variety of techniques so it’s more likely to stick!

Create the ‘ big picture ‘ of the topic first, then learn parts, build them up and use them to create that ‘ bigger picture ‘.

Have all your books and files at hand so you don’t spend all your revision time looking for your work.

Working with a friend can be useful as it allows you to test each other and talk about the work

What can your parents do to

help? They can help by…… Recognising how important these exams are and how much time you will

need if they you are to fulfil your potential.

Knowing what your target grades are and compare them with the current prediction of performance.

Knowing the date, day and time of your exams.

Talking of your success, achievement and the ability to change small things to create a big impact upon results

Encouraging the rest of the family to help by not disturbing your revision

Securing a quiet place for you to study, where work can be safely kept

Encouraging planned relaxation times

Praising hard work

Making sure you have a balanced diet and plenty of get fresh air

Making sure you get plenty of sleep

Helping you to focus on the next exam rather than talking about the exam you have just taken

Reminding you that it will soon be over and there will be a good break from school when you can catch up with friends and family and enjoy!

During the exam period

Try to ensure that you get a good night’s sleep before the exams and ….

Make sure you have all the necessary equipment – pens, pencil, ruler, rubber, watch – see your teacher before the exam if you have not got any of these

In some exams you will need a calculator, coloured pencils, protractor (all of which must be in a clear pencil case or plastic bag)

You should also bring a bottle of water ( without label ) to remain hydrated

It is your responsibility to be organised!

Make sure you know the start time of your exam

Make sure you know your

candidate number

Check your seat number

Tell yourself ‘ I can ….. ‘

Key Exam Words explained

It is important to understand the key ‘ questioning ‘ words used by

examiners.

Here are a number of key ‘ questioning ‘ words and phrases which are

often used on exam papers

• Explain the causes ofAccount for

• Divide into parts and describe each partAnalyse

• Explain why something is importantComment on

•Are the things alike (similar) or are there important differences

•Which do you think is best? Why?Compare

• Short and to the pointConcise• Look for differencesContrast• Use evidence to support your opinion on the value or

merit of theories, facts or views of othersCriticise• Give the meaning ofDefine• Write in detailDescribe

• Explain the differencesDifferentiate• Write about the important aspects of the topic - are

there two sides to the question? Consider the arguements for and against. Then give your opinionDiscuss

• Explain the differenceDistinguish

• Judge the impact or successEvaluate• Make clearExplain•The facts or circumstances that contribute to a resultFactors

• Give examples or diagrams which make the point clear and prove your answer is correctIllustrate

• Show and demonstrateIndicate• Refer to a specific aspect of somethingIn relation to

•Explain the meaning in your own words - you may be asked to interpret a graphInterpret

• In a particular settingIn the context of

• Give reasons to support an argument or actionJustify

•Choose the most important aspects of a topic. Ignore the minor detailOutline

• Show the connection between thingsRelate• A function of somethingRole• Bring together the main pointsSummarise• Show how something has developed

from beginning to endTrace

Whilst in the exam

When you are sitting in the exams you are going to feel nervous – this is normal.

Use the nervous energy to help you. Don’t let it panic you into writing too soon.

Read the instructions at the front of the exam paper. Make sure you know which

sections to read and which questions to answer.

It will tell you on the front of the exam paper how long you have and how many

marks there are for that exam paper.

Take about 5 minutes to read through the paper first, before you start writing

Read the questions properly

Demonstrate clear thinking and understanding of the topic

Plan your answer before you write –

plan in your head or jot down key

words and phrases that you want to put

in your answer.

Construct your answer carefully.

Highlight key words or concepts

mentioned in the question

Make sure the examiner can read your

writing. Lay out answers clearly.

Use the space given on the exam script

Each question is allocated marks. If there are 3 marks available then you must

make 3 detailed key points to get those marks.

Show working out in maths or numerical questions as credit will be given for the

method

Work out how to spend on each section / question. Your teachers will have advised

you on this - don’t spend too much time on one question at the expense of others

If you get stuck on a question jot down key words you associate with it.

Move onto the next question. When you have finished go back to the question.

Read through your answers & check your paper at the end.

Use all the time available in the exam

Exam Stress

What are the symptoms? Difficulty getting to sleep

Constant tiredness

Forgetfulness

Poor appetite

Increased anxiety

Irritable

Increased heart rate

Migraines / headaches

Dizziness

If you have noticed three or more of the above symptoms and you have experienced them for a few weeks then you must do something to decrease those stress levels

How should I cope with exam stress? Learn to recognise when you’re stressing out

Take a break Chat with someone who knows the pressure you are under

Avoid comparing yourself to your friends. Those ‘ OMG I’ve only read Macbeth 17 times conversations are a wind up. Make a realistic revision timetable and try to stick to it – don’t worry though if you have to spend a little bit longer on a topic – you can be flexible – it really doesn’t matter! Eat a balanced diet – fresh fruit and veg – proper breakfast – keep hydrated ( water )

How should I cope with exam stress continued? Sleep well – wind down before you go to bed.

Don’t revise under the duvet! Your bed is your sanctuary, not a desk.

Get your 8 hours in! Exercise – nothing de-stresses the mind faster than physical activity.

Just get involved and enjoy your PE lessons – it’s a break from writing after all. Build physical activity into your timetable.

Quit the bad habits – cigarettes and

alcohol never stopped anyone from being stressed for long.

Panic is often triggered by

hyperventilating (quick and shallow breaths).If you feel yourself losing it before or during the exam, sit back for a moment and control your breathing. Count to 5 as you inhale - count to 5 as you exhale.

Keep calm and focussed just before you go into the exam hall – don’t

engage in daft conversation. Mentally rehearse what you are about to do! Steer clear of exam ‘ post-mortem ‘. It doesn’t matter what your mate

wrote for Q 3b. It’s too late to go back and change your answers, so it will make you worry even more. Your answers may well be right – have confidence!

Ultimately don’t lose sight of the fact that there is life after exams. Look around you, listen to the news and what’s going on in the world -

there is always someone in a worse position than you!

Things might seem intense right now, but it won’t last forever

Plan your revision effectively. In this booklet are weekly revision timetables that can be used up to the mock exams. Also there is a copy of the revision sessions leading up to the exams and a timetable that can be used to help you plan your revision sessions on the week of the mocks, between all your exams. Use your time to plan rest breaks and leisure activities in between your subject based studies

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Revision Opportunities Record here any sessions you will attend over Easter

Easter Week 1 Easter Week 2

Record here any sessions you will attend after Easter

Record here any sessions you will attend over half term

School Contacts

Please do not hesitate to talk to your form tutor, subject teachers, mentor, Key Stage Leader if you would like more help or advice to prepare for your exams.

Examinations Officers ~ Mrs R Wilkinson & Mrs S Ford School telephone number ~ 0114 2369991

Exam Board for each GCSE subject

Subject Exam Board

English / Further Maths Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Science French / Spanish / German / Urdu / Polish / Bengali Music / Art / Dance Electronics / Food / Graphics / Resistant Materials / Textiles

AQA AQA AQA AQA AQA

Maths RE Business Drama Arabic / Japanese / Chinese Health & Social Care (BTEC)

Edexcel Edexcel Edexcel Edexcel Edexcel Edexcel

ICT/Computer Studies History / Geography Physical Education Turkish / Persian

OCR OCR OCR OCR

Film Studies WJEC

Useful Subject Websites Use this space here to write down any useful websites that will help you

Notes

Preparation

& Practise

= Progress

& Performance