Name: Tutor Group:

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ContentsPage No. Title

2 Contents

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3 At first, nobody likes revising!

4 Beat Exam Stress

5 - 7 Revision Techniques: think it through!

8 - 18 Subject Information

19 Revision Mnemonics

20 Exam Dates

This booklet is designed to help you prepare for your end of year exams.

You will have exams of one sort or another at the end of the year for the rest of your school career, so you need to start learning now how to prepare successfully for exams and get the highest grades you can.

Individual revision is the key to exam success. It helps if you follow an organised programme of revision out of school in preparation for your exams.

We want to help you achieve results that you will be proud to write down whenever and wherever you are required to do so: exam results that you can be proud of for the rest of your life!

The main message of this booklet is simple. If you prepare and plan effectively for any exam you are far more likely to succeed.

I hope you find this booklet useful.

Mr A BoulstridgeDeputy Headteacher

At first, nobody likes revising!

You just have to face it and get on with it.

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Good revision = Good exam grades. In the long run, it is worth the effort. So stop putting it off and get down to it! NOW!

Once you get into it, you will feel a sense of achievement and your confidence about the exams will grow.

Ten Top Tips for Successful Revision

Find a good place to work where you cannot be disturbed or distracted. Draw up a plan of what you are going to revise and when. Give yourself targets to achieve when

revising. Don’t work for too long at any one time and take regular breaks of 5-10 minutes during revision. Eat, sleep and live healthily during revision time and during the exams. Make sure you have breakfast

on the day of exams. Try to vary the ways you revise, don’t just sit there reading a book. There are lots of ideas in this

booklet to help you. Sometimes, revise with a friend; talking to someone about a topic/problem often helps your memory. Test yourself (or get someone to test you) regularly without looking at your notes. Re-visit topics/subjects regularly to help you memorise them effectively. Mix up your weak and strong subjects when you revise. Make sure whatever revision you do you make it stick – don’t kid yourself you have revised by sitting

in front of the TV or computer with your book on your lap!

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Beat Exam Stress It is natural to feel anxious about exams. There is pressure to revise and do well from yourself, teachers and parents. The good news is that this anxiety can be managed.

You are not alone!

Most of your friends will have similar feelings. Talk to them and share your worries or concerns with them.

Talk about it!

It’s not just friends you can talk to. What about your tutor, Head of House, Assistant Head of House or a subject teacher you like and trust? What about one of our lovely people in Student Services?

Talking about your worries usually helps

Have confidence and be prepared

Working hard for your exams will stop you from dwelling on the problems and will obviously make it more likely you will succeed and enter an exam in a confident way.

Be Positive!

Focus on the positives such as finishing your exams and doing well in them. Don’t dwell on the negatives. You must be clear about what you want to achieve and how you are going to do it.

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Revision Techniques: think it through!The key to good revision is to use a variety of ways to revise, not just from reading books. There are many tried and tested ways to revise. The key point is that you must process the information you want to revise – in other words, you must think it through again.

Here is a list of possible techniques you could use:

INDEX CARDS The main points can be written out on cards to carry round with you. You can even design coloured symbols on the back. Then the symbols can be used as a trigger for your memory.

POST-ITS Stick post-its with key ideas in your bedroom, hallway or around the house. They can be re-ordered on a flat surface.

POSTERS Dramatic and colourful posters which summarise ideas visually can be placed at eye level, or above.

REVIEW TO MUSIC An enjoyable, easy way to remember. Music with 60-70 beats per minute is supposed to be the best to help your long term memory.

DRAMATIC MONOLOGUES It can help you remember if you speak out loud, especially if the voices are outrageous.

GET A MANAGER Make an arrangement with someone (other than a teacher) to listen to, test or interrogate you at fixed times.

HIGHLIGHTER PENS Practise picking out the main points with a highlighter. Ask your teacher if you’re right then have another go with something else.

AGAINST THE CLOCK Make a game of answering as many questions as you can against the clock. Keep trying to beat your last score.

PRIZE BRIBESAsk your parents to reward you with something good for reaching a target you set yourself.

VISUALISE IT Conjure up pictures in your mind of what you are revising. Make it real. It could help.

MAKE IT SILLY Think up silly suggestions. Things that make us smile are remembered more easily. 6

RECORD YOURSELFThis way you have to think about what goes in – and listen to what comes out.

POINTS OF VIEW In partner revision, or by yourself, take one person’s point of view – then swap over and argue the other side.

INTERVIEW Set up an interview situation – but the questions are on what you’re revising.

WALKABOUT Help your memory by learning things in different places and unusual locations. Learn different chapters of a book, say, in different rooms. Or put index cards on the floor in different sequences and walk between them, memorising as you go.

COLOUR CARDS Colour code your revision cards to help you.

DIAGRAMS AND FLOW CHARTS Tree charts, flow charts, spidergrams, split lists, sets – all are useful for organising your thinking.

MNEMONICS These make words out of the first initials, e.g. CHOPINS – Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorous, Iodine, Nitrogen, Sulphur.

READING OUT LOUD Saying things out loud can help you by making you slow down and organise your thoughts.

TEST, COVER AND RE-TEST Learn something, cover it and test yourself – then check. Repeat until a genius.

WORD GAMES Use word games, e.g. a Stalagmite MIGHT reach the ceiling, and a Stalactite holds TIGHT to the ceiling.

BUDDY TESTING Revise with a friend or group of friends. Some people do well when they bounce ideas off others.

PUZZLES Make logic games, anagrams or puzzles out of what you’re revising e.g. codes, symbols or crosswords.

POEMS Make your subject matter into a rhythmical poem. Remember the rhythm – remember the facts!

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KEEP A REVISION JOURNAL OR DIARY For some people, this allows a feeling of progress and a way to track your own progress.

COLLAGE Make a collage of your main facts, pictures, symbols, cuttings, quotations, formulae etc.

JOURNEY ROUND THE KNOWN UNIVERSE Put key ideas, cards or summaries at eye level around your room, in sequence. Visit them in order – then imagine you’re visiting them. What do they say?

INSIST LISTS Make lists of your MUST DO jobs – and carry them with you everywhere.

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SUBJECT INFORMATION

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What will the examination involve?

Summary/ pick out four points from part of the text.QUESTION 2:Use part of the text: Explain how the writer uses language.You need to select words that have an effect on the reader.Use quotations to explain how the writer makes the reader feel.You need to know effects a word or sentence can have on the reader – build your vocabulary for moods/emotions.You need to link your quotations to how they could make the reader feel and why – you need to explain very clearly.You need to write about sentence structures and other techniques that are linked to the words used – sentences for effect, lists, tricolons, plosives, fricatives, alliteration, hyperbole, oxymorons, sarcasm, irony, onomatopoeia, strong contrasts. SEE THE DOORS IN YOUR CLASSROOM.You need to use technical words to describe how they create an effect on the reader (e.g. verbs, nouns, sibilance, alliteration, repetition).QUESTION 3:STRUCTUREYou need to know how the writer uses structure to bring the text to life and add interest.You need to use quotations to support your points as necessary.You need to know how the writer deliberately uses the structure of their writing to get the reader’s attention and interest. For example, think about how these techniques add interest for the reader:First/ second/ third personLong/ short paragraphsRepeated words/ motifsContrasts – over the whole text (beginning, middle, end)Changes in characterisation/ reader perceptionNarrative hooksCliff hangers at the end of sentences/ paragraphsBuilding up to a point - climactic tricolons, listsHow the writer changes the focus of the narration – zeroing in on the main character for interestEllipsis, dashesRhetorical questionsBuilding tensionParagraphs for effect/ emphasis (e.g. speech, short ones)A sudden unexpected event (also called a revelation or epiphany)Dramatic irony (the reader knows something that a character doesn’t)QUESTION 4:EVALUATION based on a quotation of somebody’s point of view, e.g. “Stories have to have interesting characters” or “All effective stories need a clear setting” or “If a story doesn’t have something exciting happening it hasn’t worked.”You need to explain your view.You will need to use character and place names from the text if necessary.You have to use quotations and clearly explain your opinions.You can agree or disagree with the quotation in the question, but you need to write as much as you can to explain your point of view clearly.You must explain clearly how you or the reader should feel – you need a good bank of emotion words.

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You need to use technical words that show how the writer has an effect on the reader (SEE THE WORDS ON THE DOORS IN YOUR CLASSROOM).CREATIVE WRITING QUESTIONSYou have a choice of TWO questionsQuestion (a): write a story based on a photograph.It could be a description.It could be first or third person.It has to be interesting and grab the reader’s attention.Question (b) is an anecdote or made-up story.It could be first or third person.It has to be interesting and grab the reader’s attention.FOR BOTH QUESTIONS the writing will need to be ACCURATE and INTERESTING. You need to think about using the following:A variety of sentences and punctuationClear simple and compound sentences – joined by connectives.Complex sentences that are joined by commas or semi colons or colons NOT CONNECTIVES.Complex sentences that start with a connective (+ comma).Complex sentences that start with an adverb (+ comma).Complex sentences that start with an –ed adjective (eg Rejected by the dog… Located by the fridge…)Complex sentences that start with, phrases joined by –ing continuous tense verbs (e.g. Moving towards the door… She ran, screaming as she went.)Complex sentences with embedded clauses - two commas, two dashes, brackets.EllipsisQuestion marksWord choices and imageryEffective verbsEffective adverbsEffective adjectivesSimilesMetaphorsPersonificationOnomatopoeiaHyperboleOxymoronsStructureParagraphingParagraphing of speechShort paragraphs for effect/ emphasisClear opening/ endClear sentence startersAlso think about:Creative anecdote - Realism/believability – Humour – Direct speech

Main topics for revision

Understanding the text. Know words that describe how people feel. Know about how words and phrases that show how writers

and characters in texts feel. Know how the writer can affect how the reader feels by tone

or word choices. Know technical words/language or techniques the writer can

use to have an impact on the reader, e.g. alliteration, noun. (See your classroom cupboard doors).

Know the ways a writer can organise and structure a text to add to the impact on the reader, e.g. narrative hooks, first person, direct speech.

Be able to explain a point of view about a writer and the text and back it up with a clear argument and evidence from the text.

Evaluate how a text is effective and explain how it is or not.11

Writing creatively and accuratelyWhat can a student do to prepare?

Top Tips

What you will need

List and revise words that describe how people can feel Plan around words and phrases to think about what moods or

feelings they can cause in the reader List and revise technical words for language and structure

techniques Rewrite and correct any pieces of old work so you can

improve accuracy. Pen Coloured highlighters for picking out key details and

quotations from the texts in the exam.Useful resources (books, websites etc.)

Use iamlearning (through Frog)Reading newspaper articlesHighlighting and marking any articles you are given by your teacherRead stories

What will the examination involve?

As students have started their GCSE already in Year 9, those students who are taking Geography as an option subject will be completing a GCSE style assessment on the topic covered.

Main topics for revision

The only topic that the end of year exam examines is Development.For developments students should know:

What development is? What the terms LICs, HICs and NEEs are? Development indicators - both social and economic HDI and how to use them to judge a country’s development The limitations of development indicators.

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The Development Gap and the causes for this. Different methods of closing the development gap and

evaluating how effective these are. To know an aid project that operates in a LIC

What can a student do to prepare?

Top Tips

What you will need

Revise case studies well. They are worth 9 marks. Be careful with spelling, punctuation and grammar as this is

worth a lot on exam. All questions under 5 marks are point marked. Write one point

to gain a mark Develop a point to gain another. Therefore if a question is worth 4 points you can write two separate points that have both been developed to gain 4 marks.

Always develop points. Use connectives such as because, therefore and ‘this is due to” to help do this.

Start revision early.You will need a pen, pencil, eraser and ruler.

Useful resources (books, websites etc.)

All past papers are on the s/drive and are available on FROG at home.Videos on Planet E-StreamBBC Bitesize

What will the examination involve? Source use and Essay Question

Main topics for revision

Nazi Germany and World War 2. You will need to have knowledge of:

1. Nazi Propaganda2. Hitler Youth

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3. Opposition to Nazis4. Treatment of the Jews

What can a student do to prepare?

What you will need

Use revision sheet and resources below.

Pen.

Useful resources (books, websites etc.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSjkpaXlXIE – Hitler, Rise of Evilhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpqY2W815iA – Youth in Nazi Germanyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOPTURrhzDw – Opposition in Nazi Germanyhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/education/topics/zfnp34j/resources/1 - Revision videos and tasks on all aspects.

What will the examination involve?

A GCSE Foundation Tier (Non-calculator) Paper. 1hr.

Main topics for revision Triangle Types Translations

Functional Operations Reading TimetablesSymmetry & Tessellation Metric Readings Reading Bar Charts EstimationReading Scales Fractions of amountReading Graphs Area/Perimeter Reading tables ProbabilityMoney Problems Percentage of amountSolving Equations Coordinates Temperatures (Negative numbers) BODMAS

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Sequences Mean averageAngles in Triangles Linear Graphs Negative Numbers 2 Sample Space DiagramFunction Machines Conversion Kilograms to gramsRotationsCovers work from years 7, 8 and 9

What can a student do to prepare?

Top Tips

What you will need

Work on the red and orange sections on your self-assessments.

Use the hyperlinks on FROG in pupil resources (and student shared drive) to practise key topics.Pen, pencil, ruler, protractor, tracing paper. (Tracing paper will be provided, along with some protractors).

Useful resources (books, websites etc.)

Your maths bookYour self-assessmentswww.mymaths.co.uk

What will the examination involve?

Students will be sitting their exams in the Hall.The Paper will consist of Translation and Writing Tasks.Speaking tests will be completed in class in lesson time prior to the exam dates.This will involve a Speaking card and follow up questions. Instructions for this will be given by the class teacher.

Main topics for revision

Themes studied in Year 9 and included in the tests are: Family, Relationships, Social Issues, Free time, Sport, Cinema, Television, New Media, Music, Pocket Money and Shopping.

Students are also expected to revise present, past and future tenses, as well as the conditional.

They will be required to demonstrate a clear grasp of the following structures and vocabulary, using opinions, connectives, reasons, time phrases, intensifiers, adverbs

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and complex structures.What can a student do to prepare?

Revise all vocabulary booklets (useful booklet of everything ! ).

Revise Cue Cards prepared in class during the course of the year.

Revise from exercise books, Cue Cards, Vocabulary Booklets, Folders, worksheets.

Useful resources (books, websites etc.)

I am learning (FROG school website)BBCbitesize.co.ukKerboodle.comFREE APPS : mem.rise / Quizlet / Gogimo

What will the examination involve?

One exam which is 1 hour long.It will consist of knowing key terms as well as shorter and longer length answers. PEE (point, evidence, explain) will be required, as will knowledge of quotations and examples of religious teachings and practises. Students will be expected to evaluate ideas in longer length answers.

Main topics for revision

Religion, crime and punishment (Autumn term unit) Religion, peace and conflict (Spring term unit)

What can a student do to prepare?

Top Tips

What you will need

Create flash cards – put questions/key terms on one side and the answers on the back.

Create mind maps using different colours for ideas (points), examples and quotations.

Draw pictures on your revision notes to visualise while in the exam.

Ask parents, carers, family members or friends to test you. A pen.

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Useful resources (books, websites etc.)

Exercise bookRevision sheets provided by your class teacher

What will the examination involve?

Three papers will be sat by pupils; each paper will be 40 minutes long covering Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Questions will be in the style of GCSE exams – spellings and key terms will be needed throughout the paper.

Main topics for revision

Biology topics covered so far this year:

Biology Foundation Tier Biology Higher TierStructure of Animal cells, Plant cells and Bacterial cellsFunction of the organelles in animal and plant cellsSpecialised cells – sperm, nerve, muscle and xylem and phloemMicroscopy – calculations and advantages of electron microscopesStages of MitosisStem CellsTransport in cells – Diffusion, Osmosis and Active TransportHuman digestive system (organs)Structure of enzymesDigestive enzymesThe lungs – structure, function and adaptations for gaseous exchange

Structure of Animal cells, Plant cells and Bacterial cellsFunction of the organelles in animal and plant cellsSpecialised cells – sperm, nerve, muscle and xylem and phloemMicroscopy – calculations and advantages of electron microscopesStages of MitosisStem CellsTransport in cells – Diffusion, Osmosis and Active TransportHuman digestive system (organs)Structure of enzymesDigestive enzymesThe lungs – structure, function and adaptations for gaseous exchangeCulturing microorganisms and calculating area of inhibition

Main topics for revision

Chemistry topics covered so far this year:

Chemistry Foundation Tier Chemistry Higher TierAtoms, elements and CompoundsMixturesSubatomic particles

Atoms, elements and CompoundsMixturesSubatomic particles

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Electronic StructureGroup 0History of the atomic modelMetals and non-metalsGroup 1 and Group 7Displacement ReactionsDevelopment of the Periodic TableParticle TheoryIonic Bonding and CompoundsCovalent BondingSimple Molecules

Electronic StructureGroup 0History of the atomic modelMetals and non-metalsGroup 1 and Group 7Displacement ReactionsDevelopment of the Periodic TableTransition MetalsParticle TheoryIonic Bonding and CompoundsCovalent Bonding

Main topics for revision

Chemistry topics covered so far this year:

Chemistry Foundation Tier Chemistry Higher TierGiant Covalent StructureMetallic BondingAlloys

Simple MoleculesGiant Covalent StructurePolymersMetallic BondingAlloysNanoparticles

Main topics for revision

Physics topics covered so far this year:

Physics Foundation tier Physics Higher tierScalars and vectorsResultant forceWeightWork doneHooke’s lawSpeed, distance timeMotion graphsAccelerationTerminal VelocityNewton’s lawsBrakingStopping distanceEnergy StoresSankey diagramsEfficiency

Scalars and vectorsResultant forceWeightWork doneHooke’s lawMomentsPressureSpeed, distance timeMotion graphsAccelerationTerminal VelocityNewton’s lawsBrakingStopping distanceVehicle safety featuresMomentumEnergy StoresSankey diagramsEfficiency

What can a student do to prepare?

Look over their notes and topic tests to make revision notes/mind maps/posters/flash cards etc.

Useful resources (books, websites etc.)

BBC KS4 Science Bitesize website.

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Revision Mnemonics.One of the tips for revision earlier in this booklet was to use mnemonics. Mnemonics help you to remember information by using short words that stand for something. Here is a Mnemonic for REVISION:

Rest (get some sleep – go to bed at a reasonable time).

Exercise (do something – even a 15 minute walk will help to clear your head.)

Variety (use a few revision techniques – don’t do the same thing all the time.)

Imagination (imagine the feeling of doing really well – that will help you to keep going.)

Structure (get into a routine – build some revision into every day but one in each week.)

Individual (find what revision techniques work for you and stick with them.)

Ongoing (start NOW – little and often is better than last-minute panic.)

Not too long (revise for 30 minutes; take 10 off; revise for 30; take ten off; revise for 30; stop!)

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Year 9 Exam Dates: Tuesday 5th July & Friday 8th July

You will receive your exam timetable a week or so before your exams start. Please keep your timetables safe as they show your exam room and seat number.

You must go straight to the exam room in the morning. You will line up outside the exam room and wait to be called in by an invigilator. You must enter the exam room in silence and leave your bags and coats at the front of the room.

Water bottles are allowed in the exam room if necessary. These should be CLEAR bottles with a spill-proof cap and there should be no label on the bottle.

Any problems please go to the exams office, located opposite the gym.

FINALLY ~ REVISE WELL and GOOD LUCK!

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You should NOT HAVE MOBILE PHONES IN YOUR POSSESSION.

They must be turned off and left in your bags, or handed in to invigilators for safe keeping during the exam. You should not have notes, IPods, MP3 players etc. in your possession.

You should bring BLACK pens, pencil, rubber and any other writing equipment needed to your exams. Only clear pencil cases are allowed on your desk. Gel pens are not allowed but you may use highlighter pens on your question paper but NOT your answer paper. There must be no graffiti on exam desks.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO TALKING or communication between students once you enter the exam room or during the exam. If you have any questions or problems, you should raise your hand once seated and an invigilator will come to you.

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