How to Revise for Exams Ms Wilson - February 2024
CONTENTS MAKING A START
KNOW YOUR SUBJECT
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
25. 28. 30. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 38. 40. 42. 44. 46. 48. 49. 51. 53.
Motivation and Procrastination Organisation and Planning Looking After Yourself Keep Your Mental Health in Mind It can be helpful to talk to people Sleep and Diet
GET TO KNOW THE EXAMS 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Know what You'll be Tested on Command Words Long Answer Questions Weird Questions Make the Most of Practice Papers
REVISION TECHNIQUES 14. 15. 17. 18. 20. 21. 22. 23.
Learn, Revise, and Test Yourself Get Your Notes in Order Condensing Your Notes Mind Maps Making Flow Charts Using Flash Cards More Revision Tips Test Yourself
ART HOSPITALITY & CATERING CHILD DEVELOPMENT CITIZENSHIP COMPUTER SCIENCE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY DRAMA ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENGLISH LITERATURE GEOGRAPHY HISTORY LANGUAGES MATHS MUSIC PE RELIGIOUS STUDIES SCIENCE
THE EARLIER YOU
ON THE DAY
START AND THE MORE
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 65. 67.
ORGANISED YOU ARE,
Before the Exam During the Exam Enhance your Vocabulary After the Exam Exam dates - Summer 2023 Exam Timetable Revision Timetable Top 10 Tips Good Luck!
THE GREATER YOUR CHANCE OF SUCCESS.
MOTIVATION AND PROCRASTINATION Reading about how to revise is a good start.
Knowing Why You're Revising Can Motivate You It's best to start revising early, but even if you're reading this a week before your exams, it's not too late for your revision to make a difference.
1. Think about why you want to do well in your exams. It may be: to get into a good sixth form or college after your GCSE's to help you one day get your dream job to prove to yourself and others that you can do it 2. Whatever your goal, it's best to start revising as soon as possible. 3. Be positive about revision - it can be tough, but it'll really help when exams arrive. 4. Focus on your goals and don't compare yourself to other people.
5 Top Tips for Staying Motivated 1. Set small targets with rewards 2. Remind yourself of your long term goals 3. Plan a big treat for after your exams 4. Use a topic planner so you can see the progress you've made 5. If you're dreading a particular topic, start with some easier topics first
Procrastination Wastes Valuable Time 1. Procrastination means putting off a task that needs doing. 2. You need to avoid procrastination to make the most of your revision time Turn off your phone, television and other distractions. Give yourself regular breaks - it'll help you keep focused when you're revising. Break up your revision into small chunks so it's not one endless snog. Start with something small - this will ease you into focusing on your work.
ORGANISATION AND PLANNING Some things are best when you dive straight in - revision is not one of those things. Making a plan means you can spend more time revising and less time worrying you've forgotten something.
Planning Will Make You Feel in Control Spend some time on a solid revision plan, but don't spend so long that you don't have time to revise.
to Plan e to Reasons have tim u o y w o n You k erything s cover ev t any topic o g r o f 't You won arly ioritise e r p n a c u Yo jects tricky sub r o s m a x e s stress e c u d e r It efficient. It's more
What Hap pens With out a Plan You'll waste time decid ing what to rev ise each se ssion. You might not allow enough tim e to revise everything You can't e asily check what you've alre ady revised You may fo rget some topics
Timetables Can Help You Plan Your Revision A revision timetable and topic planner will help you schedule your revision and see how you progress. You can find handy versions ready to fill in at the back of this book.
Being Organised WILL Save Time 1. Organise your notes and books for each subject to make it easier to find information. 2. Write a To-Do list, then prioritise which tasks must be done first. 3. Make sure you have all the necessary stationery so you can crack on with your revision without a fuss.
Buy scientific ca
lculator Tidy desk Organise my book s
Get PE kit ready Do Maths homew ork Remember readin g book
LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF Exam periods can be stressful! It is normal to feel nervous when you have an exam coming up. There are ways to cope so stress doesn't affect your revision or your health.
Exams are Stressful for Everyone 1. You won't be alone in feeling under pressure about
Signs of Stress include
exams - it's likely your classmates are also finding
A loss of appetite
this time stressful.
Sudden weight loss or gain
2. A small amount of stress can be good for you - it
Feeling anxious
can motivate you to do better or help you stay
Difficulty concentrating
focused on working hard until your exams are
Feeling emotional
over.
Struggling to sleep
3. However, too much stress can negatively impact your health. It's essential to recognise the signs of stress so you can do something about them.
Take a Break from Technology
Choose an 1. It is essential to give yourself a break from technology - too much exercise that screen time can strain your eyes and affect your sleep. suits your 2. Even spending time away from your screen or study area can help. fitness level it should be 3. Set aside time daily to go outside and get some fresh air. fun! 4. Even if you're not working at a screen, it's still important to take breaks from studying to avoid getting a sore back or neck. 5. Exercise can take your mind off things you're worried about. 6. Doing just a few stretches can be a good break from work.
Go Outside Going for a walk, run or short bike ride is a great way to get some fresh air, by yourself or with a friend.
Indoor Workout There are lots of indoor workouts to choose from try dancing, interval training, sit ups, weights and more.
Try Yoga or Pilates Yoga and Pilates combine exercise and breathing with meditation which is a great way to relax.
KEEP YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IN MIND Make sure your targets for each day are realistic - working in small manageable chunks will help you stay positive.
Leave time in the evening to RELAX - working too late will affect your sleep.
g to If you are strugglin ight be stay on track, it m our worth rethinking y it better schedule to make for you.
s all win m s e t a he Celebr ledge t w o n k e - ac ou hav y s s e r prog ill keep w s i h t . made tivated o m u yo
Use distractions such as TV and gaming as a reward for studying - this will help you motivate yourself.
Don't wor ry if you're not able to stick to your sche dule 100% of the tim e - take some time out for yourself.
Take breaks - this will help you relax and make your studying or revision more effective.
Don't compare yourself to others everyone works in different ways. Just focus on what you're doing each day.
There are apps that block social media and other notifications. These prevent distraction and help you not feel stressed about wasting your time.
IT CAN BE HELPFUL TO TALK TO PEOPLE If you ever feel too stressed (about studying or anything else), remember that you're not alone - talking to someone about how you feel can help you get advice and feel less worried. You could talk to someone you trust - e.g. family member, teachers or your Doctor. You could also arrange a call with a friend and let them know how you're doing - they might also be feeling anxious, so chatting can help you both. At school, you can talk to the Pastoral team, your Tutors, Head of Year or Senior Leaders -
Pastoral - Mrs Jackson Tutors - Mr West, Mrs Stonehouse, Mr Forsyth Head of Year - Miss Rutledge Deputy Head - Mr Smith
We are always here for you!
If you don't feel comfortable talking to someone you know, there are support services and helplines available where you can talk to someone confidentially. Listed below are organisations that work with Chessington School, students can make contact themselves should they need to.
SHOUT 85258
0800 1111
HTTPS://WWW.CHILDLINE.ORG.UK/I NFO-ADVICE/SCHOOL-COLLEGEAND-WORK/SCHOOLCOLLEGE/EXAM-STRESS/
Young Minds – provides free, 24/7 support across the UK. If you need urgent help text Shout on 85258, or call: 0800 068 4141
Texts are FREE and answered by trained volunteers 24/7, with support from experienced clinical supervisors. Texts can be anonymous.
MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES ARE SERIOUS. YOU AREN'T WASTING ANYONE'S TIME. LET YOUR TRUSTED FRIENDS, FAMILY OR TUTOR KNOW IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING.
SLEEP AND DIET Sleep helps you process what you have learnt. Getting a healthy amount of food and sleep will keep you at peak condition when you're revising and make it easier to take information in.
Don't skip SLEEP to revise
Sleep helps you process what you have learnt.
Do something RELAXING before bed
Avoid caffeine, strenuous exercise and looking at your phone.
Keep your PHONE AWAY from your bed It will disrupt your sleep if it keeps going off.
Sleep on your REVISION NOTES
You'll revise through osmosis. If you don't know what osmosis is, sleep on a biology book tonight...
Eat plenty of FRUIT AND VEG
Yes, even broccoli (honestly, you will grow to like it!)
DON'T SKIP MEALS
It makes it difficult to concentrate
Get plenty of PROTEIN
Oily fish are great to eat (but hard to catch!)
Drink LOTS of Water
Make sure you have a water bottle with you at all times.
GRAB A SNACK when you are feeling peckish
Keep your energy levels up so you can be the best you can.
KNOW WHAT YOU'LL BE TESTED ON Look at the exam board specifications for your subjects from the Summer Exam 2024 timetable. This is on the website here: https://www.chessington.kingston.sch.uk/academic/exam-information The timetable will tell you the date and whether it is a morning or afternoon exam which will help you plan. It will also tell you how many papers you need to sit for each exam and how long the exam time will be.
Make sure you look at past papers as they will show you the types of questions that could come up.
Ask your Teacher Find out the Assessment Objectives from the exam boards website
Know the AO's Assessment Objectives what you need to show in your exams
Question Types Make sure you know which types of questions to expect for each subject.
Find out what you'll Get Marks for It is important to know exactly what to aim for to earn those all important marks. For Maths - remember to show your working out! Use specific vocabulary and examples where possible (eg, dates / locations in History) In Science and Maths, make sure answers are realistic and in the correct units. Check your writing - some humanities exams give marks for SPag. Be prepared for questions about 'working scientifically' in science exams.
COMMAND WORDS You'll need to know what different questions are asking you to do - that's where the command words come in.
Read the Exam Questions carefully Read the question a few times, or until you understand it. Use the number of marks available as a guide for how long to spend on a question. Underline or circle key phrases and command words.
Command words are key - They tell you What to Do Common Science and Maths commands
Command
Meaning
Describe
talk through a process or trend
Outline
state information about...
Suggest
give possible causes for...
Calculate
complete a calculation
Show
prove something is true / false
Explain
give reasons for something
Example Question: Calculate the value of 'X' The command word here is calculate, so you need to work out a value, and remember to show your working out.
Common English and Humanities commands
Command
Meaning
Discuss
talk through a process or trend
How far do you agree
state information about...
How important is
give possible causes for...
How useful is
complete a calculation
Use evidence to show
prove something is true / false
Explain
give reasons for something
To watch a handy 2 minute YouTube video on COMMAND WORDS scan the QR code
Example: Eat Your Dinner
The command word here is eat. Example: Find your Shoes
The command word here is find - to look for, search
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS For lots of subjects, you will have to write longer answers - don't panic!
Take some time to plan your Answers For each long answer question: Read the questions carefully. Read every text or source you need to. Check what COMMAND words the text uses.
Now make a quick plan Jot down your main ideas Link your ideas by topic or theme Outline the structure of your answer
Remember!! Don't spend too long planning
Neatly cross out your plan when finished You can SMASH IT!
Write Well to Get Marks in Long-Answer Questions Structure Your Writing 1. Use paragraphs to organise your points and link ideas 2. Link your paragraphs using phrases such as 'on the other hand' and 'in addition to this..'
You should aim to Start with.a short introduction End with a brief summar / conclusion that clearly reminds the reader of your main argument.
Remember ... You are writing for an examiner, write properly, avoid informal words (ie. John's mate), and don't use any slang or street words, like, my bad, wicked, d'ya know what I mean?
Explain ... Explain things clearly using phrases like: this signifies that... this highlights... this suggest that ... furthermore ...
Write Clearly 1. Don't make your sentences too complicated. 2. Check you argument is easy to understand. 3. Use specific examples and precise quotes.
Don't forget your SPaG Some GCSE exams give you marks just for the quality of your Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar - so it's worth getting it right!
SPaG Recipe Avoid spelling mistakes, use punctuation, don't change tense, watch out for double negatives, new paragraphs, new points,
To watch a handy 2 minute YouTube video on LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS scan the QR code
WEIRD QUESTIONS Every so often, exams might hit you with something strange. Don't fear though - help is here!
You might need to tackle an Unusual Question 1. Don't Panic
2. Read if Carefully
3. Think it Through
EXAMPLE Sometimes maths problems might be set in a real-life context. This means you have to work out what you need to do before you can do the maths: Evan buys apples in crates of 50 apples. Each costs £22.50
Underlining the information you need can help
He presses 3 crates of apples every weekday (Mon-Fri) and 2 crates per day at the weekend. How much will it cost Evan to buy enough crates of apples to keep pressing them for 5 weeks?
Use what you've underlined to create the correct calculations for your answer: Number of crates need for 1 weeks = (3 x 5) + (2 x 2) = 19 Number of crates needed for 5 weeks = 19 x 5 = 95 Total cost of every crate needed = 95 x £22.50 = £2137.50
Be Prepared for Tricky (But Predictable) Questions If you know certain types of questions are bound to come up, you can be ready for them.
History: Using Sources In History, you can get questions which ask you to decide how useful a source is - these can be tricky. It might help to ask yourself:
Does any info make the course more / less reliable? Consider: Who write it Who they wrote it for Why they wrote it
Does the source match what you know about the topic? Compare what you know about the topic with the information in the source If they don't match, thin about why.
Does the source tell the full story? Consider whether the source leaves out key information The source may be unreliable if the writer is deliberately trying to hide something.
Science: Calculation Questions A good chunk of marks are available for calculation questions. If you find maths daunting, these things can help:
Show your working out. Check your Answer Read tables / Graphs carefully
You get marks for it and it can help you spot silly errors. Make sure your answer seems sensible. Double check you've used the correct figures.
MAKE THE MOST OF PRACTICE PAPERS Now you know what you're aiming for in the exam, put it into practice by doing some practice!
Do as Many Practice Questions as You Can 1. The key to GCSE success is to be well-prepared for the exams. To do this, you need to have a go at answering some exam-style questions. 2. Do as many practice papers as youc an. CGP has plenty of practice papers, and you can find past exam papers on ex-board websites. 3. Practice papers and past papers also show you how long you'll have for the exam this will give you an idea of how long to spend on each question. 4. When you start answering practice questions, you could use your notes to help you. As the exam gets closer, practice under exam conditions.
Practice under exam conditions Get the right equipment out. Time yourself. Find somewhere quiet, with no distractions. Don't use your revision notes to help you. Use the mark scheme All practice papers should have mark schemes. These tell you how marks are allocated and how to get the correct answer. Compare the mark scheme to what you wrote. Mark yourself, correcting what you got wrong. Check out examiner's reports These tell you what people struggled with and the things examiners look out for. Putting yourself in an examiner's shoes helps you see how to improve your answers.
Do it all again Once you've marked your exam and figured out where you went wrong, take a break from it. After a day or so, go back over your notes and then do the same exam again. This helps the right answer stick in your head.
Don't panic! If you don't get a high mark at first, don't worry - the idea it to get a bit better each time.
LEARN, REVISE, TEST YOURSELF This process is super important. You can't revise what you don't understand, or practice what you don't know, so don't skip out steps.
The learning process starts by making notes in class and doing homework, but sometimes you might have to do some extra
LEARN
research too. Before you start revising a topic, you must ensure you understand it. If there's anything you're not sure about, you could: look back over your notes carefully and read the textbook again. do some research, in the library or online. ask your teacher.
When you are happy that you understand a topic, you can move on to revise it. Revising is the process of going back over what you've learnt so that you're ready
REVISE
to answer questions on it in an exam. There are many different ways to revise - here are just a few examples: condensing your notes
mind maps
flow charts
flash cards
You can also try techniques to help you remember and retrieve more.
TEST YOURSELF
Don't worry if you find something you don't understand - just go back and learn it again.
Once you're happy that you know a topic, it's time to test yourself: You could start by doing some quick fact recall questions and then go on to some practice exam questions. It's essential to do some realistic exam practice - some questions will ask you to apply what you've learnt in different ways so it's good to know you can do this.
If there is something you can't remember go back over your notes and revise it again.
GET YOUR NOTES IN ORDER Before you start revising, you need to get your notes together and make sure they're as useful as they can be.
Start by Gathering the Notes You Have 1. You'll have made notes in many ways - class notes, homework, coursework, independent study etc. 2. Arrange your notes in a sensible way. e.g. have a separate folder for each subject, and split each subject into topics - this will make it easier to keep track of what you've got and find what you need. 3. To make sure you have notes on every topic, check the exam spec. Exam specs should what you need to know or do to perform well in the exam.
Fill in Any Gaps 1. If you're missing notes on a topic, you can find information to fill in the gaps in lots of places - revision guides, textbooks, online resources etc. 2. When you write notes, don't just copy things down word for word. 3. Instead, you should write the key information in your own words. this will help you actively learn the content while you're studying. It will also make your notes easier to understand and refer to. 4. There is more on how to make effective notes below.
Make Sure Your Notes and Neat and Clear 1. If your notes are hard to read, you won't be able to revise effectively from them. 2. Tidy them up and re-write any parts that are particularly confusing. 3. When you fill in the gaps or rewrite notes, try these methods to make your notes as useful as possible.
You Could Split your Notes into Sections Title
1. Splitting your page into different parts means you need to think about what fits where,so it's a great way of checking that understand it. 2. Divide your page like this: This is called the Cornell Method.
Key words and questions
Notes
Summary
GET YOUR NOTES IN ORDER You Can Also Use Indentations 1. Indenting lets you organise your notes into
Germ Theory
main points, sub points and extra info. start with your main point to the left Add a sub point indented underneath Add any extra points for that sub point Add further information for each extra point
1. Louis Pasteu (French chemist) 1857: blamed germs for souring of sugar beet in fermenting industrial alcohol 1861: Published his Germ Theory suggested that microbes in the air caused decay and disease
2. This creates a logical outline of the information and helps you see how different points link together. 3. This method is most effective when you're working at your own pace and have time to plan the structure of your notes. 4. It works best for subjects with lots of information, like Biology, History or English Literature. It may not be so helpful for subjects like Maths, where the practice is the key to revision.
Draw Attention to Key Information 1. Whether you're making notes from scratch or tidying up your existing notes, emphasising the most important information is a good idea. 2. Use a mixture of techniques to do this: Add subheadings to organise the information Use highlighting to pick out the most important points. Colour-code information to show links ie. write all definitions in orange.
EXAMPLE Theme: Prejudice
You don't need to write in full sentances - just make sure your notes are clear
Characters who are victims of prejudice: Shylock - Christian characters are hostile towards him. Duke calls him "inhuman wretch" Jessica - Experiences anti-semitism, even after marrying Lorenzo and becoming Christian. Characters who are prejudiced Antonio - He is anti-semitic and would "spit on" Shylock Shylock - Hates Antonio "for he is a Christian"
CONDENSING YOUR NOTES Now you notes are neat, it's time to get cracking. You can't learn every word you've ever written, so you need to condense your notes. - these will act as prompts for your main notes.
Condense Your Notes into Your Own Words 1. Simply and summarise your notes into key points so they're easier to revise from. 2. Aim to get each topic into a single page. Cut out the waffle, pick out whats important. 3. Try to reorganise the material in some way, eg, by grouping or linking differently 4. How you present your notes might depend on the subject.
For example, you could make:
Labelled diagrams for Science
A timeline of key dates for History 1935
A page of key quotes for English Literature
Pearl harbour
1945
A table of formulas and rules for Maths
EXAMPLE Wind Turbines don't produce pollution in order to generate
Wind Turbines
power, and there are no fuel costs
Positive
to run them. However, they can be quite noisy for people who live nearby and they don't produce electricity in very strong winds or
Negative
No Pollution Noisy No fuel costs Depend on wind
when there is now wind.
TO WATCH A HANDY 2 MINUTE YOUTUBE VIDEO ON CONDENSING NOTES - SCAN THE QR CODE
MIND MAPS A Mind Map is a type of Diagram 1. Mind Maps are a visual way to organise information. 2. One Mind Map usually represents one topic. 3. The name of the topic goes in the middle with sub-topics and further detail added around it. 4. Details are short and to the point. 5. Add bubbles and boxes around some of the information. 6. A good mind map uses colour and images.
Mind Maps are Great for Revising Topics Organise
Identify
Organising visually can make it easier to recall in an exam
Identify the key ideas of a topic and find links between them
Memory Colour and images can help topics and information to stick in your mind
A Mind Map is a highly effective way of getting information in and out of your brain - it is a creative and logical means of note-taking and note-making that literally 'maps out' your ideas.
It is also proven that Mind Mapping is helpful for dyslexics and autistic students to better understand concepts and strategies.
TO WATCH A HANDY 2 MINUTE YOUTUBE VIDEO ON MIND MAPS - SCAN THE QR CODE
DRAWING MIND MAPS - EXAMPLE Here is an example of a mind map for the poem 'The Man Hunt' by Simon Armitage. THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE TO START...
5
Body
Effects of war on soldiers — PTSD Laura’s poem — wife of solider injured in Bosnia
“parachute silk of his punctured lung”
Images and colour can help you remember things better.
metaphors — body = broken objects
— still some connection half-rhymes — disjointed — brokenness
wife wants to help rebuild him — “bind”
Language
1 Write the main topic in the middle of the page...
‘The Manhunt’ by Simon Armitage
couplets — couple are alone enjambment
Caring
Context
4 Add details in note form. Don’t make the page too full.
gentle verbs “trace”, “attend”
War
Form & Structure “broken ribs” different injuries / different couplets — slow process 3
Then, start to fill in the detail.
2
Themes
Distance
Pain
Physical “punctured lung”
... surrounded by sub-topics.
Emotional “buried deep in his mind”
husband — psychological scars from experiences “grazed heart”
MAKING FLOW CHARTS Flow charts are a type of diagram that show a process from beginning to end. They organise information clearly - you can use words and images to show what happens when. It's tempting to spend ages making your flow charts look perfect but as long as they are clear and easy to use, the do not need to be fancy.
Start at the Start 1. It might sound obvious, but order is really important in flow charts. 2. Write the first step in the process at the top of the page and work downwards. 3. Flow charts highlight the main steps in a process, but if it helps, you can add key points about the different steps to jog your memory keep them short and concise though.
TO WATCH A HANDY 2 MINUTE YOUTUBE VIDEO ON FLOW CHARTS - SCAN THE QR CODE
USING FLASH CARDS Flash cards are one of the simplest, but most effective, revision tools. You might not be able to play solitaire or snap with them, but with a little patience, they'll help you bridge any gaps.
1. Flash cards are small cards with a question or prompt on one side, and the
BACK
Flash Cards Are a Great Revision Tool ANSWER
side. 2. They are a great way to test yourself and find gaps in your knowledge.
Flash cards are really useful for: important dates in History language vocabulary key words and definition formulae labelled diagrams
FRONT
answer or information on the other QUESTION OR PROMPT
There are a lot of flash cards on sale online but it is a good idea to make your own. Work through your notes and picking out information is part of the revision process.
You can buy revision cards anywhere, and could have different colours for different subjects.
Use Them To Test Yourself Group your flashcards based on how well you know the content. Test yourself more often on the groups you
Say your answers out loud - this forces you to answer the questions properly.
struggle with than those you know better.
Ask someone else to test you - it removes the temptation to check the other side before answering.
Flashcards are pocket sized - take them where ever you go!
MORE REVISION TIPS Revise With a Friend
Don't panic about wh at are doing - do what other people works for you.
Test each other on different topics e.g. you could use your flashcards. Try speaking for one minute on a topic, then get your friend to ask you questions about it. Come up with funny pictures or stories to help you remember information. Get creative! Don't chat while you're revising - it is distracting! Take regular breaks and drink plenty of water.
Say It Out Loud Record Yourself
Saying things out loud is a great way to revise!
Speak out Loud
Change Lyrics to songs
Listen
Work Out Your Strengths & Weaknesses To make your revision as effective as possible, focus on topics you're not so strong on. There are a few ways to identify areas to improve on. ask your teachers look at the results of your mock exams to see where you lost marks look at the feedback on the assessments look over homework and see which bits you did less well on ask your friends - especially ones you've worked with on group projects you shouldn't completely ignore topics you feel confident about - it's essential to revise these area's so that they stay fresh in your mind.
PLAN MORE TIME
Apps, Videos and On-line tools can help you Revise Here are a few helpful apps to help with revision. Your subject teacher will be able to give you more detailed app's to use.
Exercise Your Mind & Body Incorporating exercise into your revision routine can pay off because exercise stimulates your brain.
TEST YOURSELF You've tried everything to revise and now it's time to test how much you know. Don't worry if you don't do well immediately when testing yourself - it's not the actual exam after all.
You Can Practise in Smaller Chunks
Before d oing a fu ll p ractice p For subjects where you'll need to answer multiple long-answer aper, yo u may find it h questions, you could try writing an answer to just one long-answer elpful to get familiar w it h exam-s question. This can help you get a feel for how to write longer tyle question s. answers without worrying about answering more than one of these
questions in a row or in a certain time limit. Try swapping exam answers with a classmate so you can give feedback on each other's work and share ideas. This should help you to see what you do well and what you need to work on. You can also try just planning your answers - doing this for a range of questions will help you to get better at structuring long answers quickly and working out what to cover. Focus on practice questions for the topics you're struggling with or the question types you need to work on. This will help you feel more confident to tackle these questions in the exam.
Past Papers Will Test Your Knowledge 1. When you feel ready, apply your knowledge by doing a full past paper. 2. Replicate exam conditions - this will give you a food feel for what it'll be like in the actual exam. 3. Give yourself the same amount of time you will have in the exam. 4. Do it without your notes - this will show you what you know and what you need to revise again.
Mark Your Paper with A Mark Scheme Once finished, look at the mark scheme to see how well you did: Mark schemes tell you how marks are allocated and can show you how to get the correct answer. Work through any questions you got wrong - this will help you see what to do next time you get a similar question. You can sometimes get marks for showing your work / working out. Seeing where you have missed marks will help you work out which topics you need to revise more.
TEST YOURSELF Review Weak Spots and Test Yourself Again
LAST
NEXT
FIRST Identify the topics that you didn't do well on in the past paper.
After a day or two, revise the tricky topics and then do the past paper
If you're still struggling, test yourself on the information again
again.
until it sticks!
Examiner's Reports Point Out Common Mistakes 1. After you've finished and marked a past paper, it's worth looking at the examiner's report. 2. Examiner's reports tell you what worked well in people's answers - this can give you tips about the kind of things the examiner is looking for. 3. They also tell you what people struggled with in the exam - this can help you avoid common mistakes. 4. You can use this information to guide your answers when you test yourself again. or when it comes to the real exam.
Don't Worry if You're Struggling at First Having a go at practice papers can be stressful, especially if you're not doing as well as you'd like, but try not to panic. The more practice you do, the more familiar you'll become with what to expect in the exam - this should increase your confidence and make things feel less frightening on the day.
Doing a practice paper more than once should hopefully show that you've made some encouraging progress. If you don't see any improvement at first, don't worry - just keep revising the topics you're struggling with and then give the paper another try. Doing Past Exam Papers
Will increase your chances. Is the best practice. Makes you more confident.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: ART ADVICE: Generate lots of ideas for your exam topic in your sketchbook Link your ideas to the topic. Remember, good presentation is vital. Include descriptive words, keywords and phrases Research the minimum of two artists. Explain how the artists link to the exam question/theme, like the theme, style or techniques, because they are interesting and you want to apply them in your work. You will include images and draw examples of their work as well as research and writing using our artist success criteria.
GREAT VIDEO GUIDES TO WATCH How to get an A in GCSE Art:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5ur9p2G-xE
A* GCSE Exam Sketchbook:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND1Y0rUqB3M
GCSE A* Full marks sketchbook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJiOyE3qmOo A* GCSE Art Sketchbook:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxl6paBnR9c
Develop your own ideas, through drawings, experiments and photography. How are your ideas linking to your topic and artists?
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: ART
Use these helpful hints and tips to revise for your Art GCSE exam.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: ART
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: HOSPITALITY & CATERING Having the text book and revision book will help you with your revision.
You are not alone - come and talk and share ideas
See Mrs Ford for work booklets, past papers and revision guides.
What's the best breakfast on exam days? Research shows that pupils and students who eat breakfast perform better in exams. For the best breakfast, include slow-release carbohydrates, such as whole rolled porridge oats, whole grain bread or low-sugar muesli, as they provide slow-release energy. Add a protein food, such as milk, yoghurt or eggs, to keep you feeling full for longer. On exam day aim to include a portion of a food rich in longchain Omega-3 fats, such as smoked mackerel, as they are believed to have brain-boosting properties.
Create your own bright, fun flash cards to help you revise.
If you have revision books, flashcards etc - please make sure you use them and add to your revisions calendar.
SORT THE ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES (AO) INTO SEPARATE SHEETS AS KNOWLEDGE ORGANISERS SO YOU CAN REVISE IN TOPIC CHUNKS.
remember CUSTARD
Keywords and their meaning.
C - Circle the common word U - Underline key words S - Scribble down points to cover T - Think it through A - Answer all the questions R - Read your answer through D - Don't Rush
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: HOSPITALITY & CATERING Types of questions used: 1. Give/State = normally one or two word answers, at the very most a short sentence. 2. Name/Name the specific = As above, but requires specific detail to be given. Generic answers will gain no marks. 3. Describe = Normally one or two sentences which form a description, making reference to two linked points. Both points must be linked for a complete answer. 4. Explain = Normally one or to sentences which form an explanation. This requires a clear or detailed account of something which includes relevant justification, reason or example.
The Hospitality Industry COMMERCIAL = for profit/make money NON-COMMERCIAL = not for profit The commercial residential sector includes guest houses, hotels, B&B's, hostel and holiday parks.
RESIDENTIAL = you can sleep there NON-RESIDENTIAL = no accomodation The non-commercial sector includes catering in business and industry, education, healthcare and the armed forces. These can be both residential and non-residential.
Watch TV programmes to help you with revision The Hotel Inspector, Four in a Bed, Food Inspectors, A Very British Hotel, The Savoy, Hotel in the Clouds, Supersize Me Film, The Best Hotel in the World, The Billion Pound Hotel.
This paper is 1 hour 30 minutes long and the total mark is 90. Use a highlighter to pick out key words. If a word is bold it is important. Look at the command words and the number of marks available for each question, they will help you decide how much detail is needed.
Keep reading. Keep revising. keep calm. keep being you.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Flashcards
Get some coloured cards: On one side put a milestone that a child could reach - see examples. On the other side put what age they should reach that milestone and the area of skill.
Key words and key features can be easily revised for and tested with, they are portable and you can share making them with a friend!
Revision Timetable Create your own a revision timetable
Practise exam questions – Use past papers. Try to answer all the questions on a topic. Look at the questions you didn’t get quite right. Read that topic again and have another go. Keep practicing.
Mind Maps are great for revising topics - create as many as you can
Know the areas of Child Development (Skills) 1. Social/emotional 2. Language/Communication 3. Physical/Movement 4. Cognitive/Thinking
KEYWORDS
Revise with a friend - if possible, exchange ideas during revision - this can be very helpful to both people in understanding topics and building confidence.
Language Developmental Communication Milestones Social Genetic Physical Inherited Emotional Transition Cognitive Regression Holistic Regulation Nature Policy Nuture Procedure Biological Legislation Environmental Equality
Confidentiality Routine Care Play Activity Practitioner Placement Planning Observation
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Revising isn’t something that should be challenging or difficult at all. What revising is, unfortunately, is time consuming. It takes a while. That’s why you need to start early.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: CITIZENSHIP 1. Get organised
2. Make sure you understand
Make sure you know what topics you are being tested on in which paper. Use a ‘topic checklists’ to organise your thoughts and revision material .
3. Revision cards Condense your notes and information onto revision cards. Use different coloured cards to represent each topic or a different case study.
The first step in remembering anything is understanding it. These tips will help you with this: Find newspaper articles and pictures to give you some background and also extend your knowledge for top grades! Watch videos if they exist. Check out parliament education and BBC bitesize for clips relevant to the course). For others there will be great video clips on YouTube to help you. If you can, visit the place. Nothing is as powerful as this in fully understanding a place – E.g our Westminster and Crown court trips.
4. Mind maps Organise your topic notes onto mind maps. Aim for one topic per A3 page.
5. Try to argue the alternative point of view. High achieving students are able to develop their own opinion but also consider the opposite viewpoint also. Use stats and facts to support both sides.
6. Revision books Use the revision guides given to you Your action project booklet is also a revision guide. Alternatively, you can buy the guides and planner from Amazon.
8. Exam command words Understand the command words used in exams. What is the difference between a ‘describe’ and ‘explain’ question? See previous pages for exam command words.
9. Past papers Make sure you are exam ready by practising to apply your knowledge to past questions.
7. Memorise Now you’ve condensed your class notes you need to memorise them. Good memorisation, in my experience, comes down to two things: Repetition and Using the information in different formats. I’d advise you to do a combination of the following: 1. Read index cards out loud, cover and test yourself. 2. Get other people to test you. 3. Act it out. 4. Make up songs or rhymes 5. Whatever else works for you…
10. Analysing mark schemes Analysing the mark schemes to understand what the examiners are expecting you to do.
IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND – ASK FOR HELP!
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE DOWNLOAD PYTHON AT HOME AND PRACTICE THE CODING, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE UNTIL YOU CAN DO IT WITH NO HELP.
For paper 1 do as many past papers as possible. Use the mark schemes so you can see what model answers look like. This is one of the most effective ways to revise.
Make flash cards of topics you know are coming up like Binary/HEX and Networks. Use the Clear revise revision booklet you bought for quick revision, use the model answers from the back.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHOOLS TEACHICT MEMBERSHIP TO HELP YOU REVISE.
USER NAME: KT92JS PASSWORD: chess1
Use youtube to help you understand some of the more difficult topics. There are excellent videos on there about sorting and searching, hardware and software, networks etc. Craig’n’Dave are your friends, their videos tell you exactly what you need to know for the exams. https://student.craigndave.org/gcse-ocr-j277-computer-science-videos
Revise in BYTE-size chunks
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY Better ways to revise Use flashcards or make your own - buy the Clear Revise revision booklet and answer questions - Make quizzes using Quizlet - Do past exam papers and break down exam questions - Make a checklist of keywords and glossaries and translate into your language or organise in a way that helps you remember what they mean and which topic they are from - add images to help you remember.
Ebbinghaus ‘forgeting curve’ We may forget information over time, by relearning them helps cement them in our mind. Testing what you know is a powerful tool in revision, the effort to remember something really strengthens your memory. Create your own tests, test yourself or get someone to test you, it works!
Read through each section in Clear Revise, then answer the questions at the end of each topic
Use past papers to break down each question into detail. Look at the mark scheme so you know how much to write for each question. Map out what you know on a topic so far
Create mind maps of what you remember on a topic
before you revise it - then answer revision questions. Use revision booklet 1-50 units and have a go at the questions / tasks again for each unit. Make a glossary of keywords and then find your answers in the text - revision sheet or google slide show on each topic.
Set aside time to practice improving your knowledge or D&T skills. Choose what you need to do, it must be tough enough to challenge you, and
practice, practice, practice! You should focus on something that you are almost able to do but not just yet!
MAKE DUAL CODING CARDS WITH PICTURES AND WORDS. DRAW OUT DIAGRAMS, TIMELINES AND FLOWCHARTS.
The Cornell Note Taking method discourages the use of long sentences. It is about short notes that you write down in the right-hand column using recognizable abbreviations and symbols. Prior to the note taking, draw up a list of abbreviations and expressions. This makes the note-taking process even easier. THE BASICS: ASK QUESTIONS. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE BOOKS, PAPERS AND REVISION BOOKLETS. GET SOME EXERCISE AND REST TOO
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: DRAMA HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ‘THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE’? Plot? Characters? Key Scenes? Actors names? Themes? Quotes?
Can you analyse at least 3 key scenes and identify what skills the actors used to show the themes, emotions of the characters and style of the performance?
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ‘THE 39 STEPS'? Remember you could be asked about any scene inthe play. You need to have an idea of how youwould successfully play EVERY character in the performance ensuring you are understanding the style of the play. What is needed to perform a farce? What makes it a farce?
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
Plot overview? Characters? Design Ideas? Key Scenes? Style? Themes? Quotes?
What terminology do we need to be using in our response?
Eyes: Eyebrows: Nose: Mouth/lips: Head:
wide/narrow/closed/direction/lit up/stared raised/frowned/thrown flared/wrinkled pursed/pouting/pressednarrow/closed/smiled shook/up/down/turned away
BODY LANGUAGE
BODY
Gesture: Posture: Levels: Arms: Shoulders: Gait:
VOICE
VOICE
rubbing hands/pointing/behind back/clenched fist/hand over mouth straight/slouched crouched/high/on level with ... folded/raised/behind back/relaxed hunched/straight/relaxed how did you move on stage? Consider position, speed and rhythm.
Tone: Angry/happy/pleading/sarcastic/patronising/worried Pitch: Pitch: High/low Volume: Volume: loud.quiet/whisper/moderate Tempo: Tempo: fast/slow Dialogue: Dialogue: formal/informal/choral/speed Qualities: Qualities: annunciate/stressed/stacato
SPACE
AUDIENCE Proxemics: close to/far from (consider audience and actors) Blocking: where on stage are you stood direct address/facing away Staging: from/position what position where you in - how did Levels: this add to the level dynamic
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: ENGLISH LANGUAGE TOP TIPS & HELPFUL HINTS: READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. REMEMBER TO ADD IN AS MANY INFERENCES AS YOU CAN IN THE S/S OF YOUR MESSIS! USE EVALUATIVE VERBS AND ACADEMIC LANGUAGE TO IMPRESS THE EXAMINER. DO NOT SPEND MORE THAN 10 MINUTES (UNLESS YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME) ON QUESTION 2 AND 3 ON LP1.
USE YOUR HIGHLIGHTER TO UNDERLINE KEY PARTS OF THE QUESTION AND FIND THE QUOTES YOU ARE GOING TO USE. PLAN WHAT YOU WILL WRITE IN QUESTION 5. REMEMBER TO USE AN INTERESTING STRUCTURE (A FLASHBACK?) TO KEEP IT EXCITING. DON’T GIVE UP – THIS IS A TRICKY EXAM - YOU CAN DO IT!
Watch Language Paper videos and make notes on each area. You could also watch suggested videos – Watch Mr Bruff’s videos: https://www.youtube.com/@mrbruff Complete mock papers or mock questions to practise the skills you need to improve on. For example, if you struggle with Language Paper 1, Question 3 (structure, 8 marks) then ask your English teacher for a question to complete. Highlight the most important parts of the question and quotes you intend to use Read regularly – Read newspapers, magazines and articles (these can be online) to widen your vocabulary and see examples of great punctuation in use. Practise exploding language quotes – Look out for language methods (similes etc) used in articles and explode (word classes, methods, inferences)/ mind map them. Use evaluative verbs and academic words to improve your grade – You need to remember that the writer ‘clearly/ effectively/ successfully… creates an atmosphere of… This indicates… Language Paper 1 – 1 hour, 45 minutes Question1: ‘Write down 4 things/ quotes’... (4 marks) You could practise reading extracts and writing a list of four things said in a paragraph. Also ask for a past paper. Question2: ‘How does the writer use language to…’ (8 marks) You only have 10 minutes to complete this question. Practise with a mock paper by highlighting the quotes you will use. Give yourself only 10 minutes to write your 3 MESSIs – do not spend more time than that here. Try MESSMESSMESSI to save time and increase marks. Question 3: ‘How does the writer structure the source to interest the reader?’ (8 marks) You must revise your structural methods. You need to remember to discuss: the beginning, the change in focus and the end (is it cyclical?) Again, you are using MESSMESSMESSI. Revise with a past paper and set yourself the same 10 minute time limit: no more! Highlight quotes you will use. All I want to know is what are we focusing on and why are we focusing on it? No Language!!!! Question 4: ‘A student said… How far do you agree with this statement?’ (20 marks) AGREE with the statement – it is easier. There are usually two parts to the statement, agree (either fully or partially) with both. Go through and highlight quotes that you will use. Begin your first MESSI with ‘I agree with the statement as the writer uses as…’ Remember methods here! MESSMESSMESSI x2 Question 5: Creative Writing question. (40 marks) You must PLAN this question. Your aim is to write at least 5 paragraphs of varying lengths. Remember ACCESSED and SPRAWLED (tick them off at the end of your writing). Show off your best language and punctuation. This is worth half the marks of the entire paper. You must give yourself at least 45 minutes to complete this question.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: ENGLISH LANGUAGE TOP TIPS & HELPFUL HINTS: Language Paper 2 – 1 hour, 45 minutes Question 1: Put a cross in the 4 boxes of the statements that are TRUE. (4 marks) You must mark 4 boxes. Highlight to make sure you have got the correct ones, Question 2: ‘Summarise the differences between source A and B’ (8 marks) Here you must write a summary, the examiner is checking you understand what the different sources are about. Write at least 2 PES/PES – there are no marks for methods here. Make sure you highlight quotes that you are going to use to show differences between the two sources. You can practise this by watching YouTube videos, completing mock papers or reading articles and spotting differences. Spend no more than 10 minutes on this question. Question 3: ‘How does the writer use language to…’ (12 marks) Please see comments on language paper 1, question 2. This question is exactly the same – you ideally need one more MESSI as the question is worth 12 marks rather than 8. Spend no more than 15 minutes on this question. Question 4: ‘Compare how the writers…’ (16 marks) You need to plan your answer to this question by finding quotes from both sources to compare. Use comparison verbs like ‘In comparison…’ between MESSIs. You must discuss methods. You can practise this by watching YouTube videos, completing mock papers or reading articles and making comparisons. Spend no more than 20 minutes on this question. Question 5: Creative writing: This could be a speech, letter, article, leaflet or essay and you are writing to present a point of view. This question is worth half the marks of the entire paper so you must leave at least 45 minutes to complete. You must plan this question and you should revise how to plan. Remember ACCESSED and SPRAWLED, AFOREST is also very helpful here too! Practise the planning and the writing of this question by completing mocks to time.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: ENGLISH LITERATURE TOP TIPS & HELPFUL HINTS: READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY, USE YOUR HIGHLIGHTER. REMEMBER TO ADD IN AS MANY INFERENCES AS YOU CAN IN THE M/S OF YOUR PESMACS! USE EVALUATIVE VERBS AND ACADEMIC LANGUAGE TO IMPRESS THE EXAMINER. WRITE A PLAN FOR EACH QUESTION WITH ALL THE QUOTES YOU WILL USE.
LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS POEMS: 2 FROM EACH CATEGORY! LOVE: SONNET29, LOVE’S PHILOSOPHY, WINTER SWANS, SINGH SONG! VIOLENCE: PORPHYRIA’S LOVER, THE FARMER’S BRIDE DISTANCE: NEUTRAL TONES, WHEN WE TWO PARTED, LETTERS FROM YORKSHIRE FAMILY: BEFORE YOU WERE MINE, MOTHER, ANY DISTANCE, FOLLOWER, CLIMBING MY GRANDFATHER, EDEN ROCK, WALKING AWAY
Watch videos about themes in each of your texts and make notes on each area. You could also watch suggested videos – Mr Bruff’s videos are usually really helpful. Complete mock papers or mock questions to practise the skills you need to improve on. For example, if you struggle with Literature Paper 2, Section A (An Inspector Calls) then ask your English teacher for a question to complete. Highlight the most important parts of the question and write down quotes you intend to use Re-read your set texts regularly – Read ther set texts again. You should be re-reading J&H, AIC and looking over the poems. Practise exploding literature quotes – Look out for language methods (similes etc) used in articles and explode (word classes, methods, inferences)/ mind map them. Use evaluative verbs and academic words to improve your grade – You need to remember that the writer ‘clearly/ effectively/ successfully… creates an atmosphere of… This indicates… Literature Paper 1 – 1 hour, 45 minutes. Section A: Macbeth (34 marks) PESMAC – You must plan your answer. You should also be watching YouTube revision videos and making notes to make sure you understand the whole story of Macbeth. If you have a revision guide – use it! Read through and make notes. Then turn these notes into shorter notes. Then turn these notes into revision cards! Use the quote sheet to make sure you have revised as many of the 16 quotes as you can. You need to know the most important words and phrases – not necessarily the whole quote. Of course the best way is to complete practise exams. See your English teacher for a question/ whole question paper. Section B: The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde (30 marks) PESMAC – You must plan your answer. You must re-read this before the exam. It is very short and completely free to download on your mobile phone (try iBooks) or on Kindle (the app works too). Reading just a few pages a night will mean you have read it. After you finish reading, summarise what you have read. There are also quotes to learn for J&H – try to learn as many as you can, exploding them out is really helpdul. You can also watch YouTube videos, use BBC Bitesize, revision guides or other websites. Of course the best way is to complete practise exams. See your English teacher for a question/ whole question paper.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: ENGLISH LITERATURE TOP TIPS & HELPFUL HINTS: Literature Paper 2 – 2 hours, 15 minutes Section A: An Inspector Calls (34 marks) No extract, PESMAC: You must only answer ONE of the questions for this section. There will be two to choose from. Use the highlighter to make sure you know what the question is asking you. Plan your answer. Re-reading the play is the best way to understand the plot. It can be downloaded on your phone, read online or you can buy/ borrow a text from the school. There are a lot of quotes to know here because there is no extract – start by learning the stage directions for each character. Then build up character quotes, beginning with Mr Birling. You should then explode the quotes to ensure you know the methods. Remember that AIC is a play – Priestley uses stage directions, lighting, setting to have an effect on the audience. Completing practise papers is the best way to revise. Ask your English teacher for a question. Section B: Love and Relationships Poetry (30 marks), 1 poem printed in exam paper, PESMAC/PESMAC: One poem will be printed to help you. Use the highlighter to make sure you know what the question is asking you. Plan your answer. You then need to choose a poem that answers the question to compare with the other poem. You must know quotes for the poems. Split the 15 poems up into categories (see my table below). You only need to know 2 poems from each category to make sure you have a poem to compare with – that is 8 poems rather than 15! YouTube videos, BBC Bitesize, online websites that analyse the poems are all useful to make notes with. Again, completing practise papers is the best way to revise. Section Ci: Unseen Poetry (24 marks) MESSI: An unseen poem (one we’ve never seen or studied) will be printed. You need to read the question carefully and then read the poem once to see what it is about. The second time you read it, annotate it for methods. Use the highlighter to make sure you know what the question is asking you. Practising past papers is the best revision here. Section Cii: Unseen Poetry (8 marks) MESSI/MESSI: To revise this it is the same as above.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: GEOGRAPHY Past Papers and mark schemes - they are your friends Have you ever ridden a bike without being on the bike? So how can you know how to answer an exam without practising doing one? Try and answer as many past papers/ questions that you can – this will help you see what you need to do in the actual exam. Mark schemes are just as important; look at what you have been awarded the mark for, could save time by writing less? Do you need to write more? The mark scheme will help you to answer these key questions.
Command words are the words and phrases used in exams and other assessment tasks that tell students how they should answer the question.
Flash Cards Condense your notes and information onto revision cards Use different coloured cards to represent each topic or different case study Memorise! Read out loud, cover, test yourself Get others to test you Act it out – go on, you know you can be a volcano! Make up songs or rhymes
Mind Map it! Why don’t you mind map your topics? Allows you to add lots of information in a simplified way. You can visually see the links between topics and within topics.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: GEOGRAPHY Know your GEOGRAPHY command words! Make sure you have a glossary of key terminology so you are able to identify what an exam question is asking and you are able to use it correctly in your answer.
GET ORGANISED. GET YOUR MATERIALS SORTED. CREATE A REVISION CHECK LIST.
MAKE A REVISION TIMETABLE. TAKE PROPER BREAKS.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: HISTORY
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: HISTORY
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: LANGUAGES
Comment réviser le Français Como repasar Español 1. Don’t leave your exam practice until the last minute! Your brain needs time to create the neural pathways to store the new information. Practise every day: Speaking and writing the new structures and vocabulary daily for 20 minutes. The more you practice, the easier the words will roll off your tongue in the exam. Use mini-habits or the five minute revision challenge to turn this daily practise into a regular habit. 2. Practise exam-style questions If you have to complete a gap-fill style task, practise gap-fill exercises. If you have to write a short letter on a particular topic, practice writing. If you have an oral exam, role-play it with a friend, memorize it, act it out and exaggerate! The stranger the better! You’ll be surprised how much you’ll still remember after your performance. Use the Revision Power Hour technique to get the most out of doing past papers. 3. Use a model answer. Get a model answer which achieved the grade you’re aiming for and find out what makes it a great piece of work. Note down all the features and use it as a model for your own work. Then you’ll have a good idea what examiners are looking for. Make sure you can show off these skills in your own exam. 4. Extend your vocabulary. All language learned is relevant! Remember, I told you that you can’t simply ‘revise‘. Here is why: it really doesn’t matter if the topic didn’t come up in last year’s exam. You will be able to use almost any structure, vocabulary and expression in one way or another. There’s ¿hola, cómo estás? always more than one correct way to express an idea. The more language you have the better. The truth is it’s totally up to you how you express your ideas as long as you address the topic. And remember it doesn’t have to be true! 5. Use internet resources. Immerse yourself in the language! There is a wealth of resources at your fingertips: Youtube, Podcasts, websites, games. 6. Use all the clues Look at the headings, subheadings, pictures. They’ll all give you clues for understanding, the topic and type of vocabulary you can expect. If you come across a word or phrase you don’t know, please don’t panic! You don’t have to understand every word to understand a text. Often, you can guess the meaning of a word by reading its context.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: LANGUAGES CLICK ON THE LINKS TO GOTO RESOURCE WEBSITES https://quizlet.com/subjects/languages/spanish-flashcards-519a58e6-t01 https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z4dqxnb https://quizlet.com/subjects/languages/french-flashcards-297d486d-t01 https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z9dqxnb
7. Use music when studying vocabulary No, not the TV! I´m talking specifically about Baroque music, which was composed between 1600 – 1750 and has a tempo of about 60 beats per minutes (bpm). Baroque music can cause anywhere from 25 – 400% increase in your learning. Up to 400%! Each frequency has a different effect on your brain. The optimal brain frequency for learning is Alpha. So, how to you get into the alpha state? The easiest way is to use Baroque music, which has a frequency of 60 beats per minute (bpm), harmonizes with your body and will help you get your brain into the alpha state. And keep it in this optimal learning state. 8. Revise in the same place Do your exam practice always in the same area to use what cognitive scientist call context-dependent memory. Because the best place to remember something is where you first learned it. So in your exam, do a mental walk around the area where you practised for your exam. Or even better, do some practice sessions where you’ll sit your exam. 9. Use colour to aid your memory Help your brain remember more by using different colours, e.g. verbs pink, prepositions yellow, nouns with articles on blue. When you’re thinking about it in the exam, you’ll be able to automatically recall the colour of the card and the matching vocabulary you need. Make sure you organize them. 10. Record yourself speaking Firstly, to listen to yourself speaking the foreign language, and correcting your pronunciation when necessary, but also because you can listen to and read your notes at the same time. This way you’re using two modalities – listening and reading – at the same time, which will increase your retention. Use online dictionaries like ‘wordreference’. HTTPS://WWW.WORDREFERENCE.COM/
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: MATHS Like any skill, Maths is a practical subject that needs to be practised if you want to improve. Watching videos and reading revision guides will not achieve much if you’re not using the skills you’re reading about. Everyone is capable of making progress and improving at maths. It just takes time and effort, and with all the other subjects, too, you will need to be organised and disciplined.
Memorising things
Inevitably, there is some stuff in maths that you just need to learn and remember, such as exact trig values, angle facts and formulas for area and volume. We all remember things differently, but you could try the following:Flash cards – fact on one side, description or clue on the other. Test yourself, test your friends, get your friends and family to test you. Make it competitive. Posters/diagrams – put families of facts into spider diagrams or posters, eg formulas for area (triangle, trapezium, circle etc.). Make them visually memorable to help recall and post them strategically around the house, eg circle theorems on the fridge Whatever way you choose, it is important that you repeat your learning, testing yourself at regular intervals to embed the knowledge for natural recall come the exams. Inevitably, there is some stuff in maths that you just need to learn and remember, such as exact trig values, angle facts and formulas for area and volume. We all remember things differently, but you could try the following:Flashcards – a fact on one side, description or clue on the other. Test yourself, test your friends, and get your friends and family to try you. Make it competitive. Posters/diagrams – put families of facts into spider diagrams or posters e.g. formulas for the area (triangle, trapezium, circle etc.). Make them visually memorable to help recall and post them strategically around the house e.g. circle theorems on the fridge. Whatever way you choose, it is essential that you repeat your learning, testing yourself at regular intervals to embed the knowledge for natural recall come the exams.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: MATHS How to use past Exam papers Attempt the paper or part of a paper. Try to stick to timings (about 1 minute per mark is a good benchmark). Take a break. Use the mark scheme to mark the questions – don’t just look at the answers, look at where the marks are awarded to give you a good idea of what the examiners are looking for. If you have got questions wrong, ask yourself first whether you understand your error. If so, make a note to go back to the question in a future session and repeat it. If you don’t understand the error, look up the topic in your revision guide or on Mathswatch and go through it. Attempt the question again immediately. If you still can’t see where it went wrong, ask your teacher either in class or at a revision session Use SPARX Use the "independent learning" section to target weaker topics from your mocks. Make sure the course is set to "GCSE". You can change the question difficulty to 1-5 but it will automatically pick where it thinks you are. You can watch the videos if not sure and the XP boosts are great to consolidate your learning. Topic-based practice You may want to focus on specific topics in your revision, in which case Mathswatch and/or revision guides should be your first port of call. Watch the video/read the section. Mark them.
Do the practice questions If necessary, repeat the process
There are other sources of topic-based revision resources on the internet, some of which are outlined in the next section. Remember, if in doubt, ask your teacher. Revision resources Revision guides – there are many available and all have their merits. If you purchase one, ensure that it supports the Edexcel 9-1 GCSE and includes plenty of practice questions. Some guides have separate practice books. Mathswatch – everybody has access to Mathswatch. As well as the full length teaching videos, there are short one minute refresher videos and online practice questions. It is a brilliant resource, so make good use of it. Other websites – there are many, but particularly good ones for access past papers and practice questions are corbettmaths.com (5 a day is good general practice), mathsgenie.co.uk and mrbartonmaths.com
https://corbettmaths.com/
https://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/
https://mrbartonmaths.com/students/gcse/
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: MUSIC FIND THE TIME AND THE PLACE Find the time and the way you prefer to listen to the 8 set works as much as possible, whether it is on the bus with headphones, watching a revision video in the library or simply listening to the pieces at home, and even if you are doing something else. The brain need time to memorize the structure, instrumentation and musical features. The more you hear them, the better you will get to know them, possibly even off by heart. This is useful in an exam when an extract is being played and you can kind of “hear” it in your mind afterwards. DO IT, TRY IT AND ASK FOR MORE Looking through lesson notes, written tasks and revision poster. While we were studying the pieces during the year, we write all kinds of points about melody, harmony, structure etc. It’s really useful to quickly see what happens where and follow through the score while listening to the pieces. Practice questions. Go through the homework you have completed or you are still working on, you will see all the resources and papers to fill in and mark. Focus also on the 12 marks questions. It is a big part of the listening exam.
BE PROACTIVE, FIND YOUR WAY, YOUR SITE, YOUR FAVOURITE RESOURCES Thestudentroom.co.uk Bbcbitesize.co.uk Youtube tutorials and revision video. BBc IPlayer/Music MIND MAP: Most topics are related and they use the same musical elements. Remembering the musical elements and the musical features for one topic will allow the brain to apply the same critical analysis skills to all the set works. Checking the connections between composition and listening through the mind map will be useful to remember more necessarily needed details in your exam paper. TEXT BOOK: Use the textbook to check the background context of each set work. The analysis we do in class is well explained in the book with some annotations of the score, It is also graphically helpful with that layout and the key words on the side. CHECKLIST: YOU WILL DO WELL IF YOU KNOW/REVISE: The musical elements: dynamics, tempo, pitch… and so on The Musical instruments The typical structure of the different genres The Artists and their background (watch the suggested documentaries, short movies and, wherever possible, the live performances to familiarise with the artists). Some positive focus on Music theory and notation, to avoid feeling worried about not being a great music notation specialist.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: PE Flashcards - make your own Simply create with questions on side and answers on the other side. You can colour code for specific topics and quiz yourself or others. Post its can be also useful for key words and labelling structures. Keywords: Simply write the keywords associated with each topic on the front, followed by the definition on the back.
Images On one side, draw/stick down relevant images associated with any topic. For example body structures i.e. unlabelled heart etc. or particular assessments/methods etc. On the other side, names of these structures/assessments etc. You could challenge yourself further by rehearsing protocol and how this links to exercise performance.
Sport analysis Create 2 piles of cards, one with random sports and the other with names of topics or keywords. Select one card from each pile at random. You would need to test yourself to see if you can write sentences based on how the 2 link.
Retrieval Practice Assessing yourself to see how much you know about a topic and specifically looking at content that you have missed.
Mind Maps Select a topic- You could be broad e.g. the physical training topic or narrow ie Components of Fitness. From this topic, write as many things as you know. This could be definitions, sporting examples, explanations etc. When you have exhausted your mind, look back at the information using your book/revision guides and write out all that you missed in a different colour pen. When you have finished repeat the process. You should find that you are able to remember more the second time around. Repeat as often as is necessary until you can recall all info!
Dual Coding Dual coding’ is the method of putting your knowledge into visual form alongside words. It increases the chances of you remembering it. 1. Use simple drawings with matching simple descriptions 2. The drawing should represent your understanding of the topic A fun way to use this could be as a storyboard to show different processes in sport. For example the pathway of blood to the heart or a story about socio economic differences and its influence on sports participation
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: PE Exam Question Ask your teacher to design some exam questions for you or print off copies of previous exam questions. Attempt these questions without help using 1 colour pen and then add more information using your book/revision guide in a different colour pen. Ask your teacher to mark/ provide a mark scheme for you to gain experience in what is expected of you. If you have lost marks; use a third colour pen to add final information to ensure you have a full answer.
Get active A lot of the things you learn about in PE can be done physically. How about taking time out to actually bring some of the content to life. Play 11 different sports that allow you to focus on each different component Complete all 15 fitness assessments that you need to know Attempt all 8 methods of training that you need to know Attempt skills that suit different classifications Coach different sessions using the different styles of feedback Create a session plan applying different types of practise and applying principles of training
Essay writing
Although the largest question is worth 9 marks, why not get used to writing as much as you can about topics by creating essays.
Select one topic Introduce the essay with a brief summary of the keywords associated with the topic Write a paragraph about each keyword associated with your topic. In PE you often have to provide definitions, explanations and links to sporting examples. Attempt this for each keyword. For example a “health” essay might provide definitions, explanations and examples of each of the 3 types of health Conclude by stating how the key concepts overlap and link or how they contrast.
Command words Create your own exam questions using the following command words. Link these to all keywords relating to topics you are struggling with Describe - Give a description of State - Name or list Outline - Briefly list the features Identify - Select 1 option/ name Explain - Give reasons why something is as it is Justify - Reasons why something is valid/ why you chose something Compare - Identify and explain similarities and differences Discuss - Give reasons/ present facts about something and explain Summarise - Give an account of the main points Interpret - Make a judgement about something
"IT’S ALL HARD WORK…BUT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.” MO FARAH - DOUBLE OLYMPIC CHAMPION
Create a Glossary Create a page of definitions associated with each topic. Test yourself to see how many definitions you can recall. Attempt to apply sporting examples to each keyword. Write down how the keyword influences ones health, exercise, fitness and/or performance ability.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: RELIGIOUS STUDIES The first step to remembering is understanding Teachers are your biggest tool Make sure that you ask for any modules/resources that you might have missed – your teacher will give you these. Intervention – Monday F4 @ 3pm Sessions will be based on topics that you want to revise – go along to these sessions as you will revisit key skills, practice exam questions, and pick up top tips for the exam – did you know that some answers are already in the paper? You just need to know how to find it! Past Papers and mark scheme they are your friends Have you ever ridden a bike without being on the bike? So how can you know how to answer an exam without practising doing one?
USE THE REVISION BOOK
Try and answer as many past papers/questions that you can – this will help you see what you need to do in the actual exam in the Summer. Mark schemes are just as important; look at what you have been awarded the mark for. Could you have saved time by writing less? Do you need to write more? Did you lose marks due to not reading the question correctly? The mark scheme will help you to answer these key questions. Flash Cards Condense your notes and information onto revision cards Use different coloured cards to represent each topic or different case study Memorise! Read out loud, cover, test yourself Get others to test you Act it out Make up songs or rhymes Mind Map it! Why don’t you mind map your topics? Allows you to add lots of information in a simplified way. You can visually see the links between topics and within topics.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: RELIGIOUS STUDIES Know your exam questions! First questions asks a definition – make sure you know your key words! Create a list of the words and write down in your own words what it wants you to do! Remember that Contrasting is opposite BABA – BELIEF/ACTION/ BELIEF/ ACTION PDPDQ – POINT/ DEVELOP/ POINT/ DEVELOP/ QUOTE MAKE SURE YOU KNOW SOME KEY QUOTES FROM BOTH THE QUR’AN AND THE BIBLE FFAACE / PEEL – FOR/ FOR/ AGAINST/ AGAINST/ CONCLUSION/ EVALUATE - USING POINT/EVIDENCE/ EXPLAIN AND LIN
EXAM KEYWORDS
Furthermore In addition Convincingly A strong argument is A weaker argument is This means that This evidence is convincing because Consequently Similarly In contrast
Get organised revision check list revision book text book revision planner flash cards BBC Bitesize
Identify the gaps in your knowledge Where are the gaps? What are you confident with? What do you need to go back to? What do you need to study more?
Despite this Of less importance Most importantly As can be seen by Finally
It’s important that you make your revision as ACTIVE as possible. Don’t just read through your notes – do something with them.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: SCIENCE Flashcards On one side of your flashcard, write the question. On the other side, write the answer in bullet points. For example:
FRONT
Why does the reactivity of group 1 metals increase as they descend (go down) the group?
Atom size increases Distance between nucieus and outer shell increases So...the force. ofthe attration decreases Outer electron easily lost
BACK
To watch a 3 minute YouTube video on FLASHCARDS - scan the QR code
Watch the YouTube video that explains the Leitner flash card system. Use the flash cards to regularly revisit topics. Ask yourself the questions then say or write down your answer. Use the answer on the back to check your understanding. If you got it correct, place the card in the ‘secure’ pile, if it was incorrect place it in the ‘insecure’ pile. Once you have worked through all the cards, revisit the insecure pile until they are all on the secure pile. Complete Past Paper Exam Questions Use past papers and mark schemes available to familiarise yourself with examination style questions. Complete the questions and then use the mark schemes to correct your work. Focus on what the marks are awarded for and the key terminology examiners look for. Or bring in for your teacher to mark.
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: SCIENCE Look, Cover, Write, Check Read a piece of information from your revision guide/notes Cover it with something Try to write it down accurately from memory Check against the revision guide, correct errors and fill gaps Repeat until you can write the information down accurately. Other Resources - scan the QR code to go to the website Websites – BBC Bitesize, Seneca, GCSEScienceRevision.com YouTube – Free Science Lessons, Cognito, Fuse School Instagram - @HuddiesStudies Apps – PhysQuiz, BioQuiz, Quizlet
HOW DO WE REVISE FOR: SCIENCE
BEFORE THE EXAM It's what this whole book has been preparing you for - the big exam day. However, to ensure you're in tip-top exam-slamming condition, here are some last-minute things you can do.
Do Final Preparations the Night Before 1. Eat a balanced meal the night before. 2. Get anything you're taking into the exam ready to go. 3. Double-check where and when your exam is. 4. Do something relaxing or some gentle exercise. 5. You could read over some notes but don't cram all night. 6. Try to get a good night's sleep.
Wake Up at a Sensible Time
Don't forget to set an alarm clock!
1. Give yourself time to wake up and get ready.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast, eg bowl of cereal, porridge, toast and jam, and water. 3. If time, look over your notes at any key definitions, formulas, facts and quotes. 4. Don't revise anything new - save your energy for this exam!
Arrive at Your Exam in Plenty of Time Leave home with more time than you need to get to your school / exam. Try not to arrive too early - you don't want a long nervous wait. Feel confident that you have prepared and revised. Keep calm and stay focused. Make yourself comfortable at your exam table and chair. Try not to drink too much water, small sips is good to keep hydrated.
Waiting with other people If people outside the exam hall seem stressed when you arrive, try to stay calm and move away from them, don't let their worries affect you. It's okay to be left alone before an exam if that's what you need to be mentally prepared.
Exam Kit Checklist Pens and Pencils Rubber and Sharpener Clear pencil case Clear water bottle Subject specific stationery - eg, ruler, scientific calculator etc.
“EVERY MORNING YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES: CONTINUE TO SLEEP WITH YOUR DREAMS, OR WAKE UP AND CHASE THEM.”
DURING THE EXAM When you walk into the exam room or hall, imagine an orchestra playing a dramatic theme to the climax of an epic movie - that's what this is, the finale!
Organise Your Desk Space While you are waiting for the exam to start:
THE ROLE OF THE EXAMINATION INVIGILATOR IS TO ENSURE THAT EXAMINATIONS ARE CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO THE EXAM BOARDS INSTRUCTIONS
1. Get your pens and stationery out. 2. Place your water bottle on your desk. 3. Take some deep breaths to calm yourself down. 4. Fill in the front of your exam paper when told to do so. 5. Listen to the instructions given by the invigilators.
Focus on what You're Doing During the Exam 1. Read each question carefully. 2. Read each question again carefully - you might miss something if you rush. 3. Answer every question that you need to. 4. If you are not sure of an answer, make an educated guess. 5. Keep an eye on the time so you stay on track. There will be a clock at the front of the exam hall or room so you shouldn't need to keep checking your watch. 6. Look at how many marks each question is worth. 7. Judge how long to spend on a question based on how many marks it's worth. . 8. Don't get distracted by what others are doing. 9. Take small sips of water to stay hydrated. 10. Give yourself time to check your answers.
FEPS - Dealing with Frequent Exam Panics If you can't answer a question - move on to the next question and come back to it later. If you realise halfway through a question that you have got it wrong - cross out what you have done and write your new answer beneath it. Don't panic.
If you're running out of time Answer questions which require short answers to pick up as many marks as possible. Don't get distracted or worry about anyone else in the room - concentrate on you.
ENHANCE YOUR VOCABULARY
AFTER THE EXAM Whether it's your first exam or fifteenth, and whether you think it went well or not, congratulate yourself on getting a step closer to the end!
Worrying Won't Change Anything 1. Try not to worry about your answers - you can't change anything now. 2. You might find it stressful to talk to friends about it - it's ok, don't worry. 3. If you ran out of time, think about how you could manage it differently next time. 4. If you felt tired, consider improving your routine or sleep the night before. 5. Learn from the experience for future exams.
Take Some Time to Relax Before the Next Exam 1. Exams are tiring - try to relax after the exam, do something fun or chill out. 2. If you're feeling frustrated or anxious, doing some exercise could help. 3. If you have another exam later the same day or next day you will want to look over your notes 4. Be sure to have a break between looking over any notes and the next exam. But 1. Don't forget your final preparations. 2. Don't forget your pens and pencils. 3. Don't forget to set your alarm clock. 4. Don't forget to arrive on time.
Finally - Be Proud of Yourself! 1. Be proud that you have ticked off another exam from the list. 2. Store your revision notes (but don't throw them away). 3. Celebrate your hard work! 4. The last day is not far off! WORK HARD AND BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE.
EXAM DATES - SUMMER 2024
EXAM TIMETABLE
Make Your Own
1. Write down the dates/times when all your exams are and which subject. 2. Break each subject down into topics - ask your teacher for the list of topics. 3. Put a tick in the column once you are happy you have revised it in full 4. Make sure you do enough revision and practice. 5. Don't forget to add a tick every time you move from 'unsure' to 'happy' with your topic revision.
The link to these Google sheets is here - make a copy and use it to enter your own plans.
HTTPS://DOCS.GOOGLE.COM/SPREADSHEET S/D/1PCAN0FG3TVDE88YU_5G3QEHLKXDF1D 1BVRF2HZEFMX8/EDIT?USP=SHARING
REVISION TIMETABLE
Make Your Own
1. You can use your school's Google Calendar. It is good to have a digital calendar as you will be making edits along the way plus you can access it from any device. Download the Google calendar app if you don't have it. 2. Add in the dates and times of each of your exams in blocks. 3. Add to the calendar the times you travel to/from school. 4. Add to the calendar extra clubs or activities that you are committed to. 5. Add the times you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. 6. Add to the calendar the times you go to bed and wake up. 7. Once these timings are blocked out, you can then see what available time you have to create dedicated study blocks. 8. Plan how much time you have each day to revise. Early mornings, after school, lunchtime, and weekends. 9. Prioritise your subjects. i.e. Maths, English, Science, Geography, History etc. 10. Break subjects down into sub-topics. i.e. Number, Algebra, Ratio, etc 11. Allocate 30-minute time slots to revise. Time slots will keep you focussed. This doesn't mean one time slot of 30 mins and then finished, it is multiple time slots with a small break in between. 12. Focus the majority of your effort on topics most likely to come up in the exam and carry the most marks. 13. Consider the mock grades you recently received and how much revision work needs to be done for the main exam. 14. Some subjects may need more revision than others. 15. Consider which GCSE grades you need to get onto the sixth form or college course you have chosen. 16. With that information in mind, work backwards from each exam date and add in revision slots. 17. Work out what to actually revise in each of those revision slots. 18. Make your timetable achievable by managing your downtime, time to look after yourself and your mental health. 19. Be as organised as you can be and stick to the timetable if possible. 20. There are no definite hours or times to revise, you know what effort you need to put in for revision and practice papers. Alternatively, you can buy a paper diary and block out the same as above manually. Managing your revision time on paper or digitally will keep you focussed and organised.
REVISION TIMETABLE
Examples
Find the best planning solution that works for you.
8pm
7pm
6pm
5pm
4pm
3pm
2pm
1pm
12pm
11am
10am
9am
Mon
Tues
Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun
Subject
Sessions per week
Create your own revision timetable. You could use colour to identify individual subjects. Remember to plan for sensible breaks, drink lots of water and have healthy snacks to hand.
Revision Timetable
REVISION TIMETABLE
TOP 10 TIPS
START REVISING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SET UP A TIDY QUIET STUDY SPACE
PLAN YOUR REVISION USING A TIMETABLE
REVISIT TOPICS SEVERAL TIMES
VARY YOUR REVISION WITH DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES
DO LOTS OF PRACTICE PAPER AND QUESTIONS
SET ASIDE TIME TO DO FUN THINGS
KEEP YOUR PHONE AND OTHER DISTRACTIONS AWAY
SLEEP AND EAT PROPERLY
DON'T PANIC! PLAN YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR PLAN
GOOD LUCK
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