Year 12 Prep Materials by claremontfancourt

YEAR 12

PREPARATION MATERIALS FOR INTERNAL EXAMS MARCH 2024

REVISION TIPS

There are many different strategies you can use to revise but some of the preferred methods are not always the most effective. Here are some tips, backed up by cognitive science, to help you prepare for your exams.

HOW TO REVISE

Break your revision down into 1-hour chunks and stick to your revision timetable. Here is how you should spend your hour:

1. Spend 5 minutes getting everything out that you need: notes, text book, laptop, pens etc. Most importantly, make sure your phone is not on view (ideally in another room).

2. Spend 25 minutes taking notes from your class notes/text book/videos/work on Google Classroom. Here is how to spend your time well:

• Don’t just read and highlight information as this does not help you commit the information to memory.

• Decide what works for you e.g. using flash cards, mind maps or a notebook. This will depend on subject content as well as your preference for note taking.

3. Now take a 5-minute break. It is important to have a complete change of environment so go for a short walk around the house/garden.

4. Spend 25 minutes completing exam practice questions.

• The questions don’t need to be related to the topic you have just taken notes on but they need to be questions that require you to apply your knowledge.

• It doesn’t matter if you are not fully prepared to answer the questions, just have a go and use the mark schemes at the end to check your answers. It’s really important you check your answers by using the mark schemes so that you don’t learn any misconceptions.

5. Spend the last few minutes recording what you know and what you need to improve on next time you revise this topic again.

THE BEST WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

1. Retrieval practice

How to do it:

• This is where you generate answers to questions and the best resources to use are past papers and practise essay questions.

Why it works:

• Retrieval practice helps combat the negative effects of stress (exams) and so you are better prepared for exam conditions

• In studies, students who practised this method performed up to 50% better in their exams than those who just re-read their notes.

2. Spacing

How to do it:

• Do little chunks of revision, often. Cramming is not effective so it is important to follow your revision timetable

• The further away the exam, the longer the gaps between study sessions should be. When you are on the verge of forgetting the information, is the best time to revisit and revise this material.

• Interleaving is also useful. This is when you alternate topics and subjects you are revising. Again, follow your revision timetable!

Why it works:

• Using spacing instead of cramming has resulted in a 10-30% difference in final exam results, according to several studies

• We tend to remember the first and last things we revise so revisiting the material is important to fill gaps in our knowledge

• In another study, students who spaced out their revision sessions scored 74% higher than those who crammed.

3. Reading out loud

How to do it:

• Study by reading the information out loud is 12% more effective than reading in silence. You could also create a recording of yourself and listen back to it.

Why it works:

• Reading out loud is an active event and it requires visual processing so it helps establish anchors in the brain to make knowledge stick. It is also self-referential meaning that because you read the information, it is more meaningful and therefore easier to remember.

4. Drawing for learning

How to do it:

• Drawing pictures which relate to the information you are studying means you create something new from the material you are learning. Students who did this performed better in their final exams

Why it works:

• You need more learning time to draw the pictures so you have more time to analyse and process the information covered. Students who drew pictures also reported putting more effort into their learning.

5. Teaching others

How to do it:

• Students who had to teach the material to someone else remembered more of the material and did so in a more efficient way than those who did not. As a result, they performed 12% better in test conditions

• Teach your family about the information you have learnt. Explain it to them whenever you can e.g. at the dinner table or on a car journey.

Why it works:

• Verbalising the information, you have learnt requires a need to understand it in order to explain it to others

• The only thing to be wary of is that you are not teaching misconceptions! Make sure the information you are teaching is accurate.

THE BEST WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WELLBEING

1. Sleep

How to do it:

• Aim for at least 9 hours a night. Try and have a consistent bedtime routine by going to bed and getting up at the same time each night

Why it works:

• A good night’s sleep prior to learning allows you to create new memory associations. When sleep deprived, you are more likely to forget positive memories and focus on negative ones. This can increase anxiety and low mood.

2. Exercise

How to do it:

• When taking revision breaks, go for a walk as it increases the feelings of happiness, attentiveness and confidence. Even a 5-minute walk is more beneficial than sitting down during rest breaks. You don’t even need to walk outside to feel the benefits

• Those who regularly exercise cope better with stressful situations and report feeling more alert and focused.

Why it works:

• Exercise helps to oxygenate the brain and release tension, helping you to keep calm, mentally relax and study more efficiently.

3. Diet

How to do it:

• Eat healthily and have regular meals whilst revising and in particular make sure you have breakfast every day

Why it works:

• Students who ate breakfast showed better memory and attention

• It has also been linked to better eating habits and improved physical and mental health

4. Screen time

How to do it:

• Small amounts of screen time are not harmful and may even have some benefits. Being on a screen for one hour before bed hardly affects your sleep but more than this is damaging

• Turn down the backlight on your phone a few hours before bed to help you sleep

Why it works:

• Using a screen for two hours before bed results in 20% less melatonin (the sleep hormone) being released which will affect your sleep. This is particularly detrimental during stressful times such as exam periods when you are already finding it hard to sleep.

THE WORST WAYS TO REVISE

• Highlighting your notes – despite this being the favoured method of students it does not commit information to long-term memory

• Simply re-reading notes – this does not make information stick and you are easily distracted when reading notes

• Cramming – this will only allow information to enter your short-term memory which has extremely limited capacity

• Having your phone in the room with you – the mere presence of a phone leads to a 20% reduction in attention, concentration and performance

• Revising to music – students who revised in quiet environments performed over 60% better in exams than those who listened to music

TARGET SETTING

Look back at your mock performance and targets set in each of your subjects. Consider the following questions as you reflect on your performance to date:

• What was your approach to revision? Was it effective?

• Did you spend long enough revising? Why? Why not?

• Did you do enough past papers when revising?

• Did you follow a certain structure when answering longer questions?

• Did you underline key/command words in the question?

• How was your time management in the exam?

• Is there a pattern in your approach? E.g. have you answered a certain style of questions well/poorly. Is this consistent across the paper(s)?

• What will you do differently next time?

Now complete the table below by looking at the areas you think you need to focus on in terms of course content (knowledge) you still need to work on, and assessed work i.e. how you perform in and prepare for exams (application and skills):

Subject Content Target Skills Target

8 YEAR 12 SUMMER EXAMS: TIMETABLE

Head of department

Link to specification

BIOLOGY

Biology A level (A400QS)

Mr A Boothe

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/media/ezzdb40f/eduqas-a-level-biology-spec-from-2015-e.pdf

Exam content

Paper/component

Duration

Component 1 1 hour, 30 minutes

Component 2 1 hour, 30 minutes

Which topics do I need to revise?

Component 1

• Chemical elements and biological compound

• Cell structure and organisation

• Cell membranes and transport

• Enzymes and biological reactions

• Nucleic acids and their function

• The cell cycle and cell division

Component 2

• Classification and biodiversity

• Adaptations for gas exchange

• Adaptations for transport in animals

• Adaptations for transport in plants

• Adaptations for nutrition

What is the best way to revise biology?

Make sure you know what you are studying. For this you must refer to the specification.

• Download the specification and print it if you can. There are print friendly versions on Google Classroom.

• Make notes, mind maps or flash cards from the specification using your textbook or revision guide (work section by section).

• Complete past paper questions (topic by topic) from the QDB which can also be found on the Google Classroom drive.

• Mark your answers and make the corrections (this is key).

• Then progress to full past papers (initially with no time limit but then introduce timed sessions).

• Again, marking these and amending errors by hand will help your understanding and exam technique.

• Rinse, repeat and reward yourself every time you complete a section.

Useful Resources

Google Classroom Drive: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTUzNzE2NzEzNDAw/m/MTU4OTEyODM0ODM4/details

Past Papers: https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/biology-as-a-level/#tab_pastpapers

Head of department

Link to specification:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/business-2015.html

Exam content

Which topics do I need to revise?

What is the best way to revise business?

• To ensure that your knowledge base is secure you should use your notes, PPTs and Course Companion for Year 1.

• You could create flash cards - for example with the key term on one side and the answer on the other side. You could also write a method of growth then write the advantages and disadvantages on the other side.

• You could make a mind map for each topic for example 2.1 Business Finance. It is important that you test yourself and make revision an active process. Practise exam style questions

• It is very important that you act on your teacher’s advice on how to answer 4, 8, 10, and 20-mark questions.

• Complete the exam style questions in the worksheets for Theme 1 and 2. Remember to follow a PEEEL structure for each paragraph.

o Point

o Explain

o Evidence

o Evaluation/However

o Link back to the question

11 BUSINESS Business A level (9BS0)

Mr N Rocca

Paper number Duration Content Paper 1 1 hour, 30 minutes Marketing & People Paper 2 1 hour, 30 minutes Managing business activities

Paper 1 Paper 2 1.1 Meeting Customer needs 1.2 The Market 1.3 Marketing Mix and strategy 1.4 Managing People 1.5 Entrepreneurs and Leaders 2.1 Raising Finance 2.2 Financial planning 2.3 Managing Finance 2.4 Resource management 2.5 External Influences

• Also attempt past papers - these can be found on Google Classroom. Also, revisit past papers attempted earlier in the year to see how the answers could be improved. Also, read mark schemes and examiner reports on past papers you have completed.

Head of department

Link to specification

CHEMISTRY

Chemistry A level (H432)

Mrs R Michael

https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/171720-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-chemistry-a-h432.pdf

Exam contents

Paper number

Paper 1 1 hour, 30 minutes

Paper 2 1 hour, 30 minutes

Which topics do I need to revise?

Paper 1 and Paper 2

Module 1 – Practical skills in chemistry

Practical skills assessed in written Examination (PAGs 1 – 4 only)

Module 2 – Foundations in chemistry

Atoms, compounds, molecules and equations

Amount of substance

Acid-base and redox reactions

Electrons, bonding and structure

Module 1 – Practical skills in chemistry

Module 2 – Foundations in chemistry

Module 3 – The Periodic Table and energy

Module 4 – Core organic chemistry

Module 3 - The Periodic Table and energy

The Periodic Table and periodicity

Group 2 and the halogens

Qualitative analysis

Enthalpy changes

Reaction rates and equilibrium

Module 4 – Core organic chemistry

Basic concepts

Hydrocarbons

Properties and reactions of alkenes

Additional polymerisation

Properties and reactions of alcohols

What is the best way to revise chemistry?

There is a lot of factual content in chemistry that must be learnt well so that you can apply your knowledge effectively to examination questions. It is important that you find revision strategies that suit your type of learning. Remember that revision is an active process that must be done regularly to retain knowledge.

There are three parts to revision: checking your knowledge, retrieval and practice:

Knowledge

Condense your notes by making summaries of the main points. Break down large amounts of information into smaller units by identifying similarities or patterns and grouping information into manageable chunks. You should also use your Revise OCR AS/A Level Chemistry Revision Guide and as a reference resource.

Duration Content

Retrieval

Consolidate learning about revisiting past content via YouTube clips. Allery Chemistry can be used specifically for your specification.

This can be achieved by creating mind maps, flashcards and quick quizzes from your summary notes. Quizlets and Seneca Learning are two websites that allow you to use their flashcards or make your own:

Allery Chemistry –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxfa41et2WU&list=PLX4e2DxFRGQK2hBRarrpaEdnPqMj21xeD.

Quizlet – Learning tools and flashcards - for free! | Quizlet

Seneca Learning – Free Homework & Revision for A Level, GCSE, KS3 & KS2 (senecalearning.com).

Practice

To monitor progress, practise past paper questions and correct your answers using the mark schemes. Past paper questions can be found here:

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/chemistry-a-h032-h432-from-2015/assessment/#as-level

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/chemistry-revision/a-level-ocr-a/

You should also use your Revise Pearson OCR AS/A Level Chemistry Revision Workbook to check that you have consolidated the key ideas.

An hour revision period should include spending 25 minutes actively condensing your notes and retrieving information, followed by a 5-minute break. Then spend 30 minutes practising past paper questions and reviewing your answers.

Teacher in Charge

Link to specification

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Computer Science A level (H446)

Mrs A Taylor

https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/170844-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-computer-science-h446.pdf

Exam contents

Paper/module number

Paper 1

Paper 2

Which topics do I need to revise?

Paper 1

Paper

Duration Content

Computing

1 hour, 15 minutes

principles

1 hour, 15 minutes Algorithms & problem solving

Topic Subtopic 1.1 The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices 1.1.1 Structure and function of the processor 1.1.2 Types of processor 1.1.3 Input, output and storage 1.2 Software 1.2.1 Operating Systems 1.2.3 Introduction to programming 1.3 Exchanging data 1.3.1 Databases 1.3.2 Networks 1.3.3 Web Technologies 1.4 Data types, data structures and algorithms 1.4.1 Data Types 1.4.2 Data Structures 1.4.3 Boolean Algebra

2 Topic Subtopic 2.1 Elements of computational thinking 2.1.1 Thinking abstractly 2.1.2 Thinking ahead 2.1.3 Thinking procedurally 2.1.4 Thinking logically 2.2 Problem solving and programming 2.2.1 Programming techniques 2.2.2 Software Development

What is the best way to revise computer science?

• Have ready: revision checklist, text book, notes, Classwork tab in Google Classroom (you will see topics listed on the left-hand side, including Revision, Coding challenges and Key materials).

• Make summative notes/mindmap: using the material on Google Classroom, your textbook, and/or one of the websites listed below.

• For the algorithms paper you should familiarise yourself with the OCR pseudocode Guide (Key materials on Google Classroom) and test yourself by completing questions from past papers and checking your answer using the mark scheme.

• Key words: are available for all topics on Google Classroom (in Key materials). You need to learn these for each topic. (Try using memrise https://www.memrise.com/).

• Test yourself using past examination questions for the topic you are revising. Questions can be found at the end of each chapter in your textbook, or you can download some past papers from the OCR website (or from the H046 specification).

• In algorithm/programming questions, practise using the points given in the question to comment your code; attempt one point at a time. This will help you to break-down problems into manageable ‘chunks’.

• In longer questions remember to: demonstrate your knowledge; apply it to the scenario given in the question; evaluate the effect of the points you have made.

Useful online resources

Isaac Computer Science: https://isaaccomputerscience.org/topics?examBoard=all&stage=gcse Maths and Physics Tutor: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/computer-science-revision/

16 2.3 Algorithms 2.3.1 Algorithms

Head of Department

Link to specification

Criminology Level 3 Diploma (4543QD)

Ms S Afsar

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/media/yzqlsmq4/wjec-applied-diploma-in-criminology-spec-e-22-06-22-2.pdf

Exam contents

Which topics do I need to revise?

Unit 2

AC 1.1 Compare criminal behaviour and deviance

AC 1.2 Explain the social construction of criminality

AC 2.1 Describe biological theories of criminality

AC 2.2 Describe individualistic theories of criminality

AC 2.3 Describe sociological theories of criminality

AC 3.1 Analyse situations of criminality

AC 3.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of criminological theories to explain causes of criminality

AC 4.1 Assess the use of criminological theories in informing policy development

AC 4.2 Explain how social changes affect policy development

AC 4.3 Discuss how campaigns affect policy making

What is the best way to revise criminology?

• Create glossaries for individual topics so that you have a good level of knowledge and understanding of key concepts.

• Get yourself acquainted with the command terms used in this unit and be clear on what each command term means.

• Rate your understanding of each topic area in Unit 2 using the personalised learning checklist provided (PLC) and revisit any section you rank as a red. You may wish to add detail to your notes for these sections and practice answering exam questions. Revisit the PLC and decide whether this red area is now an amber or green. Repeat for other sections of the course.

• Regularly test yourself on your ability to recall and explain these concepts through online testing platforms such as Quizziz, Quizlet and Kahoot. This might mean creating your own quizzes.

• Create flashcards with questions and answers connected to theories of crime. Ensure that you refer to accurate examples, giving specific details of legal changes both nationally and internationally

• Try to use mind maps to connect the topics within Unit 2 together, as well as drawing synoptic links with content from Unit 1.

CRIMINOLOGY

Paper/component Duration Content Date Unit

(4543UB0-1) 1 hour, 30 minutes Criminological Theories

(4543UB0-1) 1 hour, 30 minutes Criminological Theories Thursday

See internal exam timetable Unit 2

16 May PM – public exam

• Access all the Unit 2 past papers from your Google Classroom and begin to practise writing answers under timed conditions and with no textbooks or notes in front of you. Use the mark schemes after you have completed your answers. Annotate your answers with green pen to include any content you missed out the first time.

• Actively watch the Tutor2U Criminology videos. Pause and make notes as you watch.

Useful Resources

WJEC Criminology exam walkthrough

WJEC Criminology knowledge Organisers

Unit 2 Criminology videos 'I think therefore I teach'

Tutor2U Criminology

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY (PRODUCT DESIGN)

Head of department

Link to specification

Design & Technology: Product Design A level (7552)

Mr P Gladstone

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/design-and-technology/specifications/AQA-7552-SP-2017.PDF

Exam contents

Paper/module

Paper 1 1 hour, 30 minutes

Paper 2 1 hour, 30 minutes

Which topics do I need to revise?

Technical principles

Designing & making principles

From your course book the chapters are listed below

Paper 1 Paper 2

• 1.1

• 1.2

• 1.4

• 1.6

• 1.7

• Histograms & Bar Charts

• Trigonometry, Areas & Percentages

• Types & Manufacturing Plastics

• Product Analysis - Compare & Evaluation

• 2.2

• 2.3

• 2.4

• 2.5

• 2.7

• 2.9

• Trigonometry, Areas & Percentages

What is the best way to revise product design?

USE YOUR ENVIRONMENT – One of the best methods of DT revision is to look at the topic areas above and apply them to everyday objects.

PRODUCT ANALYSIS

Work out how these topics have been used to develop or manufacture a product. You could then ask yourself the following questions; what is it made of? why is it made from this material? how has it been made? what is working well with this design? what could be improved?

Once you start asking yourself these questions and looking up the answers for things you are not quite sure of, you will build up that questioning mindset and broaden your knowledge of manufacturing processes.

CREATE KEY WORD LISTS - these are listed at the end of each section in your textbook.

REVISE EXAM SKILLS, AS WELL AS TOPICS - exam practice is obviously important. Don’t forget to apply the ‘six key areas to exam success’ to any plan you build for the longer essay type questions. Stick to PEE to avoid waffle.

number Duration Content

MIX IT UP – if you want some easy passive revision then watch videos like ‘Inside the Factory’ and ‘How It’s Made’ on YouTube.

LISTEN TO YOURSELF – record/dictate how a manufacturing process works on your phone and play it back to yourself. Mention materials and their application.

DON’T FORGET THE BEST WAY TO REVISE IS TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO 1-HOUR CHUNKS

SPEND 25 MINS ACTIVELY TAKING NOTES, FOLLOWED BY A 5 MIN BREAK

THEN SPEND 30 MINS PRACTISING AND REVIEWING PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

Head of department

Link to specification

DRAMA AND THEATRE

Drama and Theatre A level (9DR0)

Mr I Williams

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Drama-andTheatre/2016/Specification%20and%20sample%20assessments/a-level_drama_spec.pdf

Exam contents

Paper/module number

Duration

Component 1 N/A

Component 2 N/A

Component 3 2 hours, 30 minutes

Which topics do I need to revise?

Theatre Makers in Practice

Content

Devising

Text in Performance

Theatre Makers in Practice

• Review of live performance - 500 words notes to be taken into exam.

• Study of two complete set texts, Woyzeck and Machinal.

• Page to stage realisation from a set text - 2 x questions explaining how an unseen extract from one text could be interpreted in performance. Response from the point of view of performer and designer.

• Interpretation of one complete text in light of a second practitioner for performance to a contemporary audience. Response from the point of view of a director.

What is the best way to revise drama and theatre?

Section A – Live Theatre

Live theatre experiences will be central to your answer so see as much as possible. You will need to demonstrate your understanding of the following theatre makers in your answer:

• Directors

• Performers

• Designers

You can take in with you 500 word notes. As an informed member of the audience, you can draw on your own research - both practical and theoretical – into the world of theatre makers. Read the play you are analysing and make sure you understand Frantic Assembly’s intentions.

Section B - Page to Stage - Machinal

Acting

• Interpretation of character(s)

• motivation, relationships (with other characters and audience), vocal and physical characterisation (including interaction).

Designer

● How set design, lighting, sound, make-up, hair, costume, set, furniture, and props are used to convey meaning to an audience.

● The choice of space and production style of performance

Directing

• How the space might be used to create an effect upon the audience and portray relationships with others on stage.

• How the text’s meaning is communicated through structure, language, stage directions and the chosen performance style.

• The director’s role in rehearsal

Section C – Interpreting a performance text - Woyzeck

You are writing from the perspective of a director developing an interpretation of the text for a 21st Century audience. Your ideas including acting and design elements will be drawn from Brecht’s methodologies. You are given an extract but you must refer to the play as a whole.

• Will always address the issue of ‘the contemporary audience’. This does not mean the interpretation has to be modernised or that the concept must be radically different from the original production, but rather how you ensure that your ideas are accessible or relevant to current audiences.

• You might choose to keep their interpretation in the original social, historical, and cultural context it was written and explore how this context is relevant today.

• Section B will heavily rely on themes that the text presents (poverty, hierarchy, bullying).

• You can change performance style, historical setting but you can’t cut anything out

• How as Buchner structured the text with plot, language, characterisation and stagecraft to communicate ideas to an audience

• How use of drama tic elements (voice, set, sound, light, costume, props, space) contribute to the development of an idea in performance

• Have a thorough knowledge of the social and historical contexts of both Buchner and Brecht

Head of department

Link to specification

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/economics-a-2015.html

Exam contents

Paper/module number Duration Content

Theme 1

Theme 2

hour, 30 minutes Introduction to markets and market failure

hour, 30 minutes The UK economy performance and policies

Which topics do I need to revise?

Remember you need to have an excellent awareness of all elements of the specification.

What is the best way to revise economics?

To ensure that your knowledge base is secure you should use your notes, PPTs and Theme 1 & 2 Knowledge booklets

• You should be completing these Knowledge booklets.

• Practise the supply and demand, externalities and aggregate demand and supply diagrams in particular

• You could create flash cards and mind maps

• It is important that you test yourself and make revision an active process.

Practise exam style questions

It is very important that you act on your teacher’s advice on how to answer 3, 4, 10, 15 and 20-mark questions.

Complete the exam style questions in the workbook provided. Remember to follow a PEEEL structure for each paragraph.

• Point

• Explain

• Evidence

• Evaluation / However

23 ECONOMICS Economics A level (9EC0)

N Rocca

Paper

Paper 2 1.1 The nature of economic 1.2 How Markets work 1.3 Market Failure 1.4 Government intervention 2.1 Measures of economic performance 2.2 Aggregate Demand 2.3 Aggregate supply 2.4 National Income 2.6 Macroeconomic Objectives and policies

• Link back to the question

Also attempt past papers that have been sent to you on Google Classroom. Take time to read the mark schemes and examiner reports from past papers completed. Also, revisit past papers completed previously to see how the answers could be improved

Head of department

Link to specification

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

English Language A level (7702)

Mrs B Clarke

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-language-7701-7702/specification-at-a-glance

Exam contents

Paper/module number Duration

Content

Paper 1 1 hour, 20 minutes Language, the Individual & Society

Paper 2 1 hour, 45 minutes

Language Diversity & Change

Which topics do I need to revise?

Paper 1

Section A: Textual Variations and Representations

Question 1 – 25 marks

Question 2 – 25 marks (spend 20 minutes annotating the texts, 30 minutes on question 1, 30 minutes on question 2)

Paper 2

Section A - Diversity and Change:

An evaluative essay on language diversity (30 marks)

Specifically revise: accent and dialect, social groups, identity

Spend 45 minutes on this question

Section B - Language Discourses

A question requiring analysis of how a text uses language to present ideas, attitudes and opinions (25 marks). Spend 1 hour on this question (15 minutes for reading and annotating and 45 minutes for writing your response).

What is the best way to revise English language?

Paper 1

Section A: Textual Variations and Representations

Secure your knowledge of the key technical terminology; make sure you are aware of the focus of AO1 and AO3; look at a range of different written texts, analyse the key ideas being represented and how meanings are created; revise the different language levels; be aware of the key differences in how language and texts change over time.

Paper 2

Section A: Spend time reading through your notes on each topic area. Ensure you are actively revising e.g. testing, mind maps etc. Make sure you know AO2 in detail and consider whether studies/theories can be challenged. Then spend 45 minutes planning and practising/improving exam questions.

Revise how to write a clear introduction and effective conclusion by revisiting advice and exemplars.

Section B: Revise language levels and terminology for AO1 marks and language discourses that we have studied e.g. decay, correctness etc.

Read a range of texts and identify the views being expressed by the writer and analyse how these views are being expressed and link to wider discourses. Then spend 45 minutes planning and practising/improving exam questions.

Head of department

Link to specification

ENGLISH LITERATURE

English Literature A level (H472)

Mrs B Clarke

https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/171200-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-english-literature-h472.pdf

Exam contents

Paper/module number Duration Content

Paper 1 2 hours, 15 minutes Drama & poetry pre-1900

Paper 2 2 hours, 15 minutes Comparative & contextual study

Which topics do I need to revise?

Paper 1

Section 1: Shakespeare: The Tempest by William Shakespeare (spend 1 hour 15 minutes on parts a) and b) = 30 marks)

• close analysis of an extract taken from Act 4

• responding to a statement

Section 2: Drama and poetry pre-1900 (spend 45 minutes = 30 marks)

• selected poetry by Christina Rossetti

• close analysis of four poems with contextual links

Paper 2

Section A: Close reading- American literature 18801940 (Spend 1hr on this section)

• close analysis of an extract (Grapes of Wrath)

Section B: Comparative and Contextual Study (spend 1hr 15 mins )– The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald) and The Grapes of Wrath (Steinbeck)

• comparative essay

What is the best way to revise English literature?

Paper 1

Shakespeare

For part a, the question itself will remain: ‘Discuss the following passage...exploring Shakespeare’s use of language and its dramatic effects.’ A good answer will pay close attention to how Shakespeare uses language AND dramatic devices to create meaning in the given passage. For part b, questions will start with a statement about the play given in quotation marks.

• Re-read the play using a film version to guide you. A list of possible versions to watch are posted on Google Classroom.

• Revise the key themes and complete individual revision sheets for each Act

• Revise key language terminology and dramatic devices

• Complete practice questions in timed conditions

Poetry Essay

You are expected to demonstrate your appreciation of the significance of the cultural and contextual influences on the writers, readers and/or audiences and to be able to explore relationships between texts. For this exam, you will be focusing on four of Rossetti’s poems in your response. Re-read the poems and focus on the themes of: desire, equality, attitudes to life and self-reflection.

• Use Lit Notes and e-notes to gain further insight into the poems.

• Read and make notes on the text: Poetry Analysis by Charlotte Unsworth

• Revise the poems: Birthday, Echo, From the Antique, In the Round Tower, Maude Clare, No, Thank You, John, Remember, Shut Out, Twice and Winter: My Secret. Use revision sheets to break the poems down and learn key moments only

• Revise the impact of social, literary, cultural and historical context as influencing factors on Rossetti when writing the aforementioned poems.

Paper 2

The Unseen Extract(Extract from the Grapes of Wrath)

The first part of this sentence ‘Write a critical appreciation’ instructs you that you need to prioritise AO2 in your answer and ‘explore the effects of language, imagery and verse form’ in the extract. The second part requires you to fulfil AO3 (‘Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received’) by contextualising the unseen extract within the topic area you have studied as a whole.

• Revise key contextual information from the OCR Zilboorg text, pages 30-36 in particular

• Research social, historical context 1930-1940

• Re-visit practice analytical passages eg on Bell Jar/ Chap 3 of Grapes of Wrath and note targets set

• Read exemplar essays from the OCR selection, mark/assess using the mark schemes and note examiner feedback. Make a list of key learning points from each exemplar e.g. how language is used to present key themes

Comparative Essay

The idea at the centre of the question will be a central theme from two set texts (and wider reading texts): The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath.

• Skim read through each text and associated notes made in class and for prep.

• Revise key contextual information from the OCR Zilboorg text, pages 10-36 in particular

• Use The Great Gatsby CGP Revision Guide. Section 2 on characterisation is useful and section 3 on key themes with particular focus on pages 36-37, 40-41, 44-45 and 48-49. Also revise language, symbolism, context and critical interpretations on pages. 50-61.

• Read exemplar essays from the OCR booklet, mark/assess using the mark scheme and note examiner feedback

• Revise key themes: pursuit of the Dream, migration, escape, social class, the roles of men and women, work, consumerism/corruption

• Re-read practice essays and note targets set

• Watch film versions of The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath e.g. ClickView, DVD or download

• Skim read through critical articles on The Great Gatsby/The Grapes of Wrath and list key quotations on the main themes referenced in bullet point 5

• Make lists of 5 key quotations on the key themes from The Great Gatsby, as referenced in bullet point 5

• Complete practice questions as directed

Teacher in Charge

Link to specification

FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION

Food Science & Nutrition Level 3 Diploma (4563QD)

Mrs C Anderson

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/media/k1wfrisk/wjec-applied-dip-in-food-science-nutrition-spec-from-2015-e-13-07-212.pdf

Exam contents

Paper/component Duration Content Date

Unit 1 (4563UB0-1) 1 hour, 45 minutes (90 minutes examination, plus 15 minutes reading time)

Which topics do I need to revise?

Meeting Nutritional Needs of Specific Groups

• Section A is short answer questions

• Section B is extended answer questions

• Section C relates to a case study

Unit 1 – Meeting Nutritional Needs of Specific Groups

LO1 Understand the importance of food safety

Tuesday 4 June PM –public exam

LO2 Understand properties of nutrients

LO3 Understand the relationship between nutrients and the human body

LO4 Be able to plan nutritional requirements

• Explain how individuals can take responsibility for food safety

• Explain methods used by food handlers to keep themselves clean and hygienic

• Explain methods used to keep work areas clean and hygienic

• Analyse risks associated with food safety

• Describe functions of nutrients in the human body

• Explain characteristics of unsatisfactory nutritional intake

• Analyse nutritional needs of specific groups

• Assess how different situations affect nutritional needs

• Explain how nutrients are structured

• Classify nutrients in foods

• Assess the impact of food production methods on nutritional value

• Evaluate fitness for purpose of diets

• Calculate nutritional requirements for given individuals

What is the best way to revise food science & nutrition?

Summarise your learning in a way that suits you: visually - through charts, mind-maps, tables; or auditory - listening to information/facts or actively engaged in learning by ‘doing’.

• Have ready: exercise book, text book, revision notebook, pens, laptop.

• Make notes using your class notes/text book/lesson materials on your laptop or Google Classroom/video clips. Do not just read and highlight your notes; you should be actively taking notes e.g. in a notebook, flash cards, mind maps (for topic overviews).

• Take a break with a change of environment (leave your desk).

• Test yourself with exam questions. You do not need to do them in exam conditions, but using the mark schemes to correct your answers once you have finished is essential. Choose questions that require you to apply your knowledge

Useful resources

https://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/

https://www.food.gov.uk/

https://www.nutrition.org.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/

https://www.ifst.org/lovefoodlovescience

Head of department

Link to specification

FRENCH

French A level (7652)

Mr S Woolnough

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/french/specifications/AQA-7652-SP-2016.PDF

Exam contents

Paper number Duration Content

Paper 1 1 hour, 45 minutes Listening, reading and translation

Paper 2 1 hour, 30 minutes Essay on film and translation

Paper 3 12-14 minutes in lesson time

Discussion of two sub-themes (6–7 minutes on each) with the discussion based on a stimulus card for each sub-theme. The student studies the cards for 15 minutes before the test begins.

Paper 1

• La famille en voie de changement

• La cyber-société

• Le rôle du bénévolat

• Une culture fière de son patrimoine

• La musique francophone contemporaine

• Le cinema, le septième art

Paper 2

• Au Revoir les Enfants essay

• Translation into French

Paper 3

• The same themes as paper 1

• Task 1: discussion of one theme from the specification based on a stimulus containing two different statements followed by general conversation from the list of speaking questions.

Grammar

All topics covered this year and in the specification, with a particular focus on all tenses covered, pronouns, negatives, adjectives and adverbs.

Which topics do I need to revise?

All topics in the AS AQA book as listed above

Au Revoir les Enfants notes

Grammar notes

What is the best way to revise French?

• Revise your class notes and look at the Theme Objectives at the beginning of each unit. For example, you can find the objectives for Unit 1 on page 8 of your textbook.

• Design mind maps or write a list of facts based on the ideas discussed in lessons. These mind maps/lists should be organised per unit. You can also extract ideas from the reading and listening exercises that we have done in lessons.

• Read news articles related to the themes for Paper 1 and add the main ideas to your mind maps/lists (primarily www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/news, http://fr.euronews.com/ and www.lemonde.fr). You should also try to listen to the news in French. The Euronews channel (en français) on YouTube is a good option: https://fr.euronews.com/live, http://fr.euronews.com/, www.20minutes.fr/

• You should also try to listen to the news in French. There are a lot of links in the Introductory Guide given to you at the start of the year and also on Google Classroom.

• Use your grammar workbook in order to complete as many exercises as you can in order to practise your grammar and translation skills. You can also practise your grammar using www.languagesonline.org.uk

• Study all the lists of vocabulary using Quizlet and Memrise where you will find courses related to the AQA content.

• Go onto the AQA website for past papers and ensure you complete timed papers.

• Make sure you re watch Au Revoir les Enfants. Read through your class notes and student guide for the film. You should also design mind maps for themes and characters. At the end of the guide there are example of essays together with exam advice. Please make sure you read these sections carefully.

Head of department

Link to specification

FURTHER MATHEMATICS

Further Mathematics A level (9FM0)

Mrs L Honnor

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Mathematics/2017/specification-and-sampleassesment/a-level-l3-further-mathematics-specification.pdf

Exam contents

Paper/module number

Paper 1

Paper 2

Which topics do I need to revise?

Decision 1

Paper 1 Paper 2

Proof

Complex numbers Matrices

Further algebra and functions

Further calculus

Further vectors

What is the best way to revise maths?

Algorithms and graph theory

Algorithms on graphs

Algorithms on graphs II

Critical path analysis

Linear programming

The best way to revise for maths is by completing questions and checking your solutions.

As a general rule, you should spend 1 minute for each mark on the paper. This then allows time for checking answers.

Begin by concentrating on specific topics and completing questions on that topic and using websites for help and model solutions if you need. Suggested websites:

https://www.drfrostmaths.com/– Includes video solutions and questions broken down by topic

https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/ - Has past paper questions and solutions and excellent revision sheets and cheat sheets. These are worth printing for reference.

https://www.examsolutions.net/a-level-maths/Pearson Edexcel/ - Has tutorials and videos of worked solutions to exam papers.

When you are ready; practise past papers under timed conditions so that you can familiarise yourself with timings and begin to develop techniques for checking your solutions.

Ensure you have a list of formulae that you need to know or an efficient method for deriving them.

Duration Content

1 hour,

45 minutes Core Pure Maths

hour, 30 minutes

Head of department

Link to specification

Geography A level (7037)

Mr A Pinks

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/as-and-a-level/geography-7037/specification-at-a-glance

Link to past papers

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/as-and-a-level/geography-7037/assessment-resources

Exam contents

Which topics do I need to revise?

Paper 1

Coastal Systems and Landscapes

(36 marks. Spend 45 minutes on this section)

Hazards

(48 marks. Spend 1 hour on this section)

Paper 2

Global Governance

(36 marks. Spend 45 minutes on this section)

Changing Places

(36 marks. Spend 45 minutes on this section)

What is the best way to revise geography?

As a general rule, you will have 1¾ minutes for each mark. The structure of the questions for the shorter topics (coasts and changing places) will be as follows:

GEOGRAPHY

Paper/module number Duration Content Paper 1 1 hour, 45 minutes Physical Geography Paper 2 1 hour, 30 minutes Human Geography

Marks Type of question Time to spend on it 4 Explain a concept 5 6 Analyse a figure (PALM: pattern, anomalies, links, manipulation of data) 7 6 Using figure X and your own knowledge, assess/to what extent/how far you agree… 8 20 Assess/to what extent essay 25

The structure of the questions for the longer topic (hazards) will be as follows:

For the essays, make sure you include a plan. Remember the mark scheme is looking for the following:

Marks Type of question Time to spend on it 4 Explain a concept 5 6 Analyse a figure (PALM: pattern, anomalies, links, manipulation of data) 7 9 Using figure X and your own knowledge, assess/to what extent/how far do you agree… 11 9 To what extent question relating to theory (may be synoptic) 11 20 Assess/to what extent essay 25

Head of department

Link to specification

GERMAN

German A level (7662)

Mr S Woolnough

https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/german/specifications/AQA-7662-SP-2016.PDF

Exam contents

Paper/module number

Duration Content

Paper 1 1 hour, 45 minutes Listening, reading and translation

Paper 3

During lesson time

Which topics do I need to revise?

Paper 1

• Familie im Wandel

• Die digitale Welt

• Jugendkultur: Mode, Musik und Fernsehen

• Feste und Traditionen

• Kunst und Architektur

What is the best way to revise German?

Speaking: a stimulus card with questions followed by general conversation questions on one of the five topics below

Paper 3

The same themes as Paper 1

● Revise your class notes and read again the main texts in the blue OUP textbook

● Use Quizlet and Blooket to revise vocabulary

● Work through the Grammatik section of the textbook (p.140 onwards) revising all the grammar we have covered

● Learn the grammar tables (definite and indefinite articles; prepositions and cases; relative pronouns; adjective endings). There are copies on Google Classroom.

Head of Department

Link to specification

HISTORY

History A level (H505)

Mr P Jeffrey

https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/170128-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-history-a-h505.pdf

Exam contents

Paper/module number Duration Content

Unit 1 (Y108) 1 hour, 30 minutes

Unit 2 (Y224) 1 hour

Which topics do I need to revise?

Unit 1

The Early Stuarts 1603-1646

• James I and parliament

• James I and religion

• Charles I 1625-1640

• Charles I and the victory of Parliament 1640-1646

• The failure to achieve a settlement 1646-1649

• Commonwealth and Protectorate

• The Restoration of Charles II

Unit 2

Early Stuarts & Origins of the Civil War 1603-1660

Apartheid & Reconciliation: South African 1948-1999

Apartheid and Reconciliation: South African Politics 1948-1999

• Establishing Apartheid

• The development of Apartheid and growing resistance

• The collapse of Apartheid 1978-1989

• New South Africa 1989-1999

You will be required to answer both parts of one question. This will include a ’10-mark bullet point’ answer and a ’20-mark essay’.

What is the best way to revise history?

• Link to past questions: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/history-a-h105-h505-from2015/assessment/

• Using mind maps will help you visualise your history notes. Make links between events and people so you can anchor your knowledge.

• https://www.popplet.com/ Popplet is a good virtual mind mapping tool

• Create living timelines. Include dates but also if things are good or bad for society or the people in power depending on the topic.

The

Source question = 30 marks

• Flashcards to remember the technique of answering a source question

• Create a list of reasons why sources are created

• Flashcards of key information, dates and people in the period as they may come up in a source or be the creator of a source

Essay question: 20 marks

Ensure you can write 3 paragraphs per topic and be clear which factor is the most important, and why. Use measuring vocabulary.

• Example grids for each of the three topics on key events such as legislation, township violence, opposition leaders and groups and key government officials and leaders

• Thematic timelines for each topic charting key events and turning points in the development and decline of apartheid

• Factors grids explaining the contribution of different factors and bullet points to the key questions for each topic

• Essay plans including criteria for judgement and signpost sentences

• Essays in timed conditions

Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War 1603–1660 Apartheid

Head of department

Link to specification

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics A level (9MA0)

Mrs L Honnor

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/mathematics-2017.html

Exam contents

Paper/module number Duration Content

Paper 1 2 hours Pure Mathematics

Paper 2 1 hour, 15 minutes Statistics and Mechanics

Which topics do I need to revise?

Paper 1

• All content from the Year 1 pure book.

Paper 2

• All content from the year 1 stats and mechanics book.