Half Term Revision
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Make the most of free time to revise
The February 2020 half term is an ideal opportunity for pupils in Year 11, Year 10 and Year 9 to prepare for upcoming exams.
What is revision? A way of re-viewing, re-seeing and re-visiting. The process of re-vision involves revisiting, but the best revision also involves re-seeing facts in a different way, to consolidate and contextualise learning. Exam board OCR have published a useful revision skills guide. Everyone should find it useful - it includes revision tips, revision websites and a revision timetable template.
Year 11
Although May 2020 and the start of the GCSEs may seem a long way away, in reality it simply isn't! In their PSHE classes, our Year 11s have been looking at revision techniques. Whether writing a rap, creating a mind map, using an online resource, doing past paper questions or listening to podcasts, we provide our pupils with a variety of revision tools. If in doubt, they should ask their teachers.
Year 11 Mocks Dates (March 2020)
Monday 2 - Thursday 19 March | Separate Sciences x 3 mock papers |
Monday 16 - Friday 27 March | Combined Science x 3 mock papers |
w/c Monday 30 March | Maths x 3 mock papers |
Monday 30 March | English Literature Mock GCSE |
Year 11 Real Exams (March/April 2020)
Monday 23 March Tuesday 24 March |
Textiles Practical |
Monday 23 March Tuesday 24 March or Wednesday 25 March Thursday 26 March |
Art Practical |
w/c Monday 27 April | Languages Spoken |
The bulk of the GCSE exams start on Monday 11 May 2020.
Pupils need to be planning their revision timetables and using at least some of the half term break to revise. Check below and on SMHW for any specific work set by teachers. When revising, little and often is best. Do practice papers.
Science
- Pupils will be sitting second mock examinations in March. It is essential they are as well prepared as possible; the exams will provide vital information as to where revision should be focused.
Separate Science – 3 mock exams between 2nd and 19th March.
Combined Science – 3 mock exams between 16th and 27th March. - Begin revision as early as possible.
- Revision materials should cover AQA GCSE Science 9-1.
- Use your revision guide. This covers the content and provides questions and mark schemes.
- List all the topics and which paper they will be in.
- Practise past papers, including on Physics & Maths Tutor.
- Knowing the 21 Physics equations is vital.
- Use the websites recommended by teachers, including freesciencelessons, DrPhysicsA, and BBC Bitesize.
- Check the Year 11 Parents' Evening leaflet.
English
- There will be an English Literature Mock Exam on Monday 30 March.
- Re-read the texts! Macbeth -- Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde -- Lord of the Flies -- The AQA Power and Conflict poetry anthology.
- Purchase your own copies of the texts and use highlighters or post-its to remember important sections/quotations.
- Consider purchasing a CGP study guide. Priced at £2.75 each, these can be purchased via WisePay. Available titles are: Lord of the Flies, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Macbeth, Power and Conflict poetry.
- Use the internet:
- Subscribe to English teachers’ YouTube channels (e.g. Mr Bruff, Stacey Reah, Mr Salles teaches English)
- Seneca includes revision for each exam question.
- Cloud 9 provides example paragraphs from top grade GCSE Literature responses.
- Use BBC Bitesize to explore key topics. - Read around the topic, e.g. by finding articles about texts online, researching authors and the contexts of texts. The British Library is an excellent source of information.
- Read for pleasure – choose challenging texts from a range of genres.
- Read a wide range of non-fiction, e.g. by downloading the Guardian or Huffington Post app.
- Ensure you pay particular attention to targets set (EBIs) and ensure you follow up on your teacher’s feedback.
- Aim for maximum SPaG marks by proofreading all your answers thoroughly.
- Go to AQA to see an example of a specimen paper for the examination.
- Learn quotations by putting posters and post-it notes up around the house.
We will be running a series of Literature Lectures on Wednesdays after school - look out for next term's topics - pupils in previous years have found these really beneficial. The Exam Preparation Workshops run every Thursday after school. If pupils have any questions, they should talk with their teacher.
Maths
- The best way to practise Maths is to do Maths - little and often.
- Pupils have paper 'D' to complete over half term.
- Pupils will be sitting second, and final, mock exams in the week before the Easter break. There will be 3 x 1 hour Calculator papers during timetabled Maths lessons in usual classrooms.
- We subscribe to a number of really good Maths revision websites, use them!
- MyMaths
- MathsWatch
- Corbettmaths
- OnMaths
- MathsGenie - Pupils are following either the Higher Tier (grades 9-5) or Foundation Tier (grades 5-1) for GCSE Mathematics (Edexcel); and OCR exam board for GCSE Additional Maths. There are revision guides and workbooks available to purchase via WisePay for Maths (make sure you order the correct tier).
- Pupils and parents should regularly access ‘Show My Homework’ to check the details of homework set by teachers.
Languages
- Focus on tasks, not time
- Know at the start of a session what you want to have completed by the end of the period.
- It’s impossible to ‘cram’ for a Languages exam - ‘little and often’ is the best policy for revision
- We follow AQA Languages
- Do practise papers
- Use Exercise Books, Text Book (remember to return once you have finished the exams), Grammar Booklet, Folder, Speaking Booklet (includes Mark Schemes), Role Play and Photocard Booklets, Websites such as Linguascope, Languagesonline, Memrise, Quizlet, Lyricstraining, aprender, BBC Bitesize, Kahoot, Seneca, Duolingo. You can also purchase the CGP Revision Guide £6.50
- Check the Year 11 Parents' Evening leaflet.
Humanities
GCSE Geography
- We do OCR B Geography so any online resources need to be for this spec.
- Little and often is best for revision.
- Practice makes perfect - grab your practice questions from outside the Humanities Office and pass your answers in for marking.
- There are lots of resources available via SMHW if you have misplaced the paper copies of any of the booklets.
- Follow @Geografun - Instagram and Twitter revision begins after half term.
GCSE History
- We do AQA History and their website has a range of resources you can use.
- Use your revision workbook and teacher-made revision guides.
- Every History revision resource is on SMHW including flash cards, mind maps, revision clocks, timelines and lots of great revision videos.
- Complete past paper questions from your booklet and give them to your History teacher for feedback. Make sure you know your exam structure!
- Little and often is best for revision.
GCSE Business
3 Top Tips:
1) Read all of the Case Study carefully (and any extra data/information in the following questions), highlighting key points and key information you can bring in to the answers as context - this is essential for the higher marks.
2) Be sure to write clearly, concisely and using the following structure:
- PEEE X2 or PEEEEE (five strands - or linked explanations using connectives AND context)
- This is then repeated for the counter argument - balance is needed.
- Conclusion - giving your opinion on what the business should do and why e.g. 'it depends on', 'they should consider', 'in the short term' etc.
3) Give balance and/or attach value to the points you are making, This shows your ability to weigh up reasons and make judgements about how important or likely it is. You can do this by explaining why one option might be more or less important or by including a judgement as to which of the two options is the most important and why. Consider what this depends on.
Expressive Arts
- Know your mnemonic inside out (MPGIAVFE)!
- Check you have memorised enough quotes for Section C.
- There will be revision resources and activities on the Expressive Arts Instagram account @exartscdps closer to the exams.
GCSE Music
- OneDrive - lots and lots of resources uploaded for revision.
- Expressive Arts Instagram @exartscdps – lots of short video revision and stories from last year
- Focus on Sound - use MusicFirst.
- Keep listening to the pieces – keep your folders at home to make use of your annotated score.
- Know your key words.
Music Technology
- Revision materials will be on the OneDrive.
- Revisiting knowledge covered in class will be critical to succeeding in the 2 exams.
Art & Design
- Pupils have their Practical exam 4 weeks after we come back from half term.
- Work/Revision calendar
- Exam is on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 March or Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 March.
GCSE Design Technology
- Make use of www.TechnologyStudent.com
- Use your exercise book.
- Pupils are completing their Practical make tasks and will be evaluating them. Their coursework will be finished by the end of February.
- Pupils will then be revising for their 2 hour exam.
GCSE Textiles
- Textiles uses the same time plan as Art (see above).
- Exam is on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 March
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition
- Pupils have completed their Practical exam.
- Now in to revision for their 2 hour exam.
Ethics & Computing
- We do Eduqas Religious Studies and you have a copy of the specification which is an essential tool when you are revising.
- Use your Revision A3 sheets along with your revision exercise books.
- SMHW has a variety of revision materials including revision videos.
- Complete past paper questions from the past paper grids, as Dr Peter Vardy said this is essential to improve your outcomes of AO2 questions (D style).
- Make sure you know the structure of the A-D style questions!
- 15-20 minutes revision slots are ideal, enough time to practice a D style question.
GCSE Citizenship Studies
- We do OCR Citizenship Studies and you have a copy of the specification in your revision guide, which is an essential tool when you are revising.
- Use your in-house revision guide and key words booklets
- SMHW has a variety of revision materials including revision videos.
- Complete past paper questions including multiple choice questions.
- Make sure you know how to read sources with statistics and that you read the rubric for extended essays.
- 15-20 minutes revision slots are ideal, enough time to practice questions.
GCSE Computer Studies
- We follow OCR Computer Studies.
- Revise the keywords for each topic to use in your exam answers.
- Use the revision checklist given in class for each topic to ensure you have revised everything in the specification
- Use videos such as 'Craig n Dave' or 'Computer Science Tutor' on YouTube to help revise topics.
- Revise 'little and often' - 30 minutes at a time is plenty.
- Complete as many past paper questions as possible - have 'perfect' answers for common questions.
PE
Year 10
Most Year 10 pupils will sit at least one real exam this summer - GCSE Religious Studies (Short Course). Some of our mathematicians will be sitting GCSE Statistics and should see Mr Green if they have any questions. Pupils doing the Nationals in Creative iMedia and Child Development have exams at the end of Year 10 and they will then focus on their coursework in Year 11. See below for suggested half term revision.
To give our pupils plenty of practice, Year 10s will be sitting mock exams in Science, Maths, English, Geography and History between March and the end of June. Pupils sitting GCSE Separate Sciences will have mock exams in each of the 3 sciences early in March. Dates for these and other mock exams in May/June are listed below.
GCSE Religious Studies (Short Course)
- We do Eduqas Religious Studies and you have a copy of the specification which is an essential tool when you are revising.
- Use your Revision A3 sheets along with your revision exercise books.
- SMHW has a variety of revision materials including revision videos.
- Complete past paper questions from the past paper grids, as Dr Peter Vardy said this is essential to improve your outcomes of AO2 questions (D style).
- Make sure you know the structure of the A-D style questions!
- 15-20 minutes revision slots are ideal, enough time to practice a D style question.
Year 10 Creative iMedia
- We do the OCR Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia course. You have a copy of the specification as well as a 'revision checklist' which is an essential guide to what you should be revising.
- The exam unit code is 'R081 Pre-Production Documents' and is split into 4 different learning outcomes.
- Use your exercise books, the resources on RMShared and the 'OCR Cambridge Nationals Creative iMedia L1/2 Revision guide' by Kevin Wells to support your revision. There are plenty of revision guides in C1, see Mr Young if you are interested in borrowing one, or you can find them on Amazon.
- Complete as many past paper questions as you can, familiarise yourself with different question formats and refine your technique.
- 12 mark questions can make 3-grades difference so make sure you spend time practising them.
- Revise little and often, allow yourself rest breaks as long as you are focused during your working time.
Year 10 Child Development
- We are studying OCR Cambridge Nationals in Child Development and the website has some past paper materials on it.
- Use the revision packs and resources you will be given in class and revisit previous assessments to focus your revision.
- Remember to practise the longer marked questions by demonstrating PEE.
- Revise the command words and be sure you understand what each of them mean.
- Use programmes like Secret Life of Four Year Olds and One Born Every Minute to reflect on prior learning.
- Bite size revision in manageable chunks focusing on LO1 - LO5 one at a time.
GCSE Business
Although the Year 10 Business pupils don't have an exam this summer, it is worth starting to revise the calculations needed for Year 11. A very good resource to start pupils on their Business Studies revision journey would be the Tutor2U Edexcel Calculation Practice Book.
Year 10 Mocks Dates (March/May/June 2020)
Monday 2 March | Separate Science |
Wednesday 4 March | Separate Science |
Friday 6 March | Separate Science |
Friday 1 May | Combined Science |
Monday 4 May | Combined Science |
Thursday 7 May | Combined Science |
Monday 22 June | Geography |
Tuesday 23 June | Maths |
Wednesday 24 June | English |
Thursday 25 June | History |
Friday 26 June | Maths |
Year 9
Our Year 9 pupils will all be sitting End of Key Stage exams before the Easter Holidays.
Year 9 End of Key Stage Exam Dates (March 2020)
Monday 9 March | Science Paper 1 |
Wednesday 11 March | Science Paper 2 |
Thursday 12 March | Maths Paper 1 |
Tuesday 17 March | Maths Paper 2 |
Friday 20 March | English |