Conyers School How to help your child revise for their English exams

Transcription

1 How to help your child revise for their English exams Key dates Exam content Revision tips

2 5 th -9 th December Conyers School Mock Exams Exams in English Literature and English Language Key dates Thursday 8 th December: 9am English Language 10.45am English Literature

3 The importance of the English mock exams Allows students to practise revision skills. Allows students to get used to exam conditions. Gives students and teachers a clear idea of their current performance indicator (the grade they will achieve if they continue working as they are). Allows intervention decisions to be made (e.g. CLASS).

4 The exams: English Literature Remember: Students are studying for two separate GCSEs English Literature paper 1: 1hr 45mins Section A: Romeo and Juliet Answer question given on paper Closed book (so no copy in exam) Extract provided Refer to extract and play as a whole Section B: A Christmas Carol Answer question given on paper Closed book (so no copy in exam) Extract provided Refer to extract and novel as a whole Writing analytically about language, structure, form devices used by Shakespeare. Link to contextually relevant issues. Marks for SPaG Writing analytically about language, structure, form devices used by Dickens. Link to contextually relevant issues. This paper will be done in the mock exams

5 The exams: English Literature Remember: Students are studying for two separate GCSEs English Literature paper 2: 2hrs 15mins Section A: An Inspector Calls Section B: Anthology Poetry Section C: Unseen Poetry Answer one question from choice of two given on paper Closed book (so no copy in exam) Writing analytically about language, structure, form devices used by Priestley. Link to contextually relevant issues. Marks for SPaG One question comparing one anthology poem with any other from our selection (named poem only printed) Writing analytically about language, structure, form devices used by poets. Link to contextually relevant issues. This paper will be not be done in the mock exams One question on an unseen poem One question comparing the same unseen poem to another (only 8 marks) Writing analytically about language, structure, form devices used by poets. Link to contextually relevant issues.

6 The exams: English Language Remember: Students are studying for two separate GCSEs English Language paper 1 (FICTION): 1hr 45mins Section A: Reading Read one fiction text then: 1. A question to list four facts about the text 2. A question to analyse language used 3. A question to analyse structural devices used 4. A question to respond to a view on characters or setting Section B: Writing Answer one question to respond to a picture with descriptive or narrative writing This paper will not be done in the mock exams

7 The exams: English Language Remember: Students are studying for two separate GCSEs English Language paper 2 (NON-FICTION): 1hr 45mins Section A: Reading Read one 19 th century non-fiction text and one modern non-fiction text and then: Section B: Writing Answer one question to a write a viewpoint (argue and/or persuade) piece 1. Identify true or false statements on one text (probably the modern one) 2. Question to compare the content of both texts 3. Question to analyse language of one text (probably the old text) 4. Question to compare the methods and style of both texts This paper will be done in the mock exams but will be a shortened version (students are expected to spend less time on the writing question)

8 General Revision Advice Check they have a revision timetable which builds in a weekly slot for both Literature and Language revision. Ideally (at minimum) two hours for both literature and language. Ensure your child revises them as separate subjects they are separate GCSEs. Ensure they have re-read each of the texts (for the Mocks this means re-reading A Christmas Carol and Romeo and Juliet).

9 English Language mock exam: Paper 2 Monday 7 th December- 2 hours Reading section Students will be assessed on their ability to read for understanding, select appropriate information and compare tests This means pulling out evidence and being able to explain how language/style has been used for a particular purpose and to appeal to a certain audience Reading widely will help them especially non-fiction texts Writing section Produce a technically accurate piece of writing to a brief e.g. a speech to your peers. Barriers to top grades even for our most talented writers Overlooking use of basic punctuation Using wrong homophone (their / there / they re) which can often be remedied by proof-reading Running out of ideas- not spending 5 minutes planning at the beginning

10 Paper 2 (non-fiction): Revision tips Reading Q: Read non-fiction texts and practise creating true and false questions and answering them Q2: Write a comparison of the content of two non-fiction texts Q3: Read non-fiction articles and consider the language Q4: Compare the methods and style of two non-fiction texts Writing: Learn and practise using Language and presentation devices High level punctuation Varied sentence structures Paragraphing for effect Varied, sophisticated vocabulary Writing for different purposes

11 The Literature mock exam: Romeo and Juliet and A Christmas Carol Extract based question (also need to refer to play/novel as whole) Students will be assessed on their ability to analyse language, structure and form in relation to a key theme/idea/character in the novel. Students will also needs a good knowledge of the context of the book. In R&J students SPaG skills are also assessed. Revision tips: Re-read texts Bullet point a summary of the text Produce characterisation maps for each main character with key quotations and relationships to other characters Create mind maps for key themes Study key extracts Practise analysing key quotations Practise writing PEA paragraphs Practise writing full essays to mock questions Learn key quotations

12 Useful revision resources Their purple exercise book Google drive (English>Resources>Yr11 revision) BBC Bitesize Sparknotes Shmoop CGP books

13 Other ideas Two minute boosters Use car journeys, meal time preparation, TV advert time to get them to: Literature Retell you the story of A Christmas Carol/Romeo and Juliet Name as many themes as they can think of in A Christmas Carol/Romeo and Juliet Summarise characteristics of main characters in A Christmas Carol/Romeo and Juliet Language- Paper 2 Verbally rally between you as many different types of punctuation as you both can possibly think of the one who runs out first loses. Pause the TV on a particularly colourful advert and ask them to tell you who its aimed at and how they know, in as much detail as possible. Next time they want something ask them to use the most varied and sophisticated vocabulary they can possibly think of Only grant their wish if they ve really impressed you!

14 Additional support Please help yourself to the hand-outs from this session which contain all the information covered in this session on how to support your child s revision.