Exam Preparation Evening PART 2 THE FINAL PUSH

Exam Preparation Evening PART 2 THE FINAL PUSH

What we will cover Common errors in exams Revision/planning for longer mark questions Subject specific revision Procrastination Revision timetables and quality with quantity

Mock Results Mocks have 3 major purposes Show students, staff and parents were they are academically right now with formal tests. Show specific areas of weakness/strength to build on going forward. Scare everyone!

How the Human Brain Works TASK 1

Practical Exam Note: Please read each instruction carefully before you start. Complete the actions listed below. 1) Tap your head 3 times 2) Stand up and sit down 4 times 3) Tell the person to your right You look lovely this evening 4) Clap your hands 6 times 5) Shake the hand with the person to your right 6) Shout at Mr Short That is the same suit you wore last time 7) Whistle the first line of the Match of the Day theme tune 8) Tell your parents I will do better in the real exams, promise 9) Make a Tarzan noise 10) Do none of the above. Sit back and see if anyone else has read all of the instructions carefully also.

Common Errors from the Mocks Not reading instructions carefully/correctly before starting Lack of planning of answers Not understanding and using key words/terms correctly Not putting in formulas/workings out/calculations Not having the correct equipment Giving superficial answers to longer mark questions Poor use of SPaG (spelling, grammar and punctuation) Poor timings of the whole paper Leaving answers blank Clear lack of revision prior to exam

Key questions before you pick up your pen in an exam How long do I have to answer all the questions I need to? How long does that give me for each question? Are some questions longer than others? These will need more time. How will I plan my answer out first so I include all important information? Have I left myself time to check through my paper for mistakes and errors such as SPaG?

Planning the paper and answers You have to work out how long you will have for each question. You should know this before the exam by doing practice papers and working with your class teachers and parents on this. Some people like to go through and mark which questions they will answer and in what order. This is up to you but answering on a topic you know can give you confidence going forward. If your question is 6 marks or higher plan your answer. What is the question asking for? What key information will you include? How will you relate it back to the question?

Key terms Demonstrate = show/prove how this is carried out. Describe = give a full description of the relevant features. Suggest = give your own ideas and thoughts. Analyse = identify relevant features and state how they are linked and how each of them relates to the topic. Explain = give reasons to support your views. Justify = give reasons for the points you are making so the reader knows what you are thinking and feeling. Discuss = what are the positives and negatives of each idea/factor.

Longer answer revision techniques Drafting model answers using past papers Use mind maps/notes to put together your model answers Always get someone to mark your answer Change the key terms in questions to develop a different answer but on the same topic when revising eg discuss to demonstrate Always use full sentences and paragraphs when writing an answer

How are English and Maths Exams so different this year?

How to get the best out of English Revision

Google classrooms Accept the invite and you will be able to see homework and overviews of topics.

4 key skills for the reading sections of the Language exams BUT these are the also the same skills as the Literature exams. 1. Finding information, summarising and synthesising 2. Analysing language and structure 3. Comparing 4. Being critical

Two books to revise from: My revision guide: Goes through each language question Step by Step. Has example papers and questions at the back. Where? Every student has one and it is on the website and google classroom Snap guide Has sections that teach key vocabulary and skills. Has example papers and answers. 1 from Miss Singleton or School Shop.

Lots of revision posters if you search English revision. Follow HuishEnglish

Key rings and timing sheets

How can you help? 1. Test them on the sentence starters on the key ring 2. Test them on the times for the questions (using timing sheet) 3. Time them write an answer (use papers in revision guide, more will be added to Mr Hughes google classroom) 4. Use the revision guide or Snap guide- can they write definitions of key words for language? For structure? 5. Respond to marking in book- attempt the same question again 6. Read the opening of a book and use the questions from revision guide 7. Read two articles online on the same topic- can they verbally summarise them 8. Highlight key words in the questions. Highlight key quotations

Golden Nuggets for Comparing Find the "golden nugget" quotation from each source. The nugget should be the essence of the writer's point of view EXPLODE the quote explaining methods / thoughts / feelings / experiences / attitudes and use the anchor points of tone / purpose / audience.

Two Key skills for writing 1. Content, structure and vocabulary 2. Accuracy of spelling punctuation and grammar

Writing Paper 1 is creative writing Use the revision guide to write plans based on images Time an answer- use mark scheme in revision guide to help correct Paper 2 is Viewpoint writing (used to be called argue and persuade) Use the revision guide to produce 5 point plans on topical issues eg Are the Oscars representative of all film makers? BBC Bitesize has lots of accuracy work

Literature 1. GCSE pod covers all of the texts 2. Revision guides are widely available- exam board is AQA 3. Mindmap a theme from the text. Do this from memory. Use revision guide/ notes to add more on in a different colour. Read over. Can you repeat the mindmap remembering more? 4. Flashcards on characters or key events 5. Watch youtube clips- create a mindmap, flowchart etc based on clip 6. Research context of your Shakespeare Play and 19 th century novel 7. All students have had a poetry booklet with annotations

How to crack Maths Revision

How to Revise Maths at Home

How to do it: Find a quiet space at a table / desk with plenty of space Make sure you have plenty of paper and all of your maths equipment with you If possible sit by a computer Remember to try to do the topics you struggle with rather than the topics you know how to do you know how to do them!!! If you continue to struggle on a topic make a note and bring it in to ask a Maths teacher any one of them will help you!

Look at your mock exam analysis: Select a topic you struggle on

Find the page in the revision guide Make some notes or revision cards Don t forget to laugh at the silly jokes!!!

Using the websites with videos Decide on a topic that you struggled with in your mock Log on to a computer Go to www.corbettmaths.com/contents Find your topic Watch the video Try the practice questions If you are stuck ASK A TEACHER!

Still struggling? Want more practice? Corbett Maths - Method Maths My Maths Hegarty Maths Pixl Maths App - Centre ID huish Login yourname Password huish123 Login huish Password graph You may need to Create an account Centre ID HE1511 Login EVANSM Password EVANSM

Little and often Two questions a day Multiple choice Class teachers get daily feedback

Maths Revision Sessions Every Tuesday 3.30 4.30pm Revision Guides Websites If you are stuck ASK A TEACHER Revision cards

Maths Exams: Thursday May 25 th Thursday June 8th Tuesday June 13 th Maths Revision is every Tuesday 3:30 4:30pm

Nailing Science Revision

KS4 GCSE Science Revision SO WHAT DO THEY TEST YOU ON IN SCIENCE EXAMS?

Spot the link They only test what you know and can recall!

Science exams the myth They only test what you can remember - so all I have to do is learn facts Not true so what else do they test?

Science exams Assessment objective AO1 AO2 AO3 What it tests Approx. % of paper Recall knowledge and understanding Apply knowledge and understanding* Analyse, evaluate, interpret information and ideas* * In a variety of contexts 40 40 20 100

Science exams implications for revision Recalling everything you know in the exam won t even get you half your marks! You need to practise higher skills of applying and analysing in a variety of contexts Best way using exam questions

Science revision top tips Use whatever techniques work for you (outlined by Mr Short) to remember the science facts this is your baseline Apply what you know to contexts in exam questions past paper booklets, revision guides, textbooks Test yourself/each other repeatedly check the mark schemes

How the Human Brain Works TASK 2

How many numbers can you recall accurately?

56 129 3416 43856 776238 5892346 97045301 1032568336 98734295044

91 744 6710 48639 867456 9586213 46009785 118636502 5687980034

Now can you repeat the numbers back in reverse order? Example 23 876 2135 And so on.

36 876 1103 75623 986712 8677021 33456790 465768294 8697547318

27 734 6590 98602 554623 1524339 85760954 126538560 8567436289

Procrastination Procrastination is when you delay things that you should be focusing on right now! Usually in favour of doing something that is more enjoyable or that you re more comfortable doing.

How do I fight it? The key to controlling this destructive habit is to recognise when you start procrastinating, understand why it happens (even to the best of us), and take active steps to manage your time and outcomes better.

Recognise / Understand Two Steps to Salvation: I am Procrastinating! I understand why I am Procrastinating.

Manage Many procrastinators overestimate the unpleasantness of a task. So give it a try! You may find that it s not as bad as you thought! Change the setting. Break the project into a set of smaller, more manageable tasks ( chunk it down ). You may find it helpful to create an action plan. Make up your own rewards. Ask someone else to check up on you. Identify the unpleasant consequences of NOT doing the task.

Revision Booklet Each subject has given a weekly breakdown of which topics need to be covered. If you don t have any notes/materials on these areas please speak to your teachers about this as soon as possible. Use these revision guides to plan your time more effectively than you did for the mocks so you cover all the key areas in great depth.

Revision is always the key to success You have to know what you need to revise Prioritize areas that are likely to come up in the exam questions. Use methods of revision that work for you. Use the support of parents, teachers and friends to allow yourself to be successful

Risk Taking Revision? High risk Moderate risk No risk (minimum topics, (enough topics, (all topics, little depth) great depth) enough depth) Best case scenario Excellent results Good results Average result vs. vs. vs. vs. Worst case scenario Failure Average result Average result

Successful Huish Revision All topics in good depth and detail = good to outstanding results Using this mindset the worst outcome is good results. The best outcome is outstanding results if you have done the revision in the correct way and can recall it on the day of the exam.

Revision materials Revision guides specific to our qualifications are available from the School Shop or Departments. Use them effectively. There are many Apps available that could be useful, however you need to be aware that they are not Exam Board specific. I would recommend Revision Buddies if any and they do various subjects. GCSE Pod is a website where students can listen to or download high quality MP3 podcasts that support revision in English, English Literature, Geography, History and Biology. The podcasts also contain visual cues to support the learning and are specifically designed for the exam boards we use.

Top Revision Tips Prioritize your revision based on your exam timetable. Use a planner/wall chart to plan out your time effectively. Sit for one minute after you have finished your revision session thinking about the topic you have just covered. Remember you MUST get tested later to check your understanding. Organise your notes, books, folders and revision guides into workable form so you can find certain topics quickly and simply. Remember if there are areas missing then speak to your teachers now. If you stick to your revision timetable then come up with a sensible reward scheme with your parents as a well done to you to keep you motivated. Eat healthy, get enough sleep, do some exercise. They are the biggest factors into being able to function effectively.so do them!

It is 4 months until you leave Huish. It is just over 10 weeks until the first exams start. How do you want to feel opening that envelope in August? Nervous? Happy? Relieved? Disappointed? Proud? Confident? Scared?

Thank you for listening Please take the Revision Guides on the way out Feel free to contact me with any feedback or questions you have Have a safe trip home and Happy Revising..its up to you now!