Year 9 End of Year Exams Topic guide Exam dates and times Monday 22nd May - Maths Paper 1 (non-calculator) Tuesday 23rd May - History Tuesday 23rd May - Science Wednesday 24th May - English Thursday 25th May - RE Thursday 25th May - Maths Paper 2 (calculator) Friday 26th May - Geography www.youtube.com/thecostelloschool www.facebook.com/thecostelloschool http://twitter.com/costelloschool
Subject: English The students exam will be based on an extract from Jekyll and Hyde. English Literature This will focus on assessment objectives A01, 2 & 3. A piece of creative writing based on an image that will be provided. GCSE Bitesize website, CGP revision guides GCSE Pod Subject: Maths Number, working with decimals, fractions, rounding and indices Algebra, fluency with solving, substitution, rearranging, expanding brackets, plotting graphs, sequences and inequalities Geometry and Measures, area and volume of 2 and 3D shapes, Pythagoras Theorem, similarity, angle facts and construction Probability Ratio and proportion Statistics, mean from a table and understanding charts including scatter diagrams BBC Bitesize Mymaths website (students have an individual login) Previous end of term tests Exercise books Thursday maths club Subject: Science Biology - Topics 1-4 (key concepts, enzymes, genetics and evolution) Chemistry - Topic 1-4 (key concepts, separation techniques, acids, metals) Physics - Topic 3 (Energy) BBC Bitesize Pearson Active Learn (students have an individual login) Folders GCSE Pod GCSE Revision guide (available from school for 5.50)
Subject: Geography Geography skills Coasts, Globalisation Natural and weather hazards Resource management BBC bitesize for each unit, is a good place to start. Your child's folder will have (attendance depending) all of the notes from class and these units covered. GCSE Pod for the topics given above is worth a listen Subject: History Crime and Punishment Folders GCSE pod Revision materials you have been provided with Subject: RE Students will need to focus on the following concepts from the Philosophy Unit: Freedom Positive and Negative Freedom Authority They will also need to practice the skill of linking concepts we have studied. We will be doing this in class also. They will have everything they need in their exercise books they should check they have no gaps in their notes.
Revision ideas Note-taking Copying pages and pages of the revision guide is ineffective and boring. Therefore students could try some of the ideas below to make the revision process more effective. Create a revision file with single sided topic summaries Make short bullet pointed notes Use colour and symbols to summarise words Use pictures Create a mind map Create revision flash cards Stick post-it-notes around the house Testing Testing students on the content they ve just revised will really help their memory. This can be done by a parent or friend. They don t need to be a subject specialist so long as the students can explain the key fact to them. Group study Working with other students, discussing revision topics and testing each other can be a very effective way of revising. However, make sure this is happening with the correct people so that the they don t get distracted. Past paper questions Students will need to practice a range of past paper questions and mark these with the examiners mark scheme. Many papers and mark schemes can be found online. The best practice here is to attempt the paper in the allocated time, then mark it and correct mistakes. Once students have completed several papers for a subject they will begin to spot patterns in the questions asked and the way they are marked.
A revision timetable What should they revise? Students will need to create a revision timetable. This should be realistic and leave space for previous commitments such as sporting groups or time to see friends. At times students will need to be flexible but by having a plan and trying to stick to it they are more likely to be successful in the June exams. This should include: Dates and times for revision What subject will be revised Which topic will be revised How long you will spend on it (no more than 1 hour) Time for breaks Marginal gains By making small changes now students will see the benefit in their exam results. For example if they are currently playing 4 hours of x-box an evening could they cut this down to 3 and spend the other hour doing revision. This way they are continuing to do activities they enjoy whilst improving their subject knowledge.
How can you help? Provide inspiration Encourage your child to talk to someone who is studying at Sixth Form or a Further Education College. Perhaps you could take them for a University visit. Offer incentives For some students the promise of further education is a good incentive, others may need more encouragement to stick to their revision plan. Consider the rewards you could offer for meeting challenging but realistic targets. Time out The sheer volume of work students are expected to complete in the run-up to their exams means students need to revise hard but also find time to relax. Make sure they continue to participate in clubs, see their friends and have an occasional lie-in. Material support Ensure that your child has all the equipment required for effective revision. They will also need a quiet place to revise away from distractions. This may be in their room or at a table. Psychological support It is important that the whole family supports your child when they are revising. Consider the family routine and any habits that may need to change in the run up to exams. For example, will you need to leave earlier to ensure that your child arrives at school in time for the exam? Is the house quiet enough to revise in? Most importantly encourage your child to talk to you openly and confidently about how they are feeling. Let them know that you understand how they are feeling and that you are committed to help them in any way you can.
What has been fed back to us by students When I did my exams. Students have said they find it difficult to relate to situations when their parents talk about their own exams and experience. Well your cousin got 5 A grades and 6 B grades. Students don t like feeling compared to a sibling or relative. What homework did you get? Is everything done? Asking students lots of questions after they step foot through the door makes them feel they are under constant scrutiny and that they can t be trusted. Right, now you ve got in from school make sure you sit down and do 3 hours now, right here, where I can see you Students understand that parents are concerned about them but would like some flexibility around when and where to complete their work. You can t go out during the exams. Revision is the most important thing now. Students understand their GCSE years are important but they will need some time out as well. Students would like parents to say.. just be the best that you can be.
FOR STUDENTS Before the exams Know your timetable Get there early Have a shower, eat breakfast Do a final check of the exam structure Make sure you have EVERYTHING you need Bring spares of everything FOR PARENTS Make sure they are in bed at a sensible time with no distractions Try to keep a calm environment at home Make sure they have everything they need for the exam Ensure they are eating nutritious food and drinking plenty of water. On the day of the exam make sure they eat breakfast It is proven to improve and sustain concentration.