YEAR 11 STUDY SKILLS NOVEMBER 2017
YEAR 11 (2017-18) IMPORTANT DATES DATES Tuesday 28 th November 2017 Monday 4 th December 2017 Friday 15 th December 2017 Tuesday 23 rd January 2018 Monday 5 th March 2018 Thursday 3 rd May 2018 Friday 22 nd June 2018 Thursday 23 rd August 2018 EVENT Art/Photography exams PPEs start PPEs finish PPE results PPE2 (core) start Summer exams start Summer exams finish Results day!
If you have time remember this: 5
Self-Handicapping A cognitive strategy by which people avoid effort in the hopes of keeping potential failure from hurting selfesteem.
SO WHY IS THIS RELEVANT?
Top Tips Make a revision timetable but don t take too long over it! Include other commitments and meal times/exercise. Plan to work when you know you re at your most effective. Build in breaks (10 mins in the hour?) and don t work for too long in one go (3 hrs max?) Get all your course notes/textbooks so that you have everything to hand. Work out when your exams are and prioritise your revision. Don t avoid the hard ones! Make sure that you know how your exams are structured what types of questions?
Top Tips (2) Divide topics into more manageable chunks. Actively take notes to personalise the work. Summarise key points index cards/sticky notes Utilise other revision techniques such as mind maps/spider diagrams/mnemonics/visualisation. Attend BOOST & SECURE opportunities where available and appropriate. THEY ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK THOUGH Prepare with a friend the right one Practice explaining difficult concepts/ask challenging questions.
Top Tips (3) Access old exam papers/example questions. Familiarise yourself with the way that questions are phrased. What are they asking you to do? Prepare draft answers to the most frequent questions. When the exam is close complete an exam paper within the time limit to get a feel of how quickly you need to work. Maintain motivation by rewards. Food/Cinema etc. Don t lose heart if it s not going that well though just amend your timetable and refocus on the most difficult topic area. Eye on the prize The hard work will be worth it. What could you achieve?
Top Tips (4) The night before pack you bag ready before you go to sleep. Have a quick look at the notes but don t leave it all to the last minute. Get an early night. Get up with plenty of time so that you are in school, calm and relaxed before your exam. FINALLY Use the support mechanisms available. Parents and teachers cannot do the work for you but we have done this before and want you to be successful.
SO WHAT ARE THE MECHANICS OF EFFECTIVE EXAM PREPARATION?
Five strategies for encouraging more effective independent study 1 2 3 4 5 QUIZZING SPACING ELABORATION CHUNKING METACOGNITION
Revision Tips Keep testing yourself in the way that you will be tested so do lots and lots of past exam papers and/or get someone to ask you questions This is far more effective than just reading through and/or highlighting your notes. Read a section of your exercise book (or revision guide) and then put the information into a different format eg list, table, spidergram etc.
#1 Quizzing
What is quizzing and why does it work?
What does quizzing look like? 1. Comprehension Why was A Doll s house considered radical when it was first performed? 2. Cued recall Use the following to explain changes to the theatre in the 19 th century. naturalism, romanticism, well made play, royal personages, heroic tragedies, rhyme verse, psychological, elaborate plots, stock types 3. Multiple Choice How are the details between Weed and the dead mouse connected? a. The events are not connected. It is just a coincidence. b. Both events show that Lennie likes to pet pretty things. c. The events show Lennie is an odd character with a simple mind. d. The events provide an insight into Lennie s dangerous character.
#2 Spacing
Getting the basic right Revision = practice over time Avoid cramming distribute revision for a subject over several weeks Mix it up revise 4 different subjects for 30 mins each, rather than 2 hours on one subject
What is spacing?
Interleave your revision topics. So instead of revising like this: Revise your topic like this
Why does spacing work? 1 day 6 days 24 days
Example spaced timetable Science RS English Maths Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Reactions of carbonyl compounds Biblical examples of experiences Otto's concept of numinous Jacobean theatre Esters, triglyceridesan d fats William James - experiences Properties carboxylic acids The late romance plays General Binomial Expansion Features of carbonyl compounds Partial Fractions Otto's concept of numinous Partial Fractions Jacobean theatre BREAK Parametric Equations Act One character and plot Algorithms Properties carboxylic acids features of carbonyl compounds Theme of Power and control William James - experiences Properties carboxylic acids Swinburne credulity & testimony Theme of Power and control Act One character and plot Algorithms Parametric Equations General Binomial Expansion BREAK Swinburne credulity & testimony Esters, triglyceridesan d fats Parametric Equations William James - experiences Biblical examples of experiences The late romance plays Esters, triglyceridesan d fats
#3 Elaboration
What is elaboration? Clarify What does this mean? Analyse Why does this matter? Speculate What would happen if? Contextualize How does this relate to?
What does self-explanation and elaboration look like? Physical education What does term cardiovascular mean? Why does alcohol increase blood pressure? How does this relate to sport? Geography Explain the circumstances when coastal erosion occurs Explain how destructive ways erode the coast line. Compare erosion to other geographical processes.
#4 Chunking
What is chunking?
How does chunking work? 1. Focus chunking required attention on the learning. 2. Understanding full understanding before chunking material. 3. Context going beyond understanding the initial problem or concept and seeing when, where and how to apply it.
From units to flash cards
#5 Metacognitive strategies
What is metacognition? Knowing steps and timings involved in assessments e.g. WTM Drawing on coping strategies e.g. acronyms, checklists Using aids to recall key information e.g. memory palaces and mnemonics Evaluating work against objectives or targets set by yourself or a teacher e.g. a PLC
What does metacognition look like?
Six steps to improve independent study When / where do I focus best? What order should I study? 1 2 3 What do I already know about this? right place and time to work plan study timetable link to prior knowledge How do I study best? How am I getting on? 4 5 6 What else do I need to know? read, chunk, diagrams, quiz review progress focus on weaknesses
Department Intervention Sessions Lunchtime After School Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Chemistry JC S1 History Biology JB S8 Physics ML S4 Biology JB S8 Chemistry SC S2 Physics PW S5 Ethics H4 Biology EP S8 Geography Languages Physics GH S4 History Chemistry FF S2 English Biology MR Business Studies lunchtime Mon to Thurs T6 controlled assessment PE various Tues, Wed, Thurs after school by invitation
SOME FURTHER IDEAS & STRATEGIES
http://www.highdown.reading.sch.uk/
https://getrevising.co.uk/
WE WILL FIND A WAY OR MAKE ONE