GCSE GRADE CHANGES Broadly the same number of students who currently achieve a grade C or above will achieve a grade 4 or above.
GCSE GRADE CHANGES Broadly the same number of students who currently achieve a grade A or above will achieve a grade 7 or above.
GCSE GRADE CHANGES The Department for Education have identified a grade 5 as a good pass. Grade 5 is equivalent to the top of a C grade / bottom of a B grade.
Science at Southam Jim Eltringham Head of Science Rob Holt KS4 Science Co-ordinator
This is about: Our *NEW* GCSE Courses When the exams are How we will get you there
Hang on a minute! Did you say *NEW* courses?
We have switched exam boards Because it made sense: 80% of schools now study AQA GCSE Science qualifications Resources for AQA more readily available Our Y9 course was sufficiently general to allow this Plain English style of exam papers compared to OCR
Comparison of different exam boards
The Courses AQA Combined Science Trilogy (8464) AQA Biology (8461) AQA Chemistry (8462) AQA Physics (8463)
Your course structure 100% Exams - No coursework Required practicals completed throughout Combined Science covers topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics Separate Science courses cover the same topics as Combined Science but in more detail
Your Exams 2x Biology Papers 2 x Chemistry Papers 2 x Physics Papers Combined Science - 75 minutes per exam Separate Science - 105 minutes per exam All examined summer Year 11
Year 11??????? Please, Mr Eltringham, can we not have some tests before that? Of course you can. We should have finished the 1 units by November. Lets have one then, shall we?
Hooray! And can we please have some revision homework over half term? Oh, go on then. Your Science teachers will provide you with this and it will also go on the BLOG. You will, of course, want to be reviewing your notes and making revision notes etc before that. Yippee!
That s nice - but what do we actually do? Let s have a closer look at the topics we will cover
Topics we cover- Biology Cell Biology Organisation Infection and response Bioenergetics Homeostasis and response Inheritance, variation and evolution Ecology
Topics we cover- Chemistry Atomic structure and the periodic table Bonding, structure and the properties of matter Quantitative chemistry Chemical changes Energy changes The rate and extent of chemical change Organic chemistry Chemical analysis Chemistry of the atmosphere Using resources
Topics we cover- Physics Energy Electricity Particle model of matter Atomic structure Forces Waves Magnetism and electromagnetism Space physics (Only Separate Science Physics)
Don t forget the extra Maths! 10% of Biology 20% of Chemistry 30% of Physics
There s also the Physics Equations... 23 to recall and use. Another 12 to know how to use (but not recall).
What about practical work? There is no coursework! There are now REQUIRED PRACTICALS Which you must know about and have completed. These are throughout your entire course and could/should turn up in the written exams.
So Practical work is still really important!
So...what do we do to get the best out of your child...and how can you as parents support this?
Now, 2018 is a long way off and we don t want to be too late.
How to prepare for exams in Science Resources from the AQA website Books and Revision guides Revision notes (Past exam papers) (BBC Bitesize website) (Revision cards )
Resources we use
Resources we offer
Revision notes (used sensibly)
Past exam papers are still useful......but do be careful what you use. Generally speaking, its all good......but if you re not sure, ask.
What if I need more help This lady will dress up as you and take your exam for you. Not really. But she is co-ordinating the new revision cards, which will start to appear on the BLOG by half term. All your Science teachers will be happy to help you, obviously. Mrs Jones
And lastly...don t underestimate the impact parents can make. Thank you for listening.
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Reformed Mathematics GCSE
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) General Changes GCSE Mathematics is more demanding for everyone: The demand of the content is increasing with harder topics being introduced too. The pupils will achieve a numerical grade (1-9) Students will be following the Edexcel Syllabus
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) The Content There is roughly a third more content required for GCSE Mathematics A lot of content has moved from Higher Tier to Foundation Tier as well as from A-Level to Higher Tier. There has also been the introduction of some new topics. A greater focus on problem-solving Additional requirements to provide clear mathematical arguments
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Foundation Tier Content Statistics & Probability 15% Geometry & Measures 15% Algebra 20% Number 25% Ratio, Proportion & Rates of Change 25% Foundation tier will focus on core mathematical understanding and skills for all students to master This is now a stand-alone area of content
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Content Moving to Foundation Index laws: zero and negative powers (numeric and algebraic) Standard form Compound interest and reverse percentages Direct and indirect proportion (numeric and algebraic) Expanding double brackets Factorise quadratic expressions in the form x 2 + bx + c Solve linear simultaneous equations Solve quadratic equations by factorisation Plot cubic and reciprocal graphs, recognise quadratic and cubic graphs Trigonometric ratios in 2D right-angled triangles Fractional scale enlargements in transformations Lengths of arcs and areas of sectors of circles Mensuration problems Vectors (except geometric problems/proofs) Density Tree Diagrams
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Higher Tier Content These will be tested less than currently Geometry & Measures 20% Number 15% Higher tier will focus on questions that will stretch the most able This will be tested more than currently Statistics & Probability 15% Algebra 30% Ratio, Proportion & Rates of Change 20%
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Expanding triple brackets Content Moving to Higher Interpret the reverse process as the inverse function ; interpret the succession of two functions as a composite function (using formal function notation) Deduce turning points by completing the square Calculate or estimate gradients of graphs and areas under graphs, and interpret results in real-life cases (not including calculus) Simple geometric progressions including surds, and other sequences Deduce expressions to calculate the nth term of quadratic sequences Calculate and interpret conditional probabilities through Venn diagrams
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) New content to both tiers Use inequality notation to specify simple error intervals. Identify and interpret roots, intercepts, turning points of quadratic functions graphically; deduce roots algebraically. Fibonacci type sequences, quadratic sequences & geometric sequences. Relate ratios to linear functions. Interpret the gradient of a straight line graph as a rate of change. Know the exact values of sin θ and cos θ for θ = 0, 30, 45, 60 and 90 ; know the exact value of tan θ for θ = 0, 30, 45 and 60.
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Grades and Tiers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Foundation Tier Higher Tier Overlap
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) The Examinations The total time for the examinations is increasing from 3½ hours to 4½ hours. This is spread out over 3 examinations. All exams will be sat at the end of the course. No early entry option available for pupils. There are fewer marks at the lower grades and more marks at the higher grades for both Foundation and Higher Tiers.
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) The Examinations
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Formulas Students will be required to memorise formulae Fewer formulae will be provided
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Formulas provided Formulas
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Formulas Formulas removed and will need to be memorised
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Assessment and Tracking At the start of each topic students are given a summary of its content Following each unit of work students will sit a short end of topic test.
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Students will sit three papers Paper 1 Non Calculator Paper 2 Calculator Paper 3 - Calculator 1 hour 30mins each Students will be graded on the 9-1 scale June Mock Exams
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Equipment Pencil Black Pen Ruler Rubber Pair of compasses Protractor Scientific Calculator (recommended Casio fx series)
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Textbooks Resources
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Textbooks Revision Guides Resources
GCSE Mathematics (9-1) Textbooks Revision Guides www.mymaths.co.uk Resources Login: southam Password: angle
GCSE English Language Year 10 Entry 55
Key Information English Language and English Literature are two separate, equally important GCSE qualifications English Language assesses reading and writing skills through unseen material English Literature assesses reading skills through pre-read texts and some unseen material Both qualifications are 100% exam English Language will be examined at the end of Year 10 English Literature will be examined at the end of Year 11 Both qualifications have 2 exams so there are 4 exams in total There are no tiers of entry: all students sit the same exam English Literature exams are closed text. i.e. Students will not take copies of the text into the exam
GCSE English Language Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing (1 hour 45) Section A: Reading (50% of the marks for the paper) Students read one extract from a creative text this is likely to be an extract from a novel 4 questions Q1: Retrieval of information Q2: Analysis of language Q3: Analysis of structure Q4: Evaluation The questions increase in challenge and in marks (from 4 up to 20)
GCSE English Language Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing Section B: Writing (50% of the marks for the paper) A choice of questions either descriptive or narrative E.g. A piece of writing inspired by an image such as this:
GCSE English Language Paper 2: Writers Viewpoints and Perspectives (1 hour 45) Section A: Reading (50% of the marks for the paper) Students read two extracts: one modern non-fiction (e.g. a news article) and one pre-1900 literary non-fiction (e.g. travel writing) 4 questions Q1: True or false Q2: Summary of both texts Q3: Analysis of language Q4: Comparison of views and language The questions increase in challenge and in marks (from 4 up to 16)
GCSE English Language Paper 2: Writers Viewpoints and Perspectives Section B: Writing (50% of the marks for the paper) 1 question writing to argue and persuade The question will be based on the reading material Students will be given a statement to argue for or against
How can you help? Encourage wider reading of 20 th and 21 st Century novels Support your son/daughter to include English revision in their revision timetable Provide opportunities for reading of the news online and in print Provide opportunities for the use of study guides, either in print, online or via mobile/tablet apps Practise reading texts from the past together e.g. Letters or diaries by famous writers such as Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale, Charles Darwin Please feel free to contact me or your son/daughter s English teacher for any more advice. 61
How can students revise?