GCSE Revision and Exams Preparation Monday 30 th March
AIMS To help students prepare for their GCSE examinations. To help parents understand how they can support their child during the examination period. To hopefully give parents and students a few tips and ideas about making the next couple of months as free from stress as possible while at the same time helping our students go into their exams as well prepared as they can be.
How to revise and where to revise Away from distractions at a desk in your room/in the dining room. Don t think you can work in front of the TV or the computer without distractions. If you hate being in silence, play music but without lyrics, otherwise you ll associate rainforests with the Arctic Monkeys, but not remember the facts. Plus, it s been scientifically proven that while music aids revision, music with lyrics does not! Make sure there s enough light; it will keep you awake and help you to concentrate. Make sure you have everything you need with you; it s very tempting to think actually I really need that ruler, so I ll just go downstairs, only to then find another excuse to remain away from your revision.
Shut your door so everyone knows you re revising and won t disturb you. Don t leave your revision until the last minute, but if you do, don t make revision cards they take too much time and you mat not read them again. Drink water; your brain craves it and it s exceptionally good for you. Avoid sitting opposite anything like a window or set of photos you end up staring at them. Leave your ipad, phones and gadgets in another room and limit your social media access; you will gain nothing from the constant distractions. Instead REWARD your self with guilt-free access when the revision is done.
Plan your revision use a revision timetable. Revision cards can be useful, but don t just make them and then forget about them, or think your revision is complete. That s useless you will need to continually refer to them in the run up to the examinations. Find online sites to mix up revision, but don t always use the computer it s amazing how productive you become without Facebook available. Mind maps are good to start with, as an overview of what you ve done. Put on everything in the syllabus (without detail) and you can see what you need to cover in detail and it looks a lot less scary if you can fit 2 years on a page!
Stick post-it notes of key facts/words everywhere, especially by the door or light switch because they catch your eye when you leave the room. It really works. Try to revise almost every night for a couple of hours. Make sure this is at a time before or after your favourite programme on TV is on. Keep going through past exam papers; be aware of timings and question stems. Think What exactly is this question asking me to do? Don t revise when you are tired it just doesn t go in!
Feed your brain the right foods! Our brains are made up of 60% fat and need a continuous supply of fat to continue to function properly. Our brains function better when we eat health fats from nuts, seeds and oily fish [omega 3] rather than unhealthy fats like those from chocolate, crisps and cakes [omega 6]. So dump the unhealthy snacks and fizzy drinks and replace them with foods that will help you retain information. Foods like eggs, nuts, berries, avocados, salmon, broccoli and dark chocolate are ideal.
Use a revision planner. Planning your revision Be clear the dates and times of your exams. Know how many papers you have for each subject and know what each paper will be examining.
Revision planner template DATE PERIOD 1 (9.10 10.10) PERIOD 2 (10.10 11.15) PERIOD 3 (11.35 12.35) PERIOD 4 (12.35 1.40) LUNCH (1.40 2.20)
1. Establish what you need to learn for each subject You should have a checklist for each subject. In some cases this will be broken down into different exams and different topics. Section 2: The Peace settlement 1918-1928 Topic The Armistice The Treaty of Versailles- the big 3, key features, impact on Germany The key features of the Treaty of Trianon If you don t have one you need to ASK for one from your subject teacher The key features of the Treaty of St Germain. Approaches to Learning and Teaching JSPN-2010
1. Establish what you need to learn for each subject Do I know what I will need to know about the topic in order to answer any exam question? If not I need to see the teacher to ask! Section 2: The Peace settlement 1918-1928 Topic The Armistice I must know what sort of questions I will get in the exam and how to answer them to get the marks available. If not I need to ask my teacher to go through these. The Treaty of Versailles- the big 3, key features, impact on Germany The key features of the Treaty of Trianon The key features of the Treaty of St Germain. Approaches to Learning and Teaching JSPN-2010
1. Establish what you need to learn for each subject I have no notes on this- I need to take this to the teacher to ask, I could look through my revision guide. Section 2: The Peace settlement 1918-1928 Topic The Armistice I am confident I know the necessary information here- not a priority In the meantime I have these notes but am not green yet. I am going to start my revision here. Approaches to Learning and Teaching The Treaty of Versailles- the big 3, key features, impact on Germany The key features of the Treaty of Trianon The key features of the Treaty of St Germain. JSPN-2010
The Timetable- when will I study what? Time Thursday Friday 5-6 (incl 15 min break) 6-7(incl 15 min break) 7-8 8-9(incl 15 min break) History- The other peace treaties Maths- percentage s and ratios Watch Eastenders Chemistry- balancing equations Approaches to Learning and Teaching Food Tech - food groups Physics- electrical circuits Out with Friends Out with Friends Tip: I can get some good work done on Saturday and Sunday morning when I am fresh. This reduces the pressure on other times It will really help to ensure that I revise all the things I need to properly if I have organised a revision timetable. Note the timetable is specific to topics not just subjects. Tonight I have decided to look at the other peace treaties between 5 and 6 I will need breaks. 45 minutes is probably all I can revise at a time. I will reward myself with a night off on Friday because I have worked well this week. I want to average between 2 and 3 hours/night. JSPN-2010
Making some revision notes from my written notes/a revision guide. The aims of the all the peace treaties were to ensure that the defeated could not cause any future conflict. They were also designed to give peoples of different nationalities who had been living under the control of the Austro-Hungarian and German empires the right to govern themselves. This was known as self determination. The aims of the all the peace treaties were to ensure that the defeated could not cause any future conflict. They were also designed to give peoples of different nationalities who had been living under the control of the Austro-Hungarian and German empires the right to govern themselves. This was known as self determination. The treaty with Austria was known as the Treaty of St Germain and was signed in 1919. Austria accepted the break up of the Austro Hungarian empire: Austria and Hungary became separate states and new countries were made from parts of the Empiresuch as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia (what had been Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia). Austria s army was reduced to 30,000 men The treaty with Austria was known as the Treaty of St Germain and was signed in 1919. Austria accepted the break up of the Austro Hungarian empire: Austria and Hungary became separate states and new countries were made from parts of the Empire- such as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia (what had been Serbia, Bosnia and and Austria agreed to pay reparations (damages) towards the costs of the war. The treaty had a serious impact on Austria- it led to economic problems and the collapse of the banks- this meant that reparations were never actually paid. 1. I highlight the key points (I know the key points because I know what I may be asked to use this information for in the exam). Now we need to turn this information into something useful. Approaches to Learning and Teaching JSPN-2010
I know that I need to be able to explain 1. At least one cause/aim 2. At least one thing that was in it and 3. At least one effect/impact of each Treaty because my teacher has explained this to us. Aim: to get back costs of war Aim: Self determination Reparations St Germain- Austria 1919 Empire broken up and loss of land Impact: economic collapse Not paid bank collapse Army 30,000 men Military reductions Aim: To stop Austria causing any future conflict Impact: New counties created Czechoslova kia and Yugoslavia
Revision is about repetition- Upon looking at my notes for a second time I might try to use pictures and symbols for all the information- I find that I can remember pictures more easily. I could draw a stick man with a happy face and a flag to represent self determination for example. Aim: to get back costs of war Reparations St Germain- Austria 1919 Empire broken up and loss of land Aim: Self determination Impact: economic collapse Not paid bank collapse Army 30,000 men Military reductions Aim: To stop Austria causing any future conflict Impact: New counties created Czechoslovak ia and Yugoslavia
Testing- An important part in establishing whether I really know something! Once I have revised a topic I will get a member of my family or a friend on the course to test me. A friend might be very good as they will also be learning the information- talking to them will be another way of reinforcing the information in my head. I could give them my revision card and ask them to test me on the information- can I explain a cause, what was in the treaty and an impact? I could practice an exam question on this topic and ask for it to be marked. Can you remember any of this information now? What about if you drew your own mindmap and used funny pictures or symbols?
If I feel that I have understood the topic and have a fairly good grasp then I will highlight it as green on my sheet Section 2: The Peace settlement 1918-1928 Topic The Armistice Have I got The Armistice notes yet? Do I understand it now? If so I might look at this next The Treaty of Versailles- the big 3, key features, impact on Germany The key features of the Treaty of Trianon If I am left with red or even amber- what will happen if these topics come up in the exam? The key features of the Treaty of St Germain.
So overall 1. I make sure what I need to learn (Checklist from teacher) 2. I make sure I know how I will need to use this information to answer any question in the exam. (check with teacher) 3. I check that I have the necessary notes and that I understand them. (Red/Amber/Green). 4. I get help with anything that is missing or that I do not understand- ask teacher. 5. I plan my revision using a timetable. 6. I make sure that my revision has a PRODUCT. 7. I get tested on what I have learned. 8. I go over things more than one (adapting notes perhaps) 9. Get tested again! 10. Doing ANY of these things will help- the more I do the more chance of success and happiness! Use a revision guide or your notes to produce your own revision notes on a particular topic that will be in the exam - get a classmate to test you
How can parents help? Nag a little bit, but too much has the opposite effect, so just make sure they re not on Facebook etc. Also make sure coursework is done and revision isn t an excuse for avoiding actual work with deadlines most of this should now be done. Understand that a stressed teenager may flip out or be short don t have a go or this will increase their anger!
Ask to see revision cards and test them, even if this is just a few questions at a time. Talk to them about subjects and see what they can tell you about it. Write exams on the family calendar so everyone knows when they are and can make sure they re revising and brothers and sisters aren t distracting them. Also don t book a family meal/outing etc the night before an exam, or decide the weekend before would be great for a family dog walk.
How to deal with the demands of GCSE BREATHE! Know everyone else is suffering too. Keep your mind on the end goal a LONG summer / a place in the best sixth form make sure you deserve it.
Take it a week at a time, even a day what needs to be done, and break it down. Work hard on school days (what would you honestly get done socially on a school evening?) save meeting friends until the weekend. Just an extra half hour/hour after school each evening will be invaluable. Remember the more you do, the more you CAN do. Don t give up sports or hobbies and hour or so each week to distract you will work wonders and you ll realise you can still do that hour of work afterwards.