Dear Parents and Students, As the end of the semester approaches, we would like to bring to your attention some important details. May is a busy month, especially as our students are taking examinations. Information in this letter includes: Calendar of events for May to help organize study Examination Attendance Requirements Examination Procedures and Protocol for Students Student Study Tips Generic Examination Schedule End of semester examinations in classes are designed to: Help students refine their Approaches to Learning with regard to how they best study for timed assessments. Assess the content skills and concepts that students have learned over the course. Provide students with a formal examination environment they are likely to experience in their May IB exams in their senior year. Provide a formal, written assessment component for each student. IBDP will be based on material covered since the beginning of the course. The examination results will count as 20% of the student s semester grade for IBDP (Grade 11) and 10% for grades 9 and 10. The details of the examination schedule are attached. If for any unavoidable emergency, a student is unable to take an exam, he or she will receive an Incomplete on the report card and will be able to make up the exam at a separate time by meeting with the Assistant Head of Upper School. We have every expectation that families will structure any travel/vacation planning to support their child s examination schedule. As parents, you will also be able to support your child in a variety of ways: Provide your son/daughter with appropriate places to study and ensure that he/she uses it. Make sure that your son/daughter has a good night s sleep prior to examinations. Make sure that your son/daughter eats a balanced diet. Monitor your son s/daughter s work/recreation balance. We wish all of our students the best of luck in their end of year exams! Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions about the upcoming examinations. Yours sincerely, Sara Rubinstein Head of Upper School John Horsington Assistant Head of Upper School
MAY 2018 SEMESTER EXAM SCHEDULE School Hours during exams: o Grades 9-10 Friday, May 18: 8:30 am - 3:25 pm (Normal Classes) Monday, May 21 - Friday, May 25: 8:30 am - 10:40 am o Grade 11 Friday, May 18 - Thursday, May 24: 8:30 am - 2:10 pm Friday, May 25: 8:30 am - 10:40 am Friday May 18 Exam Times 9-10 Grade 11 Grade Normal Classes (3:25 pm dismissal) Group 1 English Group 3 Psychology Monday May 21 Tuesday May 22 World History US History English Group 3 Global politics Group 4 Physics Environmental Systems Group 2 Spanish French Group 4 Chemistry Wednesday May 23 Mathematics Group 4 Biology Group 3 History Thursday May 24 Biology Chemistry Group 5 Mathematics Group 4 Computer Science Friday May 25 Spanish French Make up exams
CALENDAR OF EVENTS - MAY 2018 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 30 April 1 May Upper School Awards 2:00pm Theater 2 May 3 May Rising 10th grade Boston Trip Meeting 6:30 pm Theatre 4 May Beta Club Initiation 7:00 pm Theatre 7 May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May 14 May 15 May College Counseling Coffee 16 May 17 May 18 May Normal schedule grades 9 and 10 Grade 11 21 May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 May Last school day Have a happy and safe vacation!
EXAMINATION ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS - MAY 2018 Dear Parents, This letter should be read in conjunction with your son s/daughter s examination planner sheet that is available on Schoology. The model for the forthcoming examinations is based upon groupings; consequently, there will be some additional study-time built into the schedule. It is our intention that students should have some flexibility in the way they prepare for their examinations and in the times they attend school. Such an arrangement can only operate successfully if it is structured with some clear understanding and basic rules: Examinations run from Friday, May 18 through Friday, May 25, inclusive for grade 11 and Monday, May 21 to Friday, May 25 inclusive for grades 9 and 10. Examinations will be held on CDS campus. If a student has no examination during a particular session, he/she is advised to review/study at home. As per IB regulations, the student may leave the exam room after the first hour of the exam and before the last fifteen minutes; no student may leave the exam room during the last fifteen minutes. Attendance will be taken in the examination rooms. Examination session timings are given on the individual examination schedule. All students must be outside the examination room at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the session. Morning exams start at 8:30 am and afternoon exams start at 12:00. are two hours in duration. Students who are late for an examination need to see the proctor upon arrival no additional time will be allowed. No food or drink will be permitted inside the examination location. Following this letter are some further details of examination expectations, tips, and regulations please review these with your son/daughter.
EXAMINATION PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS FOR STUDENTS Attendance in School - You need only attend school at times when you have examinations. Ensure you understand the exam schedule, times, and location. During the examinations, you are required to observe all normal expectations, including school uniform. Hats or hoods should not be worn. Mobile phones and all other electronic devices are NOT allowed in any examinations. During examinations, you risk disqualification if you bring such a device into the examination room. You must leave these devices at home or in your car. You must be at school at least 15 minutes before the start of each exam. You may not enter a room until the proctor instructs you to. Late Arrivals If you do arrive late, please proceed immediately to the exam room. Attendance will be taken there; no additional time will be given. Never bring your bag to your seat. Bags should be kept in your car. Any you bring into the examination room are to close inspection. All should be in a clear plastic bag, not an opaque pencil case. In the case of calculators get precise instructions from your teachers. The proctor may ask you to display any programs written on your calculator. During the examinations, you must remain in your seat unless given permission to move. If you need to speak to the proctor, raise your hand, do not call out. When the proctor asks you to stop writing, you must do so immediately. All question papers as well as answer sheets must be handed in. MALPRACTICE Once in the examination room, you may not communicate with any other candidate orally, by written note, or sign. Never take any paper into an exam room. Likewise, malpractice is a serious offense. If you contravene these regulations in any way, your paper will be canceled. If you have a question, ask before the examination period begins.
STUDY TIPS & WORK HABITS With the end of the semester in sight, students should be sure that they are working productively and are reviewing their work in a systematic and efficient manner. Many s will require students to sit for examinations, and with this in mind, we recommend the following tried and tested advice. General Work Habits Establish multiple work places (i.e., spots in your home where you can go to review/work without others distracting you). Make sure there is plenty of light in your work spaces and that it is not too hot or too cold. Ensure you have all you will need (e.g. books, pens, highlighters, planner). Work at a table. Working with familiar music is fine as long as it helps you focus avoid having it too loud as this makes you less effective and tires you more quickly. Working with the TV on is NOT fine. When you are studying effectively, you are NOT talking on the phone or chatting with social media. Stay productive - after studying the same for 45 minutes, take a 5-minute break. ing Work for Tests and Examinations If you have a test or assessment, draw up a detailed review/study schedule. Work out how many days you have available, how many topics/s you have to cover, then set yourself times when you will work on review/study. Include social times, exercise, and fun activities. If you are a visual learner, it is best to rewrite or redraw notes and diagrams. If you are a verbal learner, it is best to talk aloud and try to explain in words what you are studying. These interactive processes will enable you to recall facts far more effectively than just reading or highlighting. When you review your work, break it down into separate and specific topics or units. Do not write down biology but rather be detailed, Plant Reproduction plus diagrams. Make sure you review/study your least favorite s or topics first- save the best until last!! Try making your own key point review notes (i.e., a few summary points for every topic that remind you of other points or ideas). Use a separate notebook or index cards. If your mind clogs up, take a break, change topic/, ask a friend/teacher.
9th & 10th Grade Spring 2018 Exam Prep Schedule See Mrs. Hollingsworth if you need assistance sorting or getting organized Yes - - you are beginning to study for exams while you are still learning new material! Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday WK 1 April 29 April 30 May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 Approx. 30 min. per Humanities notes; consolidate Humanities English notes; consolidate English Math notes; consolidate Math Science notes; consolidate Science World Lang. notes; consolidate World Lang. Connect with any teachers in s where you feel you are missing from any time this school year. Use this weekend to finish any work in any class still lagging. Be sure to start next week leaving nothing behind. WK 2 MAY 6 MAY 7 MAY 8 MAY 9 MAY 10 MAY 11 MAY 12 Approx. 1 st Humanities 1st English : Flex Study Day for 1st Math : 1st Science 45 60 : make make graphic any assignments make graphic : make min. of graphic organizers, organizers, flash earlier this week organizers, flash graphic organizers, review per flash cards, etc. cards, etc. cards, etc. flash cards, etc. Use this weekend to finish any work in any class still lagging. Be sure to start the week leaving nothing behind. WK 3 MAY 13 MAY 14 MAY 15 MAY 16 MAY 17 MAY 18 MAY 19 Approx. 1st World Language 2nd English 2nd Math - 2nd Science - 45 60 : make - concentrated concentrated study concentrated study min. of graphic organizers, study. review per flash cards, etc 2nd Humanities - concentrated study Last minute questions for any teacher Last minute questions for any teacher Last minute questions for any teacher Last minute questions for any teacher 2nd World Lang. - concentrated study Last minute questions for any teacher WK 5 May 20 May 21 May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 12/16 Approx. Humanities Exam English Exam Math Exam Science Exam World Language 60 min. of Final Humanities Exam review per Final Math Final English Final Science Final World Language LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! Flex Study Day for any assignments the end of this week Flex Day for hitting any weaknesses in soli/ concentrated study
JUNIORS - Exam Prep - Spring 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday WK 1 April 22 April 23 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27 April 28 Approx. Group all notes and 30 min. for each Sort & Organize Sort & Organize Sort & Organize Sort & Organize Sort & Organize per together. English notes Science notes Humanities World Lang. notes Math notes English notes & consolidate WK 2 April 29 April 30 May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 Approx. 30 min. per ; Science notes & consolidate Humanities notes & consolidate World Lang. notes & consolidate Math notes & consolidate any double- classes & consolidate to an absence. English - devote time to reading anything you rushed through this semester. THIS MAY TAKE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES Time to be sure all your English reading is done. If you have Psychology, do the same thing. WK 3 May 6 May 7 May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May 12 Approx. 1 st English 2 nd English 1 st Humanities 2 nd Humanities 4 th English 3 rd Humanities 1 st Math 30 min. time time time per 4 th Science 1 st Science 2 nd Science 3 rd English 3 rd Science 1 st World Lang. Rev. 2 nd World Lang. Rev. time Engage in uninterrupted/active studying. time time 1st Comp. Science time WK 4 May 13 May 14 May 15 May 16 May 17 May 18 May 19 Add 6th class if 3 rd World Lang. Rev. 3 rd Math 4 th World Lang. Rev. English & Final GloPo necessary Psychology 2 nd Math Add 6th class if necessary 2nd Comp. Sci. Rev. 4 th Humanities Add 6th class if necessary Final English Add 6th class if necessary Final Psychology 4th Math The week of exams, you should spend 30 minutes on each for Final the night before each exam. If you have Computer Science, review 3 times next week BE CONFIDENT!