Revision and exam preparation. Some thoughts and ideas for parents November 2015

Transcription

1 Revision and exam preparation Some thoughts and ideas for parents November 2015

2 3 steps Step 1: organising revision Step 2: effective revision strategies Step 3: keeping everyone sane

3 Before we start Goals and motivation Careers interview? College entry requirements? 6 th Form requirements? Pure old fashioned bribery!

4 Organising Revision 1) Which subjects have exams? 2) What are the exams worth? 3) When are they? 4) How long do they last? 5) What do they require? Ascertain priority areas and order needed. Avoid the temptation to focus on what can already be done. Complete for the mocks (now) and then again for final exams (post mocks)

5 Creating an examination revision timetable

6 Creating an examination revision timetable

7 Revision kit list Folders - one per subject Highlighters Ruler Flashcards Post-its Poster paper and marker pens Stick on whiteboard sheets and whiteboard pens Revision guides Internet access A4 note pads Different colour pens Blank paper for mind maps

8 Effective revision techniques Different approaches: Reading Writing Group study Technology based revision Testing and practice

9 Reading approaches- revisiting and recapping Read information and highlight/underline key words and phrases Read information and summarise into a diagram/brainstorm with key headings Revision guides Read information and jot notes down into a notepad Read information, record it and listen back to it

10 Writing approaches- processing the information Create flashcards List key words and concepts Sticky whiteboards/poster paper and pens Post-its Mind maps/summary maps Make notes using different colours for different information

11 Group work Discussing and sharing ideas Testing each other Marking each others work and giving feedback including the use of mark schemes Sharing resources/notes- set up shared Google docs? Use of Facetime/Messenger/ /share images

12 Testing and Practice

13 Testing and Practice Exam board websites have past papers and mark schemes. Make sure you are using the correct exam board and specification. Main boards: AQA Edexcel WJEC

14 Useful websites (1) Go conqr creates mind maps/flashcards/quizzes creates revision timetables, has quizzes, flashcards for subjects

15 Useful websites (2) creates revision timetables, has links to past papers and other links and advice GCSE Pod We have a school membership. Accessed through school address. Has videos to support revision

16 Apps for students: getting up Maths Alarm Clock (won t let you snooze as you have to solve a maths puzzle to turn it off) Sleep if U can (alarm clock where you have to take a photo to match one on your phone to turn it off)

17 Apps for students: helping with revision (1) Exam Time (as per the website but also an app for creating mind maps, flash cards etc) Revision App (Android and ios, free) Perhaps the most appropriately named revision app out there is, indeed, the Revision App. It sports over a million revision notes, flashcards and quizzes covering a wide variety of subjects from the GCSE and AS/A-level syllabuses. imindmap (Android and ios, free) The way you revise very much depends on you, as a person, and your preferences. Many prefer to record their notes in the form of mind maps, which is particularly common for those with Dyslexia. imindmap digitises this classic revision method. With the app, you can create mind maps using its built-in sketch tool and digital add-ons - including some snazzy freehand branches. You can even record audio notes and sync to the cloud so you can access your creations from multiple devices.

18 Apps for students: helping with revision (2) GCSE Maths: Revision Questions (ios, Android free) Maths is one of those subjects: you either love it or hate it. But you can t live a life without knowing how to count and your basic times tables. Gojimo Revision App for Study & School There are plenty of multiple choice quiz apps built for revision available and you may feel there is nothing left to add, but Gojimo shows that few of the existing ones have been done right. Huge subject coverage: yes. A vast amount of questions: yes. A slick and smooth interface: yes. It really is as good as you can imagine this kind of quick fire revision app could be.

19 Apps for students: keeping track Remember the Milk (Android and ios, free) One of the frustrations of revision is making sure you actually revise and don t end up procrastinating. If you find that you fall in into this category, don t worry, as Remember the Milk has your back. Using it, you can add and complete revision notes and lists while you re out and about and have them sync up to your computer, ready for when you get home. You can prioritise your favourite items and set reminders, too. If you do the latter, you ll receive an SMS or an telling you to get to work. Exam Countdown Android and ios, free Having a pile of exams just around the corner is never a nice feeling, but you can t avoid them. And making sure you have their dates all noted down neatly is crucial, as you wouldn t want to end up missing one and getting a dud grade. Exam Countdown is perfect for making sure this doesn t happen. You can use the app to store all your key exam and test dates in one place and can colour code them as well. Once you ve done this, you ll get a countdown note beside each app.

20 Effective revision at home Quiet space with good light Short bursts Tidy space

21 Student well-being Diet Sleep Exercise Breaks and nice things If you are worried about how your son/daughter is managing please contact Mr Tucker or Mrs Rawling at school

22 Final thoughts All about a balance- the biggest thing is making sure there is enough time We are here to help You have a vital role to play in your son/daughter s examination preparations Thank you