GCSE Information Evening

GCSE Information Evening

Achieving your best It is important to know what is expected from each of your subjects- it is important to ask a lot of questions. Each subject needs different skills, be clear as to what you will need to do in the exam. It is now the time to be revising on a regular basis- speak to teachers for advice.

High levels of success Checklist: Do you know your exam board? Do you know how to access past papers? Do you know how long the exam will be? Do you know which skills will be assessed? Is your controlled assessment complete? Do you have revision guides? Do you know what the command words are asking you to do? Do you know common mistakes made on the exam?

Using a valuable resource Revision guides Controlled assessment review Subject specific advice Revision method advice Your teachers Revision classes Past paper marking Individual support

Revision ideas It is very important to be active with revision: Spider diagrams of key themes Flash cards Cover and reveal Topic notes BBC class clips and Bitesize SAM learning Practice papers The least effective method is just reading through notes.

Ms Stevens Director of Literacy

*Unit 1 English Literature 23rd May 2016 - (before half term) 2 texts 2 questions. Unit 2 English Literature 27th May 2016 - (before half term) Unseen Poetry essay and an essay on poems studied from the Anthology. *Unit 1 English Language 7th June 2016 (after half term) Unseen Non-fiction texts with 4 questions and 2 non-fiction writing tasks.

For the Language exam Reading non-fiction texts (leaflets, articles, newspaper reports) Summarise the main points of the text Analyse the language of the text focussing on how the language supports its purpose Analyse the presentation of texts Practise writing letters, stories, articles, blogs on issues they are interested in if they want more pocket money get them to write a letter to you persuading you to give them a rise! 2hrs 15 mins timed practice

Each of the 4 Reading questions are testing a completely different skill, and students have to demonstrate the right skill in the right place. Many candidates, including those who are very able, get this wrong. To get a C or above you must answer all the questions and show the right skill in the correct question.

AQA GCSE English/English Language Unit 1 Foundation examination structure F TIER Section A Understanding written texts 1 hour (+15 minutes for reading) Q SOURCE SKILLS MARKS Timing 1A 1 RETRIEVE INFORMATION & IDEAS 4 5 +5RT 1B 1 RETRIEVE, SHOW UNDERSTANDING OF & 4 5 INTERPRET IDEAS 2 2 UNDERSTAND & INTERPRET IDEAS 8 10 +5RT 3 3 EXPLAIN AND EVALUATE THE LANGUAGE USED 12 15 +5RT 4 TWO OF THE 3 EXPLAIN AND EVALUATE THE PRESENTATION FEATURES USED F TIER SECTION B WRITING 2 questions 1 hour Question 5 Writing to explain, 16 marks inform, describe (6 for accuracy) Question 6 Writing to argue, persuade 24 marks (8 for accuracy) 12 20 +5 to plan 25 minutes = 5 planning +20 writing 35 minutes = 5 planning + 30 writing

AQA GCSE English/English Language Unit 1 Higher examination structure H TIER Section A Understanding written texts 1 hour (+15 minutes for reading) Q SOURCE SKILLS MARKS Timing 1 1 RETRIEVE, UNDERSTAND & INTERPRET INFORMATION & IDEAS 2 2 UNDERSTAND, INTERPRET & EVALUATE PRESENTATIONAL FEATURES 3 3 UNDERSTAND AND INTERPRET MEANINGS AND IDEAS 4 SOURCE 3 + 1 OTHER SELECT, ANALYSE AND EVALUATE HOW LANGUAGE IS USED FOR EFFECTS IN TWO TEXTS (comparison) H TIER SECTION B WRITING 2 questions 1 hour Question 5 Writing to explain, inform, describe 16 marks (6 for accuracy) Question 6 Writing to argue, persuade 24 marks (8 for accuracy) 8 10 8 10 8 10 16 20 +5 to plan 25 minutes = 5 planning + 20 writing 35 minutes = 5 planning + 30 writing

Say Something Meaningful! Don t write: The picture is big and bold so it catches the attention of the reader Or the word x is used to emphasise the point Do write: The picture of 2 Victorian children which is very formal has the effect of making the reader empathise with the children and understand that childhood was strict in Victorian times.

For the Modern texts Literature exam Students have studied two texts Re-read each text, listen to the book being read (YouTube audio book) and watch the film. You need to know the plot, the characters, the themes, the context of the book, key scenes/ quotations. Practice answering timed questions. 1hr 30 mins Bring the books to the exam 1 essay on one text 2 essays on other text [part a & b]

For the Poetry Literature exam Students have studied a collection of poems from their Anthology. Get them to discuss the similarities and differences between the 15 poems and what techniques the poets have used. For the unseen poetry section they have to be able to discuss a poem they ve never read before. Choose random poems for them to analyse; they could look at some of the poems they ve not studied in their anthology. 1 hr 15 mins 1 essay comparing 2 studied poems from anthology 1 essay on an unseen poem

Revision strategies we suggest for our students Practice papers are crucial timings for each exam are extremely tight Plan model answers Use detailed mock feedback to inform your revision Meet up in small groups for study sessions Create wordles of language techniques Write your own questions Teach someone else Use your phone and record your notes! Make a cheat-sheet a few final tips to read over on the morning of the exam. Potential theme lists and corresponding extracts that would work well. Convert information from one form into another spider diagrams, comic strips, flow charts, quiz questions, symbols Surround yourself put revision notes in well-visited places Use revision guides for the novels Traffic light the mark scheme what are you great, good and not good at? What are your priorities

Resources to help support your child: SAM Learning Use GCSE, AQA English Language tasks Revision apps on the set texts, free to download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/revise-conflict-poetry-free/id665792791?ls=1&mt=8 http://www.schoolrevisionapps.com/relationships.html for the poetry exam https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.schoolrevisionapps.micefree for Of Mice and Men http://www.schoolrevisionapps.com/index.html for all core texts for the exams The following study guides are available to buy in the school LRC AQA English Language GCSE revision work book 3.99 Of Mice and Men revision guide, To Kill a Mockingbird, An Inspector Calls, The Crucible, Lord of the Flies - CGP revision guides all 2.75 each. Youtube revision videos on core texts/ poetry anthologies. BBC Bitesize website for revision. http://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/exams-guidance/find-past-papersand-mark-schemes for past exam papers/ tips, exam papers and mark schemes. Specific revision materials on the HAP school website Revision sessions after school every Wednesday from Feb half term. Sprint Finish at Easter and May half term.

Mr Ealden Head of Maths

Mathsgenie

Partnership with University of Warwick Our students email/text a question they cannot answer University student makes a bespoke video solution, usually within 24 hours Solution posted online

Preparing for maths exams Little and often Maths exams are either side of May half term One exam paper per week ATTEMPT all questions on exam paper use resources to help you revise what has been forgotten MARK THEM using the MARK SCHEME USE your teachers!

Ms Stuart Head of KS4 Science

Gateway Science

Password: cannon

https://connect.collins.co.uk/ Username: student Password: cannon

Collinsonlinelearning.co.uk

Key Dates Please check on the print out from the examinations officer