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Welcome to the Science Department

Harris Academy Falconwood

A few students will be sitting Core Science GCSE

• One full GCSE course.

• You will (probably) sit core and additional at the end of this year.

Core Science Exam Dates

• B1 on the 17th May 2016• C1 on the 19th May 2016• P1 on the 25th May 2016

• Core ISA’s (controlled assessments) planned for Tues 12th and Wed 13th January

Most year 11 will be sitting Additional Science GCSE

• One full GCSE course. This is separate to additional science.

• Two GCSE’s obtained by the end of year 11 of equal weighting. They can be different grades.

Additional Science Exam Dates• B2 10th June am• C2 15th June pm• P2 17th June am• Additional controlled assessment all day

Monday 7th& Tuesday 8th December

Some students are doing separate science (triple)

• Three full GCSE courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

• All examined at the end of year 11.

Triple Science Exam Dates• B1 on the 17th May• C1 on the 19th May• P1 on the 25th May• B2 & B3 10th June am• C2 & C3 15th June pm• P2 & P3 17th June am• Triple controlled assessment all day Monday

7th& Tuesday 8th December plus one extra day

Course Structure

AQA Exam Board• For Core and Additional• 25% Biology Exam• 25% Chemistry Exam• 25% Physics Exam

• 25% Investigative Skills Assessment (ISA)

Course Structure

AQA Exam Board• For triple e.g.• 25% Biology B1• 25% Biology B2• 25% Biology B3

• 25% Investigative Skills Assessment (ISA)

Investigative Skills Assessment (ISA)

• 25%• Collapsed timetable• Federation Science consultant support• Small groups for intensive support• Thorough preparation• Excellent opportunity to bank marks• Relieves exam pressure

How important are ISA’s

• Three candidates• B1 result = E C1 result = E P1 result =E • ISA = A*• Overall grade = D• B1 result = D, C1 result = D, P1 result = D• ISA grade = A* • Overall = C• B1 C C1 D P1 C ISA A*• Overall grade = B

Controlled AssessmentsQ: What if my child has not done well in one of his/her pieces of coursework?

A: There may be an opportunity to do another ISA BUT it will be completely different and have to be done in the holidays.

Exam:Q: How can I help them prepare for the exam?

A:Use the revision guides which were purchased last year. If it is lost or you didn’t get one please order one tonight.Encourage them to attend enrichment every Thursday. Help them have a quiet space to work without distractions.Encourage them to try past papers.

We are waiting for a reprint

Search for “AQA past papers additional science”

Exam:Q: How can I help them prepare for the exam?

A: Encourage them to traffic light the specification

Exam:Q: How can I help them prepare for the exam?

A: Help them to revise effectively.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjh10kj9Y64

Mnemonics

Mnemonics

• Aerobic Respiration

• GO COW

• Glucose +oxygen carbon-dioxide + water

We Can Go Out

We Can Go Out

• Photosynthesis

• Water + Carbon-dioxide glucose + oxygen

Concept Map

Mind map

Flash cards

• Word one side and fact the other

• Summarise one double page of revision guide including key words.

• Get someone else to test you.

Resources• Enrichment - every 2 weeks- exam questions

• Collins Revisions Guide

• AQA past papers (www.aqa.org.uk)

• BBC Bitesize

• You Tube Channel - MyGCSEscience

What can students do to help themselves?

1. Focus in class2. Attend enrichments 3. If invited to one to one support, ensure that

they attend and use the time wisely.4. Attend holiday intervention.5. Use the revision booklets 6. Do homework and past papers7. Ask for help. Be proactive.8. Keep past papers and record areas of

strength and weakness (and then do something about the weaknesses!)

Videos to play (roll) – 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bnMBhO0LnU (start – 2.34)2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgB-Diy8imo (start – 1.56)