Pool Academy Year 11 Exam Preparation

2017

Year 11 Revision Guide:

The following table details the subjects / dates / duration of examination for your child’s GCSE subjects.

Subject What will the Examination Involve? What can a Student do to prepare? How can a Parent/Carer help a Student Prepare?

English

Language

Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing. 1 hour 45 minutes.

Paper 2 Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives. 1 hour 45 minutes. Equal marks awarded for reading and writing.

● Use Language revision guide to practise question

types. ● Attend revision sessions after half term to develop

specific skills needed for these papers. ● Read non-fiction articles on The Day website, to gain

further knowledge of the conventions of this type of non-fiction.

● Collect some typical writing tasks from an English teacher, including picture-based ones, and practise just planning pieces in a set time and then hand these in for assessment.

● Use iPad to watch Mr Bruff revision guides.

❖ Check that creative task is being completed

in their red book fortnightly, and see what grades they are getting.

❖ Encourage attendance at revision sessions on a Wednesday or Thursday.

❖ They can also attend short writing workshops at lunchtime.

English Literature

Paper 1 Shakespeare and the 19th century novel. 1 hour 45 minutes. 40% of the GCSE.

Paper 2 Modern texts and poetry. 2 hours 15 minutes. 60% of the GCSE.

● Make revision cards with small quotes, character and theme points on them.

● Draw mind-maps and keep adding to them. ● Record yourself or your friends reading key

quotes and then listen to these through headsets on your way to and from school and see how many you can learn.

● Stick post-it notes around your bedroom; try reading each one, turning it over, and seeing if you can repeat the quote to yourself.

● Use your revision guides. ● Use the internet: GCSEpod, Litcharts, Mrbruff,

BBC Bitesize, Sparknotes.

❖ Encourage attendance at revision sessions. ❖ Test each other on quotes! ❖ Buy revision guides from school at a

reduced rate. Available for every book being studied.

❖ Check that homework is completed every week.

Maths Examination Board: Edexcel Link http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/mathematics-2015.html Tiers of entry: Foundation and Higher (a student must take all 3 papers at the same tier). Examination Papers: There are three papers each 1.5 hours long. The first paper is non calculator and the second and the third papers are calculator. Grading: 9–1 overall, with questions targeted at grades 1–5 at Foundation tier and at grades 4–9 at Higher tier. Types of questions: Each paper will have a range of question types, utilising both structured and unstructured questions Questions in context: Some questions on the papers will be set in context (both mathematical and non-mathematical). Common questions between tiers: Grades 4 and 5 are the overlap grades between Foundation and Higher tiers, so common questions targeted at these grades will appear in the respective papers for each tier.

In class focus - all lessons are on topics you did not do well on when given examinations Ask your teacher for help when stuck in class. There is little time left till the GCSE so ask for help now. Do all homeworks: these are directly related to the examination questions and papers For revision:- make notes; get question papers from your teacher; use mymaths; mathswatch; each paper has answers on the internet. It is very important to do questions from examination papers. For revision: if you find it difficult to revise at home then the maths department is running revision sessions each day of the week. Also during half terms. Buy a revision book from your maths teacher.

Use show my homework to know what they are getting for homework. Encourage students to go to after school revision sessions. Encourage them to do examination papers. They can get paper copies off staff and they can look on internet for answers and check to see if they have understood.

Triple Science Unit 1 Modules 1,2 and 3 Examination 1 hour Unit 2 Modules 4,5 and 6 Examination 1 hour Unit 3 Module 7 Examination 1 hour Each paper will have a mixture of multiple choice, short answer and three long response questions. Twenty First Century Science Suite from 2012 Biology J243 Chemistry A J244 Physics A J245

Use revision guide and workbook Use the code in the guides to access additional content. Use module overviews to highlight areas for development Make mindmaps and flashcards for key points and concepts Practice exam papers / questions, especially long response questions OCR - past papers available http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/by-type/gcse/science/ Twenty First Century Science Suite Biology A / Chemistry A/ Physics A from 2012 (J244 and J245) BBC Bitesize http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zrkw2hv GCSE Science revision http://www.gcsescience.com/index.html GCSEpod https://www.gcsepod.com/ Exam specific playlists

Encourage students to attend after school revision sessions Ensure students complete homeworks weekly Encourage students to identify areas in need of development and ensure they practice these

Science and Additional Science

Science Unit 1 Biology Modules 1,2,and 3 Examination 1 hour Unit 2 Chemistry Modules 1,2 and 3 Examination 1 hour Unit 3 Physics Modules 1,2, and 3 Examination 1 hour

Additional Science Unit 1 Biology Modules 4,5,and 6 Examination 1 hour Unit 2 Chemistry Modules 4,5 and 6 Examination 1 hour Unit 3 Physics Modules 4,5, and 6 Examination 1 hour Each paper will have a mixture of multiple choice, short answer and three long response questions. Twenty First Century Science Suite from 2012 Additional Science A J242

Use revision guide and workbook Use the code in the guides to access additional content. Use module overviews to highlight areas for development Make mindmaps and flashcards for key points and concepts Practice exam papers / questions, especially long response questions OCR - past papers available http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/by-type/gcse/science/ Science http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-twenty-first-century-science-suite-science-a-j241-from-2012/ Twenty First Century Science Suite Science A from 2012 (J241) Additional Science http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-twenty-first-century-science-suite-additional-science-a-j242-from-2012/ Twenty First Century Science Suite Additional Science A from 2012 (J242) BBC Bitesize http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zrkw2hv

GCSE Science revision http://www.gcsescience.com/index.html GCSEpod https://www.gcsepod.com/ Exam specific playlists

Encourage students to attend after school revision sessions Ensure students complete homeworks weekly Encourage students to identify areas in need of development and ensure they practice these

Geography All three exams are worth 25% of the GCSE geography. Unit 1 - Geographical Skills and Challenges for the Planet. This exam is one hour in length and will be on the 24th May. Unit 2 - The Physical Environment. Students will be examined on their knowledge of the following units: coastal landscapes, river landscapes, tectonic landscapes and a wasteful world. This exam will be one hour fifteen minutes and will be on the 8th June. Unit 3 - The Human Environment. Students will be examined on their knowledge of the following units: economic change, settlement change, population change and a moving world. This exam will be one hour fifteen minutes and will be on the 17th June.

Using the revision guide and your class notes, go through all the 10 units of study produce a checklist for everything you need to know. Use the case study list also to help. Using the revision guide, your classroom notes and, revision materials from class, revise each topic at least three times. Ensure your revision techniques are varied and you are sticking to your revision timetable.

Using the workbook and past papers from school - practise previous exam questions for all units. Particularly focusing on the bigger six and nine mark questions. Your teacher will mark the questions and go through them with you during revision support afterschool. Make use of the revision support available to you. Unit 1 - Wednesday evenings 3-4pm. Unit 2 - Thursday evenings 3-4pm Unit 3 - Tuesday evenings 3-4pm. Tuesday lunchtimes - unit 3 Thursday lunchtimes - river landscapes

Encourage students to stick to revision timetable, short, effective revision sessions. In Between revision sessions there should be a break, and no revision sessions too late in the evening. Encourage students to use workbook and revision guide. Encourage students to attend after school revision sessions - even if they just want to drop in to check a question etc. Ensure students complete revision homeworks weekly. Encourage students to identify areas in need of development and ensure they practise these.

French and Spanish

Reading exam either 30 or 50 minutes depending on

tier. Exams are generally multiple choice with some

longer answer questions at higher tier. All answers to

be given in English.

Listening exam either 30 or 50 minutes depending

on tier. Exams are generally multiple choice with

some longer answer questions at higher tier. All

answers to be given in English.

Use AQA Language revision workbooks provided before Christmas

Use vocab express to learn individual key words per topic this will be monitored by class teacher (each student has personal log in)

Access linguascope intermediate for a range of tasks testing vocabulary knowledge (username: pool password: happy)

GCSE Bitesize tasks to practise reading and listening skills

Revise any tricky topics by revisiting exercise book

Make vocabulary lists of key words they find challenging, these could be turned into brainstorms per topic to help visual learners

Once completed past papers, students should revisit weaker areas and make a note of vocabulary they did not understand.

For the higher level skills we recommend watching the news or reading the news online. We recommened www.tf1.fr and www.elmundo.es

Parents can support learning by checking use of revision workbook and progress on vocab express. It would also be really beneficial to test students weekly on their vocabulary tests which will be set by the class teacher. Keep up to date with homework set via google classroom.

PE Practical examination on the 18th March. 60% of

their final mark. Students have been given

intervention times on a Tuesday and Friday after

school to prepare for this exam.

Theory 40%, Friday lunch time drop in sessions

Turn up to intervention classes to help improve their fitness and skill levels.

Read over revision notes and revision guides that they all have been given. Use scool and GCSE bitesize to help with revision

.

Make sure they are turning up to intervention classes. Go over key terms to help reinforce learning.

Drama Performance of a script to an external examiner. This

is worth 40% of the final mark. There will be a mock

performance evening to parents early May, with the

practical exam date to also be in May. Date to be

confirmed.

Pupils not performing are required to create a

portfolio detailing their performance support

options, and have all materials ready for

performance evening to parents.

Pupils have been asked to learn their lines and be off-book by February half term. This will allow for rehearsals without a script and confidence to be developed.

Final design ideas should be ready by February half term to allow time for designs to be realised..

Test pupils on their lines or encourage them to be working on their performance support folder.

Art 10 hour exam worth 40% of your

GCSE mark.

Pupils are given the exam paper in January and

will sit the 10 hour exam in April. Pupils need to

hand in all the preparation work that they have

created between January and April at the start

of the exam. They should complete work using

the timetabled booklet ensuring they cover all

four of the assessment objectives.

Project structure Although you can attempt the assessment

objectives in any order, it is advisable to work in

a methodical way through the examination

project - in exactly the same way you did with

your coursework. An example of how you could

structure your project is:

● AO3 - Initial ideas and response to the

theme (spider diagrams and quick

notes or drawings).

● AO3 - Drawing (from observation in a

variety of materials) and photographs.

● AO1 - Research into relevant artists.

● AO2 - Experimenting and developing

ideas for a final piece.

● AO4 - Final piece (10 hours).

Common pupil questions:

What do I do? Pupils must respond to one theme that is set the exam

paper. From this starting point you must develop your own

work and produce a final piece based on your research.

This is similar to how you develop your work for your

coursework.

You will have approx 12 weeks to research the theme and

create a body of preparatory studies on both A4 and A3

paper. The final part of the examination project is a 10-

hour exam where you will create your final piece, linked to

your research.

How will my work be assessed? The preparatory studies and your final piece for your

examination are marked out of 80 in exactly the same way

as your coursework. All your work is handed in at the end

of the examination.

What if I need help during the exam? Your teacher can give you technical assistance - for

example, helping you to mix a particular colour - but can't

comment on the artistic quality of the work.

What should I take into the examination? Make sure you have all your artwork and all the materials

and tools you need.

All pupils are welcome in the Art Dpt everyday, from 3-pm

until the exam has been completed.

Weblinks to assist pupils at home:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/art/developing_ideas/developingideas.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/art/course_basics/

Music It is a one hour LISTENING exam where students

listen to musical excerpts and answer short questions

relating to that music

Each student has a revision booklet which has concise information with related listening links. Work through this book for at least 20 mins on two evenings.

Parents can facilitate this activity by providing equipment for the student’s listening activities. Encourage students to practise their instruments regularly.

BTEC Music There is one exam; unit 1 which looks at the music

industry. This is one of four units and is worth 25%

of the total marks.

Students can use the revision book which has been provided. They can also use past papers and associated mark schemes.

Encourage child to use the revision guide regularly, maybe testing as you go along. Facilitate revision by ensuring there is time available.

History

Three exam papers each of 1.5 hours. The exam

board is Edexcel- revision books have been paid

for by the History department and given to

students

Papers are:

June 6th: International relations 1945-91

June 14th- Germany 1918-39

21st June- Transformation of British society 1951-

79

Using the revision guide, textbook and your class notes, go through all the Topics of study for each Exam. Produce a timetable for when you will revise each topic and use the progress sheets to check off topics and your confidence in each as you go. Using the revision guide, textbook, your classroom notes and revision materials from websites etc, revise each topic at least three times, repetition is important. Use a variety of revision techniques that work for you. Use the revision ideas sheet or Showbie page to help you with this. You should be revising almost everyday in short chunks so that you don’t lose focus. Use the revision showbie to practice exam questions, mock papers, watch video clips, revision websites, writing frames and revision ideas. Hand in any exam questions completed for marking to your teacher who will give you feedback on how to improve. Make use of the revision support available to you. Tuesday - Friday from 3pm in Hums 2 & 7 See your teacher for any additional Lunchtime support sessions. Showbie Code - MFQBD

Please make sure they are using the revision book they have been given free of charge Homework is set and usually revolves completing on line GCSE quizzes to sharpen their knowledge. If they say there is never homework- they are wrong! Encourage students to follow their revision timetable, short, effective revision sessions are best so that they don’t lose focus. They should take regular revision breaks and shouldn’t be revising too late in the evenings. Please encourage students to use the revision guide, textbooks and showbie resources to help them revise. Encourage students to attend after school revision sessions - even if they just want to drop in to check a question etc. Ensure students complete revision homeworks, and revision and practice questions regularly, working especially on areas of weakness. You can help by checking that they are revising regularly, testing them on topics and encouraging them to attend intervention and revision sessions for any issues that they have. Any rewards or incentive to boost motivation and positivity.

ICT Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia:

This has one exam, which is 1hr 15 mins, and is

worth 25% of the overall grade.

Students will need to answer all questions in the

exam, which covers pre-production skills and pre-

production documents

The remaining 75% of the grade will be from the

three coursework units.

Students should make full use of the revision book provided, as well as the revision workbooks, class notes and classroom activities.

Students need to work through all the previous years’ past exam papers, and take advantage of revision sessions organised after school.

Encourage students to complete past exam paper questions, and check their answers using the mark scheme. Encourage students to use the after school study sessions to improve on controlled assessment marks, or to get help with their revision.

DT all subjects The exam is through edexcel.

A piece of coursework including an A3 portfolio of

design and planning work plus a finished product,

this is worth 60% of the final GCSE.

One exam for each dt subject, one and a half hours

long.

All subject exams follow the same format as the

students saw in their recent mock examination.

Each dt subject has an online revision class with a selection of past papers with mark schemes from the exam board, students should work through these and check their answers against the mark schemes..

There are study/revision textbooks and the work books to go with them plus links to useful websites and worksheets. Students should use the workbook to answer the questions and they’ll find the answers if unknown in the revision textbook.

There are subject specific flashcards with questions and answers to test yourself.

Students will also find a study guide with useful tips on how to revise and create a revision timetable.

Students can also attend after school ‘going for an ‘A’ master classes’

As a parent you could supervise the work on past papers and check answers via the mark schemes for each exam. Encourage the use of the workbook that goes with the revision text book. Use the flash question cards to quiz subject knowledge, the answers are available via an answer booklet with this revision work. Have a look at the study skills book in the online class to get useful tips to help your child prepare for all their examinations. Encourage your child to attend after school master classes to ensure their 60% coursework has the highest grade they could achieve. These run Tuesday - Friday evenings from 3 pm to 4 pm sometimes later depending on the teacher’s commitments.

Computer Science

One written exam:

Unit A451: Computer systems and programming

1 ½hrs - 80 Marks (40%)

Remaining 60% based on two coursework units

completed in years 10 & 11.

The exam board is OCR.

Use the revision books, lesson work books and online resources to revise topics. Important websites are:

www.cambridgegcsecomputing.org

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/z34k7ty

www.teach-ict.com

Plan your revision so that all topics are revisited several times before the exam. Use the past exam papers to practice all of the exam questions, and improve them based on your teacher’s feedback. Use the quizzes and tests on the online courses to make sure you have understood the theory.

Practice questions on algorithms, and use the mark schemes to guide you - using correct pseudocode in your answers.

Attend revision sessions after school to get extra help with parts of the course you are not so sure of.

Encourage students to revise regularly, and to use a range of resources to help them. Encourage them to use the online web courses - especially the Cambridge GCSE Computing site which has videos, explanations, animations and quizzes to check their understanding. Encourage them to complete past exam questions, and get them marked by their teacher so they can get feedback on them. Encourage them to attend after school revision sessions.

RE This is one exam paper and it will include a

question section on each topic of study.

You will have a selection of knowledge based

questions and more high mark questions based

on opinions of religious followers which will

need to be backed up with evidence (quotes and

religious teaching).

The exam is 1 hour 30 minutes and is the AQA

Religious studies A - Christianity: Ethics

You need to revise the following topics and learn your

keywords and religious teachings. Use the Showbie

account I have created to help with revision.

● Global Concerns

● Medical Technologies

● Right to life

● Conflict

● Personal responsibility

● Social responsibility

Parents and carers can support students by

supervising revision at home, making sure that

they attend revision sessions at school and the

booster sessions before the exam. Helping

students by testing them on key terms and

quotes for each topic would also help them feel

more secure in their knowledge and better

prepared for the exam. They have a sheet in

their books or on the Showbie with these on.

Year 11 Revision

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Lunch time

Subject Support

Art Exam Prep Support Art Exam Prep Support

Art Exam Prep Support

Art Exam Prep Support

Art Exam Prep Support

Week 1 on timetable

English ‘Writing Workshop’ for

papers 1&2. EN6.

BTEC PE

After school Subject Support (3pm-4pm)

Spanish

Geography: Human Geography

(Unit 3 Exam) HUMS4 3pm -

3.30pm

All sessions are pre-planned,

students have a copy of this.

More information can be found

on the website/facebook page.

Geography: Physical Geography

(Unit 2 Exam) HUMS5 3pm -

3.30pm. All sessions are pre-

planned, students have a copy of

this. More information can be found

on the website/facebook page.

Geography: Geographical Skills &

Challenges for the Planet (Unit 1

Exam) HUMS6 3pm - 3.30pm. All

sessions are pre-planned, students

have a copy of this. More

information can be found on the

website/facebook page.

Art Exam Prep Support

Art Exam Prep Support Art Exam Prep Support Art Exam Prep Support

Maths (Higher JM) Art GCSE PE

Maths (LW’s H group] Maths (Foundation MR) Maths (Foundation SW) English

Maths (C/D borderline RT) Spanish Spanish

Maths (Higher DW) PE French French

DT all subjects independent

study only

English Mrs Francis and Miss Humphries in library. Language Paper1 & 2. Invited students.

English English

History Music (3pm-4pm) History History

Drama (3pm-4pm) Drama (3pm-4pm) Drama (3pm-4pm)

Drama (3pm-4pm) Sociology

DT all subjects DT all subjects DT all subjects DT all subjects

Computer Science & IT Computer Science & IT Computer Science & IT Computer Science & IT

Science Science Science Science

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