Raising Achievement

Aims1. Help support Y10 to prepare

for GCSE exams this year.2. Use the skills we develop for

preparing for exams in Y11.3. Develop some ideas for different revision techniques.

Back to basics•TV, earphones, phones and PC.•Quiet, well lit, well ventilated.•Encourage a healthy diet, plenty of water.•Encourage plenty of sleep – top tips

(eating, video games, exercise).•Learning is best when we’re fresh.•Ensure there is time to relax and switch off.•Help structure time and stick to it.•Let them know that they are supported.

GCSE exams this year•English – 29th May (ALL students)•Maths – 13th and 15th of June

(ALL except top maths set)•Science – 15th May, 15th June x 2, 22nd June

(ALL except BTEC and OCR National) •Engineering diploma – 16th of May•Media – 14th of June•Business – 22nd of May

Controlled Assessment (new 2010)

Work set by the exam board, done in lesson time under ‘controlled conditions’ (supervised) and is marked by the teacher. Marks will form a percentage of the overall subject grade.

Can make up between 25% to 60% of some courses now.

Preparation is needed, however work can not be completed at home (‘no control’).

The secret of exam success

Planning and preparation!Help your child to stick to a clear revision plan and use a variety of revision methods that will make

them feel in control of their work.

Tips for revision planning

Before you start•Form tutor will help your child to work out a revision timetable for each subject .•We will encourage them to break revision time into small chunks – 30 minute blocks with short breaks at the end of each session often work well .

  8am 9am 10 11am 12 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6 7pm 8pm 9pm

Mon Eat Skl Sko Skl Eat Skl Skl SklPaper Round Hwk Eat English Other TV

Tue Eat Skl Sko Skl Eat Skl Skl SklPaper Round Eat Basketball Maths Other 

Wed Eat Skl Sko Skl Eat Skl Skl SklPaper Round

Hwk Eat Other Other TV

Thu Eat Skl Sko Skl Eat Skl Skl SklPaper Round Hwk Eat Youth club Science

Fri Eat Skl Sko Skl Eat Skl Skl SklPaper Round Eat Party

Sat Eat Eng Ma Sci Eat

Help at

home Basketball HwkX-

Box Eat    

Sun Sleep Sleep Sleep

Help at

home Eat Family event    

Timetable Example

Helping them prepare•Make sure your child has all the essential revision guides and materials. •Consider new stationery, highlighters and pens to make revision more engaging.

We all have different learning styles, but a mixture of all of them

suits most of us best. Here are some techniques they

might like to try:

So, how will your children learn?What techniques can they use?

Some techniques to try

Revision Guides

Revision Workbooks

Past papers

Subject specific material

•Subject specific

•Use the ‘look, say, cover, write , check’ method

•Be able to define

Key Words

For really tricky words, students can write their own mnemonic to help

them

remember -

Mnemonics

RedElephantsMemorise

EveryMotorBikeEver

Ridden

Use post-it notes, strategically placed around your home, to remind

them of tricky facts.They need to choose places they go

to / use regularly!Condense information down

Post it Notes

Test your child.OR

Get them to be the teacher! Once they have revised a topic, get them to teach it to someone

else.

Test it

They might try recording their own notes and listening to them last thing at

night. They can upload their recording to their

ipod and listen to it on the way to and from school etc.

If they are musically inclined, they can set their notes to the tune of their favourite

tune and sing them!

Listen to it

Don’t forget the internet!

•School Website•Learning platform

•Subject specific website (Maths, Science, English)

Online revision

Help your child to make a mind map –

for each topic.

Mind Map

Technique 8.

Each card should include one chunk of information.

Write the topic on one side of the card, on the other write

the key facts for this topic.

Revision Cards

Encourage your child to attend any revision classes offered and remember there is a study club

on Wednesday nights for revision and catch-up (ask individual

staff).

Revision Classes

Red: Danger! Really not sure about this; so I need to focus, get the help I need and get it clear in my mind

Amber: Okay – I’m a bit unsure; I need a little more time to understand this

Green: Go! Go! Go! – I’m confident, but I must still make time to revise for this and not get complacent

Traffic Lighting

The importance of staying positive

What you think

How you feel

How you behave

MotivationSustaining revision can be challenging. The students who ‘buy in’ are more likely to succeed.•Goals at the end of Y11. •Career or life plans. •Positive reinforcement – verbal.•Rewards/treats – small and biggish.

Beware!!•Avoid the temptation to focus on what they are good at or what they most enjoy…human nature!•Give extra time to areas they find more difficult and, possibly, less interesting. •Don’t leave gaps in knowledge, they may be on the exam. Traffic lighting learning could help.

•Planned revision, prepared.•Regular breaks.•Exercise.•Positive thinking.•Don’t try to be perfect.•Keep perspective/seek help.

Stress management

Make sure you know the date and time of each exam

FINALLY!!!