GCSE Examination Preparation Booklet



4000302260center201833000950002018420003175000880009408795SWAVESEY VILLAGE COLLEGE450000SWAVESEY VILLAGE COLLEGE4495806995160Exam DaysPlease ensure you call the exam office if you have any problems attending an exam (not your house office).Ms Frampton : 01954 234471Exam Office : 01954 23445500Exam DaysPlease ensure you call the exam office if you have any problems attending an exam (not your house office).Ms Frampton : 01954 234471Exam Office : 01954 2344554464055349240Mobile NumbersPlease ensure you pass your mobile phone number to your House SSA before the Easter break. This is used in case you are late for an exam and will be stored confidentially. These numbers are then shredded after the exam period.00Mobile NumbersPlease ensure you pass your mobile phone number to your House SSA before the Easter break. This is used in case you are late for an exam and will be stored confidentially. These numbers are then shredded after the exam period.32962851832610GCSE Examination Preparation BookletName: ______________________Form: _________450000GCSE Examination Preparation BookletName: ______________________Form: _________As you approach your last few weeks at Swavesey Village College, it’s time to start thinking about how you can prepare for your final exams. The revision period can be a stressful time so it is important that you plan ahead and start revising now if you haven’t already. By now you will have had two assemblies about this so should be ready to make a start. This booklet is designed to help you do your very best and meet your full potential.What’s coming up?As discussed in your recent assemblies, you have your GCSE exams starting early in May with some exams taking place before the start of your independent revision time (17th May). It is important that you prepare properly for this. You have just had your GCSE Preparation Exams (week beginning 26th February). These provided an opportunity to see what a full GCSE exam paper looks like under the allocated time conditions, in a real exam space. The marking of these by your teachers will help you identify areas to focus on in terms of revision and any gaps you may need to make more secure before the summer. We have included a calendar in this document so that you can start to plan your revision around your exams.How to reviseIncluded in this booklet are a few strategies to help you prepare for your Exams. Try some of them out. Each person revises differently so trying a range of techniques is the best suggestion.Looking after yourselfAs the revision period can be a stressful time, it is important for you to take good care of yourself so that you are able to perform at your best. Take time out from your revision and ensure you get some regular exercise (20-30 mins, three times per week). You could also consider your diet and eat healthily. You don’t have to make radical changes here; simply check you have a healthy, balanced diet. Ensure you are eating plenty of fruit and veg as this provides essential minerals. Brain food such as oily fish and super foods such as blueberries may be something to consider. Also drink plenty of water to keep properly hydrated as you brain needs this. It may also be worth getting a personal ‘MOT’ with the opticians, doctors and dentists. If you suffer from hay fever it would be worth consulting your GP about appropriate medication to avoid any issues during the summer exam period.If you are unsure about anything regarding your GCSE exam preparation, see the relevant subject teacher so they can help you straight away or talk to your tutor.On the next three pages there is a monthly planner of the exam period. You can use this to highlight when your exams will be and start to think about how best to plan your revision around these times. RevisionEffective revision has a considerable impact on your final grades. They keys to effective revision are:Revision TipsStart your revision in good time.Plan a revision timetable.Highlight coursework deadlines and examination dates and times.Spread your subjects out over time so you cover each one several times.Plan for one-hour slots and break this into three 20 minutes sessions with a 2 minute break in between each. Any more of one subject and nothing extra sinks in.In the evenings after school, two or three subjects only. Leave time for relaxation.Allow yourself some days off but not in the few weeks just before the exams.Plan to revise specific topics or aspects of a subject, for example not just science but human systems, or waves, or chemical reactions, or electricity.Don’t forget the revision tips below from the assemblies we have had so far:Revision TechniquesEverybody has a way of learning that suits them well. What works best for you? Do you remember things better if you write them down on flash cards, or perhaps draw a ‘spider diagram’, or maybe record some notes on your phone and listen to them?Try some of these to see what works for you:Set the tone: Music in the background sometimes helps, but don’t try to revise with the TV or radio on. Music should set the ambiance and not draw your attention in any way, you could consider setting up an ambient play list using Spotify or other apps. Make sure that you are not distracted by Facebook, Snapchat, text messages, and phone calls. Each time you lose focus, your brain takes 5minutes to get back in ‘the zone’. Save yourself time by going ‘offline’. Revision sessions are for revision only. Plan social sessions to do all the rest.Personal podcasts: For subjects where you need to remember a lot of detail, why not record it onto your phone in small, 1 minute podcasts. These are very versatile as you can share them with your friends. Your brain likes to hear its own voice so this technique will serve to increase your recall of information from 10% to 40%. They are good for on the go – you can play them back on the bus ride to school.Flashcards: On small cards, summarise a case study/important event/definitions into one (or both) sides of the cards and refer to it regularly. Make sure that you include key facts and number as you condense the case study to fit the card. Colour coding: colour code large pieces of text into sections. For example, it could be positives/negatives, point/evidence.Memory tests: You could look at an important diagram for 20 seconds, then cover it over and draw what you remember. Then give yourself another 20 seconds to see what you missed and add it in. Eventually, you will be able to draw the diagram without looking at a copy.Key words test: You could ask someone to read out 10 definitions and you have to say what the key word is. Then you could try it the other way around which is harder with someone giving you a key word to define.Concept Maps (mind maps): Write a key theme in the centre of an A3 piece of paper. Write the sub-themes around it with important ideas evidence to back them up. Stick your finished spider diagram somewhere visible where you will be able to refer to it often (e.g. fridge door, bedroom wall).Practice exam questions: Look at the examples of past paper questions. Practise writing responses to these questions using the flashcards or colour coded case studies you have created. Ask your teacher for these – they will have loads!Summarising: Condense a section of text into a set number of bullet points. Use these to refer back to often.Reading aloud: Read a section of text aloud, then try to say aloud all the facts and figures you remember without the summary. You could also read your keyword lists aloud. Your brain loves the sound of its own voice: you will remember 40% of what you say compared to 10% of what others say.Repeated writing: Copy out pieces of information more than one time (five times would be appropriate). The repetition will help you to fix the facts in your memory. Your mind remembers words as pictures, the more it sees them, the better it will remember them.Paired Work: Work with a partner to help and test each other on, for example, explaining the meaning of key words (and spelling them correctly), rearranging chemical equations, performing calculations, recalling linked facts or dates, drawing conclusions from evidence. -457202628900When you revise, it is useful to keep coming back to the same information. Revision should be completed little and often to allow your brain to convert short term memory to long term memory. Once you have created a range of revision materials (using some techniques from the above list) share them and keep using them. If you create materials from your preparation exams – they are there for the real thing so this saves you time in the long run.Getting it right on the dayBe Prepared: Make sure you have all the equipment you could ever need for all exams. This includes at least 3 black pens, pencils, rubber, a ruler, protractor, set square, calculator. A watch is vital to success. Exams are all tight for time, have a watch on your desk so you can allocate time to each section of the exam.While waiting for the exam to start, read the front of the exam paper so you know exactly what to do.Read each question carefully – twice is better than once. Check how many marks are available for the answer. Write the relevant amount for the marks, not too much or too little.Answer the question; don’t simply repeat it or make up a question of your own.Write your answer if you feel confident. If not, go on to the next question. Don’t spend time on questions you are unsure of until you have been through the whole paper once.Check all calculations. Does the answer make sense and have you included the units?Check information in graphs tables and pictures. Did you read them correctly?Check your spellings of specific words, but if you are not sure of the spelling write your answer anyway. You may get the mark.If you have to draw diagrams, charts or graphs, use a sharp pencil and draw accurately using a ruler where necessary.Once you have answered all the more straightforward questions go through the paper again, tackling those questions which are more difficult. If on the second reading a question is still very difficult, move on to the next question.SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar) are marked on most papers. Make sure you have considered this when writing your answers.Above all, don’t panic. If you remain calm and think things through you will succeed. Being prepared will be the best way to stay calm.Revision PlannerWhen planning for your revision, start by writing down all of your subjects and subdivide by the number of exams you have for each subject. You should revise per exam, not per subject. This will help you to plan enough revision in the right areas. At the end of this booklet we have included some pages you could use for this with the exams and revision sessions pre-populated at the end of this booklet.Plan OnlineA great free online study planner can be found here: left668020Adds blocks for school timeWeekend slots broken into 1hrPlan after school timeView a week or a monthUse colours to split up subjectsAdds blocks for school timeWeekend slots broken into 1hrPlan after school timeView a week or a monthUse colours to split up subjectsYou can use this to schedule your time easily, add exams, Controlled Assessment deadlines and more. It breaks up the time you have at home into manageable chunks to help plan revision effectively. Don’t forget to ‘plan a life’ too but make sure that you balance this in the correct proportions.The planner looks like this: Revision TipsTop Tips for English Literature:Read the texts again OR watch a film version of them. Good knowledge of the plot is essential to doing well.Learn quotations and key moments for each character and theme in each text. Use YouTube. Type in AQA 1-9 and the text/ skills you wish to revise and lots of useful clips will Tips for English Language:Revise and practise SPaG. Your punctuation MUST be as accurate as you can make it in Q5 for both papers. Use BBC Skillswise to revise these skills.Plan and practise writing stories and descriptions using pictures as a starting point.Plan and practise developing your viewpoint in a persuasive way using Tips for MathsThe new Maths GCSE exam has 3 exams (each 90 minutes); 1 non-calculator, 2 calculator allowed. Maths exercise books keep all classwork and homework in one place. New books issued to students each term. Old books are vital for revision. A full set of 3 practice papers will be set over the Easter HolidaysThere is an after school support session in room N6-PC every Thursday after school. Go to to find great revision resources. These include daily 5-a-day tasks with a range of different questions to practise, and video lessons on every GCSE topic alongside worksheets and solutions. All students should have a CGP Maths Revision Guide. These are incredibly helpful. Additionally, Maths Revision Workbooks are available to purchase from the finance Tips for ScienceWork through specimen papers to help you get an idea of the kinds of questions you can expect. Try answering them as if under exam conditions to help you develop your exam writing skills. You can use the paper finder (see below) to find free digital copies of our specimen papers and mark schemes. schemes are tools for examiners to make sure they all mark consistently. Check your past papers against their mark scheme to see what examiners look for and how they give marks.Your specification (also known as the 'spec' or syllabus) can help with exam revision. In the specification document you can find out what you are expected to have learnt and what skills you should have developed while working through the subject content. This will help you understand what is being assessed in your exams and controlled assessment. You can also find teaching and learning resources on the different subject pages which you might find useful. , part of the AQA family, offers resources for revision and study. Although these resources are aimed at teachers, you can use them too after signing up. There are different levels of membership, including free, which still offers access to useful resources. Mind Maps or Flash Cards on key topics; e.g. Respiration.Revise Science content using the Tassomai Online Revision tool (if purchased). Independent Revision and Study PlannerGuideThis planner outlines the exams that will take place and the revision sessions that will be run in school. You can add your own details to this by filling in any gaps with what you are going to revise if not in an organised revision session. You will be advised by your tutor when you get your final report as to your study leave status. For each of your subjects, you will either be:Targeted – you must attend all revision sessions for that subject which occur in the school day.Independent – you have demonstrated that you can manage your own revision and it is your choice as to whether you attend the revision sessions or not. You will need to let the Curriculum leader know if you wish to attend a revision session.Unfocussed – you have not been focused in lessons and revision so you will need to negotiate with your teachers and tutor to be able to attend the revision sessions and commit to not being a distraction to others.There are several revision sessions which take place before or after school. These are voluntary.You should go through the following pages and highlight the relevant exams and revision sessions so you know your timetable for the exam period. If you are in school and not in an exam or revision session then you should be revising in the Old Canteen which will be staffed. During this period the normal rules and expectations apply including those about uniform. If you are unsure about anything, please ask your tutor or check in the house office. On each page there are three rows which give an outline for every day of what exams are taking place, what revision sessions are running and whether it is normal lessons or where the study base will be. We will publish on the noticeboards around exams and email each week updated timetables for revision with rooming and groups.WeekDateDayEventBefore SchoolP1P2P3P4P5After School RevisionA14th MayMonExamIn the Old CanteenICT and Computer ScienceICT /Computer ScienceReligious Studies2 types of session: Regular will be 3:15-4:15. The pizza sessions will run to 5:15pm.FrenchRevisionLessonsAs NormalAs NormalAs NormalAs NormalAs Normal15th MayTuesExamBiologyFrench Listening and ReadingBiologyPERevisionBiology targetedLessonsAs NormalAs NormalAs NormalAs NormalAs Normal16th MayWedsExamPEPE Paper 1ChemistryRevisionLessonsAs NormalAs NormalAs NormalAs NormalAs Normal17th MayThursExamChemistryChemistryComputer ScienceDramaRevisionComp ScienceLessons18th MayFriExamFrenchFrench WritingPE Paper 2 / DramaRevisionDrama / PE TargetedMaths Targeted Maths TargetedLessonsWeekDateDayEventBefore SchoolP1P2P3P4P5After School RevisionB21st MayMonExamRevisionEnglish Lit TargetedEnglish Lit TargetedGeography TargetedGeography TargetedLessons22nd MayTuesExamEnglish LitEnglish LiteratureGeographyPhysicsRevisionPhysics Targeted / Geography TargetedLessons23rd MayWedsExamPhysicsMaths PizzaRevisionMaths TargetedMaths TargetedLessons24th MayThursExamMathsMaths P1 (Non Calc)RevisionEnglish Lit TargetedEnglish Lit TargetedLessons25th MayFriExamEnglish LitEnglish LiteratureRevisionHistory TargetedLessonsWeekDateDayAfter School RevisionHalf Term28st MayMon29th MayTues30th MayWeds31st MayThurs1st JuneFriWeekDateDayEventBefore SchoolP1P2P3P4P5After School RevisionA4th JuneMonExamHistoryHistoryRevisionEnglish Lang TargetedEnglish Lang TargetedGeography TargetedLessons5th JuneTuesExamEnglish LangEnglish LanguageGeographySpanish / Music/GermanRevisionSpanish Targeted / Geography Targeted/Spanish/ German non-geographersLessons6th JuneWedsExamSpanishSpanish Listening and ReadingMusicMaths PizzaRevisionMusic TargetedMaths TargetedMaths TargetedLessons7th JuneThursExamMathsMaths P2 (Calc)HistoryRevisionEnglish Lang TargetedEnglish Lang TargetedLessons8th JuneFriExamEnglish LangEnglish LanguageHistoryRevisionHistory TargetedLessonsWeekDateDayEventBefore SchoolP1P2P3P4P5After School RevisionB11th JuneMonExamBiologyBiologyGeographyMaths Pizza RevisionGeography Targeted*Maths TargetedMaths TargetedLessons12th JuneTuesExamMathsMaths P3 (Calc)/ ConstructionHistoryChemistryRevisionHistory Targeted*Lessons13th JuneWedsExamChemistryChemistryGerman/ SpanishChild Development/Spanish/GermanRevisionLessons14th JuneThursExamChild Development/SpanishSpanish Writing /Child DevelopmentFoodPhysicsRevisionFood (all pupils)Physics TargetedPhysics TargetedLessons15th JuneFriExamPhysicsPhysicsRevisionLessonsWeekDateDayEventBefore SchoolP1P2P3P4P5After School RevisionA18th JuneMonExamGermanGerman Listening and ReadingRevisionLessons19th JuneTuesExamAdd. MathsRevisionAd MathsLessons20th JuneWedsExamRevisionGerman targetedGerman targetedLessons21st JuneThursExamGermanGerman WritingRevisionProduct Design targetedProduct Design targetedLessons22nd JuneFriExamProduct DesignProduct DesignRevisionLessonsWeekDateDayEventBefore SchoolP1P2P3P4P5After School RevisionA25th JuneMonExamRevisionLessons26th JuneTuesExamRevisionLessons27th JuneWedsExamRevisionLessons28th JuneThursExamLeavers’ DayRevisionLessons29th JuneFriExamPromRevisionLessonsDateSubject / TopicSubject / TopicSubject / TopicDateSubject / TopicSubject / TopicSubject / TopicDateSubject / TopicSubject / TopicSubject / Topic9/4/17???7/5/17???4/6/17???10/4/17??8/5/17??5/6/17??11/4/17??9/5/17??6/6/17???12/4/17???10/5/17??7/6/17???13/4/17??11/5/17???8/6/17??14/4/17???12/5/17???9/6/17???15/4/17???13/5/17??10/6/17???16/4/17???14/5/17???11/6/17???17/4/17??15/5/17??12/6/17???18/4/17??16/5/17???13/6/17???19/4/17???17/5/17??14/6/17??20/4/17??18/5/17???15/6/17???21/4/17??19/5/17???16/6/17???22/4/17???20/5/17??17/6/17???23/4/17??21/5/17???18/6/17???24/4/17???22/5/17??19/6/17???25/4/17???23/5/17??20/6/17???26/4/17???24/5/17??21/6/17???27/4/17??25/5/17??21/6/17???28/4/17??26/5/17???23/6/17???29/4/17??27/5/17???24/6/17???30/4/17??28/5/17??25/6/17???1/5/17??29/5/17???3619550800Personal Revision PlannerUse this to plan the sessions you are going to do at home, 2 -3 hours broken into 3 x 20 minute slots, we have pre-populated this with core subjects to aid your planning around the timing of the exams.00Personal Revision PlannerUse this to plan the sessions you are going to do at home, 2 -3 hours broken into 3 x 20 minute slots, we have pre-populated this with core subjects to aid your planning around the timing of the exams.2/5/17???30/5/17???3/5/17???31/5/17??4/5/17???1/6/17???5/5/17??2/6/17??6/5/17??3/6/17???Results DayYou will be able to collect your results from 10:00 am on Thursday 23rd August in the New Hall. If you are not able to attend and would like your results posted to you, then you need to hand a large stamped self-addressed envelope into the Exam office before the end of term.Alternatively, you can nominate someone else to collect your results on your behalf. If this is the case, then the exam office will need to have a letter from you telling us who you would like to collect your results, also before the end of term. If they are not another student, then they will need to bring ID with them on 23rd August. Without this we will not be able to hand over your results.Should you not have achieved as well as you had hoped, there will be a large number of staff present on results day who will be able to help you. If you are within 1 or 2 marks away from the next grade you might wish to consider an Enquiry about results, (an EAR).The boards vary in their costing of these:You will need to complete a consent form and provide payment in the form of a cheque or cash ideally on the day so that we can process your request. These results are your results and as such you must sign for these requests, not your parents.The deadline for any Results enquiry is 20th September 2018. ................
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