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BURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS

GCSE Study and Revision Skills

Advice for parents and for boys who are preparing to

take their GCSE examinations in 2012

2

Contents

Foreword Page 3

Revision Page 4-8

Art Page 9-10

Business Studies Page 11

Classical Civilisation Page 12

Electronic Products Page 13

English Page 14

French Page 15

Geography Page 16

German Page 17

Greek Page 18

History Page 19

ICT Page 20-21

Latin Page 22

Mathematics Page 23

Music Page 24

Physical education Page 25

RS Page 26

Science Page 27-28

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Foreword

The first section of this booklet includes suggestions to help with GCSE exam preparation.

The second section contains information and revision tips specific to each subject. The subjects appear in

alphabetical order.

The school’s teaching staff will also be giving specific practical guidance during lessons regarding

revision.

Further help and advice is always available from the Head of Year or Form Tutor as listed below.

Head of Fifth Year: Mr A E Dennis, email: [email protected]

Form Tutor 5LB Miss N M Whittaker

Form Tutor 5LJ Mr G Hall

Form Tutor 5UU Mrs T J Taylor

Form Tutor 5UV Mr D T Newbury

The School’s Contact Number: 0161-797 2700

Website: www.bgsboys.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bgsboys.co.uk/

4

Revision

1. Exam Timetable

Spring Term 2012: Modular and Trial Exams

Your son will be sitting his GCSE Science Unit 2 Module Exams in January. As such, there will be

Trial Exams in Science Unit 2 at the end of the Autumn Term. Your son’s Trial Exams, in preparation

for his summer examinations, will take place during the second half of the Spring term. This means that

boys will need to spend some time during the Christmas holidays preparing for their January

examinations and during the February half-term preparing for their Trial Exams.

The Summer 2012 Exams

Students will be provided with two copies of their individual timetable, which will detail the exams and

level for which they have been entered; one copy should be signed and returned to the school. There are

no exams during the week of the Bank Holiday, when schools are normally on half-term break. In 2012

this will be the week beginning Monday 4th June until Friday 8th June. Monday 11th June is a staff

INSET day. However, public examinations on that day will take place as normal.

Taking time off over the Bank Holiday is acceptable but be aware that your son will need to do plenty of

revision that week. Please make sure that he is aware of this. Planning a holiday during this week is not

recommended.

2. Planning revision

Your son will be advised about how to prepare for the Trial Exams by the pastoral team and during year

assemblies. The main point he should recognise is that successful revision comes through being

thoroughly organised. Make sure that he checks he has all the books he needs, and that all notes are

complete and up to date; if any are missing he should seek advice from the relevant teacher. As well as

general help with planning, the school will provide blank revision timetables.

Make sure that the revision timetable includes all the dates and times of the examinations as well as

coursework deadlines. It is also a good idea to include when you want your son to take time off from

revision, for example when he has achieved a target.

It should probably go without saying that the timetable should be prominently displayed. Encouraging

your son to follow it is important.

Check how he is doing by letting him tell you about something he has just learnt. If you can follow his

explanation in all likelihood he will be able to produce a good answer in the exam. Patient listening will

help your son to rehearse new knowledge. Similarly, he should be encouraged to seek out his teacher’s

help for any gaps in understanding.

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3. Further Revision Tips

Boys:

plan twenty to thirty minute sessions. Frequent short sessions are generally more beneficial than

longer ones

take short breaks between sessions

on any particular night, revise only two subjects

leave time for relaxation

plan to revise specific topics in each subject, not everything at once

avoid comfort revising i.e. spending a disproportionate amount of time on easy topics

plan to cover each subject several times and revisit each one near to the exams

make a long list of short questions for each topic which act as learning objectives

be aware that reading is not enough. Revision should be proactive. Making notes with words and

pictures helps with memory. Highlighting can also help. Teachers will give advice on different ways

to learn information

plan to spend time completing practice questions so that he is used to doing things within a time limit

ensure that revision includes working through plenty of past exam questions

consider working with a friend. This allows for testing each other and discussing the topic in depth

Revision Timetables

It is important to begin by making a list of topics to cover during the revision period, and then

prioritise these estimating how long each will take. Subject teachers will provide a syllabus to help

with this.

Filling in the blank timetable

A revision timetable becomes obsolete if not adhered to, which can be damaging for morale and

hinder progress. A different approach is to have a chart recording what has been achieved each day.

Seeing this being filled in can be very motivating. However what works for one boy may not work

for another!

Building reviewing into the timetable every day

It is a good idea to have a 'testing slot’ scheduled into every day. This helps to recall previous

learning and makes sitting the exam feel less onerous.

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Parents:

During the Exam Period

Try to ensure that your son:

gets a good night’s sleep before exams

eats breakfast and lunch to help him concentrate

has all the necessary equipment the night before the exam:

- a couple of pens and sharp pencils in a clear pencil case

- an eraser and ruler

- a watch

and for some exams:

- a calculator

- a protractor

knows the times of every exam that day

allows plenty of time to get to school for the exam

is wished well and told he has worked hard and that he can only do his best

reports back on whether the exam has gone well or badly (be supportive even if you know that he

should have done more for it)

Also, you should:

seek help from the school if you are worried about your son in any way

review the exam regulations with him, particularly the following:

No mobile phones or any other electronic gadget

(including MP3 players) may be taken into the exam room.

In addition correction fluid is not allowed.

Other ways in which you can help

You can help by:

encouraging you son to see the importance of the exams and how much time he will have to commit

to them

explaining to other members of the family that they must not disturb revision

securing a quiet place for study

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praising/rewarding hard work

offering reassurance that the process will soon be over and a break can then be taken

switch off your son’s mobile phone and allow him to use the internet only for revision sites

encourage him to ask teachers to go through anything he doesn’t understand

ensure that he is working in a nice quiet room

Organisation

ensure that his workspace has…

plenty of fresh air

natural light and a desk lamp

desk space that is large, but not in front of the window

a radiator nearby at about 18 degrees

resources/equipment nearby

a good chair

music if this helps

timetables/syllabus/project plans

Provide your son the tools to revise with, which may include……

pens, pencils, rulers

colours, highlighters, ink

file dividers

folders, wallets

hole punch

plain, lined & graph paper

index cards box

diary/timetables

computer access

music system

calculator

paper clips/stapler

lamp

sellotape/glue

And when it’s all over..

Tell your son to relax and forget about studying for a while.

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4. Useful Websites for revision

BBC Revision (GCSE Bitesize) www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize

Channel 4 Learning Homework High www.channel4.com/homeworkhigh

Dr Brown’s Chemistry Revision www.docbrown.info/

GCSE Guide (Maths & English) www.gcse.co.uk

Project Revision www.projectrevision.co.uk

Revision Notes www.revision-notes.co.uk/GCSE/

Revision Time www.revisiontime.com/

S Cool www.s-cool.co.uk

Exam boards

AQA www.aqa.org.uk

Edexel www.edexcel.org.uk/

OCR www.ocr.org.uk/

Further advice for parents

BBC Learning www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents

5. Subject specific revision tips for boys

Before getting started…..

Ensure that there are no gaps in notes from the Fourth or Fifth Year

Be aware that class notes are an important source of knowledge from which to draw

Print off a syllabus for each subject from the relevant exam board website and tick the

statements that have been covered so far

Print off past papers for each subject, complete at least one per week at home, and ask the

relevant subject teacher to mark them. Alternatively you can use the mark scheme which is

also available online.

Ensure that you are writing all homework into your homework diary and enter your marks

into your Focus Group booklet

Ensure that all homework is completed and handed in for marking on time. You must avoid

being put into SLT homework detention.

In the subjects where you are failing to achieve a grade C, you should ask your teacher for

set targets to improve your performance. You must arrange a time to do this with your

subject teacher and you must keep a record in your exercise book.

You must attend lunchtime clinics for the subjects in which you are experiencing difficulty.

Read carefully the following pages which are relevant to you. And good luck!

http://www.aqa.org.uk/

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Art

Head of Department: Miss K A Gore

Coursework 60%

Examination 40%

Internal Assessment of GCSE – May 2012. Date TBC

External Assessment of GCSE - June 2012. Date TBC

Art Exhibition for Students, Parents and BGSB guests – June 2012. Dates TBC

Coursework – Portfolio 60%

All boys have been given a GCSE booklet highlighting the breakdown of the course.

Art students have two projects, ‘Surroundings’ and ‘Structures’. In both projects boys will learn a

variation of techniques and skills.

Examination – Externally Set Assignment 40%

Students are given a selection of exam questions set by the examination board, AQA. Boys can

choose any discipline of art to work in for their examination. The paper is given to the students on

the lesson closest to 1st January 2012. Students then have five weeks’ preparation for the ten hour

exam. This will take place in the Art Department under examination conditions over two

consecutive days.

Assessing GCSE Art

Both members of the Art department internally assess all the Art work once students have put up

their exhibitions in May 2012. A moderator from AQA will then assess the work in June.

All projects and the Examination are assessed under the following criteria.

Assessment Objective 1 - Artist Research (potentially worth 20 marks)

Assessment Objective 2 - Developing your own ideas (potentially worth 20 marks)

Assessment Objective 3 - Observational Drawings (potentially worth 20 marks)

Assessment Objective 4 – Final piece (potentially worth 20 marks)

AO1

This is researching a selection of artists, cultures or issues in the media relevant to the project. Students

must visually record their influences, have their own opinions of the research and show analytical

development.

AO2

This is exploring several individual ideas in great depth for a final piece relevant to the starting

point. Learning new techniques, working with a range of different materials and taking photographs

of this process as evidence.

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AO3

This is a substantial amount of first hand drawings showing evidence of different scales, drawing

styles and media. Students must remember to vary their drawing materials and drawing surfaces.

AO4

Using all work from the previous AO’s students will produce a final, personal outcome to demonstrate the

skills and knowledge learnt. Remember, the project must flow and show a journey of your ideas and

research. A good Art student will demonstrate a high level of intellectual interpretation of their work.

Submission.

All work done in the Fourth and Fifth year will be submitted as part of the GCSE course and

therefore needs to be completed to the best of the student’s ability. All students have the

opportunity to attend Art clubs regularly in order to develop and improve coursework. Boys are

encouraged to attend at least three a week.

Further details for the GCSE course is available in the information packs given out at the start of the

Fourth Year.

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Business Studies

Head of Department: Mr N Parkinson

Format of Examination

2 x 1 hour written exams. Paper 1, worth 40%, will be completed at the end of the Fourth Year. If a

boy does not achieve his potential he will be allowed to pay for 1 further re-sit opportunity in the

January or June of the 5th Year. Paper 2, worth 35%, will be completed at the end of the Fifth Year.

Controlled Assessment

The controlled assessment replaces coursework and consists of 7 to 9 hours of preparation time

followed by a report to be written in approximately 3 hours under exam conditions. The write up

period will begin at the end of September in the 5th Year. This unit is worth 25% of the final mark.

Specific Revision Tips

Learn the accounting formulae and practise using them in past questions.

Practise calculations, especially percentages. Showing ability in this field will gain you high

marks.

Many students find the best way to revise is to DO something with the information you are

trying to learn. Organise it into short notes, diagrams, lists, etc. and this will help you to learn

and memorise it.

LOOK, COVER, WRITE, CHECK is a good way of memorising work.

Although it is important that you have learnt the basic content of Business Studies the important

thing is to be able to APPLY that knowledge in the CONTEXT of a particular business case

study. Practise past questions; ask your teacher for extra papers if needed. When practising past

questions work on the basis of 1 mark per minute and try to stick to this.

Higher marks are only gained by ANALYSIS (explanation) and EVALUATION (weighing up).

Remember this as you revise. You can practise weighing up the most important benefits and

costs in many topics, eg the pros and cons of bank loans.

Your teacher will have told you the major topics to revise but do not forget to look through the

minor ones on the specification occasionally.

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Classical Civilisation

Head of Department: Mr G D Feely


Unit A351: City Life in the Classical World 25% (1hr)

Unit A352: Epic and Myth 25% (1 hr)

Unit A353: Community Life in the Classical World 25% (1hr)

Unit A354: Culture and Society in the Classical World 8 (Coursework)

Coursework Requirement

Controlled Assessment (2000 words/2 essays) to be taken in the Easter Term.


i) Read your notes for the Roman Civilisation topics in digestible sections and make your own

brief notes as you go along.

ii) Test yourself at the end of each section and use the notes you have made to jog your memory.

iii) Read the Odyssey and the Metamorphoses in small sections and test yourself on the facts of each

section at the end.

iv) When you have reread the text, use your synopsis to do last minute revision.

v) You will use past papers in class which you must keep and practise with as often as you can.

vi) Make sure you follow your teacher’s advice for examination essays: fact + analysis is the way to

gain marks.

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Electronic Products

Head of Department: Mr D Hailwood


The examination lasts 2 hours, and is an assessment of the boys’ ability to apply the knowledge they

have gained throughout the course. The written exam is worth 40% of the marks.


Each boy is expected to formulate his own design brief and to produce both a supporting folder and

a piece of practical work to answer that brief. It is expected that the total expenditure should not

exceed 40 hours but in reality many boys do more. The coursework is worth 60% of the marks.


Use the ‘Electronic Products – Student Workbook’ as a guide – written by the chief examiner.

Ensure all work is completed in the above book.

Practise freehand sketching.

Remember to show full workings on all calculations and to include units.

Be aware of the recurrent themes from past papers.

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English

Head of Department: Mrs H Brandon


There is one paper for GCSE English Language, contributing to 40% of the final mark.

Unit 1 – Understanding and Producing Non-Fiction Texts June entry

Section A – Reading response to non-fiction / media texts.

Section B – Writing skills.

Then there are two papers for GCSE English Literature.

Unit 1 – Exploring Modern Texts (40% of marks) January entry

Section A – ‘An Inspector Calls’ or ‘Woman in Black’

Section B – ‘Of Mice and Men’

Unit 4 – Approaching Shakespeare and the Literary Heritage (35% of marks) June entry

Section A – Shakespeare (20% of marks)

Section B – Prose from the Literary Heritage (15% of marks)

Controlled Assessments

All Controlled Assessments were completed by the end of last academic year.

GCSE English Language

Unit 2 - Speaking and Listening (20% of marks)

Individual Contribution, Role Play, Group Contribution

Unit 3 - Understanding Spoken and Written Texts and Writing Creatively (40% of marks)

Extended Reading, Creative Writing, Spoken Language Study.

GCSE English Literature

Unit 5 – Exploring Poetry (25% of mark)


1. Refer to the extensive sheets of revision tips which your teacher will have provided.

2. Ensure you have reread the texts.

3. Ensure you can comment on why the writer has used particular words, devices or images.

4. The BBC operate a useful and interactive website at: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

5. The Department will run revision sessions nearer to the examination sessions.

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French

Head of Department: Mr M R Boyd


Speaking: 30%

Writing: 30%

Reading: 20%

Listening: 20%

At the end of the Fifth Year, you will sit a formal examination in Reading and Listening. Each of

the 2 exams, at Higher or Foundation tier, is worth 20%. Whilst there is no formal examination in

Writing and Speaking, you will do a series of Controlled Assessment at appropriate times in the

Fourth and Fifth Year.


Controlled Assessment has replaced coursework and the Writing and Speaking exams. You will do

at least 2 Controlled Assessments in Speaking and Writing. Each skill accounts for 30% of the final

marks. Once you have studied a topic in class with your teacher, you will be given a Task

approximately one week prior to completing the Controlled Assessment. Writing tasks will be done

during a double period. Speaking tasks will take the form of a conversation/interview with your

class teacher and last approximately 6 minutes each.


You cannot revise for your French examination at the last minute and work done in previous years

can be as important/relevant as work done in the Fifth Year. Although, no formal examination takes

place in Writing and Speaking, this does not mean that you cannot revise for the Reading and

Listening exams.

Revise your tenses. Make sure that you can recognize the present, perfect, future tenses when

reading or listening. Ensure that you can spot other clues to time frames such as time phrases.

Learn topic specific vocabulary. Revise vocabulary from the key topic areas such as Family,

Education, Holidays, My Town. Learn common synonyms and antonyms. Often in Reading and

Listening, examiners use tricks such as these to catch you out.

Visit the following websites:

www.languagesonline.org.uk

www.zut.org.uk (at weekends and in the evening)

www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/modlang/french/index_fr.htm

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Geography

Head of Department: Mrs T J Taylor


There are two papers: Paper 1 is 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 37.5% of the marks. Paper 2 is 1

hour 30 minutes and is worth 37.5% of the marks.


This is a Controlled Assessment carried out in the Autumn Term of Fifth Year. It is worth 25% of

the marks and it is usually based on an investigation of a local study area.


There are several techniques that can be used which can help with the preparation and revision of

geography.

Do not work for more than 20 minutes at a time. Ideally in 1 hour you would do 40 minutes of

constructive work in two 20 minute sessions separated by 10 minutes each time.

Do not just read your notes. After a period of time, the words will not register. Instead, write

down key words and phrases. For example, if you write the word “abrasion” as a key word,

when you come to revise in depth it will trigger off the process in your head.

With human geography, always learn case studies for relevant topics. Make sure that your case

studies are up to date and that you keep up to date with current affairs.

With physical geography, always use sequence and process. That is to say get the formation of

a landform in the correct order and add the process of formation at the correct time (explained)

in the sequence.

Practise past questions. These are available from your teachers but also through the AQA

website. These will help you understand the style of questions asked and what is required to do

well.

Remember, these are just guidelines. You need to experiment with a number of systems and

find the one that suits you best.

17

German

Head of Department: Mr D R Lee

Format of Examination Speaking: 30%

Writing: 30%

Reading: 20%

Listening: 20%

At the end of the Fifth Year, you will sit a formal examination in Reading and Listening. Each of

the 2 exams, at Higher or Foundation tier, is worth 20%. Whilst there is no formal examination in

Writing and Speaking, you will do a series of Controlled Assessments at appropriate times in the

Fourth and Fifth Year.


Controlled Assessment has replaced coursework and the Writing and Speaking exams. You will do

at least 2 Controlled Assessments in both Speaking and Writing. Each skill accounts for 30% of the

final marks. Once you have studied a topic in class with your teacher, you will be given a Task

approximately one week prior to completing the Controlled Assessment. Writing tasks will be done

during a double period. Speaking tasks will take the form of a conversation/interview with your

class teacher and will last approximately 6 minutes each.


The key to success at GCSE is to learn the vocabulary THROUGHOUT THE COURSE. Last

minute revision in a language is impossible: you cannot learn hundreds of words in the space of

a few weeks, let alone overnight. ‘Revision’ will ideally begin in the Third Year and will

certainly continue in the Fourth and Fifth Years. You need to make a careful note of new

vocabulary with its gender and plural and learn it systematically. Note down the key structures

as you meet them and try to commit them to memory; there is, unfortunately, no shortcut, but

this, of course, means that you have far less to do in the busy run-up to the exams.

Make sure that you are familiar with these key points of grammar:

i) Cases

ii) Verbs and their tenses (especially present and past tense verb forms, both regular and

irregular, and the future tense).

iii) Adjective endings.

iv) Word order (especially in subordinate clauses where the verb goes at the end of the clause).

Your teacher will provide you with worksheets to revise these.

Visit the websites on the German page in the subject section of the school site, especially the

BBC site for languages and languages online.

Use the sections at the back of the textbook Echo and those pages at the end of each chapter

which give specific guidance on refining examination technique and improving grades.

Revise the vocabulary and structures for each key topic such as Family, Education and

Holidays, thoroughly. This will help you to build up a bank of information vital for success.

18

Greek



4 Papers

Language 1 (l hr) 25% GCSE


Prose Literature (l hr) 25% GCSE

Verse Literature (l hr) 25% GCSE


There is no coursework.


Your teacher will provide you with a revision booklet for each examination, with the date and time

of the examination on the front.

There will be separate booklets for each of the Set Text papers which will include revision tips,

translation and notes.

The language booklet will include revision tips and the defined vocabulary list.

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History

Head of Department: Mr M J Hone


One written paper taken at the end of the Fourth Year and one at the end of the Fifth Year, both 1

hour 45 minutes.

Controlled Assessment

Boys carry out a Controlled Assessment assignment in the Autumn term of the Fifth Year. This

consists of an Historical Enquiry of approximately 2000 words, split into two parts and using a

variety of source material. Boys are given a set number of lessons to prepare the Historical Enquiry,

under Controlled Conditions.


Revision is not a separate activity to be carried out just before the exam. The easiest way to

master a topic is to try and understand it clearly at the start, then review the main points at

regular intervals thereafter, under headings like ‘Main Events’, ‘Causes’ and ‘Consequences’.

When you revise a topic always do so ACTIVELY, ie reorganising, compiling a spider diagram,

answering examination-type questions or completing a factual quiz. Simply re-reading notes or

the textbook is next to useless.

The written notes you will be given on each topic contain a series of revision exercises for you

to complete.

There are plenty of GCSE Modern World History revision guides available. They vary

considerably in quality and are usually not specifically designed for our AQA course. Buy them

if you like but it must be said that many pupils find the textbook and printed notes perfectly

adequate. Be careful not to buy revision guides for the Schools History Project course – it’s a

completely different syllabus!

There are some good History websites with GCSE revision exercises on them. These are

available on the History area of the school network. The best of these include: BBC Bitesize,

Active History and John D Clare.

In GCSE History, factual knowledge is vital but so is examination technique. Knowing how

long to spend on each question and how to answer it in a way that gains maximum marks is a

crucial part of your learning. Practise doing past examination questions under pressure of time.

There is no right or wrong way of revising. Develop the method that suits you best. For

example, some people swear by spider diagrams and mind maps. Other people find them no use

at all. The one over-riding piece of advice I would give is that the best pattern for revision is:

little, regular and often. It is no good sitting down for ten solid hours trying to learn every topic

thoroughly the night before the exam!

20

ICT

Head of Department: Mr P Meakin


There is one examination which lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes. This consists mostly of short

answer questions together with a small number of multiple choice questions. There is also usually

one question which requires an extended written answer.

The examination is worth 40% of the credit for the GCSE.

Controlled Assessment Requirement

Two pieces of controlled assessment, each worth 30% of the credit for the GCSE must be undertaken.

Unit 2, undertaken in the Fourth Form.

Unit 3, undertaken in the Fifth Form.

As the controlled assessment is worth 60% of the course credit it is obviously vital that you perform

well in it if you hope to achieve a good grade at the end of the course. Sustained effort throughout

the two years is required.

Revision Tips

Visit our website (www.bgsict.org.uk, username: bgs password: ict). There is lots of very

useful revision material on the site, specifically targeted at your course.

Know which course you are studying so that you can target your revision at what is required for

this specific GCSE course, especially if you buy a revision guide as there are differences

between different GCSE ICT courses. You are studying AQA GCSE ICT, New Specification

from 2010.

Come to our last-minute revision lesson. We hold a revision session just before the exam as it

usually takes place in the afternoon so come along for our last minute hints and tips and to ask

any questions you may have. Check our website for times.

Know which topics are most important so that you can divide your revision time up sensibly.

Use our annually updated “Top Exam Questions” guide to see which topics are usually worth

most marks and our “Exam Questions Guide” to see what specific questions are most frequently

asked on particular topics.

Do past exam papers. Many questions come up year after year so completing past exam papers

is the best revision you can do. We will do several in class and have many more that you can

http://www.bgsict.org.uk/

21

complete if you want to. Although it is also important to note that there are quite a lot of new

topics in 2010.

Use the ICT Companion. The quiz module in particular will help you test your knowledge at

home when you don’t have a teacher to help you. All of the notes that you need to revise from

are in the ICT Companion. When you are reading about the topics take note of the common

mistakes sections which point out simple mistakes that are frequently made.

You may find other revision guides and websites useful as an alternative source of information

but we will give you everything that you need to do well in the exam.

In the exam you will have plenty of time so make sure you check your work carefully, write in

enough depth for the number of marks available for a question and respond correctly to key

words such as explain or state. Ask for additional sheets of paper if you need them. Do not

write outside of the marked areas on the question paper as your answers will be scanned into a

computer and marked online. The examiner will not see any additional text unless it is written

on an additional sheet of paper.

22

Latin



4 Papers



Prose Literature (l hr) 25% GCSE

Verse Literature (l hr) 25% GCSE


No coursework is required.


Your teacher will provide you with a revision booklet for each examination, with the date and time

of the examination on the front.

There will be separate booklets for each of the Set Text papers which will include revision tips,

translation and notes.

The language booklet will include revision tips and the defined vocabulary list.

23

Mathematics

Head of Department: Mr T J Nicholson


There are two papers, each 2 hours long, written in question-and-answer booklets. Both papers

include questions on the whole syllabus and are similar to each other in terms of style and difficulty.

You are allowed to use a calculator in both papers.


There is no coursework.


1. First, get all your material organised: you have got lots of material, all of it potentially helpful

for revision, but totally useless if you are unable find what you need at the drop of a hat. This

material will include:

revision notes written in your orange books over the last five years

past papers with copies of correct solutions from your teacher

your own orange exercise books from the last five years

notes and summaries in any textbooks which you haven't yet handed in.

2. You must read all your revision notes carefully, but remember that the main part of Maths

revision is to do lots of worked examples. So start by trying each of the worked examples

which are in your notes, then check against the model answer to see if you have got it right.

Then re-try all the past papers and compare the answers against the solutions which your teacher

may have given you. Try to take on board any comments which your teacher made on your own

previous attempt at that paper.

3. Try to develop your pace when working through the past papers: remember that you have 2

hours: as a VERY ROUGH guide, think along the lines of about 6 minutes per 5 marks; or

perhaps 1 minute per mark, with a little time left for checking your work.

4. Make sure that you know how to use your calculator, not forgetting about the powers button, the

standard form button, and how to make sure it's in degrees mode, or how to change it from that

irritating mode where it gives answers in fraction notation instead of decimals.

5. Work through the ‘Mathswatch’ CD ROM which will give you an extra explanation, should you

need it. Use the revision sheets provided with the CD ROM as extra past papers but remember

that there are topics which are not on the disc that still need revising.

6. Use MyMaths Booster Lessons to practice exam style questions. www.mymaths.co.uk

7. Finally, look at the IGCSE Revision Guide which is also available on the computer network:

Desktop/My Computer/Public on Lrc-fp01/Maths/IGCSE Revision Guide.

http://www.mymaths.co.uk/

24

Music

Head of Department: Mr C N J Hyde

Controlled Assessment and Format of Examination

1. Listening and Appraising Music – 20% of total marks

A listening and written paper of 1 hour

Questions based on three strands

1. Western Classical Tradition

2. Popular Music C20 + C21

3. World Music

Explored through five Areas of Study

1. Rhythm and Metre

2. Harmony and Tonality

3. Texture and Melody

4. Timbre and Dynamics

5. Structure and Form

2. Composing and Appraising Music - 20% of total marks

Composing one piece of music linked to two Areas of Study

20 hours of supervised time (10%)

Appraisal of Composition (10%)

Composition linked to Strand 2 (for 2012 exam)

Externally assessed

3. Performing Music – 40% of total marks

One solo and one ensemble performance (20% each)

Controlled assessment towards end of course

4. Composing Music - 20% of total marks

Up to 25 hours of supervised time

Free composition linked to two Areas of Study


Boys are expected to prepare a solo performance with their instrumental teacher. Ensemble

performance may also be done this way but is usually mapped out during lessons early in the course.

For help in all areas but particularly in unit 4 you should refer to the GCSE Music Study Guide

issued at the start of the course and to the notes given to you by music staff over the two years.

If you have any worries or difficulties in understanding, do not hesitate to ask. The music staff will

always be happy to give individual help.

25

Physical Education

Head of Department: Mr G Lövgreen


The course is assessed 50% in Fourth Form and 50% in Fifth Form

Written Paper - 1 hour – 20%

This paper is in two parts:

- Part A – multiple-choice questions worth 15 marks

- Part B – short-answer questions and extended response questions worth 45 marks


Practical Activities – 30%

All candidates will be required to offer two activities for assessment and to complete an Analysis of

Performance in one of these activities.

This section covers the Practical Skills and is assessed internally during the course but there is

usually a visit from an outside moderator in the final months of the course, normally between March

and May. The criteria when assessing practical activities adhere to the following principles:

- the basis for all assessment will be the candidate’s technique, which underpins the skill and

effectiveness with which these skills are applied to structured and full game situations;

- in individual activities the overall assessments will be based upon the cumulative principle

reflecting the degree of difficulty of the movement, which enables the candidate to apply his

skill in the context of the activity. Students must play when selected for school (as stated in

the community code) in order to validate their final mark in this area. This has had adverse

effects in the past when not followed.


All candidates must work towards the guidance given in lessons regarding revision.

Have a copy of the specification at hand to plan your class and revision work from.

Exam questions will be regularly set and marked - and discussion and understanding of these

areas covered is key.

Revision sessions will be organised by your teachers and attendance is strongly

recommended.

Following the usual advice of organising a timetable and preparing time to focus well in

advance of the examination period is of paramount importance.

26

Religious Studies

Head of Department: Mr A L Stacey


2 x 90 minute examination papers:

1. Unit 2 - Christianity: Ethics

2. Unit 8 - Islam

Both are taken at the end of May or during June of the Fifth Year.


Firstly, make sure you have a copy of the syllabus and mark off all the areas as you revise

them: the syllabus we are following is AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (Religious Beliefs

and Lifestyles 4050).

Identify a regular slot in which to revise your RS and stick to it

Always begin your revision with a blank sheet of paper and for the first five minutes write

down what you can remember of the chosen topic

Spend the next 15 or 20 minutes revising it

Spend the last 5 minutes with your first sheet, adding the new material you have just learnt

Make good use of the revision summaries and workbooks with which you have been

supplied by the RS Department

Consider buying a commercially-produced revision guide

Regularly tackle past paper questions

Pray earnestly for success!

27

Science

Head of Chemistry: Miss J Solomon

Head of Biology: Mr G A Ferguson

Head of Physics: Mr C A Davidson


Science (Unit 1)

3 x 45 minute exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics in January of the fourth year.

Additional Science (Unit 2)

3 x 45 minute exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics in January of the fifth.

Further Science (Unit 3)

3 x 45 minute exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics in June of the fifth year.

Resits are available in January and June of the fifth year for written papers.


All boys require one coursework exercise, a Centre Assessed Unit, called an ISA in each of the three

sciences during the course. This will include a piece of practical work and a 45 minute, internally

assessed written exam. All coursework is carried out during school time with no requirement to

complete any at home. If time allows, more than one ISA may be completed, with the best ISA

mark counting.

Overall: Unit 1 (25%) + Unit 2 (25%) + Unit 3 (25%) + ISA (25%) = Final Mark


Use mnemonics to remember facts eg MRS GREN/ROYGBIV etc.

Chunk down work – little and often. Break big tasks into smaller ones.

As you read through a topic write down a series of questions and answers. Then when you

review your notes you simply have to go through the questions. A5 postcards are good for

this with questions on one side and the answers on the other.

Practise drawing diagrams correctly eg dot/cross diagrams in covalent bonding.

Draw a spider diagram to show information and put it on the wall of your bedroom.

Attend science clinics if you are experiencing difficulty. See the relevant Head of

Department for information.

28

Test yourself using the exam-style questions at the end of each topic in the text book. You

can get the model answer schemes from the relevant Head of Department.

Practise answering multi-mark questions and ensure that the number of points which you

make at least equals the number of marks: eg. “Describe how giraffes have evolved long

necks (5 marks).” In order to achieve five marks for this question you would have to make

five key points or explain five key ideas.

Be sure to purchase a revision book in each of the three sciences, either the Nelson Thorne

AQA revision guide, or CGP Revision guides.

Ask your teacher for more revision papers/question papers once you have finished the ones

given out in class. Try whole papers or individual questions against the clock – allowing 1

minute for every mark.

Use your syllabus to ensure that there are no knowledge gaps.

Use online resources to learn and test yourself. Many have notes, multiple choice questions

(immediately marked with feedback to improve) and podcasts to listen to topics on your

iPod:

o www.docbrown.info/index.htm

o www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

o www.s-cool.co.uk

o www.aqa.org.uk (Past papers, Mark Schemes, plus reports on common mistakes on

exam questions)

o www.cgpbooks.co.uk (Revision Guides)

o www.gcsescience.co.uk (Sadly, only Chemistry and Physics)

Try a variety of methods, we all learn in different ways; which method suits you best?

Work productively and actively. Simply reading the material will not help or test your recall

of it. You must be active, say it, write it, picture it, draw it!

Above all – ask if you need help.

Documents

GCSE Study and Revision Skills Advice for parents and for ...ripassetseu.s3.amazonaws.com/€¦3 Foreword The first section of this booklet includes suggestions to help with GCSE exam