Improving Exam Results Gettting the a and a Star Grades

7/31/2019 Improving Exam Results Gettting the a and a Star Grades

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Improving Exam Results


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http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/184085345X/gcsemathsrevi-21


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A simple fact!The line drawn betweendifferent grades has to bedrawn somewhere!

72 A*

66 A

60 B

54 C

48 D

42 E

36 F

30 G

One mark may make

all the difference!

I know Im good atthis subject, but Iran out of time! I

got 65.


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Improving on your examtechnique could make thedifference of one mark.

Every year each exam boardproduces a report on theperformance of students. Part ofthe report highlights failings interms of exam technique.


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Immediately after certificates areissued, each school receives advicefrom the exam board. Part of theadvice is on improving exam

technique.

This presentation summarises the advice given over a

number of years. The advice goes across all subjects.


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Lets start with the basics .......................RUBRIC!

Rubric refers to organisational aspects of the exam paper, issues

such as ....

The numbering and lettering system used on the exam paper.

The information required on the front cover of the exam paper

Writing extended answers in additional space.

What could possibly go wrong in respect to Rubric?


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You need to know that most examinersare teachers. They have alreadycompleted a full days work at schoolbefore they begin their marking!

Faced with as many as 400 exam scripts tomark, in a three-week period.

most start work in the early evening

and work late.

It could be your script which is being marked at the end of along evening. Keep the examiner on your side by followingrubric rules. The next slide illustrates the issue


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A(a)i) What is the capital of England?ii) Which part of England is it located in?

(b)i) Name two other large cities in Englandii) Describe the location of one of them.

London in the south-east.

Manchester and Birmingham arein the Midlands.

A(a)

i) Londonii) In the south-east(b)i) Manchester and Birmingham

ii) Birmingham is in the Midlands

Answers like this makeexaminers tear their hairout.

Follow the rubric and keepexaminers on your side


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A(a)i) What is the capital of England?ii) Which part of England is it located in?

(b)i) Name two other large cities in Englandii) Describe the location of one of them.

A

1) London2) In the south-east3) Manchester and Birmingham4) Birmingham is in the Midlands

If you really want to annoythe examiner..

change the rubric!!

Examiners are only human. Keep themon your side. It could mean thedifference of one mark!


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Running out of time in the exam

Each exam paper provides you with a different challenge in terms of timekeeping. No doubt your teacher will offer you advice in this respect.Running out of time is probably the main problem for candidates who aspire

to a grade A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can learn the most basictime-keeping lesson of all........

Dontrepeat thequestion!

Q: How far does the traveller have to go before reaching Nairobi?

A: The traveller has to go 10 kms before reaching Nairobi.

A: 10 kms.


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Still on the theme of optimising time..

How much should I write?

Part of the answer to thisissue is to look at thenumber of marksavailable.

A question worth onlytwo marksDescribethe bones in the humanfoot.

.should have a briefanswer. There are a large number

Those near the toes look small


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A question worth threemarks..

. Describe changes inworld population.

. is likely to have alonger answer, perhapswith three strands in it..

1000 1750 The population was rising slowly

1750 2000 The population went up rapidly

The figure is now over 6 billion people


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At the risk of labouring the point. Use the number of marksavailable as a guide to how much to write.

The creature has less hair

The creature gets taller

The creature has less hair

The creature gets taller

The creature gets more upright

It changes from ape to a human being

Describe thechanges onthe diagram.

For twomarks.

For fourmarks.


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Command Words

Describe

Explain

List

EvaluateCompare

Identify

Describe

Explain

Relax, describe questions are relatively easy aslong as you remember that the examiners areonly asking you to state what you can see (on aphoto, a diagram, a graph etc.)

These questions are harder, you will have toshow your understanding by giving reasons forsomething.

Every year, very able students waste valuable secondsby explaining something, when the COMMAND WORDsimply asks them to describe something.

Analyse


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Describe conditions..

The houses are crowded

The houses are close torailway tracks

Explain how conditions caused poor health.

Reason 1: Crowded houses means disease spreadseasily

Reason 2: The smoke from the trains makes you ill

How would an able student, withpoor exam technique, waste theirtime when answering thisquestion?


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Reason 1: Crowded houses meansdisease spreads easily

Reason 2: The smoke from thetrains makes you ill

Reason 1: Crowded houses means disease is easy tospread

Reason 2: The smoke from the trains makes you ill

Explain, giving two reasons (2marks)

Explain, giving two reasons (4 marks)


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Another example, this time in Maths, where theneed to actually EXPLAIN is often forgotten!

Q: Explain why angle PQR= 34


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The candidates are expected

to write a sentence toexplain how the angle ismeasured at 34.

Yes, you sometimes need towrite sentences in Mathsexams!!

ANS: RQT is measured at 56, PQT is a right angle(90), so 90 56 = 34 .... would get the mark as the

candidate has explained the rationale

ANS: It should add up to a right angle.... would not getthe mark as the explanation does not give enough detail! ...

What should add up to a right angle??

Q: Explain why angle PQR= 34


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List two positive andtwo negative ..

This is a good beat to work. People are very friendly andserious crime is not very common. However, I am disappointed

by the increase in nuisance crimes such as graffiti and pettyvandalism.

I often have to deal with complaints about large groups ofyouths being noisy at night, I suppose its because theres very

little for teenagers to do in the evenings around here. A

growing problem is the dangerous on-road parking now that

families often have two cars

Serious crime is not common, people are friendly,youths are a nuisance and graffiti is a problem.

Positive Negative

People are friendly Youths are a

nuisanceSerious crime israre

Graffiti is gettingworse


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Compare..

Use comparative words!

whereas on the other hand

howeverwhilst higher

lower

worse

better

In the USA the number of people living in cities is

higherthan in China

In the USA you live until you are 76, whereas in China

you only live until you are 58.

Dont just list the differencesbetween the two countries!


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Evaluate is one of the most difficult command words, it isoften used in English exams

Expect to give an extended answer

You will be expected to give an opinion

Expect to weigh up the pros and cons

or the strengths and weaknesses of theinformation which has been provided.

In my opinion I think this because.

On the other hand, you could argue that

The most important thing that influenced me was .

Use phrases like ..


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When you are asked to Analyse and Evaluate, this is ashard as it gets at GCSE level

You will need to fall back on the specificadvice given by your subject teacher.

Ensure that this is an important part of

your revision.

Look back at the feedback you havereceived after completing mock

exam papers or extended essays /assignments


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An example taken from Art............

Art Exam Theme 2009

25% of marks for theexam will be allocatedto Assessment

Objective 2

analyse and evaluateimages, objects andartefacts showing

understanding andcontext


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Where is the focal point of thepainting and how does the artistlead your eye to this area?

What evidence is there ofsymbolism in the work why doyou think the artist has used theseimages?

Describe the atmosphere/mood ofthe painting and explain how theartist has used colour and tonalcontrast to achieve this.

Is the style of the painting:realistic, abstract, semi-abstractor stylised? What evidence canyou see to support your choice?


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. and finally. dont throw away easy marks

Remember: The line drawn between different gradeshas to be drawn somewhere!

72 A*

66 A

60 B

54 C

48 D42 E

36 F

30 G

I got 65.

One mark may make all the difference, so

dont throw it away. Here is an example

I didnt read thequestion carefully.I think Ive blown

it!!!


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(5) When you are askedto provide informationfrom a drawing or a

photograph, examinersoften report lazyanswers!

Identify three hazards in this kitchen [6]

> There is a boiling pot.> There are leads across the floor

> The kettle lead is near water in thesink.

The boiling pot on the stove is near the front of the cooker. It could easilybe touched or knocked over by a child, causing serious burns.

What would you say to further develop the other answers given above?

The question is embarrassingly easy, but notice that the questionis worth 6 marks. You cant afford a lazy answer, despite the easeof the question!


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Good luck in the summer

Life is not a rehearsal, so prepare welland dont leave revision to the last

minute

Im sure you will allbe successful


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? ? Any Questions ? ?

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Improving Exam Results Gettting the a and a Star Grades