Www.kowessex.co.uk Ten Top Tips Preparing for GCSEs

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Ten Top TipsTen Top Tips

Preparing for GCSEsPreparing for GCSEs


Top Tip 1Top Tip 1

Climate for LearningClimate for Learning

Removing the BarriersRemoving the Barriers

Learning environmentLearning environmentHabitual or learned behaviourHabitual or learned behaviour

www.ucc.vt.educ/studysk/studydis.html

The perfect learning environmentThe perfect learning environmentQuiet, comfortable, warm room

Well ventilated No clutter

Books and files to handNo distractions - TV, music, e mail, phone

Comfortable chair

Spacious deskNo interruptions

Well lit

Other factorsOther factors

Regular routine Regular routine Agreed timescaleAgreed timescale Physical exercise / relaxation / social lifePhysical exercise / relaxation / social life Normal pattern of sleepNormal pattern of sleep Avoid caffeine / chilli – not withdrawalAvoid caffeine / chilli – not withdrawal Healthy eating / waterHealthy eating / water Employment Law (from www.qca.org.uk)Employment Law (from www.qca.org.uk) i) Not before 7am or after 7pmi) Not before 7am or after 7pm ii) Recommended no more than 8 hours in any shiftii) Recommended no more than 8 hours in any shift

iii) Not more than 8 hours per weekiii) Not more than 8 hours per weekiv) Can have a detrimental effect to examsiv) Can have a detrimental effect to exams

Top Tip 2Top Tip 2Organisation and TimetableOrganisation and Timetable

TimetableTimetable

Revision Timetable – Invest time in making a revision Revision Timetable – Invest time in making a revision timetable or wall chart which specifies which revision per timetable or wall chart which specifies which revision per evening/day evening/day

Know what they need to revise – for each subject you need a Know what they need to revise – for each subject you need a list of topicslist of topics

Ensure that other commitments are highlighted & worked Ensure that other commitments are highlighted & worked aroundaround

Plan breaks & social timePlan breaks & social time Ensure that the exams/time & place are shownEnsure that the exams/time & place are shown Display a copy in your kitchen or communal area as well as Display a copy in your kitchen or communal area as well as

the place where your son/daughter studies the place where your son/daughter studies Use ticks to indicate jobs doneUse ticks to indicate jobs done

OrganisationOrganisation

Work space & equipmentWork space & equipment Remove distractions Remove distractions The right equipmentThe right equipment Box with pens/paper/hole punch/ highlighters/ Box with pens/paper/hole punch/ highlighters/

equipmentequipment File for revision notes/dividersFile for revision notes/dividers Box of plain postcardsBox of plain postcards Revision GuidesRevision Guides

Top Tip 3Top Tip 3

ResourcesResources

Internet and WebsitesInternet and Websites

Why use the internet to revise?Why use the internet to revise?

UpdatedUpdated Interesting/eye-catching/motivatingInteresting/eye-catching/motivating Visual/auditory learnersVisual/auditory learners Break up traditional methodsBreak up traditional methods Personalised revision plansPersonalised revision plans Links to exam specificationsLinks to exam specifications

What types of resources are What types of resources are effective?effective?

Past papersPast papers Revision TopicsRevision Topics Summary checklistsSummary checklists Tests/ Question and answersTests/ Question and answers Revision tips/ideasRevision tips/ideas

Practical revisionPractical revision

Plan short blocks of revision and reviewPlan short blocks of revision and review Check what needs to be revisedCheck what needs to be revised Bookmark favourite websitesBookmark favourite websites Write out notes/mind mapsWrite out notes/mind maps www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ www.samlearning.com BS27KO BS27KO Supplement not replace!Supplement not replace!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

http://www.samlearning.com/


Top Tip 4Top Tip 4

SAM LearningSAM Learning

Past PapersPast Papers

SAM Learning?SAM Learning?• SAM – Self Assessment Method• 750,000 students will use SAM 750,000 students will use SAM

Learning this yearLearning this year• Second most “hit site” UK web site Second most “hit site” UK web site

during last Mayduring last May• Used by more than half of all Used by more than half of all

English state secondary schoolsEnglish state secondary schools

SAM Learning at KingsSAM Learning at Kings

After 1 month, students have already put in 700 After 1 month, students have already put in 700 hours of revision and exam practice.hours of revision and exam practice.

Revision exercises for reinforcing basicsRevision exercises for reinforcing basics Exam practice with answers.Exam practice with answers. Link from Link from www.kowessex.co.uk CentreID : BS27KOCentreID : BS27KO Userid: DDMMYYABUserid: DDMMYYAB Password: DDMMYYABPassword: DDMMYYAB

http://www.kowessex.co.uk/

Exam Boards Exam Boards

www.aqa.org.uk www.ocr.org.uk www.edexcel.org.uk

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

http://www.ocr.org.uk/

http://www.edexcel.org.uk/


Top Tip 5Top Tip 5

Revision GuidesRevision Guides

The Kings of Wessex GCSE Revision Guides

English Oxford Revising AQA GCSE English (Peter Buckroyd)Oxford Revising AQA English Literature (Peter Buckroyd)Recommend: Collins Oxford Total Revision Guide.

Mathematics CGP GCSE Mathematics - available to purchase from the Department

Science 2 Lonsdale AQA Science Revision Guides : one for tested Modules, one for terminal exam

Geography CGP GCSE Geography - available to purchase from the Department.

History Collins Total Revision by Chris Cuplin

TECHNOLOGY:Resistant MaterialsFood TechnologyGraphic ProductsChild Development

Recommend: Lonsdale DT Revision GuideCollins Total Revision Guidein-house Revision Guide; Collins Total Revision GuideCollins Total Revision Guidein-house Revision Guide


Top Tip 6Top Tip 6

MemoryMemory

Mind MappingMind Mapping


Left BrainLeft BrainThe left side of the brain controls:The left side of the brain controls:•Verbal abilityVerbal ability•Attention to detailAttention to detail•ReasoningReasoning

Left brained people are good at:Left brained people are good at:•CommunicationCommunication•Persuading othersPersuading others•MathsMaths•LogicLogic

Your left brain prefers reading, quiet and dogsYour left brain prefers reading, quiet and dogs


Right BrainRight BrainThe right side of the brain controls:The right side of the brain controls:•CreativityCreativity•FlexibilityFlexibility

Right brained people are :Right brained people are :•DaringDaring•IntuitiveIntuitive•Creative with writing and artCreative with writing and art

Your right brain prefers day-dreaming, Your right brain prefers day-dreaming, philosophy and sports.philosophy and sports.


Top Tip 7Top Tip 7

MemoryMemory

Note TakingNote Taking


Top Tip 8Top Tip 8

Study BuddyingStudy Buddying

Study BuddyingStudy Buddying

Working with your childWorking with your child Explanation, question and answerExplanation, question and answer Be the studentBe the student TestingTesting

Revising with friendsRevising with friends Ensure the focus is on studying Ensure the focus is on studying Keep promises to one another Keep promises to one another Arrange to have breaks together at particular timesArrange to have breaks together at particular times Act as tutors for each other Act as tutors for each other Ensure the arrangement is equal and beneficial Ensure the arrangement is equal and beneficial Regular rewards for working well are worthwhile Regular rewards for working well are worthwhile


Top Tip 9Top Tip 9

The Day of the ExamThe Day of the Exam


The Day of the ExamThe Day of the Exam

Before the examBefore the exam

Know the exam timetable: KingsNETKnow the exam timetable: KingsNET

KingsWEB KingsWEB >> >> Exam Info & Exam Info & TimetableTimetable

>> >> Combined Summer Combined Summer Schedule 2007Schedule 2007

Ensure that your son/daughter:Ensure that your son/daughter:

Knows Knows wherewhere to be each day to be each day Knows the Knows the start timestart time for each exam for each exam Gets there early: allows Gets there early: allows contingency timecontingency time!! Allows time for Allows time for brain to wake up-brain to wake up-shower!shower! EatsEats breakfast or takes energy rich food breakfast or takes energy rich food Attends Attends the Exam Briefingthe Exam Briefing

Be practical!Be practical!

Encourage a Encourage a normal routinenormal routine for exams for exams

Going to bed and getting up at Going to bed and getting up at sensible sensible timestimes

Be practical!Be practical!

Check your child has all the Check your child has all the correct correct equipmentequipment - including spares - including spares

Plus any Plus any notes or books allowednotes or books allowed in the in the exam in the correct formatexam in the correct format

Remind them to Remind them to use the toiletuse the toilet beforehand! beforehand! Bring Bring waterwater to exam and sip throughout to exam and sip throughout

Calming influenceCalming influence

Keep anxieties at bay. Be reassuring. Keep anxieties at bay. Be reassuring. ““You’ve done the best you can!”You’ve done the best you can!” Remind them of strategies to keep calmRemind them of strategies to keep calm ““It’ll all be over by three!” “It’ll be fine”It’ll all be over by three!” “It’ll be fine” Shelve issues that are not of immediate Shelve issues that are not of immediate

importance!importance! Don’t insist on lengthy post mortemsDon’t insist on lengthy post mortems

Just before the examJust before the exam

Last minute revision?Last minute revision?

Do what’s right for youDo what’s right for you

A moment to yourselfA moment to yourself

During the examDuring the exam

Nervousness is normal – extra adrenaline!Nervousness is normal – extra adrenaline! Deep breaths: Deep breaths: “I can handle this!”“I can handle this!”

Read the instructions AND then through Read the instructions AND then through the the WHOLE PAPERWHOLE PAPER beforebefore picking up pen picking up pen

Write down key formulae, facts, quotesWrite down key formulae, facts, quotes

During the examDuring the exam

Mark the questionsMark the questions you will answer you will answer Stick to the Stick to the time-scaletime-scale for each question for each question Answer the questions you are Answer the questions you are most most

confident about firstconfident about first Allow a few minutes “Allow a few minutes “checking timechecking time” at the ” at the

endend

Don’t make this mistake!Don’t make this mistake!


Top Tip 10Top Tip 10

What the research says?What the research says?

How long should I How long should I revise for?revise for?

How often should I revise?How often should I revise?

How should I revise?How should I revise?

Research shows that you Research shows that you remember the most when:remember the most when:

You revise in short sessions with short breaks in You revise in short sessions with short breaks in betweenbetween

You revisit your revision a number of times over a You revisit your revision a number of times over a period of timeperiod of time

You practice the tasks that you will be required to do You practice the tasks that you will be required to do in your examin your exam

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Www.kowessex.co.uk Ten Top Tips Preparing for GCSEs