Year 10

GCSE English Literature

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• 2 exams – Monday 18th and Friday 22nd May

• 1 controlled assessment

• Unit 1 Exam – Exploring Modern Texts 40%

• Unit 2 Exam – Poetry Across Time 35%

• Unit 3 Controlled Assessment – Shakespeare

and the English Literary Heritage 25%

Controlled Assessment – 25%

Compare the ways Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are presented as ambitious but flawed characters.

Students must demonstrate understanding of the writers’ ideas, effects of language and structure, links between the texts and significance of context.

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AQA GCSE English Literature

Unit 1 – Section A

• An Inspector Calls

• A choice of 2 questions – candidates complete

one essay

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AQA GCSE English Literature

Example questions:

• An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a play of contrasts’.

Write about how Priestley presents some of the

contrasts in the play.

Or

• In the opening of the play, how does Miller seek to create

an atmosphere of hysteria and tension? Do you find the

opening effective?

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AQA GCSE English Literature

Unit 1 – Section B

• Of Mice and Men or Purple Hibiscus

• One question – candidates answer part a and

part b

• Part a – close analysis of a passage of the text

• Part b – linking to the rest of the text and the

context

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AQA GCSE English Literature

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Example question:

• Part (a) In this passage, how does Steinbeck introduce

the relationship between George and Lennie? Refer

closely to details from the passage in your response.

• Part (b) In the rest of the novel, how does Steinbeck

present ideas about relationships on a ranch at the time

the novel is set?

AQA GCSE English Literature

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AQA GCSE English Literature

Unit 1 Exam

Students must respond to the text and the

task, use quotations to support their

interpretations, comment on the effects of

language and structure, and explore the

writers’ ideas.

Unit 2 – Section A

• Conflict Poetry (Moon on the Tides Anthology)

• A choice of 2 questions – candidates complete 1 essay

• Students compare two poems – one is named and the other

is the student’s choice

For example:

• Compare how poets present the

• experience of Soldiers in ‘Bayonet Charge’

• and one other poem from Conflict.

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AQA GCSE English Literature

Unit 2 – Section B

• Unseen Poetry

• One question – candidates respond to an unseen,

untaught poem from one of the following poets:

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AQA GCSE English Literature

William Blake John Keats Thomas Hardy Christina Rossetti W.H. Auden

Robert Frost Wilfred Owen Dorothy Parker Maya Angelou Wendy Cope

Tony Harrison Jo Shapcott Sophie Hannah Owen Sheers Brian Patten

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AQA GCSE English Literature

Unit 2 Exam

Students must respond to the text, use

quotations to support their interpretations,

comment on the effects of language and

structure, explore the writers’ ideas and

compare writers’ ideas and use of techniques

in two poems.

• Re-read each text at least once

• Study Guides are available in online and print versions: these

include Philip Allan guides, CGP, York Notes

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AQA GCSE English Literature

Revision Tips

• Create index cards for each poem, for different themes in

the play and novel and for each character (with key quotes)

• Research the context of each text and make notes

• Research the author/poet/playwright and make notes

• Complete practice questions – available on the AQA

website.

• Read a range of poetry from the 15 named poets and

practise the ‘Unseen Poetry’ skills

• Use BBC Bitesize for clips, interpretations and contextual

information

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AQA GCSE English Literature

Revision Tips

Where next?

• Controlled Assessment completed this term in lessons then

lesson time will be used for exam preparation.

• Weekly Homework to prepare students for the Unseen Poetry

section of the Unit 2 exam.

• Mock exams to monitor progress

• Updates on the blog, Facebook and Twitter to support revision

• Revision sessions after school before the exams

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How can you help?

• Monitor your son/daughter’s controlled assessment mark

through discussion with them

• Encourage reading

• Read parts of the texts together

• Support your son/daughter to create and stick to a

revision timetable

• Allow your son/daughter to teach you

• Please feel free to contact me or your son/daughter’s

English teacher for any more advice; please use the

contact details on the website

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GCSE Mathematics

What you need to know!

GCSE

Mathematics

GCSE Mathematics

Students are entered at either

• Higher Tier (grades A*-D)

• Foundation Tier (grades C-G)

Student will sit 2 examinations:

Paper 1 is non calculator

Paper 2 is calculator allowed

There is no controlled assessment in Mathematics.

Grades are based on an examination result only.

Foundation Tier Maths (Y10)

The following topics will have been studied by the end of Year 10

with the rest of the course being covered in Year 11.

Measurement Fractions Coordinates Statistics

Angles Percentages Graphs Probability

2D shape Area Transformations Expressions

Sequences Perimeter Using a Calculator Ratio

Equations Circles 3D shapes Loci

Higher Tier Maths (Y10)

The following topics will have been studied by the end of Year 10

with the rest of the course being covered in Year 11

Equations Inequalities Sequences Working with data

Graphs Shapes Calculator efficiency Quadratic Eq.

Angles Loci Travel graphs Circle Theorems

Pythagoras Ratio Trigonometry Proportion

Circles Percentages Simultaneous Eq. Transformations

How can you support your child

in Maths?

• Talk about maths at home e.g. wages, tax, energy bills, car

milometer, speed...

• Make sure they have a calculator and bring it to school (We

recommend a CASIO)

• Check basic skills e.g. times tables, simple fractions,

percentages

• Revision guides are available from the Maths Dept

• Check assessment results with students

• Ensure all homework is completed and help is sought from a

Maths teacher if required.

• Use Mymaths.co.uk together for revision and not just for

homework.

mymaths.co.uk

LOGIN: Southam PASSWORD: divide

Students then have their own login

and password which is used to access homework and record their

scores.

mymaths.co.uk

mymaths.co.uk

mymaths.co.uk

.... and finally

Please don’t say to your child....

“I can’t do Maths!”

They will believe you and think its ok to not to be able to “do

Maths” !

Science at Southam

25

Thoughts and advice

from the Science

Department

Jim Eltringham

Head of Science

Rob Holt

KS4 Science Co-ordinator

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“Hey, wait a minute! This is

Grass! We’ve been eating

grass!”

Having the right

information is vital…

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• GCSE Science & Additional Science

“Double Science”

• GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics

“Triple Science”

• Resources available and revision advice

Tonight we will cover

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• GCSE OCR Gateway Science Suite – Science B

• GCSE OCR Gateway Science Suite – Additional Science B

GCSE Science &

Additional Science

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GCSE OCR

Gateway Science B

B1, C1, P1 (35%)

B2,C2,P2 (40%)

Controlled Assessment

(25%)

Course Outline

Science B

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GCSE OCR Gateway Additional Science B

B3, C3, P3 (35%)

B4,C4,P4 (40%)

Controlled Assessment

(25%)

Course Outline

Additional Science B

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External Assessment

• Science B (Year 10):

• B1, C1, P1 – 75 minutes Wednesday 20th May 2015 PM

• B2, C2, P2 – 90 minutes Friday 5th June 2015 PM

• Controlled Assessment – Completed at the end of year 9

• Additional Science B (Year 11):

• B3, C3, P3 – 75 minutes Summer 2016

• B4, C4, P4 – 90 minutes Summer 2016

• Controlled Assessment – To be completed by the end of year 10

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• GCSE OCR Gateway Science Suite – Biology B

• GCSE OCR Gateway Science Suite – Chemistry B

• GCSE OCR Gateway Science Suite – Physics B

GCSE Biology, Chemistry

& Physics

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GCSE OCR Gateway Biology

Science B

B1, B2, B3 (35%)

B4, B5, B6 (40%)

Controlled Assessment

(25%)

Course Outline

Biology B

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GCSE OCR Gateway

Chemistry Science B

C1, C2, C3 (35%)

C4, C5, C6 (40%)

Controlled Assessment

(25%)

Course Outline

Chemistry B

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GCSE OCR Gateway Physics

Science B

P1, P2, P3 (35%)

P4, P5, P6 (40%)

Controlled Assessment

(25%)

Course Outline

Chemistry B

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External Assessment

• Biology • B1, B2, B3 – 75 minutes Summer 2016

• B4, B5, B6 – 90 minutes Summer 2016

• Controlled Assessment - To be completed by the end of year 10

• Chemistry • B1, B2, B3 – 75 minutes Summer 2016

• B4, B5, B6 – 90 minutes Summer 2016

• Controlled Assessment - To be completed by the end of year 10

• Physics • B1, B2, B3 – 75 minutes Summer 2016

• B4, B5, B6 – 90 minutes Summer 2016

• Controlled Assessment - To be completed by the end of year 10

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Resources available

Past papers

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Resources available

Past papers

• When selecting a past paper make sure you select GCSE

OCR Gateway Science Suite from 2012 (J26_)

• Not 21st Century

• Not legacy qualification

• Not from 2011

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Resources available

BBC Bitesize

• www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/GCSE/Science

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Resources available

From School

• Text books

• Revision guides

• Revision cards

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Revision Advice

1. Learn the mark scheme, eat your meal, then try the question.

2. Keep a score chart of how you do in exam questions.

3. Reward yourself once you get, say, 50 marks.

4. Make up your own exam questions.

5. Look at questions from other boards and work out if they are

relevant to you.

6. Write your answers on the back of an envelope to save on

printing.

7. Print off and carry questions with you in case you have time.

8. Bring tricky questions and answers in to discuss with one of

us. See if you can catch us out!

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Parting Thoughts:

Who would you rather be?

I’ve already done a

question like this

before twice. I need

to remember units!

Which way up

does this go?

Science at Southam

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Thank you

Jim Eltringham

Head of Science

Rob Holt

KS4 Science Co-ordinator