Agenda – GCSE Guide to Study
Commitment required from pupils What is effective learning? How to train your brain What do you do now? How do you manage your time? Time management tools and strategies What is revision? The three steps to successful revision Getting Organised Some revision techniques Using past papers
Commitment required from pupils
Respect your ability and have HIGH expectations (at least 7 GCSEs A* - C).
STUDY – 12 hours per week is required. Extra-curricular – ENJOY – but study must
come first! Exams the priority! No part time jobs or
holidays during school time. Easter should be for revision. Balance your social life with study – your
future will be determined by the quality of your GCSE grades
What is “effective learning”?
Learning occurs through the brain in making
its own meaning, its own sense of things
What ‘type’ of learner are YOU?
TODAY FUTURE
To be successful at GCSE level you can not just be a Surface learner
How do you train your brain?
Key Principles:Key Principles:Recognise relationships across a range of
sources and experiencesConcept formation depends upon what you
do in your head (THINK about it!)Pattern recognition (connections) depends
upon your experience: some ‘get it’ quicker than others. (learn from others and different sources)
(1) Recognise relationships
Try same concept from different angles in different ways: don’t just rote learn
Draw it, mime it, speak it, chart it, say it, sing it, demonstrate it, model it, list it, dance it, write it – DON’T JUST READ IT
(2) Help you to THINK
Work things out for yourselfArticulate ‘draft’ ideas – talk ideas through,
ask stupid questionsUse ‘trial and error’ as a learning strategyDon’t rely on ready made meanings and
notes – key word defns, mind maps, sketches, storyboards
“Intelligent behaviour is knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do”
“Humans never really understand or learn something until they can create a personal
model”
(3) Build experience
Learn from feedback – the brain is geared for feedback.
Research from different sources – textbooks, internet, CDs, TV programmes
Practice questions (on your own), write definitions over and over, repeat tests
How to remember things
The strength of a memory and how easily it is retrieved depends upon the strength of the initial input
When several senses are simultaneously involved the message is received through a number of channels in the brain and stand better chance of remaining prominent
How do you manage your time?
Introducing five time management ‘types’
…… which one fits your approach to time management the best…..????
1. The Fireman
For YOU, every event is a crisis.
You're so busy putting out fires that you have no time to deal with anything else (especially the boring, mundane things such as time management).
Tasks pile up around you while you rush from fire to fire all day.
Tasks pile up around you while you rush from fire to fire all day.
2. The ‘Over-committer’
Your problem is you can't say 'No'.
All anyone has to do is ask, and you'll chair another committee, take on another project, or head out for an event…that you don’t really want to go to.
You're so busy you don't even have time to write down all the things you do!
You're so busy you don't even have time to write down all the things you do!
3. The ‘No worry’er
YOU need to realise there is such as thing as being too "laid-back"
- especially when it starts interfering with your ability to finish tasks or bother to do any homework (and ultimately affecting your grades!)
Getting to things when you get to them isn't time management; it's simple task avoidance.
Getting to things when you get to them isn't time management; it's simple task avoidance.
4. The Socialiser
You are born to socialise
You have astounding oral communication skills and can't resist exercising them at every opportunity.
Every interaction becomes a long drawn out conversation - especially if there's an unpleasant task dawning that you'd like to put off
Every interaction becomes a long drawn out conversation - especially if there's an unpleasant task dawning that you'd like to put off
5. The Perfectionist
You have a compulsion to cross all the "t's" and dot all the "i's", preferably with elaborate whorls and curlicues., and you feel that no rushed job can be a good job.
Exactitude is your watchword
Finishing tasks to your satisfaction is such a problem you need more time zones, not just more time.
Finishing tasks to your satisfaction is such a problem you need more time zones, not just more time.
Time Management is a myth
You can’t manage time –
there is only ever 24 hrs
in the day.
You need to manage yourself and how
you use the time available
You need to manage yourself and how
you use the time available
(1) Year or term calendar
Download from the internetYou can plan in terms of weeks and see
how much time you have leftHelps you plan ahead for key events
Start revision for mock exams at sensible time
Christmas holidays and Module 1 exams
(3) Daily ‘to do’ list
Keep track of what you need to do
Remember everything and prioritise tasks on a daily basis
Start with those tasks that are the most important and/or the most complex
Time management strategies
Some things to think about…You work best in daylight – make the most of
independent studyAre part time jobs the best use of your time
(weekends only?)Get enough sleepExercise is good for your brainGet a good routine
What is revision?
“The looking back over of one's (previously learnt or written) notes in preparation
for a test or examination”
“The looking back over of one's (previously learnt or written) notes in preparation
for a test or examination”
1. Get Organised
Research suggests that some students do better than others at A levels because they:
• Start their revision earlier• use better techniques for learning work• Get help from others • have a planned revision timetable - which they stick to
1. Get Organised
Work out where you are going to workWhen you are going to work (yes, that
weekly schedule again!!)Start early (6 weeks before your exam!)Get all the notes/textbooks/revision
guides you need BEFORE you startGet your ‘revision pack’ ready - highlighter
pens, coloured pens / pencils, index cards, folders, stickynotes, paper, coloured paper, ruler and rubber
How to start your revision timetable
1. Get a copy of the specification (you should have this already, but if not you can get one from www.ccea.org.uk or www.aqa.org.uk
2. Work through the specification and colour the different topics/sections:
RED –
AMBER -
Really not sure (will need to spend a lot of time)
Not too bad, some parts to go over
GREEN - Understand no problem
3. Plan to Spend more time on Red topics than Amber, than Green
How to start your revision timetable
4. Factor in time to revise each topic at least twice
5. You learn best at the beginning and the end of a revision session – so allow planned 5/10 minute (timed) breaks
Start with the ‘helicopter’ view
Stand back from the course and develop an overview
Link topics and themes together – draw a spider diagram or mind map
Identify the specific aspects of each topic you are not sure about – start with these
How to remember things
The strength of a memory and how easily it is retrieved depends upon the strength of the initial input
When several senses are simultaneously involved the message is received through a number of channels in the brain and stand better chance of remaining prominent
Key Principles
Use colours – different colours for different subjects
Don’t rely on ready-made meanings and notes – you have to understand it
Use many different inputs and methods – your notes, different textbooks, internet (reliable sources)
Revision Techniques
- Questions and answers- Consolidate key facts- List of key definitions- Summarise a topic into your own words
(1) Flash Cards (Coloured)
Try and consolidate each subject down to 10 cards. Then go over and over them.
Revision Techniques
(3) Display key facts where you will see them- Write out key definitions or important words.
- Every time you see them think about what they say
- Change the facts every couple of days
Revision Techniques
(4) Explain a key concept to someone
-When you explain something to some one else, you have to get it clear in your head first
- You have to be clear and concise
Revision Techniques
(5) Location Learning
Associate key facts with locations (e.g. Journey into school.
Getting into car represents electrons leaving the battery having gained energy.........driving down the park represents the electrons transfering energy to a lamp in the circuit.....