Doha College - Year 12 Transition Guide

YEAR 12 TRANSITION GUIDE

Summer 2024

TRANSITION BOOKLET

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Year 12 Transition Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to support you as you embark on an exciting and transformative journey into your final year of high school.

Each subject will have further details of the course and some activities you can complete. The work does not need to be submitted, but there are some great suggestions for further reading and research, which will help boost your super-curricular portfolio.

Ms Sozan Mostafa Head of Arabic, Islamic Studies and Qatar History

Welcome, rising Year 12 students to Arabic A Level.

ARABIC

ARABIC AS LEVEL

Specification — IAL Arabic-specification.pdf

MEDIA LANGUAGE TERM 1 OVERVIEW

Youth matters:

1. Family relationships and friendships

2. Peer pressure and role models

3. Music and fashion

4. Technology and communication

Lifestyle, health, and fitness:

1. Food and diet

2. Sport and exercise

3. Health issues

4. Urban and rural life

n PAST PAPERS Click here

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Ms L Tamburrini Head of Art and Photography

SUMMER TASKS

Google document — Click here

Mr D Crothers Head of Business and Economics

Objective: To provide incoming students with a foundational understanding of key concepts and skills in A Level business, ensuring a smooth transition into the course.

Link to the specification

BUSINESS

Units 1 and 2 will be taught in Year 12 by two different teachers and units 3 and 4 will be taught in Year 13 by two different teachers.

You will have two exams in the summer of Year 12 for your AS qualifications. Again, you will have two exams in the summer of Year 13 for your full A Level qualification.

Course textbook can be found here

Recommended reading list can be found here.

Below is a series of worksheets with interactive links. The focus of these worksheets is the European supermarket, Aldi. By completing the worksheets you will gain an understanding of a variety of topics relating to AS business.

n Worksheet 1

n Worksheet 2

n Worksheet 3

n Worksheet 4

Mr I Mangera Head of Chemistry

CHEMISTRY

Specification: Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level in chemistry Click here

Textbook: Please come and see a member of the chemistry department if you wish to sign out a book to read over the summer.

A Level transition workbook: Click here

Mr R Chowdhury Head of Computer Science

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Transition to A Level computer science workbook Click here.

Syllabus Click here

Mr J Avison

Head of Design and Technology

Exam board: Pearson Edexcel

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

Product design 9DT0 specification Click here.

Topic guide Guide to all the topics covered in A Level: Product design. Click here.

Term 1 pre-reading document

Students can read and answer the questions in the document. This will be covered during the first term of Year 12. Click here.

Potential areas of focus for A Level coursework. Read through the list of potential problems. This can be used by students to pick an area of focus for their A Level coursework. Having an idea of what they could do will put them in a better position moving into Year 12. Click here.

Mr D Crothers Head of Business and Economics

Objective: To provide incoming students with a foundational understanding of key concepts and skills in A-Level Economics, ensuring a smooth transition into the course.

Link to the specification

ECONOMICS

Units 1 and 2 will be taught in Year 12 by two different teachers and units 3 and 4 will be taught in Year 13 by two different teachers.

You will have two exams in the summer of Year 12 for your AS qualifications. Again, you will have two exams in the summer of Year 13 for your the full A Level qualification.

Course textbook can be found here

Recommended reading list can be found here

Below is a series of worksheets with interactive links. The focus of these worksheets is the European supermarket, Aldi. By completing the worksheets you will gain an understanding of a variety of topics relating to AS business.

n Worksheet 1

n Worksheet 2

n Worksheet 3

n Worksheet 4

ENGLISH

Miss D Haddon Head of KS5 English

Year 11 literature - moving into Year 12 Making the leap from GCSE to A Level - Work Booklet.

UNITS

Poems of the DecadeRead the 21 poems we will study here Watch the lecture series on Massolit here

Khaled Hosseini’s ‘The Kite Runner’Get the text from Miss Haddon’s classroom (S2-G23) and read it.

Watch the lecture series on Massolit here

Year 11 language - moving into Year 12 Leaping into language - Work Booklet.

UNITS

Paper 1: Context and IdentityLanguage, Identity and Social Media - massolit course Spoken Language and Identity - massolit course

Paper 2: Language in TransitionA very helpful website from the mid-90s Learn the phonetic alphabet - massolit course Learn about the history of the English language - massolit course

Mrs C Amos Head of Geography

GEOGRAPHY

What can I be doing to prepare for A Level geography at Doha College?

There are a number of things you can do:

n Developing as a geographer – This can be done best by reading geographically themed books and articles, and watching videos/listening to podcasts based on geographical themes. This develops your geography knowledge and understanding.

n Become a news buff - Watch and read the news, e.g. BBC news. Other recommended websites include The Guardian, The Independent and The Times. Having ‘place’ specific understanding of geographical themes will increase your grades significantly. You could create a geography in the News diary of all things that are relevant to what you are studying.

n Preparing for the A Level course - You can start to explore the topics being studied in the AS and A Level course.

To be a great geographer, you will need to develop the ability to think synoptically, being able to see the greater overview and how everything studied in geography links together. Geography is not just about studying people and landscapes, it is also the relationships that exist between people and their environment.

How can I develop as a geographer before August?

REVIEW THE CONTENT OF THE COURSE - Read through the website pages/ topic guides and make flashcards on key terms which you can then use throughout the course to review with (this is all of Unit 1 so even if you do some of it that would be great).

n Unit 1 - Topic 1 - World at Risk | World at Risk Webpages

n Unit 1 - Topic 2 - Going Global | Going Global Topic Guide

READ A GEOGRAPHY THEMED BOOK - check our recommendations here, they are all linked to the course you are studying next year (many of these books are in the school library) link

DO AN ON LINE COURSE - this is great to challenge yourself and to use on university references for how you have gone above and beyond outside the classroom.

n Biodiversity course | https://feeacademy.global/enrol/index.php?id=38

n Variety of geography courses | https://www.coursera.org/ courses?query=geography, https://www.mooc-list.com/tags/geography, https://www.futurelearn.com/courses

WATCH GEOGRAPHY THEMED DOCUMENTARIES AND FILMS

n The Impossible (2012) (12) | Movie based on real life events of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami which killed 200,000 people.

n Our Planet (Netflix series) | Explores how climate change impacts all living creatures.

n Before the Flood | A film presented by Leonardo DiCaprio- exploring climate change and looking at what needs to be done today to prevent catastrophic disruption.

n Blood Diamond | Looks at the diamond trade in Sierra Leone.

n An Inconvenient Truth and An Inconvenient Sequel | follows Al Gore on the lecture circuit as he seeks to raise awareness about climate change.

n Andrew Marrs Megacities | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011qmcl/ episodes/guide

n Trumps War on the Border | https://www.channel4.com/programmes/trumpswar-on-the-border

n Dispatches | https://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/ondemand/67256-001

n Earth from Space | Episode 4 The Changing Planet (BBC iPlayer) | https://www.bbc. co.uk/iplayer/episode/p072n8m0/earth-from-space-series-1-4-changing-planet

n Chasing Coral | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGGBGcjdjXA

VOLUNTEER WORK BASED AROUND GEOGRAPHY - Sustainability themed litter picking, get involved in ECO schools etc. (again great for university applications)

FOLLOW THE NEWS AND READ GEOGRAPHICAL THEMED ARTICLES - You should be regularly watching the news to keep you up-to-date with what is happening in relation to the inter-relationship between people and the environment. You will be really surprised how many of the news bulletins relate to what you are studying.

n BBC NEWS: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news - An excellent source of up-to-date articles- Explore the headings such as Science, UK, WORLD and other stores

n THE GUARDIAN: https://www.theguardian.com/uk - Many useful articles and logically ordered – keep an eye on the environment, science, society, global development stories in particular.

n THE CONVERSATION: https://theconversation.com/uk - Really useful to support many of your A Levels. Up to date articles from academics and specialists in the field written in a way that is accessible to all, summarising the key points in short but insightful articles.

n THE ECONOMIST: https://www.economist.com/ - Useful tool to keep up to date with global issues and politics from a range of sources.

n TWO SUGGESTED ARTICLES - ARTICLE 1, ARTICLE 2

AS COURSE OVERVIEW - Course Overview

Mr D Fish

Head of History

The Pearson Edexcel Level 3

Advanced GCE in history consists of three externally - examined papers and coursework.

HISTORY

You will study the following examined units, sitting a single (linear) exam in May/ June 2024 for each one (the A Level weighting is in brackets):

1. Breadth study with interpretations: 1B: England, 1509–1603: authority, nation and religion (30% of total)

2. Depth study: 2B.1: Luther and the German reformation, c1515–55 (20% of total)

3. Themes in breadth with aspects in depth: 39.1: Civil rights and race relations in the USA, 1850–2009 (30% of total)

4. Coursework: The Cold War (20% of total)

This coming year (Year 12), you will complete your study of the content of the first two units (England, 1509-1603) and Luther & Reformation (1515-55), though assessment for these will continue as appropriate throughout Year 13 (you will have internal assessments in both the autumn and spring terms of Year 13).

At the end of Year 12, you will sit the AS exam for the above units, so that you and your teachers can gauge your progress to date.

The coursework and exams sat in May/June 2025 will form 100% of your final A Level grade - the AS exams DO NOT count towards this.

You will be given everything you need for the course this August; however, please find below the link to the specification, as well as some useful introductory documentaries you can watch and make notes on:

Edexcel AS and A Level history 2015 | Pearson qualifications Click here

VIDEOS

Henry VII. The Winter King HD

Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant Part One with David Starkey

Rick Steves’ Luther and the Reformation

Miss G Stroud Head of European Languages

KS5 French moving in Year 12

Link to the specification

Grammar revision booklet

Language nut revision

LANGUAGES

TERM 1 TOPICS

Youth matters

KS4 Quizlet Revision: describing family and friendships, technology and social media, music preferences, present, past and future tenses, adjectival agreements.

Family relationships and friendships.

Peer pressure and role models.

Music and fashion.

Technology and communication.

Lifestyle, health and fitness

KS4 quizlet revision: food, sports, healthy living advice, illnesses and ailments, describing a town and a region.

Food and diet.

Sport and exercise.

Health issues.

Urban and rural life.

KS5 Spanish moving in Year 12

Link to the specification

Grammar revision booklet

Language nut revision

TERM 1 TOPICS

Youth Matters

KS4 quizlet revision: describing family and friendships, technology and social media, music preferences, present, past and future tenses, adjectival agreements.

Family relationships and friendships.

Peer pressure and role models.

Music and fashion.

Technology and communication.

Lifestyle, health and fitness

KS4 Quizlet Revision: food, sports, healthy living advice, illnesses and ailments, describing a town and a region

Food and diet.

Sport and exercise.

Health issues.

Urban and rural life.

Mrs J Taylor Head of Physical Education (PE)

The following links will provide you with a good understanding of the topics you will cover during your first year.

Link to the specification

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Year 1 course companion:

Click here

Year 1 topics on a page:

Click here

Revision sessions:

Sociocultural: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84AkiKRc6NE

Physiological: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qnY20ezaaQ

Psychological: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryfcUdajPyM

Biomechanics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf9CUHsrKcQ

PHYSICS

Miss H Pardue Head of physics

Transition pack

Click here

Mr

S Bashir Head of KS5 mathematics

MATHEMATICS

Induction booklet/letter to students:

Click here

Specification:

Click here

Dr D Mosher

Head of psychology

For AS (Year 12) we cover clinical/ abnormal psychology and you will choose the second unit from: consumer, organisational and health psychology Link to the specification

PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour in humans and nonhumans. Psychology helps because it can explain why people act the way they do. With this kind of professional insight, a psychologist can help people improve their decision making, stress management, and behaviour based on understanding past behaviour to better predict future behaviour.

Read more

Psychology Approaches

Link to video

Is psychology a science?

Psychology is a science and has been recommended by the Qatar College of Surgeons as a beneficial A Level subject for medical students. Link to video

Careers in psychology

Psychology is a good foundation for any career. It is important to understand human behaviour to make the best decisions.

Click here

Films that have a psychology base:

• Inside Out

• The Blind Side

• Mona Lisa Smile

Miss S Thakur Head of Sociology

Getting familiar with the course and examination structure:

You will be taught topics from two papers during the course of the year. Both papers will be taught by different teachers.

A Level sociology syllabus

SOCIOLOGY

The structure of your examination paper for the end of Year 12 can be found here: MARKING SHEET AS SOCIOLOGY.pdf

AS Level topics

Paper 1 - Socialisation and the creation of social identity

• The process of learning and socialisation.

• Social control, conformity, and resistance.

• Social identity and change.

Methods of research

• Types of data, methods, and research design.

• Approaches to sociological research.

• Research issues.

Paper 2 – The Family

Theories of the family and social change

• Perspectives on the role of the family.

• Diversity and social change.

Family roles and changing relationships

• Gender equality and experiences of family life.

• Age and family life.

Videos:

Research Methods - Link

Jane Elliot Experiment - Link

Harvard Lectures - Link

Books/ studies you can read:

Sociology:

Gang Leader for a Day - Sudhir Venkatesh - Link

Stanford Prison Experiment - Philip Zimbardo - Link

Glasgow Gang - James Patrick - James Patrick - Link

Black Like Me - John Howard Griffin

History/economics

Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harrari

Freakonomics - Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Natives - Akala

English literature:

1984 - George Orwell

The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Psychology

Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kaheneman

Marshmallow Test - Walter Mischel

Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl

Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View by Stanley Milgram

Mrs S Kiernan Webb Head of Media

Welcome, rising Year 12 students, to media A Level!

MEDIA

Prepare to dive into the fascinating world of media studies and embark on a journey of discovery. In this course, we will focus on four key concepts: LIAR, representing media Llanguage, industry, audience, and representation.

Media Language encompasses the codes and techniques used in various media forms to convey messages effectively. Understanding these elements enables us to uncover hidden meanings within media texts.

Industry explores the institutions and individuals involved in media production, distribution, and consumption. By studying the industry, you will gain insights into its structures, practices, and economic considerations.

Audience plays a pivotal role in shaping media content and its reception. By examining the relationship between media and audience, you will understand how media influences and is influenced by viewers, listeners, and readers.

Representation investigates how individuals and groups are portrayed in media texts. You will analyse how media constructs social identities and explore issues of power, identity, and social justice.

Prepare for an intellectual adventure where we unravel the layers of meaning, dissect the media industry, challenge representation, and empower you to navigate the power of media.

Getting started:

Over the summer you can prepare yourself for the course by completing the following:

n Explore our class website here. You will find our course handbook, specification and example work.

n Explore past Year 12’s portfolios here

n Media Magazine is our go to resource for everything in media. Explore past editions here

n Listen to the Media Mag Podcast here. This will introduce you to key terms we use in media.

n Complete the following activities from our Leap into Media inspirational tasks for Year 11-12. I suggest you complete the following:

Task 1 : Deconstructing a Newspaper Front Page: Ownership and Bias

Task 5 : Long Form TV Drama: Genre, Character, and Narrative

Task 10 : Theory: The Impact of Hegemony on the Media you Consume

Practical project: A Day in the Life

For your small media practical film project over the summer, we invite you to create a short film titled "A Day in the Life." This project will provide you with an opportunity to apply your creative skills, explore different aspects of filmmaking, and showcase your unique perspective on the world around you.

Instructions:

1. Choose a single day during your summer break to document through film. It could be a typical day, a special event, or a memorable experience.

2. Plan your shots and sequences in advance. Consider the visual composition, camera angles, and lighting to convey the atmosphere and emotions of the day effectively.

3. Capture various moments throughout the day, focusing on the people, places, and activities that make it unique. You can include family members, friends, nature, community events, or anything else that captures the essence of the day.

4. Experiment with different filmmaking techniques such as time-lapse, slow motion, or creative editing to add visual interest and enhance the storytelling.

5. Pay attention to sound. Capture ambient sounds, dialogue, or add background music to enhance the mood and immerse the viewer in the experience.

6. Aim for a final film duration of 2 to 4 minutes. Select the most compelling shots and edit them together to create a cohesive and engaging narrative.

7. Use video editing software of your choice to edit your footage, add transitions, titles, and any necessary effects. Ensure a smooth flow between scenes and maintain a consistent tone throughout the film.

8. Upon completion, share your film with your classmates and instructors. Consider organizing a small screening or uploading it to a video-sharing platform to showcase your work.

Remember, this project is an opportunity to explore your creativity and experiment with different filmmaking techniques. Have fun, and let your unique perspective shine through "A Day in the Life" film.

Explore your subject beyond the syllabus –super-curricular activities.

Careers and University Guidance

If you want to make a competitive university application in 2025, then you should be considering how you can take the subjects you study further, beyond which your teacher has taught you.

You can explore your subject in many ways, for example, by reading, as well as watching videos online, visiting museums, entering academic competitions, watching lectures, listening to podcasts, leading a CCA, completing MOOCs etc.

This is not just a list of activities, this is you demonstrating your interest and motivation in the subject that you want to study to a potential university.

Below are some suggested resources – these are not limited to Oxbridge candidates, instead they will give you some ideas on how you can take your exploration beyond the syllabus.

n University College Oxford | see this link

n The Worcester College Guide to Supercurriculars | see this link

n University of Oxford | see this link

n University of Cambridge | see this link

n University of Cambridge | see this link

n Supercurricular Activities | see this link

If you are looking for a MOOC, you can use your Unifrog account to sign up for these.