Upper School Examination Advice
EXAM ADVICE
Why this guide? This guide has been put together to help you prepare for the exams that you will be facing as you go through this year. This guide has all the details you will need to get yourself prepared for the exams, both the mock exams and the real GCSE/IGCSE exams in the summer; there is a separate Upper School Revision Guide that has lots of information and ideas on revision strategies and techniques to help you prepare in the best way possible.
Why do we do mock exams? We do mock exams for a range of different reasons including: ✴ To improve upon what you did in the Fourth Year Exam and move your grades up. Look at your Fourth Year Summer Report Targets, Fifth Year Autumn Report Targets and subject feedback so you know what to focus on. ✴ For your teachers to predict your GCSE grades – these will then be used by any colleges or course you apply for so, yes, they are important! ✴ To identify what you need to work on for your final exams. ✴ A chance for you to practice your exam technique so you don’t mess anything up with the real things in the summer.
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Upper School Examination Advice
Individual Subject Guidance You have been given lots of advice by your individual subject teachers. They have tried to help you by compiling a lot of this advice in one place. If you are still not sure, or need further guidance make sure you are: • looking at the subject specific advice given in your lessons • using the school website for further information • asking your class teachers when you have the opportunity Art The GCSE Art Exam can be issued from the 1st January so you will be already aware of the pressure and time management needed especially so soon after your other mock examinations. The Art exam is effectively another piece of coursework so you will be well prepared for it. You will get a guide to our deadlines and how best to prepare on Parents’ Evening in February.
Biology Biology IGCSE - One paper of 1 hour 30 minutes. Ruler, pencil and calculator needed in addition to black pen. Content covers all 3rd and 4th year and up to 5.2 with the exception of natural selection - syllabus sheets if lost are available here (biology section of school website). Your teacher will give you one set of past paper questions, your priority should be learning the content.
Chemistry Chemistry IGCSE will be one paper of 1 hour 30 minutes duration. You will need a pen, pencil, ruler and a calculator. The content will cover every topic from Third Year, up to the end of the Redox topic. There are many past papers and mark schemes on the school website in the Chemistry section. This should give you an idea of the style of questions set at examination level. This section of the website also provides you with excellent array of mind maps that provide an overview of each topic.
Classical Civilisation Athens 45 minutes of examination, including time for one context question out of three (15 mins and no more) and one essay out of two (30 minutes). This is last year’s topic, so notes should all be already complete for both the context and the essay part. Now they just need to be revised a lot and timing discipline must be maintained in the examination. http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
Sparta 45 minutes of examination with three short answer questions and one longer essay. Use the revision packs provided as well as completing the supplied past papers. Remember that you need to know the Greek terms.
Computing Written paper. 1 ½ hours. Revision booklets will be issued - see past papers for examples of questions. More.
Design and Technology Product Design Design task: Promotional packaging for a drinks container. Skills for this section: Methods of gathering information about people’s opinions Understand specification Understand the requirements for packaging design including the need for information for customers Draw a creative design idea that fit the brief including construction detail Knowledge of packaging materials Primary processing of suitable packaging material from raw form to workable material Finishes that can be applied to packaging materials Textiles Technology Design task: Science and Technology Electronic components Fashionable clothing Be able to design two different garments which include the use of some electronic components and/or smart materials, and are linked in inspiration to the theme of ‘Science and Technology’. Designs and annotation should also include: Knowledge of fabrics and fibres (Modern materials can also be included), a variety of suitable decorative techniques, construction techniques and show a good use of colour.
http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
Economics Paper 1 (multiple-choice) 45 minutes 30 questions covering all topics studied to date on the course. This paper will be completed in the first lesson after the mock examinations. You will need to bring a soft pencil (HB or B) and a clean eraser. This paper will make up 30% of your final mark. Paper 2 (structured questions) 1 hour 30 minutes Section A: a compulsory data response question Section B: 2 structured questions to be answered from a choice of 4 questions.
English Language (2hours 15 mins). Section A
Reading non-fiction texts - 1hour 15 mins.
• Revise by reading a newspaper article every day. • Print off an article – highlight and annotate topic sentences and “wow” words and language features. • Annotate headlines and pictures – focus on details – annotate for effects and suggested ideas. • Compare how presentational features are used in two different texts. • Practise writing PEEL paragraphs from your annotations. Section B Writing – 1 hour Q5 25 minutes
16 marks
Write to: INFORM, EXPLAIN, OR DESCRIBE Format: LETTER, SCRIPT, ARTICLE, WEBSITE, LEAFLET, etc Remember to create a plan – tree map One point = one paragraph – use topic sentences Correct layout for letter or script Headline for article Proof read for punctuation, paragraphs and spelling. Q6 35 minutes
24 marks
Write to: ARGUE OR PERSUADE Format: LETTER, ARTICLE, LEAFLET, etc Remember to create a plan – tree map One point = one paragraph – use topic sentences Correct layout for letter Headline for article Use AFOREST language features Proof read for punctuation, paragraphs and spelling. http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
English Literature In your mock exams you will be sitting Paper 1 only (paper 2 poetry will be next term when we have finished the syllabus) Section A modern drama text (45 mins) ‘An inspector calls’ Section B Exploring cultures (The novel) 45 mins ‘Of Mice and Men’
French All classes will all be sitting the Edexcel International GCSE in French Paper 1 Listening (40 minutes + 5 minutes reading time) (tips) • You will sit the listening examination in your classroom with your teacher. • Make sure you listen carefully and look ahead to the next question to prepare yourself for the kind of language you need to listen out for. • When writing in French, make sure you conjugate your verbs and that your spelling is accurate. The examiner must understand what you have written to award the mark.
Paper 2 1½ hours Reading and Writing (tips) • You should ensure that you read all the questions carefully making sure that you leave no questions blank. • Remember you will get no marks for simply copying/lifting phrases from the text when you write your 50 word paragraph for question 3b. • For the harder Reading Comprehension questions, check your verb endings. Does your answer make sense? The quality of your French matters! Have you answered the question? • The essay question (6) is very important. Remember to do the following: • Four paragraphs (one per bullet point). • Write every other line (so that you can add to your work if necessary and so that your work is clear and legible) • You must include a variety of tenses (past, present, future - minimum) • To access the top grades you must give lots of good phrases, complex language structures (if clauses/ subjunctive/ conditional/ imperfect). • You must give lots of opinion phrases. Use a variety and avoid repeating the same ones.
http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
Paper 3 Speaking Examination You start this examination with your one minute presentation on your photo and then the follow up conversation (3 minutes). Remember the following: • Arrive with your own copy of the photo • Be prepared to describe everything in the picture • Be able to say what you did before the picture was taken and what you did after the picture was taken • Be able to comment on the people in the picture • Be able to comment on the weather • Be prepared for the general questions on holidays (see kesmoodle and your class notes).
The second part of the conversation will be on two of the conversation topics. Short answers will not allow you to access the top grades. (See the mark scheme). See kesmoodle for the questions. You must: • Demonstrate that you can use a variety of tenses (past, present, future, conditional) • Demonstrate that you can manipulate the language accurately. • Respond readily and develop your answers using good opinion phrases and a variety of vocabulary. General revision tips • Vocabulary revision - use Vocab Express/use the pink IGCSE booklets- look through Expo • This is Language - great to prepare for the listening paper and great for vocabulary • Use Kesmoodle - this has extra resources, practice writing questions, links to good websites for revision. Geography Geography Paper 1 1 hour and 30 minutes Answer one question from each Section (A, B & C) - 3 questions in total Topics: Everything you have covered since the beginning of the Fourth Year. Click here for the list of everything you have covered (Geography - Course Information - IGCSE Teaching Plan). Essential Equipment: Pen, spare pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, protractor, calculator Revision tips: • Use past papers available on the school website here (Geography - Student Resources - Past Examination Papers - IGCSE Examination Papers)
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Upper School Examination Advice
• Use revision documents available on the school website here (Geography - Student Resources - Revision Documents) • Use your core textbook • Complete active revision e.g. making mind maps, flash cards, mnemonics, podcasts, revision note book. Anything you make now can be used again in the summer and that will save you lots of time!
German All classes will all be sitting the Edexcel International GCSE in German Paper 1 Listening (40 minutes + 5 minutes reading time) (tips) • You will sit the listening examination in your classroom with your teacher. • Make sure you listen carefully and look ahead to the next question to prepare yourself for the kind of language you need to listen out for. • When writing in German, make sure you conjugate your verbs and that your spelling is accurate. The examiner must understand what you have written to award the mark. Paper 2 ½ hours Reading and Writing (tips) • You should ensure that you read all the questions carefully making sure that you leave no questions blank. • Remember you will get no marks for simply copying/lifting phrases from the text when you write your 50 word paragraph for question 3b. • For the harder Reading Comprehension questions, check your verb endings. Does your answer make sense? The quality of your German matters! Have you answered the question? • The essay question (6) is very important. Remember to do the following: • Four paragraphs (one per bullet point). • Write every other line (so that you can add to your work if necessary and so that your work is clear and legible) • You must include a variety of tenses (past, present, future - minimum) • To access the top grades you must give lots of good phrases, complex language structures (if clauses/ subjunctive/ conditional/ imperfect). • You must give lots of opinion phrases. Use a variety and avoid repeating the same ones.
Paper 3 Speaking Examination • You start this examination with your one minute presentation on your photo and then the follow up conversation (3 minutes). Remember the following:
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Upper School Examination Advice
• Arrive with your own copy of the photo • Be prepared to describe everything in the picture • Be able to say what you did before the picture was taken and what you did after the picture was taken • Be able to comment on the people in the picture • Be able to comment on the weather • Be prepared for the general questions on holidays (see kesmoodle and your class notes). The second part of the conversation will be on two of the conversation topics. Short answers will not allow you to access the top grades. (See the mark scheme). • You must: • Demonstrate that you can use a variety of tenses (past, present, future, conditional) • Demonstrate that you can manipulate the language accurately. • Respond readily and develop your answers using good opinion phrases and a variety of vocabulary. General revision tips • Vocabulary revision - use Vocab Express/use the IGCSE booklets- look through relevant sections of your textbook. • This is Language - great to prepare for the listening paper and great for vocabulary
History Your exam will be 1.5 hours long and will be in two sections. Both sections will ask questions on the Germany 1918-45 topic. You must revise all of this for the exam. Section A will give you a choice of two 40 mark questions on the topic of Germany 1918-45 . You will have to do one of these. Remember the need to develop your analytical points here by making clear what the significance of different factors was. Section B will contain one six mark question and one ten mark question on the Germany 1918-45 topic. You will have to answer both and there will be no choice. What topics do you need to revise? • Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start? Focus Points • How did Germany emerge from defeat at the end of the First World War? • What was the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the Republic?
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Upper School Examination Advice
• To what extent did the Republic recover after 1923? • What were the achievements of the Weimar period? • Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934? Focus Points • What did the Nazi Party stand for in the 1920s? • Why did the Nazis have little success before 1930? • Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor by 1933? • How did Hitler consolidate his power in 1933–4? • The Nazi regime How effectively did the Nazis control over Germany, 1933–45? Focus Points • How much opposition was there to the Nazi regime? • How effectively did the Nazis deal with their political opponents? • How did the Nazis use culture and the mass media to control the people? • Why did the Nazis persecute many groups in German society? • Was Nazi Germany a totalitarian state? What was it like to live in Nazi Germany? Focus Points • How did young people react to the Nazi regime? • How successful were Nazi policies towards women and the family? • Did most people in Germany benefit from Nazi rule? • How did the coming of war change life in Nazi Germany? Specified Content Weimar: • The Revolution of 1918 and the establishment of the Republic • The Versailles Settlement and German reactions to it • The Weimar constitution, the main political divisions, the role of the army • Political disorder, 1919–23: o economic crises and hyper-inflation o the occupation of the Ruhr • The Stresemann era • Cultural achievements of the Weimar period. The early years of the Nazi Party: • Nazi ideas and methods • the Munich Putsch • the roles of Hitler and other Nazi leaders
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Upper School Examination Advice
The impact of the Depression on Germany: • political, economic and social crisis of 1930–3 • reasons for the Nazis’ rise to power • Hitler takes power • the Reichstag Fire and the election of 1933 Nazi rule in Germany: • the Enabling Act • the Night of the Long Knives • the death of Hindenburg • the removal of opposition • methods of control and repression • use of culture and the mass media • Nazi Economic policy including rearmament • Different experiences of Nazi rule: o women and young people o anti-Semitism o persecution of minorities o opposition to Nazi rule. The Impact of the Second World War on Germany: • the conversion to war economy • the Final Solution.
Italian AQA Italian GCSE As you know you will need to be preparing for your Speaking Controlled Assessment over the holidays. This is the one exam which is a real one. To do your best in this you must: • Address ALL bullet points, I will ask you each one in turn. • Remember you only have 4-6 minutes in total, so time yourself carefully, making sure that your best phrases are clear and within the time limit. • Use all your resource material to carefully prepare answers which are as accurate as possible. (Don’t forget your Amici booklet). • Make sure that you have prepared answers using different tenses. • Make sure you satisfy what the examiners are looking for in a top level speaking exam. See here to remind yourself of the speaking mark scheme (pages 10of15 to 13of15). http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
• Practise as much as possible within your 6 hour preparation time limit to ensure fluency and clarity. This will help your confidence on the day. Your other papers are Reading and Listening. For these you should revise vocabulary from the different topic areas, and read the questions very carefully! Latin •
Language Work: Make sure you know the GCSE vocabulary list thoroughly. There will be no English to Latin questions on the mock paper. Use the translations in the back of John Taylor’s “Essential GCSE Latin” for practice if you so wish (page 169 onwards). Make sure you know all of the noun and verb endings and the grammar which is listed on the sheet you were given called Appendix B. If you cannot find it is on pages 24-25 of the specification which can be found here: http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/ latin/eduqas-gcse-latin-spec-from-2016.pdf?language_id=1
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Literature: Fully revise the set text literature in your “Day at the Races” booklet, ensuring that you know and understand both the translation and the notes. You will NOT be tested on “Echo and Narcissus”.
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If you have any questions or practice answers you need marking please contact Mrs Meredith on jmm@kes.hants.sch.uk
Maths All Sets Mathematics IGCSE Paper - Higher Tier (3H & 4H) One paper of 1 hour 30 minutes. Calculators allowed. Revision material and past papers will be provided by teachers. Additional resources are available on the website under Mathematics/Student Resources. http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/ mathematics/student-resources The scheme of work is also available on the website under Mathematics/Course Information. This lists all topics to be tested. http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/mathematics/course-information/ 4th-year Sets 1 & 2 FSMQ Additional Mathematics (OCR) One paper of 1 hour 30 minutes taken only by pupils in sets 1 and 2 in addition to the previous IGCSE paper. Calculators allowed. Topics will be tested from Section 1 - Algebra and Section 2 - Coordinate Geometry.
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Upper School Examination Advice
Music Use your printed fact sheets and the resources on the Music Department website to prepare for the individual topics of the listening examination.
Religion, Philosophy and Ethics Religion, Philosophy and Ethics- AQA Religious Studies Full Course 8062 The examination in January will be 90 minutes long. You will have to answer questions on Christian beliefs, Relationships and Muslim beliefs. Each of those questions will take 25 minutes each. There will then be an additional 12-mark question, taking 15 minutes to answer. This will be on Christian practices. Each topic will have a set of questions, which follow the same format: ●
Five parts to the question.
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1, 2, 4, 5 and 12mks= 24 marks in total
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1, 2, 4, 5 = AO1 (testing knowledge and understanding)
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12
= AO2 (testing evaluation skills).
The format is the following: ●
1m multi choice
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2m – Give/List/Explain briefly
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4m Explain 2 ways
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5m Explain 2 ……… teachings about…….Refer to religious teachings in your answer
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12 marks - Extended Writing‘…...’ Evaluate the statement.
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Refer to ……………… teaching
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Develop reasons to agree with statement
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Develop reasons to disagree with statement
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Include a reasoned conclusion
In the Themes papers (Relationships and Peace and Conflict), there are designated topics where you have to show contrasting (i.e. diversity) beliefs. This would mean a Christian response plus another response (another Christian denomination or another religion, for example, Islam) ●
Relationships – contraception, sex before marriage and homosexual relationships.
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Peace and Conflict- violence, weapons of mass destruction and pacifism. Please see the website for further details and information given in class. https:// intranet.kes.hants.sch.uk/rs-and-philosophy/student-resources/4th-and-5th-yearreligion-philosophy-and-ethics-full-course Revision books will be given out in class. In addition, the AQA Religious Studies 9-1 GCSE My Revision Notes book by L Parry is very useful.
http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
Physics The Physics IGCSE mock paper will include questions on all of the topics from the Third Year and Fourth Year, and also from the Topics covered up until Christmas in the Fifth year (including Radioactivity and Electromagnetism, but NOT Gas Laws). The mock examination will consist of a single paper lasting 90 minutes with a total of approximately 100 marks. This compares to the International GCSE in the summer which comprises two papers: one of 120 minutes and one of 60 minutes marked out of 120 and 60 marks respectively. You should bring a Ruler, pencil, and a calculator in addition to black pen. Your green notebooks should contain all of the relevant theory you need. In addition, for the purposes of your revision, you have covered all sections of the course as listed in the Edexcel IGCSE Physics Revision Guide with the exceptions of: • The Gas Laws and Absolute Zero (Chapter 20, pages 171 from “Gas Laws” to page 175); • Electromagnetic induction and the generator and the transformer (Chapter 22, pages 77-80); • The Rutherford model of the atom, Nuclear Fission, and Generating electricity with nuclear fission (Chapter 26, pages 87-89) REMEMBER, you need to learn many of the equations, a list of which will be given to you by your Physics teacher.
Spanish Paper 1 Listening (40 minutes + 5 minutes reading time) (tips) • You will sit the listening examination in your classroom with your teacher. • Make sure you listen carefully and look ahead to the next question to prepare yourself for the kind of language you need to listen out for. • When writing in Spanish, make sure you conjugate your verbs and that your spelling is accurate. The examiner must understand what you have written to award the mark. Paper 2 (11⁄2 hours Reading and Writing) (tips) • You should ensure that you read all the questions carefully making sure that you leave no questions blank. • Remember you will get no marks for simply copying/lifting phrases from the text when you write your 50 word paragraph for question 3b. • For the harder Reading Comprehension questions, check your verb endings. Does your answer make sense? The quality of your Spanish matters! Have you answered the question? • The essay question (6) is very important. Remember to do the following: http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
• Four paragraphs (one per bullet point). • Write every other line (so that you can add to your work if necessary and so that your work is clear and legible) • You must include a variety of tenses (past, present, future - minimum) • To access the top grades you must give lots of good phrases, complex language structures (if clauses/ subjunctive/ conditional/ imperfect). • You must give lots of opinion phrases. Use a variety and avoid repeating the same ones. Paper 3 Speaking Examination You start this examination with your one minute presentation on your photo and then the follow up conversation (3 minutes). Remember the following: • Arrive with your own copy of the photo • Be prepared to describe everything in the picture • Be able to say what you did before the picture was taken and what you did after the picture was taken • Be able to comment on the people in the picture • Be able to comment on the weather • Be prepared for the general questions on holidays (see kesmoodle and your class notes). The second part of the conversation will be on two of the conversation topics. Short answers will not allow you to access the top grades. (See the mark scheme). You must: • Demonstrate that you can use a variety of tenses (past, present, future, conditional) • Demonstrate that you can manipulate the language accurately. • Respond readily and develop your answers using good opinion phrases and a variety of vocabulary. General revision tips • Vocabulary revision - use Vocab Express/use the IGCSE booklets- look through relevant sections of your textbook. • This is Language - great to prepare for the listening paper and great for vocabulary.
Sports Science You will have a single exam which will last 1 hour 30 minutes. The paper is made up of 80 marks and is broken into 2 sections with questions ranging from 1-6 marks. Short Answers
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Upper School Examination Advice
These questions require concise detailed answers often with examples. Make sure you use keywords in your answer and plan what you’re going to write in your head before you write. Tip: Do not repeat any of the words in the question when explaining You have plenty of time – roughly a mark per minute. You may want to complete the paper in a different order but make sure you attempt EVERY question. Check how many marks are awarded for each question to get an idea of how much you need to write. Read the questions on the page before answering the first one: sometimes they lead you down a particular path of theory and it can help structure your first answers. The questions come from topics 1-17 and 21 in the yellow IGCSE booklet you were given
Theatre Studies Your written exam is worth 40% of your GCSE. There will be one 90 minute paper, divided into two sections. Section A: In this section you will be asked questions about your set text, 'War Horse'. You will need to answer questions as an actor, director and designer and must prepare for all aspects. You will be given an extract of the play to focus on but the last question will test your knowledge of the whole play. To prepare for this part of the exam you should: - re-read the play as many times as possible - prepare a costume design for each main character and practise describing this in detail - design a set for each scene or section in the play - revise lighting and sound terminology. Practise describing these elements in key scenes - make character profile sheets, including details on background, personality and how the character should act and speak - revise stage shapes and practise recognising and drawing these - revise the original staging of the play and practise describing this Section B: You should spend 20-25 minutes on this section. You will have a choice of two questions but must only answer one. In this section you will analyse a piece of live theatre that you have seen. You could be asked about any aspect of performance, direction or design. You may choose any http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
production but we would advise that you focus on 'Things I Know To Be True'. You must NOT answer on War Horse in this section. To prepare for this, you should: - learn the basic details of any production that you may wish to write about (company name, theatre, date, production title, main characters) - draw/describe the set for the production(s) and make notes on two scenes where it was used particularly effectively - draw/describe two costumes that were particularly effective - choose two scenes where the vocal performances were effective and practise describing these - choose two scenes where physical skill or movement was used effectively and practise describing these - rewatch 'Things I Know To Be True' on Digital Theatre Plus. Watch the interviews, read the workpack and the script.
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Upper School Examination Advice
How to revise in a nutshell: 1. Be clear on what you have to revise – this booklet will tell you but also ask your teachers. Do you know the exam structures you will need for each exam? 2. Sort out your books, your revision materials and your revision space. 3. Organise a timetable – weekly or the same one for the next 4 weeks. Think about a new one for the actual exam period 4. Start by making good notes – use your class notes, YouTube, recommended websites or the school website, using information on the individual subject pages. Base your notes around the areas your exam will focus on then use place mats, cue cards, posters, post it notes or PowerPoints. What you do now can be used for the exams in the summer. 5. Learn your notes – read, cover, write, check; get someone to test you; group discussions. Don’t just read your notes – how do you know if you have remembered them until you are in the exam?! 6. Past exam papers – do as many past paper and questions as you can (ask your teachers, look on the school website or the exam board websites. Your teachers will mark whatever you give them. This is the best way to revise. Practice makes perfect!
http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
Use our Website
Upper School Mid-Sessional Exam Guidance
December 2015
Use the ourstudent website Access revision site through “Academic” tab, and then look at ‘Curriculum’ and goAccess to ‘Student Learning’ see lots of study skills revision the student revisionto site through “Academic” tab, and and then look atideas. ‘Curriculum’ and go to ‘Student Learning’ to see lots of study skills and revision ideas.
17 http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
Designing a revision timetable
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Aim to revise Monday to Thursday and some of Sunday as a minimu - but make sure you give youself time off!
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Put in all the things you do extra in and out of school e.g.coursework clinics, sport clubs, art catch up etc
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Aim to do 2-3 hours a night – split this up into 1 hour sections
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Try and do your revision early on in the evening so you have the rest of the time to relax
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In each session look at a specific area to revise e.g. Science – Atomic bonding, Ionic, covalent and metallic bonding
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Make notes on the area you are focussing on – learn it
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Try a practice question on this topic if you can
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Decide when you are going to re-visit this area so you can go over it again
What should I do when I am revising? On average, we remember: • 20% of what we read • 30% of what we hear • 40% of what we see • 50% of what we say
This means that if you are going to remember the information you are revising you should do something active with it and transfer information from one form to another. Below is a list of some revision techniques. Try to find a couple that work for you and aim to vary the techniques you use to suit each topic.
• 60% of what we do • 90% of what we read, hear, see, say & do
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Upper School Examination Advice
You vs. The Examiner! The Examiner’s View You can largely determine the end result by simply heeding the voice of experience. The job of examiners is to give you marks, not to take them away, but they are powerless to help you if you fall into the most common traps. These are the biggest pitfalls they have identified: Not reading the paper correctly Examiners say that this is one of the most regular and fatal errors. They call it the 'triggered answer'. You have your pre-prepared answer ready but you don't look at the exact terms of the question and therefore supply the wrong information in your answer.
Not finishing the paper Mismanaging your time within the exam can easily cost you a full grade. The biggest exam 'crime' is to leave suitable questions BLANK. Remember: it is much easier to get the first 20% of the marks for any question than the last 5%. Therefore, if you find yourself stuck for time as you struggle through your third answer out of five, do not spend your remaining time extending and perfecting that answer. Instead, move on to questions four and five, even if your attempt is sketched or in point form. If you have answered only three questions instead of five, the highest mark you can get is 60%.
Ignoring the marking scheme You must take the marking scheme into account when you allocate time to each question or part of a question. If the marks allotted to a question clearly indicate that a few paragraphs are sufficient, do not write an essay on the subject. Avoid the temptation of writing everything you know about a topic – just give the appropriate amount of information.
Repetition Make the point once. There are no extra marks for restating facts, even if you phrase them differently. Examiners say repetition is a very common mistake. It is also a time-waster and an irritant.
Missing part of a question Sometimes, part of a question can be carried onto the next page and, in the pressure of the moment, you don't see it. As a consequence you might fail to do a compulsory part of a question or miss out on the chance to take an option that would have suited you better. Always take time to familiarise yourself with the whole paper before you start answering it.
Irrelevant quotations In literary subjects, don't use irrelevant quotations you may have learned off, as it only irritates the examiner.
Rough work Include your rough work with your exam script – you might get some credit for formulae or calculations contained in it. http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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Upper School Examination Advice
School Mid-Sessional Exam Guidance Performing on the Day
December 2015
orming on Day Getthe a good night's sleep
While the temptation is to stay up half the night
Get a good night's sleep 'cramming' in more facts and figures, the
While theevidence temptation is to up half the night suggests thisstay approach is counterUpper School Mid-Sessional Exam Guidance 'cramming'productive. in more Infacts and figures, the evidence the context of a two-year course, suggests this approach is counter-productive. In the an extra night's studying can make very little Performing on the Day context of difference a two-yeartocourse, an extra night's studying can your knowledge. However, having Get a difference good sleep make veryalittle to youralert, knowledge. However, mind thatnight's is refreshed, and ready to While the temptation is to stay up half the night having a mind that is refreshed, alert, and ready to respond to circumstances will obviously be 'cramming' in more facts and figures, the evidence of suggests thisbenefit. approach counter-productive. respond tofar circumstances willisobviously be of Infarthegreater greater context of a two-year course, an extra night's studying can benefit. make very little difference to your knowledge. However, Arrive plenty time: having in a mind that of is refreshed,
December 2015
alert, and ready to
to circumstances will day, obviously beneed of far greater Arrive in plenty of time: Torespond perform well on the you to be relaxed and to feel in control of the situation. This
benefit. To performiswell on the day, you needhave to be relaxed and to and feel are in control ofathe difficult to achieve if you missed breakfast stuck on bussituation. in traffic or standing Arrive in plenty of time: This is difficult to achieve if you have missed breakfast and are stuck on a bus in traffic onToaperform train for 45 minutes as the exam time approaches. You will need about 15 or minutes 'quiet well on the day, you need to be relaxed and to feel in control of the situation. standing ontime' aThistrain for 45 minutes as the exam time approaches. You will need about 15 isto difficult to achieve if you have missed breakfast and are stuck on a bus in traffic or mentally rehearse your exam and run through your 'game plan' for the final time. standing on ato train for 45 minutes as the exam timeexam approaches. willthrough need about 15 minutes 'quiet time' mentally rehearse your andYou run your 'game plan' for minutes 'quiet time' to mentally rehearse your exam and run through your 'game plan' for the final time. Have your the final time.equipment ready
Each exam has its own requirements. Apart from properly functioning pens, pencils, rulers, Have your equipment ready you may need a calculator forfrom theproperly Maths or Science exam.rulers, Drawing pencils may be Have youretc, equipment ready Each exam has its own requirements. Apart functioning pens, pencils, etc, you may need a calculator for the Maths or Science exam. Drawing pencils may be required for diagrams in some subjects. A lot of nervous energy can be expended Each exam has its own requirements. Apart from properly functioning pens, pencils, rulers,on last required for diagrams in some subjects. A lot of nervous energy can be expended on last minute hassle if these aren't items aren't checked in advance. etc, you may needhassle a calculator the Maths or Science exam. Drawing pencils may be minute if these itemsfor checked in advance.
required for diagrams in some subjects. A lot of nervous energy can be expended on last Think positive Think positive
 minute hassle if these items aren't checked in advance. On the day of the exam, remind yourself of the good
On the day ofyou the exam, remind things (the material know well, the revision yourself you have of the good completed, all thematerial past exam questions done,well, the good things (the you know the revision you have Think positive grades achieved) rather than dwelling on areas of completed, all the past exam questions done, the good grades weakness. Having give you the On the day ofthat theself-belief exam,will remind yourself of the good achieved) rather than dwelling areas confidence to trust your judgement within theon exam hall of weakness. Having that things material you know well, the revision you have and 'hit (the the target'. self-belief will give you the confidence to trust your judgement
completed, all the past exam questions done, the good within the exam hall and 'hit the target'. grades achieved) rather than dwelling on areas of Maintain your focus Maintain your focus weakness. Having that self-belief will give you the There can be a lot of tension, drama, and hysteria in the air on the days of an exam. You confidence toand trust your judgement within theofexam hall You want There can lot ofbetween tension, drama, hysteria in the air on the days an exam. want to keepbe theabalance maintaining your focus and interacting normally with friends classmates. Tryand finding a quiet far from the madding crowdinteracting to 'warm'hit thespot target'. toyour keep theand balance between maintaining your focus and normally with your up' before each exam and 'warm-down' afterwards. Surround yourself with people who are
friends quiet spot far from the madding crowd to 'warm- up' likely to and add toclassmates. the calm rather Try than finding add to the a clamour. before each exam and 'warm-down' afterwards. Surround yourself with people who are likely Beware of post-exam analysis toThe add to the calm rather than add to the clamour. more you participate in the exam post-mortem, the more confused and disheartened
you are likely to become. You can't change what has happened, you can only focus on the Maintain your focus
present and this will need your full attention. Beware oftension, post-exam analysis There can be a lot of drama, and hysteria in the air on the days of an exam. You Thethe more you participate in the exam post-mortem, theinteracting more confused and with disheartened want to keep balance between maintaining your focus and normally you are likely to become. You can't change what has happened, you can only focus on the your friends and classmates. Try finding a quiet spot far from the madding crowd to 'warmandand this 'warm-down' will need yourafterwards. full attention. up' before present each exam Surround yourself with people who are 22 likely to add to the calm rather than add to the clamour. http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
Beware of post-exam analysis
The more http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning you participate in the exam post-mortem, the more confused and disheartened you are likely to become. You can't change what has happened, you can only focus on the present and this will need your full attention.
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Upper School Examination Advice
Examples of how to revise – find a technique that work for you!
1.
Turn notes into bullet points. Highlight key words. Keep shortening them until you have one word which will trigger your memory for each point.
2.
Make flash cards with the key ideas. (see www.flashcardexchange.com for ideas).
3.
Practise past exam papers or questions.
4.
Draw Mind Maps for topics to show how the main ideas link together.
5.
Turn your notes into pictures or diagrams such as flow charts.
6.
Use websites e.g. BBC Bitesize to read through key information.
7.
Learning posters – put key information on small posters. Use patterns, colour and drawings. Pin them up where you’ll see them often (like in the toilet).
8.
Use Mnemonics to remember key facts (Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain)
9.
Make up questions and get somebody to test you verbally. Put aside the ones you don‟t know and keep working on them until you learn them all.
10. Record notes and put them on your phone. Listen to them as often as possible. 11. Make a rhyme, rap or song out of your revision notes (yes it really works!) 12. Read your notes out loud to your cat or dog! Sounds stupid but it works! 13. Explain key ideas to a parent/brother/sister. Teaching other people helps you to learn yourself. 14. Associate information with actions and act out your notes as you read them. 15. Walk around the room whilst revising. 16. Write information on post-its and stick it around the room. 17. Turn your notes into a PowerPoint and share it with friends. 18. Try recalling detailed diagrams/graphs/illustrations from memory and test yourself
*USE THE UPPER SCHOOL REVISION GUIDE FOR MORE DETAILED ADVICE ON REVISION STRATEGIES* http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/curriculum/student-learning
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