GCSE GRADE CHANGES

Broadly the same

number of students who

currently achieve a

grade C or above will

achieve a grade 4 or

above.

GCSE GRADE CHANGES

Broadly the same

number of students who

currently achieve a

grade A or above will

achieve a grade 7 or

above.

GCSE GRADE CHANGES

The Department for

Education have

identified a grade 5 as a

‘good pass’. Grade 5 is

equivalent to the top of

a C grade / bottom of a

B grade.

Jim Eltringham

Head of Science

Rob Holt

KS4 Science Co-ordinator

Science at Southam

This is about:

• Our *NEW* GCSE Courses

• When the exams are

• How we will get you there

Hang on a minute!

• Did you say *NEW* courses?

We have switched exam boards

• Because it made sense:

– 80% of schools now study AQA GCSE Science qualifications

– Resources for AQA more readily available

– Our Y9 course was sufficiently general to allow this

– Plain English style of exam papers compared to OCR

Comparison of different exam boards

The Courses

• AQA Combined Science Trilogy (8464)

• AQA Biology (8461)

• AQA Chemistry (8462)

• AQA Physics (8463)

Your course structure

• 100% Exams - No coursework

• Required practicals completed throughout

• Combined Science covers topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics

• Separate Science courses cover the same topics as Combined Science but in more detail

Your Exams

• 2x Biology Papers

• 2 x Chemistry Papers

• 2 x Physics Papers

• Combined Science - 75 minutes per exam

• Separate Science - 105 minutes per exam

• All examined summer Year 11

Year 11 ???????

‘Please, Mr Eltringham, can we not have some tests before

that?’

Of course you can.

We should have finished the ‘1’ units by November.

Lets have one then, shall we?

‘Hooray! And can we please have some

revision homework over half term?’

Oh, go on then.

Your Science teachers will provide you with this and it will also go on the BLOG.

You will, of course, want to be reviewing your notes and making revision notes etc before that.

Yippee!

That’s nice - but what do we actually do?

• Let’s have a closer

look at the topics

we will cover

Topics we cover- Biology

• Cell Biology

• Organisation

• Infection and response

• Bioenergetics

• Homeostasis and response

• Inheritance, variation and evolution

• Ecology

Topics we cover- Chemistry

• Atomic structure and the periodic table

• Bonding, structure and the properties of matter

• Quantitative chemistry

• Chemical changes

• Energy changes

• The rate and extent of chemical change

• Organic chemistry

• Chemical analysis

• Chemistry of the atmosphere

• Using resources

Topics we cover- Physics

• Energy

• Electricity

• Particle model of matter

• Atomic structure

• Forces

• Waves

• Magnetism and electromagnetism

• Space physics (Only Separate Science Physics)

Don’t forget the extra Maths!

10% of Biology

20% of Chemistry

30% of Physics

There’s also the Physics Equations...

• 23 to recall and use.

• Another 12 to know how to use (but not recall).

What about practical work?

• There is no coursework!

• There are now REQUIRED PRACTICALS – Which you

must know about and have completed.

• These are throughout your entire course and

could/should turn up in the written exams.

So… Practical work is still really

important!

So…

...what do we do to get

the best out of your

child…

...and how can you as

parents support this?

Now, 2018 is a long way off

…and we don’t

want to be too

late.

How to prepare for exams in Science

• Resources from the AQA website

• Books and Revision guides

• Revision notes

• (Past exam papers)

• (BBC Bitesize website)

• (Revision “cards”)

Resources we use

Resources we offer

Revision notes (used sensibly)

Past exam papers are still useful...

...but do be careful what you

use.

Generally speaking, its all

good...

...but if you’re not sure, ask.

What if I need more help

This lady will dress up as you and

take your exam for you.

Not really.

But she is co-ordinating the new

revision cards, which will start

to appear on the BLOG by half

term.

All your Science teachers will be

happy to help you, obviously. Mrs Jones

And lastly…

...don’t

underestimate the

impact parents can

make.

Thank you for

listening.

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Reformed Mathematics GCSE

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

General Changes

• GCSE Mathematics is more demanding for everyone:

– The demand of the content is increasing with harder topics being introduced too.

• The pupils will achieve a numerical grade (1-9)

• Students will be following the Edexcel Syllabus

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

The Content

• There is roughly a third more content required for GCSE Mathematics

• A lot of content has moved from Higher Tier to Foundation Tier as well as from A-Level to Higher Tier. There has also been the introduction of some new topics.

• A greater focus on problem-solving

• Additional requirements to provide clear mathematical arguments

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Foundation Tier Content

Number25%

Ratio, Proportion &

Rates of Change25%

Algebra20%

Geometry & Measures

15%

Statistics & Probability

15%

“Foundation tier will focus on core mathematical

understanding and skills for all students to

master”

This is now a stand-alone area

of content

Number25%

Ratio, Proportion &

Rates of Change25%

Algebra20%

Geometry & Measures

15%

Statistics & Probability

15%

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Content Moving to Foundation• Index laws: zero and negative powers (numeric

and algebraic)

• Standard form

• Compound interest and reverse percentages

• Direct and indirect proportion (numeric and algebraic)

• Expanding double brackets

• Factorise quadratic expressions in the form 𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

• Solve linear simultaneous equations

• Solve quadratic equations by factorisation

• Plot cubic and reciprocal graphs, recognise quadratic and cubic graphs

• Trigonometric ratios in 2D right-angled triangles

• Fractional scale enlargements in transformations

• Lengths of arcs and areas of sectors of circles

• Mensuration problems

• Vectors (except geometric problems/proofs)

• Density

• Tree Diagrams

Number15%

Ratio, Proportion & Rates of

Change 20%

Algebra30%

Statistics & Probability

15%

Geometry & Measures

20%

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Higher Tier Content

“Higher tier will focus on questions that will stretch the most able”

Number15%

Ratio, Proportion & Rates of

Change 20%

Algebra30%

Statistics & Probability

15%

Geometry & Measures

20%

Number15%

Ratio, Proportion & Rates of

Change 20%

Algebra30%

Statistics & Probability

15%

Geometry & Measures

20%

This will be tested more

than currently

These will be tested less than

currently

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Content Moving to Higher

• Expanding triple brackets

• Interpret the reverse process as the ‘inverse function’; interpret the succession of two functions as a ‘composite function’ (using formal function notation)

• Deduce turning points by completing the square

• Calculate or estimate gradients of graphs and areas under graphs, and interpret results in real-life cases (not including calculus)

• Simple geometric progressions including surds, and other sequences

• Deduce expressions to calculate the nth term of quadratic sequences

• Calculate and interpret conditional probabilities through Venn diagrams

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

New content to both tiers

• Use inequality notation to specify simple error intervals.

• Identify and interpret roots, intercepts, turning points of quadratic functions graphically; deduce roots algebraically.

• Fibonacci type sequences, quadratic sequences & geometric sequences.

• Relate ratios to linear functions.

• Interpret the gradient of a straight line graph as a rate of change.

• Know the exact values of sin 𝜃 and cos 𝜃 for 𝜃 = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°; know the exact value of tan 𝜃 for 𝜃 = 0°, 30°, 45° and 60°.

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Grades and Tiers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Higher Tier

Foundation Tier

Overlap

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

The Examinations

• The total time for the examinations is increasing from 3½ hours to 4½ hours.

• This is spread out over 3 examinations.

• All exams will be sat at the end of the course.

• No early entry option available for pupils.

• There are fewer marks at the lower grades and more marks at the higher grades for both Foundation and Higher Tiers.

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

The Examinations

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Formulas

• Students will be required to memorise formulae

– Fewer formulae will be provided

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Formulas

• Formulas provided

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Formulas

• Formulas removed and will need to be memorised

×

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Assessment and Tracking

• At the start of each topic students are given a summary of its content

• Following each unit of work students will sit a short end of topic test.

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

June Mock Exams

• Students will sit three papers

– Paper 1 – Non Calculator

– Paper 2 – Calculator

– Paper 3 - Calculator

• 1 hour 30mins each

• Students will be graded on

the 9-1 scale

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Equipment

• Pencil

• Black Pen

• Ruler

• Rubber

• Pair of compasses

• Protractor

• Scientific Calculator (recommended Casio fx series)

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Resources

• Textbooks

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Resources

• Textbooks

• Revision Guides

GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

Resources

• Textbooks

• Revision Guides

• www.mymaths.co.uk

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GCSE English Language

Year 10 Entry

55

Key Information

• English Language and English Literature are two separate, equally important GCSE qualifications

• English Language assesses reading and writing skills through unseen material

• English Literature assesses reading skills through pre-read texts and some unseen material

• Both qualifications are 100% exam

• English Language will be examined at the end of Year 10

• English Literature will be examined at the end of Year 11

• Both qualifications have 2 exams – so there are 4 exams in total

• There are no tiers of entry: all students sit the same exam

• English Literature exams are ‘closed text’. i.e. Students will not take copies of the text into the exam

GCSE English Language

• Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing (1 hour 45)

• Section A: Reading (50% of the marks for the paper)

• Students read one extract from a creative text – this is likely to be an extract from a novel

• 4 questions

• Q1: Retrieval of information

• Q2: Analysis of language

• Q3: Analysis of structure

• Q4: Evaluation

The questions increase in challenge and in marks (from 4 up to 20)

GCSE English Language

• Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

• Section B: Writing (50% of the marks for the paper)

• A choice of questions – either descriptive or narrative

• E.g. A piece of writing inspired by an image such as this:

GCSE English Language

• Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives (1 hour 45)

• Section A: Reading (50% of the marks for the paper)

• Students read two extracts: one modern non-fiction (e.g. a news article) and one pre-1900 literary non-fiction (e.g. travel writing)

• 4 questions

• Q1: True or false

• Q2: Summary of both texts

• Q3: Analysis of language

• Q4: Comparison of views and language

The questions increase in challenge and in marks (from 4 up to 16)

• Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

• Section B: Writing (50% of the marks for the paper)

• 1 question – writing to argue and persuade

• The question will be based on the reading material

• Students will be given a statement to argue for or against

GCSE English Language

How can you help?

• Encourage wider reading of 20th and 21st Century novels

• Support your son/daughter to include English revision in their revision timetable

• Provide opportunities for reading of the news online and in print

• Provide opportunities for the use of study guides, either in print, online or via mobile/tablet apps

• Practise reading texts from the past together e.g. Letters or diaries by famous writers such as Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale, Charles Darwin

61

Please feel free to contact me or your son/daughter’s English teacher for any more advice.

How can students revise?