“ The College that Cares ”

OUR LADY & ST JOHNC A H O L I C C O L L E G E

BE WISEREVISE!

KEY STAGE 4GUIDE FOR PUPILS & PARENTS

learn - enjoy - achieve

Get the Edge and ACE your

revision!

WELCOMEPupils and Parents to the Key Stage 4 Guide

‘BE WISE-REVISE’This booklet has been designed by the Pastoral Learning

Coaches in partnership with pupils both past and present.

The exam system has changed greatly over recent years; you

may feel confused by the complicated systems of controlled

assessments, modular exams and practical assessments.

The good news is that details of every subject syllabus and

practical help are available on the OLSJ website.

Pupils believe that this short, easy to read, inspirational guide,

when linked to the website, will boost learning performance

and exam success.

THE BEST RESULTS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN WE ALLWORK IN PARTNERSHIP.

Join with us and discover the secrets of achieving success... the easier way.

...If there was an easier way to revise...

this booklet is designed to show you

the way.

IMAGINE

Up to 80% of what you learn is forgotten unless you revise within 24 hours.

Revising means to revisit=fixing information into the brain.

You need to learn the information first before you can revise!

Every lesson in every subject counts in your learning...

homework fixes it into your long term memory.

You may think you have forever before GCSE Exams.

See how little time you actually have over these 2 years

MATHS = 19 days (4x50min lessons per week)ENGLISH = 19 days

SCIENCE = 13 days (per subject!)You will cover most topics only once!

Keep on top of your controlled assessments; know what is

expected and how marks are awarded.

PLAN THE T IME TO DO IT .Practise your skills before the deadline so that your teacher can

comment and suggest ways to improve. This can up your grade

the easy way!

Your grade will be improved and you won’t have to redo it!

Plan to complete coursework well within the

deadline - delaying this work adds stress and

pressure (and a lower grade).

PLAN TO GET IT R IGHT THE F IRST TIME

NO ONE PLANS TO FAIL BUT FAILS TO PLAN!

LEARN CONTENT FIRST TIME ROUNDREVISE IT IN HOMEWORK.

BE WISE:

PLANKNOW?

DID YOU

Have you spent hours reading through notes and

books until you get bored and nothing goes in?

This passive revision does not work.Your brain uses all of your senses to record information.

By using sight, sound and feel in your revision you can get the

information to stick!

Writing notesuse colour, diagrams and highlight key points.

Making revision cardsthese act as reminders and can be carried in your pocket or

stuck on walls, doors, mirrors and so on.

Writing key points on sticky notes.

Discussing topics with friends or adults;try to teach your revision/have a quiz!

Recording information on iPod, MP3 or phone.

Find what works best then test yourself.

TEST, TEST, TEST PRACTISE, PRACTISE,PRACTISEBE WISE: BE WISE:

The practise of exam papers are an essential tool for successful revision.

These are available to download (see details in index)

or from your teachers.

Practise ‘mock’ exams at home using revision notes

only and eventually without your notes.

Ensure that you sit the paper in exam conditions and

that you finish in the set time.

THIS HELPS TO:Test how much you know.

Identify ‘weaknesses’.

Familiarise you with the layout and type of questions asked.

Practise exam technique.

Get used to finishing the paper with enough time to re-check.

Know which questions to answer.

Every year pupils lose marks as they fail to finish the paper,

answer the wrong questions or miss the ‘point’ of the question.

ACTIVE REVISION INCLUDES:

ACTIVEGETPRACTISE!

123456

CondenseFit key notes on one side of paper.

Mind MapsA brilliant tool for condensing lots of notes on one

page. (See Tony Buzan on YouTube.)

Memory CardsOn index cards write out questions on one side/answers

on another. Have fun quizzing yourself and friends.

SingRecord yourself singing your revision notes to your

favourite itunes! This works!

Word GamesMnemonics e.g. Never Eat Shredded Wheat = North East

South West.

MusicQuiet relaxing music when studying can boost

brain power.

BE WISE: www.olsj.blackburn.sch.ukV IS IT THE OLSJ WEBS ITE FOR MORE

TIMETABLE!The most important thing is to make sure an

exam revision timetable is realistic.

Take into account your activities and commitments e.g.

football, dance, sport, leisure.

Allow plenty of time for setting up your revision plan

(at least a day) - ask parents to help.

THIS IS THE BEST INVESTMENT OF YOUR TIME!

Get the revision book for each subject - these do much of the

preparation for you and highlight key facts.

REMEMBER TO BUY THE GU IDES RECOMMENDED BY YOUR TEACHERS

Timetable the revision classes held in each subject- students

who attend these always obtain higher grades!

Keep one area of the home for study and ensure that

everything you need is in one place - paper, pens, hole punch,

calculators, highlighters, files.

TURN OFF TEMPTATIONStop wasting time - turn off Phones/Facebook

BE WISE:

TRICK YOUR BRAIN

TECHNIQUES

Research shows that revision is more effective when regular breaks are taken.

Take a short break at least every 40 minutes. You maximise

your brain power in the first 20 minutes of revision.

FOCUS-BREAK-FOCUS

HAVE CLEAR GOALS AND STICK TO YOUR

REVISION PLAN.

Maximise your time - note

down anything you don’t

understand or find hard and

ask your teacher for help.

SHORT BREAK IDEAS:

HYDRATE (DRINK WATER)

STRETCH

(TO RELIEVE TENSION)

BREATHING EXERCISES

(OXYGENATES THE BRAIN).

BE WISE:

BE WISE:

USE A K ITCHEN T IMER TO T IME YOUR SESS IONS AND BREAKS

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A HEALTHY BREAKFAST.TH IS HAS A MASS IVE EFFECT ON BEHAV IOUR, LEARN ING & ACH IEVEMENT.

ENERGISE!DIET, EXERCISE & SLEEP

AFFECT THE BRAIN

FOODStudies indicate that hunger affects pupils’

academic results - Eat well for success (junk food and

fast food negatively affect learning and memory).

WATERis essential for mental ability and concentration.

Drink even when not thirsty - by then you are dehydrated!

SLEEPLatest research indicates many young people are

sleep deprived due to Facebook, Twitter, BBM. This has

been proven to lower grades massively.

EXERCISEExercise is vital for reducing stress and optimising energy.

ZZ

ZZ

BREAK!HAVE A

BELIEVE! PARENTSEvidence indicates that we have on average up to

60,000 thoughts a day.

Up to 80% of these are negativeYoung people hear 15 negatives to every 1 positive.

Now research also shows that a POSITIVE ATTITUDE

and a strong belief in yourself is the foundation to success

and happiness.

There is very little difference in people but that little

difference makes a BIG difference - the BIG difference is

ATTITUDE

You can help your child most of all by ensuring that they are

in school every day and on time.

Get rid of: I am rubbish at examsSay: I am clear, calm & confident.

Doing well at exams is not just about being smart

academically but learning and practising techniques to

develop confidence and ability.

It is possible to learn positive self talk and make this a habit!

BE WISE: THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT WORDSI CAN

DID YOU KNOW?

Research shows when attendance is below 93% academic

achievement significantly declines.

FACT 1

FACT 3

FACT 2

If your child has one day off a fortnight this =

90% attendance.

If your child has one day off every week this =

80% attendance.

Lateness is also absence. School begins at 8.40am.

PUP ILS WITH GOOD ATTENDANCE MAXIM ISE THE IR CHANCE OF SUCCESS.

PARENTSHOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD

Provide a healthy breakfast

Ensure they have essential equipment e.g. black pen, pencil, ruler, calculator

Discuss coursework and revision timetable

Provide a quiet area for study/homework

Stay positive, praise and encourage

Keep them supplied with food and drinks

Make sure they have regular breaks

Time their ‘mock practice exams’

Keep a low profile

Check with teachers if unsure of any course/exam details

Use the school website to access more information

DO:

DON’T:Compare to siblings/friends

Distract unnecessarilyExpect them to study all the time

Pressurise themYOU CAN!WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU BELIEVE

Success comes in cans;failures in can’ts

Some people dream of success - others wake up and work hard at it!

FOR SUCCESS, ATTITUDE IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AS ABILITY.

Students who do best in the GCSE exams work hard all

through Years ten and eleven.

SUCCESS

NOTES

DATES

TIMETABLE

OUR LADY & ST JOHN CATHOLIC COLLEGE

NORTH ROAD, BLACKBURN. BB1 1PY

TEL: 01254 59055 FAX: 01254 697308

EMAIL: our.lady.and.st.john@blackburn.gov.uk

www.olsj.blackburn.sch.uk

“ The College that Cares ”

OUR LADY & ST JOHNC A H O L I C C O L L E G E