preparing for exams - welcome - ashton on mersey...
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Preparing for Exams
Follow these easy steps to help you through the revision process. You should start to prepare
yourself about three months before an exam.
Step 1 – Know what you need to do
Dates and times for each of your exams.
Exam topics for each of your exam subjects so that you know what you need to revise.
The format the exam will be in e.g. written, spoken, practical, online.
Step 2 – Plan your revision
Draft a revision timetable so that you can identify when you can revise.
Block out times when you cannot revise because of after-school activities and other
commitments.
Aim to work in 45 minute blocks, taking 10-15 minute breaks.
Step 3 – Where to revise
Prepare a place to revise and try to use the same place where you can work undisturbed.
Choose a place that has enough room, good lighting, is comfortable and tidy.
Get together your school books, past papers and revision guides. Have a supply of
equipment such as A4 paper, notebooks, index cards, pens, pencils and highlighters.
Step 4 – Make us of your learning style
Know your learning style and use the revision techniques
Put information into diagrams and mind maps so that you can visualise it. Add colour!
Make condensed notes on paper and index cards.
Look at essay titles and prepare for them by listing key words and ideas.
If you do not understand something ASK NOW!
Step 5 – Focus your on revision
Test yourself using active revision - the method memorise, write, check.
Ask family and friends to test you by asking you questions from your notes.
Practice exam questions from past papers.
Timelines
Timelines can be helpful - especially for History. They are invaluable for making sense of a series of
events, because you can trace improvements, factors etc. Pin them up in your room.
Alternatively, for example, in English Literature you could pick a key character and do a series of
cards with evidence of their characters action or a useful quotation. Put these chronologically so
you can trace development.
Draw key theme cards, style cards etc. You could draw a timeline for each book or play that you're
studying and superimpose a tension graph where lines rise for more dramatic events.
Annotations
For poems, you can blow up the poem (photocopy and stick them on large paper) and annotate it in
different colours for content, and various stylistic ideas. For books and plays, chapter or scene
synopses can be useful (4 points will do).
This can also be useful if you own your textbooks - you can highlight key points and ignore the
waffle if you're struggling and write down helpful notes on how to remember things.
Mind Maps
Mind maps (I'll use philosophy as an example) Plato ----> arguments/analogies (e.g. forms/cave) ----
> draw links ----> work things out ----> show criticisms etc.
Get an A3 piece of paper - divide into four parts. Then, for example, make four headings e.g. Hume,
theory, good things, bad things; Aristotle, theory, good things, bad things etc. For the latter you
could have under theory his four causes: material, efficient, formal and final (MEFF) etc.
It’s a good idea to stick your mind maps on the wall in your room. Stick up the topics that you really
need to learn and look at them over and over.
Note/Cue Cards
Note/cue cards are always handy for when you're out and about. List definitions and rules you need
to know. Or write key words from which you can fill in the gaps to tell the whole story.
These are also (very!) handy for learning language vocabulary. You can buy index cards in any good
newsagent that will be a convenient size once cut in half, or buy ready-made ones. Business cards
are also good. Once filled in, these cards will allow you to reclaim time that would otherwise be
wasted - on the bus, in the queue at the supermarket - there's no limit.
Mini Revision Booklet
Take the topic heading for your subject and a few pieces of paper and then attempt to write concise
summaries containing key information under each. This is a useful way to see what you know and
create a resource that is easy to understand.
It is important that this is done completely from memory towards the end of your revision. Points
you miss out can be put in an appendix section called 'points to remember'. Don't forget you're not
writing a book - this should use up no more than 10 A4 sheets (both sides).
Practice Essay Writing
Perfect your essay technique. Good spelling and grammar helps too.
When attempting past papers, always answer the question! It might sound fairly obvious but many
people just narrate the story. Examiners are assessing your ability to show historical reasoning.
Always reread the question at the start of every new paragraph. Make a brainstorm/mindmap of the
major points you want/need to cover in your essay. Make sure your points are relevant. Try not to
waffle.
Never say 'I think' (unless you're studying something like Philosophy where personal evaluation is
paramount) - they don't care about your opinion! Use phrases such as 'the evidence suggests' or 'this
implies that...'
Don't assert - demonstrate.
Be analytical and evaluative.
Structure your essays - e.g. intro, 4/5 paragraphs, conclusion. Start and finish every paragraph with a
topic sentence relating to the question. Make links.
Key sentences - an interesting intro - a clever conclusion (with a twist?) - use historical hindsight. Use
evidence well. Don't be afraid to criticise.
Listen to the points your teachers/friends/parents make - write them down so that you have a really
comprehensive range of notes to revise from.
Past Exam Questions
Practice your writing skills or make sure you know what rules, definitions and equations you might be
expected to know.
Always ask where you went wrong if you get a low grade.
Have a look at what the examiners are after. There are specific websites with past papers, mark
schemes etc. For maths, look at what you get marks for - many marks come from the method even if
the final answer is wrong. So make sure you always show your full working when in the exam.
Do lots of past papers under timed conditions - this works particularly well for History, English
Literature and Philosophy.
Only describe events when you need to in order to make your argument. - Explain why your point is
relevant and how it answers the question.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION TIMETABLE SUMMER 2016 v6
Any timetable clashes will be resolved on individual candidate timetables.
Date 2016
A.M. Exams start at 9.00 a.m. unless otherwise stated
P.M. Exams start at 1.20 p.m. unless otherwise stated
For GCSE French speaking tests throughout the year students must check dates/times with their MFL teacher.
The 10 hour Art exam consists of 2 x 3 hour sessions plus 4 hours in sessions of 30 mins or 1hr during Art lessons. Dates: 17th (3hrs), 22nd, 24th (3hrs), 29th & 31st March, 19th, 21st & 26th April. Attendance at all sessions is compulsory.
Tue 10th May
CiDA DA201 Dev Web Products 2hr 30m (Y11 resits)
Mon 16th May
GCSE RS 5RS02 1hr 30m (Y11 short & full, Y10 short) BTEC Travel & Tourism 21474E 1hr (Y11 resit)
GCE AS Psychology Paper 1 B29OU10-1 1hr 45m (Y12)
Tue 17th May
GCSE French Reading F A703/01 35m & H A703/02 45m (Y11) GCSE French Listening F A701/01 35m & H A701/02 45m (Y11) GCE AS Sociology paper 1 7191/1 1hr 30m (Y12)
GCSE Biology 5BI1F/H 1hr (Y11 separate sci & Y10) GCE Accounting ACCN1 1hr 30m (Y12)
Wed 18th May
GCSE ICT 5IT01 1hr 30m (Y11)
GCE AS History 6HI01 1hr 20m (Y13 resit tbc) GCE AS History paper 1 8HI0/1 2hr 15m (Y12) GCSE RS 5RS08 1hr 30m (Y11 Full course)
Thur 19th May
GCE AS MEST1 2hrs (Y12) GCSE Chemistry 5CH1F/H 1hr (Y11 separate sci & Y10)
GCE AS Business 7131/1 1hr 30m (Y12)
Fri 20th May
GCE AS Eng Lang & Lit ELLA1 1hr 30m (Y13 resit tbc) GCE AS Eng Lang & Lit 7706/1 1hr 30m (Y12) GCSE Spanish Reading H A723/02 (Y11) GCSE Spanish Listening H A721/02 45m (Y11)
GCSE PE 48903 1hr 30m (Y11) GCSE Portuguese Reading A833 1hr (Y10) GCE Accounting ACCN2 1hr 30m (Y12)
Mon 23rd May
GCSE English Literature Paper 1 97151F/H 1hr 30m GCE AS Eng Lang & Lit ELLA2 1hr 30m (Y13 resit tbc) GCE AS Eng Lang & Lit 7706/2 1hr 30m (Y12)
GCE AS Psychology Paper 2 B29OU20-1 1hr 45m (Y12)
Tue 24th May
GCSE Engineering A622/02 1hr (Y11) GCSE Media Studies 48101 1hr 30m (Y11) GCSE Chinese R & L 5CN03 50m & 5CN01 40m (Y10) GCE AS Sociology paper 2 7191/2 1hr 30m (Y12)
GCSE Geography 5GA1F/H Geo Skills 1hr (Y11) GCE AS Business 7131/2 1hr 30m (Y12)
Wed 25th May
GCSE Business Comms 5BS01 45m (Y11) GCSE Portuguese Listening A831 50m (Y10)
GCE AS History 6HI02 (Y13 resit tbc) GCE AS History paper 2 8HI0/2 1hr 30m (Y12) GCSE Physics 5PH1F/H 1hr (Y11 separate sci & Y10)
Thur 26th May
GCSE Mathematics Paper 1 Non-Calc 1MA0F/H 1hr 45m (Y11)
Fri 27th May
GCSE English Literature Paper 2 97152F/H 1hr 15m (Y11)
Half term
T/Admin/Examinations/2015-16/June/2016 Summer External timetable v6 15.03.16
Mon 6th June
GCSE History 5HB01B Crime & Punishment 1hr 15m (Y11)
GCSE Food Technology 45451 2hrs (Y11)
Tue 7th June
GCSE English Language ENG1F/H 2hr 15m (Y11) Cert Eng Lang Paper 1 8705/1F 2hrs (Y12/13 resits)
Wed 8th June
GCE A2 Media MEST3 2hrs (Y13) GCSE Computing A451/01 1hr 30m (Y11) Cam Nat Creative iMedia R081 1hr 15m (Y10 resits)
GCSE Geography 5GA2F/H Natural Env. 1hr 15m (Y11)
Thur 9th June
GCSE Mathematics Paper 2 Calc 1MA0F/H 1hr 45m (Y11)
Fri 10th June
GCE A2 History 6HI03D 2hrs (Y13)
GCSE Add Sci Biology 5BI2F/H 1hr (Y11)
GCSE Business Comms 5BS04 1hr 30m (Y11) GCSE Music 5MU03 1hr 30m (Y11) GCSE Portuguese Writing A834 1hr (Y10) Cert Eng Lang Paper 2 8705/2F 2hrs (Y12/13 resits)
Mon 13th June
GCSE Product Design Inn. Challenge session 1 3hrs (Y11)
GCSE Child Development 45801 1hr 30m (Y11)
Tue 14th June
GCSE Product Design Inn. Challenge session 2 3hrs (Y11)
GCSE History 5HB02B Am West 1hr 15m (Y11)
Wed 15th June
GCSE Product Design Inn. Challenge session 3 30mins (Y11)
GCSE Add Sci Chemistry 5CH2F/H 1hr (Y11)
Thur 16th June
WJEC L1/2 Safety & Security in Construction 9811/01 1hr online (Y11 resits & Y10)
Fri 17th June
GCSE Add Sci Physics 5PH2F/H 1hr (Y11) GCE A2 ELLA3 2hr 30m (Y13)
GCSE Geography 5GA3F/H Human Env. 1hr 15m (Y11) EXAM CLASH GCSE Health & Social Care 5HS01 1hr 15m (Y11)
Mon 20th June
GCSE F Add Sci Biology 5BI3F/H 1hr (Y11 sep sci)
GCSE Arabic Reading 5AR03 55m & Listening 5AR01 45m (Y9)
Tue 21st June
GCSE History 5HB03C War on Britain 1hr 15m (Y11)
GCSE Graphic Products 45501 2hrs (Y11)
Wed 22nd June
GCSE F Add Sci Chemistry 5CH3F/H 1hr (Y11 sep sci)
Thur 23rd June
GCSE Arabic Writing 5AR04 1hr (Y9)
Fri 24th June
GCSE F Add Sci Physics 5PH3F/H 1hr (Y11 sep sci)
Mon 27th June
GCSE Statistics 5ST01F 1hr 30m & 5ST01H 2hrs (Y9) GCSE Product Design Designing Influence 1554/01 1hr 30m (Y11)
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MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
Web support revision
Subject Link Useful for Username/
password
General
Revision
getrevising.co.uk Creating study plans, practise
questions, practise papers, and
mark schemes.
General
Revision
bbc.co.uk/education/levels/z98jmp3 All subjects. Summarised notes,
practise questions, practise
papers, and mark schemes.
English
Language
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqGFsWf-P-
cAbF4PN9zKiF1qoFpmuyZD9
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7WKivLeqN
E8sd-HuY73POLDzmhQKOOVV
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5m4nS9Kml
kyI_ME7zdL0ZLo1wPy9kspe
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqGFsWf-P-
cBnjI-6RVe2xKF43Rzj7f6O
YouTube clips for
understanding and producing
non-fiction texts
English
Literature
bbc.co.uk/education/topics/zxmb4j6
bbc.co.uk/education/topics/zph4dmn
bbc.co.uk/education/topics/zccxp39
youtube.com/watch?v=GS7J4ObYsfs
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7WKivLeqN
E9m_Wu1r0Cp22xie3llEaRz
Plot summaries, character
analysis, themes, form,
structure and language.
Writing and analysing poetry
YouTube clips for poetry
analysis and character and
voice.
Maths mathswatchvle.com
mymaths.co.uk
Foundation and higher tier,
with video clips and questions
on number, algebra, shape and
data.
Interactive lessons and
questions on every GCSE Maths
topic.
un: aomhs
pw: brown
Science bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zrkw2hv
gcsescience.com
Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Revision topics and tests.
Chemistry and Physics quizzes
and questions.