year 11 gcse preparation for mock exams...don't get bored. find a revision style that suits you....

Year 11 GCSE

Preparation for Mock Exams

November 30th - December 11th 2020

Name: ___________________________

Tutor Group: ______________________

Preparing for your GCSE examinations

Your mock exams are only 6 weeks away. You will be assessed in each subject with past papers. You will

know from the information sheets you receive in this pack the exact areas that you will be examined on in

your mocks and what you need to do to prepare for these exams. The material on which you will be studied

covers the GSCE courses that have been delivered since the start of Year 10. The exam timetable will be

published after half-term and the plan is to have exams taking place in classrooms.

It is vitally important that you use your time to prepare yourself well. This booklet should provide you with

all the information that you need to help you plan your revision and organise your time. This will enable you

to feel relaxed and confident going into these mock examinations.

This booklet contains:

Planning Revision:

Year 11 revision essential exam tips

An overview of some revision techniques

A revision timetable template for you to use to help you plan your revision effectively both over

half term and then in the school weeks which lead up to the mock exams

Guidance and Support:

Prayer

Keeping Healthy in Mind and Body

A reminder of how to approach your time during the exam itself, i.e. PLAN, TIME, NEAT

You should plan out your work. This may include any before school or after school revision classes that you

attend as well as the homework you complete. These are the 2 best ways to revise: the teacher input at the

revision sessions before and after school and the work set by teachers as your homework.

You should also remember to build in time to relax and look after yourself physically, mentally and spiritually.

You need to stay calm and confident in order to perform at your best.

Planning Revision

Tips for Successful Revision

1. Make a revision timetable. Use the blank timetable attached to plan which subjects you will revise on specific dates. Then identify which topics you will focus on.

2. Short bursts of revision (40-50 minutes) are most effective. Your concentration lapses after about an hour and you need to take a short break (5-10 minutes) before starting again.

3. Find a quiet place to revise: your bedroom or preferably some other quiet place at home and refuse to be interrupted or distracted. Switch off mobiles, tablets and other communication devices.

4. Make sure you don't just revise the subjects and topics you like. This is the classic mistake. Instead, identify and work on your weaker areas.

5. Transform the information, manipulate it, do something active with it. Write your own revision notes in your own words. That way you will remember what you have written down more easily.

Stick key notes to cupboards or doors so you see them every day.

6. Use different techniques. Make your own learning maps, use postit notes to write key words on, create flash cards. Use diagrams and pictures. Read your revision notes out loud. Ask friends and

family to test you. Use highlighter pens to mark important points. Re-cap in the next session the

trickiest points of your previous session. See if you can still answer them.

7. Practise using past exam papers or revision tests available from your teacher. Initially do one section at a time and progress to doing an entire paper against the clock. This way you are training

yourself for the specific ‘event’ in which you will be ‘competing.’

8. You will need help at some stage, ask parents, older brothers and sisters, teachers or friends. Only revise with a friend who is serious about his or her work. Use websites specifically designed for

revision.

9. Eat properly, get fresh air, stay hydrated and get lots of sleep! Reward yourself from time to time.

10. Believe in yourself and be positive. If you think you can succeed you will. If you fail, stay determined and then fail better. Fail better again and then eventually you will find that you can

succeed. Do not compare yourself to others. Results are not about who wins the gold medal, but

rather about you and your own personal best.

REVISION PLAN FOR WEEK 1

Week Commencing: Monday 12th October

SUBJECT TOPICS TO REVISE TIME

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MAXIMISE YOUR REVISION – Week 1

Your revision timetable during and after school leading up to the mock exams Week beginning 12th October

Please fill out classes available this week: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Before

School

Afterschool

Record of revision classes attended in Week 1

Week 1 BEFORE SCHOOL Attended AFTER SCHOOL Attended

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

In this week I attended ____ of a possible ____ revision classes

Your attendance and punctuality in Week 1

Week 1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Total / 5

%

Punctuality

Attendance




MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY


Your revision timetable during and after school leading up to the mock exams Week beginning 19th October


Before

School

Afterschool



MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY




%

Punctuality

Attendance

REVISION PLAN FOR HALF-TERM



MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Reflection on Half-term

At the end of half-term we would like your feedback on what has gone well. A form will be made available

on MS Teams by the end of half-term, please complete this when you have finished your revision and we can

look and see how you are doing with mock examination preparation.

You will be able to feedback on all of these areas:

What has gone well?

Please remember finding something easy does not necessarily mean it has gone well!

How helpful are the guides you have for each subject?

If there is anything missing or could be made better let us know?

Are there any specific areas you would like more help on?

There might be certain subjects you need to get better in, there may be more general areas that you need help

with.


Week Commencing: Monday 2nd November


MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY


Your revision timetable during and after school leading up to the mock exams Week beginning 2nd November 2020


Before

School

Afterschool



MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY




%

Punctuality

Attendance


Week Commencing: Monday 9th November


MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY


Your revision timetable during and after school leading up to the mock exams Week beginning 9th November


Before

School

Afterschool



MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY




%

Punctuality

Attendance


Week Commencing: Monday 16th November


MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY


Your revision timetable during and after school leading up to the mock exams Week beginning 16th November


Before

School

Afterschool



MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY




%

Punctuality

Attendance


Week Commencing: Monday 23rd November


MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY


Your revision timetable during and after school leading up to the mock exams Week beginning 23rd November


Before

School

Afterschool



MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY




%

Punctuality

Attendance

Support and Guidance

Prayers

Lord

At this moment, we can do only the best we can with the knowledge we have.

Take away our fear, calm our jumbled thoughts that we may complete these exams with a clear mind and

steady heart.

Through Christ our Lord

Amen

Lord

Your love for us is always with us, surrounding and holding us in every moment.

In this time of challenge, help us to recognise that you love us as we are.

Give us the peace that trusting in you brings.


Amen

Lord

We put to rest with you this working day, with its happiness and its troubles.

We ask for the peace of your presence and your ongoing help.


Amen

We have finished today’s exams Lord, and offer them to you;

the questions we found easy and the ones with which we struggled.

Knowing we can do no more about them, we ask that you renew and refresh us

that we may begin anew with a calm mind


Amen

Health in Body and Mind

The following guidance is from the NHS, the first part is for pupils, the second part for parents. The advice is

excellent and we really encourage parents and pupils to fully read both parts.

NHS: Guide for Pupils

Being well prepared for your exams is the best way to overcome stress and anxiety, and gives you the best chance of

getting good grades.

Revision tips

Make a realistic revision schedule. Work out how much you have to do and the time you have to do it in, then

break it down into manageable chunks. Aim to do a few hours of revision each day, and mix up your subjects so you

don't get bored.

Find a revision style that suits you. Studying alone in a quiet room suits some people, but not everyone likes

working in silence. Try playing music quietly in the background, or revising with a friend (but don't let them distract

you!).

Customise your notes to make them more personal. Experiment with colour coding, notes on postcards,

diagrams or whatever helps you learn your topic.

Make sure you understand everything. If you come across something you don't understand, try to find a new

source of information that will help you understand it. Just memorising it won't help you in your exam. Don't be

afraid to ask your teacher or a friend for help if you need it.

Look at past exam papers. It means you can familiarise yourself with the layout and type of questions you'll be

asked. Practise completing exam papers in the set time limit to improve your exam technique.

Take regular short breaks. Studying for hours and hours will only make you tired and ruin your concentration,

which may make you even more anxious. A break every 45 to 60 minutes is about right.

Reward yourself. For example, you could take a long bath or watch a good DVD once you have finished your

revision session.

Do something physical. When you're not revising, use your spare time to get away from your books and do

something active. Exercise is good for taking your mind off stress and keeping you positive, and it will help you sleep

better.

Ask for help. If you're feeling stressed, it's important to talk to someone you trust, such as a family member,

teacher or a friend. Lots of people find exams difficult to deal with, so don't be embarrassed to ask for support.

NHS Guide to Parents

Make sure your child eats well A balanced diet is vital for your child's health, and can help them feel well during exam periods.

Some parents find high-fat, high-sugar and high-caffeine foods and drinks, such as energy drinks, cola,

sweets, chocolate, burgers and chips, make their children hyperactive, irritable and moody.

Where possible, involve your child in shopping for food and encourage them to choose some healthy

snacks.

Help your child get enough sleep Good sleep improves thinking and concentration. Most teenagers need 8 to 10 hours' sleep a night.

Allow half an hour or so for your child to wind down between studying, watching TV or using a computer

and going to bed, to help them get a good night's sleep.

Cramming all night before an exam is usually a bad idea. Sleep will benefit your child far more than a few

hours of panicky last-minute study.

Be flexible during exams Be flexible around exam time. When your child is revising all day, do not worry about household jobs left

undone or untidy bedrooms. Staying calm yourself can help. Remember, exams do not last forever.

Help them study Make sure your child has somewhere comfortable to study. Ask them how you can support them with

their revision.

Help them come up with practical ideas that will help them revise, such as drawing up a revision schedule

or getting hold of past papers for practice.

To motivate your child, encourage them to think about their goals in life and see how their revision and

exams are related to them.

Talk about exam nerves Remind your child that it's normal to feel anxious. Nervousness is a natural reaction to exams. The key is

to put these nerves to positive use.

If anxiety is getting in the way rather than helping, encourage your child to practise the activities they'll be

doing on the day of the exam. This will help it feel less scary.

For example, this may involve doing practice papers under exam conditions or seeing the exam hall

beforehand. School staff should be able to help with this.

Help your child face their fears and see these activities through, rather than avoiding them.

Encourage them to think about what they know and the time they've already put into studying to help

them feel more confident.

Encourage exercise during exams Exercise can help boost energy levels, clear the mind and relieve stress. It does not matter what it is –

walking, cycling, swimming, football and dancing are all effective.

Activities that involve other people can be particularly helpful.

Do not add to the pressure Support group Childline says many children who contact them feel that most pressure at exam time comes

from their family.

Listen to your child, give them support and avoid criticism.

Before they go in for a test or exam, be reassuring and positive. Let them know that failing is not the end

of the world. If things do not go well they may be able to take the exam again.

After each exam, encourage your child to talk it through with you. Discuss the parts that went well rather

than focusing on the questions they found difficult. Then move on and focus on the next test, rather than

dwelling on things that cannot be changed.

Make time for treats With your child, think about rewards for doing revision and getting through each exam.

Rewards do not need to be big or expensive. They can include simple things like making their favourite

meal or watching TV.

When the exams are over, help your child celebrate by organising an end-of-exams treat.

Exam Preparation: Plan, Time, Neat

Over the next few weeks we will be asking Year 11 to adopt this approach in all of their exams. It is

important that pupils plan out the approach to answering each individual exam; that careful attention is paid

to the timing of each question; and that consideration is given to presentation and the neatness of their

answer.

PLAN

Highlight important instructions on the front cover of your exam.

Highlight the command words and key words in each question.

Circle the number of available marks for each question. This will be indication of how much to

write and how many points to include in your answer.

For longer mark questions, write a brief plan at the beginning of the answer neatly.

Respect the question: never rush reading a question.

Interrogate the question: make sure you have read the question correctly. Make sure you are

answering exactly what it is asking.

Think about key words / quotes / examples / facts that would be needed in the answer, to help you

plan and get your mind thinking.

When you have completed the question, tick off the highlighted key words to ensure you have

answered it correctly and in the depth required.

TIME Ask your teachers for advice on how long you should be spending on each question and stick to

this as best as you can.

Keep checking the clock in the examination to ensure you stick to the time required.

For longer mark questions, if you find it helpful, note down what time you started the question.

If you find that you are stuck on a question, move onto another question and come back to this if

you have time. Don’t panic.

Remember to try your best to plan in some time to check your answers at the end.

NEAT Examiners cannot award you marks for your answers if they cannot read them.

Make sure that your handwriting is as neat as possible and is not too small to read.

Any drawings or diagrams should be completed with a pencil and ruler.

Your work should be easy to follow and well organised.

Ensure that your spellings are correct, especially when using key words.

Use capital letters

Use correct punctuation – full stops, commas and paragraphs.

year 11 gcse preparation for mock exams...don't get bored. find a revision style that suits you....

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