English and Mathematics Exam Preparation Assistance

1. The English DirectorateMrs C GowlandDirector of English

2. 2x Full GCSEs • 1x English Literature • 1x English Language • All exams have transferable skills which can be applied to ALL papers • English Language and Literature are considered key entry qualifications for all college courses, apprenticeships and jobs

3. English: 9 full components English Language • Exploring and Reading Creative Texts • Writing to Describe • Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives • Writing to Persuade. English Literature: • Macbeth by William Shakespeare • An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley • Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde OR A Christmas Carol • A selection of 15 Poems from the AQA Anthology • Unseen Poetry

4. Revision for ENGLISH LITERATURE All exams are closed book (no book in exam) • Macbeth and Dr Jekyll/A Christmas Carol : EXTRACT questions so key quotes and plot line must be learnt • An Inspector Calls : full text analysis based on character or theme so will need at least 6 quotes learnt for each character and each theme

5. Poetry : key quotes for every poem to be learnt with clear understanding of the message in each poem • Literary devices must be learnt and practised, especially how to recognise them in a text/poem Key websites include: • www.sparknotes.com • www.bbcbitesize/KS4 • Doddle

6. Language • All pupils have a revision guide and a workbook • Home work will come from the workbook after Christmas to support pupils’ revision • Formulas are in place for how to write to Persuade and to Describe • Formulas must be learnt and practised, both for how to use and how to recognise

7. Transferable skills • Selecting key words and explaining what they mean – KEY SKILL • Comparing characters/ places/ attitudes etc • Looking for the features of persuasion in a text and writing their own persuasive piece • Looking for the features of description in a text and writing their own descriptive piece

8. Key ways you can help: • Summarising things you watch together • Comparing 2 things (similarities and differences) • Challenge their language • Read a quality newspaper supplement at the weekend (The Observer/ The Times/ the Guardian – all have on-line versions) • Make them Persuade you to… • Get them to describe…

9. Time to study at home • Approx 20-30 minutes every night • Use revision guides • Make own flashcards for characters, chapters, themes etc • Quote bank to learn for every text • Homework set once a week formally – approx 40 minutes

10. Mathematics Data Handling Algebra Number Shape and Measure

11. The Maths Directorate Mrs A Maritz Director of Maths

12. Mathematics • Exam Board – Edexcel • Exam only- No Coursework • All papers cover all topics • Paper 1 – Non Calculator • Paper 2 – Calculator • Paper 3 – Calculator

13. Teacher Class Student’s Retention of Mathematics Homework Past Papers Revision Teacher Afterschool Classes

14. Revision How much and how often? • Minimum 20mins, 3 x week of your own revision. • Homework is NOT own revision. It is school directed.

15. Revision What do I need to revise? • Use your QLA sheet to inform you of your strengths and weaknesses. • Homework is practice-papers from the exam boards. Look at the questions you are struggling with and revise these.

16. Revision Read Write See Hear How do I revise? • Select a topic. • Use your revision guide to read through the explanation of how to do questions relating to the topic. • Watch a video on the selected topic. • Practice by completing exam style questions on the selected topic.

17. Where to Get Help Revision Guide and Work Book (provided). Active Learn: www.pearsonactivelearn.com Login details available from class teacher Doddle: www.doddlelearn.co.uk Login details in student’s planner Pixl Maths App: Free Download from Google Play or iTunes App Store. Login details available from class teacher Just Maths: www.online.justmaths.co.uk User Name: NewlandStudent Password: Newland No Login Details required Corbett Maths www.corbettmaths.com Mr Barton Maths: www.mrbartonmaths.com

18. What is the PiXL Maths App (PMA)? • It is an online assessment program. • It follows the core PiXL beliefs of DTT. • Available on multiple platforms.

19. Summary of what the PMA does so far: • More than 150 therapy videos • Levelled Questions (self marking) • Confidently assesses skills online and provides a means for students to be able to analyse their question papers using the gap analysis tool

20. Now students can “Take a challenge” which allows both legacy spec and 9-1 spec challenges to be taken at a specific Target grade.

21. Now STUDENTScan…..DESIGN their own test or overview their progress

22. There are Therapy videos available on each page and Questions are now graded

23. App reviews It’s really useful! I find it really useful as I can go home and practise things that I may not understand or have forgotten about. 'Now when I'm sitting on the bus, I get my phone out, and start using the Maths app' 'Instead of going in the kitchen to eat junk food, I just go on the Mathsapp instead' Very useful Used properly this will make a difference to your grades I use the app every day and have become confident in class The APP is in heavy use at our school the overall feedback is very positive indeed. You can learn new things that you know you will almost definitely need for exams and do it independently from class and teachers

24. The Science Directorate Miss C Rudkin Director of Science

25. Minimum of 2 GCSEs • Science Core and Additional Science (2 GCSE’s). • Triple Science (Biology exam taken in Y10), Chemistry and Physics. • Both qualifications will have 6 hours of exams in the summer. • All have 25% ISA (investigative skills assessment) Coursework

26. Science • Both qualifications include Biology, Chemistry and Physics. • Topics include:

27. Revision for Science Knowledge and recall is the main barrier. Your child must learn key chemical equations: • Extraction of metal using blast furnace • Limestone cycle. • Chemical tests for ions (triple only) In the exam students are provided with an equation sheet and periodic table. All students have access to a free revision guide which includes sample exam questions.

28. What support is available in school? Every student has a revision guide. After school sessions. Catch up for ISAs on selected Saturdays and Thursday afternoon.

29. What happens at home can have a huge impact on student achievement.

30. Things that can help to boost your child's GCSE Grade Little and often helps students remember: The Coronation Street challenge: Revise a topic during the advert breaks in a soap opera. Test your child on the topic at the end. Tip – use the tick lists to help pinpoint areas for revision

31. Mind maps You can create mind maps with your child about particular topics they need to revise. Include pictures and diagrams to help your child remember – particularly useful for visual & kinaesthetic learners. Talking about the topic with you can help auditory learners too.

32. Milk moment You can put a topic on the front of the fridge that you want to work on. Whenever your child goes to the fridge they must read it, cover it up and recall one different fact from it each time.

33. Key websites • You tube channels: • Mygcsescience • Primrosekitten BBC bitesize Docbrown Science

34. Preparing for the exam One way that is extremely effective is using past papers. The AQA provides past papers and the mark schemes for free and you can access them and print them off at home. http://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/exams-guidance/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes

35. Data interpretation • Graph reading skills: • What do the axis say? • What does the pattern tell me? • Is more than 1 line on the graph? • Does this mean the same thing? • Any anomalous results?

36. How do you help? • Test them on the key facts. • Allow them to stick notes around the house. • Help them mark the practice questions in the revision guide together using the answers. • Help create exam conditions in the kitchen for past papers and placemats.

37. Time to study at home • Approx 20-30 minutes every night although different subjects. • Use revision guides • Make own flashcards for key terms and facts • Use placemats to help understand key ideas • Homework set once a week formally knowledge tests or exam questions.