How to succeed at GCSE

1
How to succeed at GCSE

• A Students Guide

2
Things to help

• Easter Revision Courses there will be some more
  at Whitsun
• Revision Conference
• Revision Sessions during examination period
• Exam Timetable available on website
• Revision guide and planning information
• SAM Learning
• After school and before school - revision
  classes

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Revision Sessions
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STUDY LEAVE

• All students are expected to attend all their
  lessons, unless they are in an examination, until
  the end of the day on the last day of the
  half-term  Thursday 21 May 2009.
• From after half-term students will be expected to
  attend all their lessons in each subject they
  study until the final examination in that
  subject.  Once a subject is completed students
  should undertake private study during that time
  either in school or at home.
• Attendance at subject lessons until the final
  examination in that subject is compulsory.
  Official Leaving date is Last Friday in June.

5
Preparation for Revision

• The correct environment
• Space desk/table, chair
• No distractions
• Music? Television?
• Warm and comfortable
• Books/notes nearby

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How to revise

• Not just reading and rereading notes
• Important to process the information
• Prepare the information for how it will be needed
  in the examination

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Revision Notes

• Use headings and subheadings
• Make bulleted lists of what needs to be
  remembered
• Underline/highlight
• Well spaced out

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Other types of notemaking

• Mind maps
• Flow charts
• Tables eg. Advantages and disadvantages
• Information diagrams eg. Geographical features

Use LETTS Revision guides
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Preparing for the examination

• Practice exam papers
• Practice timings
• Look carefully at how and where marks are awarded
• Dont do this until you are ready!
• Do not panic on morning of the exam questions
  etc.

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Websites

• www.aqa.org.uk
• www.edexcel.org.uk
• www.ocr.org.uk
• www.bbc.co.uk/revision
• www.samlearning.com
• www.mymaths.co.uk
• www.learn.co.uk
• www.s-cool.co.uk
• www.orwellhigh.com
• Lots of subject specific sites can be found using
  search engines and asking teachers.

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Preparation for Revision

• Organisation
• A revision timetable is essential
• Ideally gt2.5 hours a night
• Ideally 6 hours on Saturday and Sunday
• Not continuous time plan in breaks/rewards
• Revisit each area three times during revision

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Preparation for Revision

• How to fit in revision
• Time that was previously wasted
• Fill in the gaps
• Reorganise current priorities for the revision
  period

13
Revision Techniques

• Test yourself
• Friends, parents, brothers/sisters can test you
• Use cards with the main points but dont forget
  the detailed notes as well
• Use help notes stuck around the room or around
  the house
• Mnemonics, mind maps, recordings, diagrams,
  graphs, tables, etc

14

• BBC Bitesize PodCasts
• Many subjects available and allows you to revise
  on the move and without lots of equipment.

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/audio/