24/10/2014

1

Welcome to the Year 11

Parent Workshop

While we’re waiting to start,

consider all the factors that

would affect the performance

of a student in their GCSE

exams … and write them in

between the spokes of the A3

wheel… we’ve started you off

with an easy one…

Revision

Please help yourselves to tea,

coffee and juice

What will be covered this evening?

• The Year Ahead

• Why mocks are important

• Mock input from core subject areas

• Supporting Revision

• Grit and Growth Mindset

• Discussing common scenarios

• Communication with school

• QuestionsPresentation available on

school website.

The Year AheadDate Event

Thursday 6th November Year 11 Progress Evening 4pm-7.30pm

Thursday 13th November Sixth Form Open Evening

Mon 1st – Wed 10th December Year 11 Mock Exams

Mon 15th December Sixth Form Application Deadline*

Wednesday 7th January Year 11 Mock Results Day

Wednesday 28th January Year 11 Parent Workshop 2

Thursday 12th February Year 11 Futures Interviews

Fri 4th – Tues 22nd April Easter Holidays

Friday 8th May Year 11 Celebration Day (NB Lessons / Revision

Sessions Continue to the end of exams)

Monday 11th May – Tues 23rd June Public Examinations

Thursday 18th June Year 11 Ball

Friday 26th June Sixth Form Induction Day

Are the mocks important?

YES, for at least 4 good reasons.

1. Mock exams are vital for practice; just as actors need a stage rehearsal before the real performance, so you need practice under exam conditions before you take the real exams in the summer.

2. Mock exams test your knowledge and let you and your teachers know which topics are your strongest and weakest. You (and they!) can then plan revision based on giving more time to your weakest areas.

3. It will help you recall knowledge in the real exams. Your GCSE exams might seem a long way away, but if you revise thoroughly now, you will be amazed at how quickly and easily you will remember things when you revise a second time.

4. For subjects that are tiered, this will act as a ‘test run’ – you will not be able to enter for the Higher Tier in the summer unless you prove you can perform well in the mocks

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English Language Exam

Mocks 2014

Unit One –Reading -1 hour

This unit will test through structured questions

the reading of two non-fiction texts.

Such as leaflets or internet web pages.

Key Skills Being Tested

• Read and understand texts,

• Select material,

• Make comparisons

• Interpret writers’ ideas

• Explain how writers use language to achieve

effects and influence the reader

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4 Questions – 15 minutes on each

• Question one – asks students to locate evidence from a text and record it clearly using quotations from a text – ‘Explain how/What evidence is there…’

• Question two – asks students to infer information from a text – ‘What does… think/feel about…’

• Question three – asks students to look for writing/language technique ‘how does…show…’

• Question four – asks students to compare how particular information is shown in the two texts given.

What can be done at home?

1. Read a variety of non-fiction texts – ask your child to pick out at least 8 main points in a piece of non-fiction writing

2. Ask your child to explain what the writer feels and how they know this

3. Ask your child to highlight types of language features being used in a text

4. Ask your child what the tone of the text is (sarcastic/humorous…) and get them to explain how they know this

Unit Two –Writing – 1 hour

This unit will test students’ ability to write for a

range of audiences and purposes, adapting

style to form and real-life context

Students need to write texts that sound realistic

and credible.

Generally these will be based on local and social

issues.

Key Skills Being Tested

• Students must communicate clearly and imaginatively,

• Write for a range of purposes,

• Select appropriate vocabulary to engage the reader

• Organise information and ideas into structured and sequenced sentences, paragraphs and use connectives

• Use a range of sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate punctuation and spelling

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2 questions – 30 minutes per

question

• Informal/formal letters

• Reports

• Articles for newspapers or magazines

• Information for a leaflet

• Speeches/radio show scripts

• Reviews

What can be done at home?

• Reading lots of non-fiction texts – ask them what the features of these texts are

• Students need to show they can use compound, simple and complex sentences – ask them what the rules are and get them to teach them to you

• Students must use connectives at the start and within paragraphs to structure and organise their writing – ask them to use these in conversations with you

• Read examples of your child’s work and check for correct punctuation and grammar

• Ask your child to think of sophisticated

alternatives to vocabulary they use

• Students should practise writing under timed

conditions – questions and resources are

available from English staff

What can be done at home? Useful Resources

• www.worksheetplace.com

• BBC Bitesize

• Revision guides available on Parent Pay

• SAM Learning

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Google: ‘WJEC Past Papers’

• English/GCSE

• English Literature GCSE

MathematicsLinear GCSE Examination

Edexcel

Past Exam Questions*13. Talil is going to make some concrete mix.

He needs to mix cement, sand and gravel in the ratio 1 : 3 : 5 by weight.

Talil wants to make 180 kg of concrete mix.

Talil has

15 kg of cement

85 kg of sand

100 kg of gravel

Does Talil have enough cement, sand and gravel to make the concrete mix?

(Total for Question 13 is 4 marks)

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Past Exam Questions

• Maths teachers have now set a calculator

exam paper to be completed over the half

term holiday

• Classes will then be set one non-calculator

paper and one calculator paper to be

completed as revision in the two weeks

leading up to the Mock Exams (w/b 1st Dec)

• Students are encouraged to submit papers

and/or use mark schemes to trigger key

revision topics

• www.mymaths.co.uk

• School Login: gordano

• Password: similar

• Students have their own ‘Portal’ logins

• MyHomework

• MyResults

• MyLibrary

• MyBooster Packs

Revision Guides

• Statistics

• Number

• Geometry

• Algebra

• New GCSE Maths Revision Apps

• Graded notes sections with questions

• ‘I can…’ Grade Booster sections

• Workbook with actual past paper questions

• Full, detailed solutions and mark schemes

• £6.50 on Amazon

Equipment

• Protractor

• Compass

• Ruler

• Pencil & Eraser

• Calculator (paper 2 only)

• Tracing paper will be provided

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Gordano Science Year 11

Mock Revision

2014

Which Science GCSE’s is your

daughter/son taking?

Group GCSE

11S3

11S2

Core Science

11S1, 11L Core Science AND Additional Science

11G TWO of Biology, Chemistry, Physics AND

Additional Science

11P Biology Chemistry Physics

Mock exams:

Group GCSE

11S3 11S2 Core Science B711 (75 min) B712 (90 min)

Module B1 C1 P1 Module B2 C2 P2

11S1, 11L Core Science AND Additional ScienceB712 (90 min) B721 (75 min)

Module B2 C2 P2 Module B3 C3 P3

11G TWO of Biology, Chemistry, PhysicsB731 (75 min) B741 (75 min) B751 (75 min)

Module B1 B2 B3 Module C1 C2 C3 Module P1 P2 P3

11P Biology Chemistry PhysicsB731 (75 min) B741 (75 min) B751 (75 min)

Module B1 B2 B3 Module C1 C2 C3 Module P1 P2 P3

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Which Textbook from the Library:

Group GCSE

11S2. 11S3 Core Science

11S1

11L

Core Science AND

Additional Science

11G TWO of Biology,

Chemistry, Physics

11P Biology Chemistry Physics

Sam Learning: revision set for all

classes www.samlearning.com

Group GCSE Past Papers Sam

Learning

set for

pupils?

Book from Library

11S3

11S2

Core Science�

11S1

11L

Core Science AND

Additional Science �

11G TWO of Biology,

Chemistry, Physics �

11P Biology Chemistry

Physics �

Group GCSE Past Papers Sam

Learning.com

set for pupils?

Online book, revision

podcasts and revision

lesson notes on LG

Book from Library

11S3 Core Science���� ����

11S2,

11S3

Core Science AND

Additional Science ���� ����

11G TWO of Biology,

Chemistry, Physics ���� ����

11P Biology Chemistry

Physics ���� ����

Extra sessions?

Could you look at

my revision notes at

lunchtime with me?

I need some help

understanding the

Big Bang. Can you

explain it

afterschool?

Can you show me

how to calculate

relative atomic

mass?

Yes

Plus: bespoke revision in lessons

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Group GCSE Past Papers? Sam

Learning.com

set for pupils?

Online book, revision

podcasts and revision

lesson notes on LG, extra

help?

Book from Library

11S3 Core Sciencetinyurl.com/nhpq4gd ���� ����

11S2,

11S3

11L

Core Science tinyurl.com/nhpq4gd

Additional Sciencetinyurl.com/pt4t3ld

���� ����

11G TWO of Biologytinyurl.com/olc4jtv

Chemistrytinyurl.com/o89wuh4

Physicstinyurl.com/p33pslj

���� ����

11P Biology Chemistry

Physics ���� ����

GCSEFrench, German, Spanish

Speaking

Controlled Assessment

30%

Writing

Controlled Assessment

30%

Listening

Exam

20%

Reading

Exam

20%

Controlled Assessment:

Speaking

‘Travelling abroad’

Tue 11th or Wed 12th

November

Writing

‘Holidays’

Monday 10th

November

Exams:

Listening

Foundation:

35 minutes

Higher:

45 minutes

Reading

Foundation:

30 minutes

Higher:

50 minutes

How can I revise

for these exams?

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Revision…

• On-line topic-based vocabulary practice

• Includes sound for pronunciation

• Download from GLG

• Customise your own dictionary

• NB. Microsoft Access

Revision…

• Hard copy of the

GCSE Specification

vocabulary list

• Available on GLG

Revision ���� Exam Practice

• Vocabulary revision

• Online Listening and Reading practice tests

• Instant feedback/ marking

• Repeat tests to improve each time

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Supporting Revision

Do you know…

…how long a typical 15 year old spends in front of the television each day?

Around 2 hours (which is an hour less than their parents)

Do you know…

…how long a typical 15 year old spends on their phone each day?

2-3 hours, sending 30 text messages in that time.

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Do you know…

…how long a typical 15 year old spends surfing the internet each day?

Around 1 hour

Do you know…

…how long a typical 15 year old spends playing games each day?

Around 2 hours

So how much time should a 15 year old spend

each day revising for exams? A rough guide…

Most Year 11 students are taking exams in 10 or 11

subjects

Most subjects will have at least 10 topics that need

to be learned

Each topic could take at least 2 hours to learn

fully…

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…which means that

before the real GCSE

exams, most students

will need to find time for

200 hours of revision

How much at a time?

3 parts revision

to

1 part break

for most students

this will be:

30 minutes revision

+ 10 minutes break

Mind MapsThese are good because….

• All the information is on one page

• Colour and pictures help the brain remember more easily

• It is easy to spot links between related ideas or concepts

• They force you to think as you are making them, leading to an improved understanding of content

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Shrinking it down…This is a good revision method because….

• It chunks knowledge into manageable pieces,

especially for subjects with a lot of content

• Repetition of important points will help the brain

remember them more easily

• It is a very thorough way to revise and goes

beyond simple recall of

knowledge, leading to

deeper understanding

Notes

Process

& Learn

Shrink

Learn

FlashcardsThese are good because….

• They are convenient, widely

available and easy to use

• They are excellent for short,

sharp bursts of revision

• They are easy to carry around

• You can easily sort them into

topics you know well and those

you need to do more work on

PodcastsThese are good because….

• Most people remember

things better through a

combination of reading and

listening than reading alone

• You can revise anywhere, so

long as you have your

headphones with you

• You can put things to music,

which aids memorisation

Highly recommended is

www.getrevising.co.uk

Loads of revision tips and

revision planning tools, including

flashcards and mind maps

www.lettsrevision.com/students

Gives a useful basic guide to all

aspects of preparing for exams

On the web (and free)

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You have to know the details of your syllabus – it’s easy

to revise things that are not relevant for your exam.

ALWAYS get your teacher’s advice about online revision

resources.

GLG Subjects Area

Setting targets for Term 2 / Mocks

• Buying and using revision guides (highlighting, taking notes, completing exercises)

• Completing revision through half term / November

– a particular number of hours per day in half term

– completing particular revision activities e.g. mind maps

– Downloading / listening to / taking notes on podcasts

– Completing / marking certain past papers / practice questions

• Completing particular pieces of Coursework / Controlled Assessment (at a particular grade, by a certain date)

• Completing applications for post-16 courses (6th form, College)

What’s going on in my brain?

Growth MindsetFixed Mindset

Intelligence

is fixedIntelligence

can growAbility leads to

success

Effort leads to

success

I need to be

viewed as

able

I only need to

believe in

myself

Success is

the

achievement

of goals

When things

get tough, I

learn from it

When things

get tough, I

look stupid

When things

get tough, I

persist

When things

get tough, I

give up

Success is

being better

than others

“I can’t do it…yet”

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What are these and how did they

help win Olympic medals for Team

GB?

They are ‘bum warmers’ to warm the buttock

muscles of Olympic cyclists before a race! The

extra warmth means the cyclists can start one

hundredth of a second faster than their

opponent. Remember, that to be a success in

anything the small details really matter!

+http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCXz2EAVwd0

The difference between a D and a C (or a B and

an A) is ONE mark out of 400 (or more).

The Road to Glory: The Principle of Marginal Gains

• Look at ALL elements that affect performance

• Improved every little thing by 1%

• Add the fractions

• Create the plan

• Focus on the process, not the outcome…Back to the wheel, consider all the elements

that would affect the performance of a

student in their GCSE exams …

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Communication with school

• With subject teacher

• With Tutor

• With House Learning Manager

• With Senior member of staff linked to House

• Email address is always the first initial followed by

the surname then ‘@gordanoschool.org.uk’

• E.g. ‘tinman@gordanoschool.org.uk’

Buying revision guides

3 ways…

• On Amazon (or other online supplier)

• For CGP – by completing order form

• For Collins – by CASH payment on Progress

Evening (Thurs 6th November)

Supported after

school study

Monday to Thursday

3.25-4.25pm

in PL3Biscuits and refreshments included

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Any further questions?

Thank you for coming

See you on Thursday 6th

November