1-3 Introduction

4 Biology

5 Business

6 Chemistry

7 Computer Science

8 Drama

9 English Language and Literature

10 Food and Nutrition

11 French

12 Geography

13 German

14 History

15 Maths

16 Music

17 PE

18 Physics

19 Product Design

20 RE

21 Spanish

22 Textiles

Contents

Year 11 Revision Introduction

Dear Year 11, You are now nearing the final phase of Year 11. Here are some top tips to support you over the next few weeks. First things first: Ensure that you understand the structure of each exam

Non-calculator/calculator

How many questions should I answer?

How much reading or planning time?

Mark per minute?

Listening, reading or writing

The content to be covered in each exam (is there a list?)

What are the best sources/methods of revision?

Revision to be covered in lessons

Planning your revision

Why bother writing a revision timetable?

Cramming at the last minute does not work!

It plans for what is going to be revised

It plans when you are going to revise it

It allows you to balance your revision with other commitments

It gives you reassurance that you have covered all of the material you need to

How do I decide what to revise?

Highlight each aspect of all of your subjects with a colour based on the following:

If it were covered in exam question on a paper you did today, would you…

be able to answer it fully without any problems? (Green) be able to answer some of it, but not all/could attempt an answer? (Amber) not be able to answer any of it/have no idea what it is? (Red)

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Now what? Red topics: Decide if you need further help on this. If so, ask a teacher or someone else who is studying the subject Put these topics into your timetable with increasing gaps Aim to review 4 – 6 times

Amber topics: Put these topics into your timetable with increasing gaps Aim to review 3 – 4 times

Green topics: Put these topics into your timetable with increasing gaps Aim to review 1 – 2 times

How do I organise my revision timetable? Preparation: Get all the information you need - this includes your exam dates, lesson

timetable and any other commitments which won’t stop during your revision and exam period.

Block out the times you can’t study and when you have exams. Be realistic about how much revision you intend to do effectively each day: How long on a school night? How long at a weekend? How long on each day of the holidays?

Start your revision day at the same time as the morning exam start time and

keep your sleeping routine the same as when you are at school.

50 minute revision sessions, except when completing a timed exam paper, are advisable as a maximum. Sometimes it may also be appropriate to complete a shorter revision activity such as a quick fire test.

Include breaks and rewards.

Include periods of exercise and relaxation – perhaps consider a new activity such as yoga or zumba - lots of classes are held locally. Alternatively just a walk in the fresh air will refresh you.

Eat well and drink plenty of water.

Vary the time of day you revise each subject.

Plan the subject and topic of your revision in advance, based on your Red, Amber or Green rating

Perhaps try an online revision planner such as ‘Get Revising.’

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How can I stick to it:

Try sharing your plan with friends and family so they can keep you on track,

and make sure your plan stays accurate by updating it when things change.

Perhaps display it on the fridge door.

Tick off topics when you’ve covered them, it will give you a sense of

achievement

Revision will be more interesting if you vary the way you revise. Try making

your own flashcards and mind maps, get together with friends and test each

other and don’t forget to practise past questions.

Remove distractions. In particular consider how you can control your social

media usage to support your revision. In previous years our Year 11 students

have stopped using social media during revision and exam time, perhaps you

and your friendship group can agree a way to manage this.

Each subject has provided a page to support your revision. You have probably been

told about the recommended ways of revising and revision materials before, but in

this booklet it is all in one place.

Everyone at SHS is proud of all of your hard work so far, and we all look forward to

seeing you achieve your personal best in the summer.

Mrs Thornton

Assistant Head, Curriculum, Teaching & Learning

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Exam Board – AQA

Recommended resources/links

Your text book, CGP revision guide and practise paper booklets

Kerboodle - use this online interactive text book to make notes and use the

resources linked to each chapter to find revision checklists and questions to try.

Final pieces of advice

Don't forget to learn the practical work as well - there is always going to be

questions asking you to interpret data, as well as plan a method.

Learn the work using mind maps, flash cards, or making summary notes (don't forget to learn the diagrams too).

Test your understanding using practise papers. When you mark the paper, look at which bit you didn't do so well on, and go back over those topics again.

Then retest.

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Biology

Exam Board – OCR

Recommended resources/links

GCSE Bitesize Course Textbook To extend learning, use Tutor2U notes and videos

Final pieces of advice

Make sure your judgements and conclusions at the end of longer essay style

answers are well balanced and justified.

Always make use of the stimulus material referring regularly to the named business

and its circumstances rather than writing in general about ‘a business’

Make sure you know your formula for the finance section

Practise questions from the workbook and end of topic questions in the course textbook.

Learn key terms. Make sure essay templates for long questions are

complete. (Templates in year folders on G Drive) Make sure you can now answer any questions you

answered incorrectly from the year 11 mock examination.

Business

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Exam Board – AQA

Use the mark scheme to mark your responses. Annotate (make notes) beside

any corrections.

The next time chemistry is on your revision timetable, do the same practise

paper again under test conditions. This time, if you like, you can write on the

paper. Mark it and, if necessary, consolidate your notes.

Repeat the same procedure with the next past/practise paper. Don’t worry

when your first scores are low. They will improve the more papers you do!

Recommended resources/links

https://padlet.com/shschemistry/GCSE_Chemistry_Revision

Kerboodle: use this online interactive text book to make notes and use the

resources linked to each chapter to find revision checklists and questions to try.

Final pieces of advice

After working through a specific chemistry topic, test yourself using the resources

here:

https://padlet.com/shschemistry/GCSE_Revision_Quizzes

https://padlet.com/shschemistry/GCSE_TopicQuestions

Chemistry

I’d like to re-iterate the advice given by Biology but here’s some

additional advice about how to get the best out of a past paper:

Rather than writing on the past paper get some lined paper

and write on that instead. Work through a past/practise

paper “open-book” so use your revision guide as much as

you like. It will be slow going and may take up several

chemistry slots on your revision timetable.

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Exam Board – Edexcel

Recommended resources/links

Teach-ICT.com is great for theory:

http://www.teach-ict.com/2016/GCSE_Computing/OCR_J276/OCR_J276_home.html

https://padlet.com/shs_ict/GCSE_CS

Final pieces of advice

Don't bullet point 6 mark questions EVER - they need reasoning/explanation

If you don't know, definitely take an educated guess!

USE KEYWORDS as much as possible in your answers - this will help pick up marks

Check the glossary to recognise/learn acronyms – Computer Science loves an

acronym!

Computer Science

Practise past papers and importantly, check the mark scheme

carefully - sometimes what you think the focus might be isn't

quite what it is. It can help to see how they work.

The revision guide is very useful. Try to make notes of the KEY

points of all topics so you're well rounded in all areas and do

specific revision topics you feel less confident on.

There are many links on the school padlet page to videos you

can watch for revision – the homework ones and others

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Exam Board – Eduqas

Recommended resources/links

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/drama-and-theatre/gcse/

Final pieces of advice

Attend Drama revision sessions on offer from Term 4 (times TBC) If you can watch the live theatre production you want to write about again (e.g. Splendid DVD/Digital Theatre Plus) then make sure you arrange a viewing to jog your memory!

Drama

Re-read ‘DNA’ and make revision notes on key themes, characters, quotes etc. (avoid English revision guides on the text - don’t forget your focus is on acting skills as well as technical elements, staging, lighting etc.)

Look back on your Y10 and Y11 mocks at your DNA questions, especially teacher feedback in comment form and Mrs C’s top tips

Look back on and revise notes taken from all past Live Theatre performances – choose 2 that you feel confident answering about to make precise notes on all aspects (acting/technical elements)

Look back on your past answers for Live Theatre (including Y11 mock) and teacher comments including Mrs C’s top tips

Practise questions for both sections of the exam paper

using the sample paper and past papers on the Eduqas

website but also other material with potential

questions provided by Mrs Caselton

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Exam Board – AQA

Recommended resources/links

Bitesize for basic info on texts

‘The Victorian Web’

SHS Poetry Revision Guide

Watch versions of plays/novels

The English department has provided plenty of resources to support your learning:

we would encourage you to summarise key points from your notes.

Final pieces of advice

Nothing replaces your interpretation and detailed knowledge of the texts.

Identify key moments of texts and ensure you can refer in detail to these sections.

Revise little and often.

English Language & Literature

Planning essays Writing PEEECE paragraphs Learn quotations Mind-maps of characters/themes Key quotation analysis Learn context Develop key vocabulary and a challenging

ambitious listing of words would be useful for English Language Writing Section B

English Language sample papers

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Exam Board – EDUQAS

Recommended resources/links

https://padlet.com/shs_food1/xkvo0u7kge9n

https://padlet.com/shs_food1/mhti47yhvnym

Final pieces of advice

Identify areas that are weaker for you and focus on those. Practise essay style

questions at the back of the exam paper.

Read each question at least twice. Look at the number of marks approx. 1 mark per

minute. Highlight the key words and THINK CAREFULLY about what the question is

asking. Re- read over the paper at the end.

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Food and Nutrition

Practising past papers and using mark schemes to

check responses.

Check exam tips on padlet page online powerpoint.

Complete all the tasks given each fortnight in exam-

based lessons

French

Exam Board – AQA

1. Grammar

Make sure you recognise key verbs in a range of tenses (past, present, future, conditional)

both if you read them or hear them

Use your vocabulary booklets given out in class and the chatty mats to help you to revise the

more complex grammar phrases. You can also use Tex’s French Grammar and Languages

Online for grammar exercises.

2. Vocabulary

As we go through past papers, reading and listening, make sure you note any unknown

vocabulary and revise this. Make sure you recognise the sound of words not just the look.

Go through all the vocab on the double page spread of vocab at the end of each unit in the

text book – draw mind maps, produce flashcards, get someone to test you (they say the

English you say the French)

Use linguascope.com username:stroudhigh password: #langs4life to help you revise

vocabulary. The beginner section is just groups of words per topic but in the intermediate

section you will find longer activities along with printable vocabulary sheets

Use your notes in your file – read – highlight

3 Listening skills

Use linguascope.com as mentioned above. In the intermediate section each topic has a

scenette de presentation where you can listen in French whilst reading the transcript either in

French or English.

Use the new textbook (Kerboodle.com - institution code: jo9) for both reading and listening

practise. Use the contents pages to choose relevant topics. The vocabulary pages at the end of

each module have all the key vocab both to read and to listen to.

Use GCSE bite size to practise listening papers

4 Reading skills

www.kerboodle.com as mentioned above

www.linguascope.com as mentioned above

Use GCSE bite size to practise reading papers

www.memrise.com

Final pieces of advice

Revise a little and often to help with the retention of vocabulary

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Exam Board – AQA

Recommended resources/links

There is a list for each unit on yearfolders with key words/case studies/key ideas and

possible questions.

Final pieces of advice

Remember to read the question carefully -you need to have revised key command

words as well otherwise you have no chance of answering the question accurately if

you do not understand what it is asking you for. Underline key words, think about

how many marks the question is worth. If it says 'and your own knowledge' it is

encouraging you to incorporate case study knowledge. Make sure that you apply the

knowledge to the question - don't just write everything you know about a case

study, it has to be directly answering the question! Don’t forget about paper 3 –

revise the fieldwork booklets and work on the IEE.

Try to attend the 3 revision sessions in the senior hall – dates to be confirmed but

each will last 2 hours (3.30pm – 5.30pm). The first one will be all your physical units.

The second revision session will be on the human units. The third will be on the skills

paper. All sessions will practise exam questions and give some top tips. Make sure

you come to these if you can!

Geography

Use the revision cards and mind-maps you should have

been making since Year 10!

The CGP revision guide is very good for the theory and

skills.

It is crucial you know your case studies with very

specific facts and figures.

Practise questions, particularly ones you have

identified as struggling with. Read examiner’s

comments on the exam board website to better

understand where to gain marks.

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German

Exam Board – AQA

1. Grammar Make sure you recognise key verbs in a range of tenses (perfect, imperfect, present, future,

conditional) both if you read them or hear them Use your vocabulary booklets given out in class and the chatty mats to help you to revise the

more complex grammar phrases. You can also use Tex’s Grammar and Languages Online for grammar exercises.

2. Vocabulary As we go through past papers, reading and listening, as well as classwork, make sure you note

any unknown vocabulary and revise this. Make sure you recognise the sound of words not just the look.

Go through all the vocab on the double page spread of vocab at the end of each unit in the text book – You can also find all of this on Memrise

Use linguascope.com username: stroudhigh password: #langs4life to help you revise vocabulary. The beginner section is just groups of words per topic but in the intermediate section you will find longer activities along with printable vocabulary sheets

Use www.memrise.com and www.duolingo.com and www.quizlet.com to practise and to learn new vocabulary

Use your notes in your file – read – highlight Use your ‘How to get a 9’ booklet when writing and speaking to help develop your answers

with high level phrases and opinions

3. Listening skills Use linguascope.com as mentioned above. In the intermediate section each topic has a role play

introduction where you can listen in German whilst reading the transcript either in German or English.

There are links to past papers on the German GCSE Padlet page: https://padlet.com/shs_german/GCSE as well as a range of sites to help all skills.

Use GCSE bite size to practise listening papers Log onto Kerboodle where you can access listening exercises for all the topics 4. Reading skills Log onto Kerboodle and look at the ‘Test and Revise ‘ chapters after every 2 units www.linguascope.com as mentioned above Use GCSE bite size to practise reading papers Try the exercises and games on http://www.funwithlanguages.vacau.com/german.htm

Final pieces of advice

Revise a little and often to help with the retention of vocabulary

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Exam Board – Edexcel

Recommended resources/links

Padlet page. Year folder (pdf documents of past exam papers. Examiner's Reports & Mark schemes) www.activehistory.co.uk (username: lambertn; password: plagues) Revision games etc! www.johndclare.net - useful revision web site. www.bbc.co.uk/gcsebitesize/history - useful summaries Use the 'Target 9 Revision Work Books' that are available for you to buy online, each

covering the four units you have studied. See your teacher for further details.' Final pieces of advice

1. Get your timing right for each paper, factoring in reading time, planning time and

checking for mistakes time at the end!

2. Read each question then read it again - check that you have understood what it is

requiring you to do.

3. Try not to panic! Take a deep breath and calm yourself by concentrating on your

breathing for a few seconds - even close your eyes to 'still' your mind. Then open

your eyes and begin to think about how you were taught to answer the question

in front of you.

4. If you have bought the ‘My Revision Notes’ Guides, have-a-go at the tasks. They

are well-suited to the types of exam questions you will encounter.

5. With ‘how useful…? Questions – remember Nature, Origins, Purpose, Content &

own knowledge + use the ‘C.A.T. test.

6. Always start answers with the words in the question and keep referring to them!

7. See your teacher(s) for any help/guidance/reassurance you need - don't suffer in

silence. There is always help available!

History

Create flash cards for events, people and key terms. Plan out answers to exam questions and check against

Examiner's Reports and Mark schemes. Do 'active' revision - such as creating 'mindmaps' that

summarise topics - don't simply read through notes and highlight things indiscriminately

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Exam Board – AQA

Recommended resources/links

Practise papers can be found in G:\YearFolders\Year 11\Maths\GCSE 2017 Papers

A sheet of useful websites has been sent to all Year 11 and can be found on the

GCSE Padlet pages

Final pieces of advice

You must learn the formulae and exact trigonometric values.

Don’t just read through a textbook. The only way to revise maths is to do

maths. The more questions you do yourself, the more you will get right,

the higher your confidence will be, the more you will enjoy your revision,

and the better you will do in the exam. However, don’t be tempted to

spend lots of time practising the topics you can already do. It might make

you smile to answer lots of questions correctly but it is the topics you

struggle with that require the time.

Maths

Use Practise papers and past papers to help identify problem topics. Make a list of those topics so you know what to focus on.

Work through your list of problem topics using Hegarty Maths.

Use your notes in your Orange Books and annotate your notes as your understanding improves.

Ask your teacher for help with problem topics that continue to be a problem.

Practise doing questions under exam conditions – answer questions in silence, with no help, for a fixed amount of time. It will get you used to what the exam is like and help you check how fast you need to work.

Practise questions with the calculator you will use in the exam and make sure you know how to use it.

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Exam Board – WJEC/Eduqas

Recommended resources/links

https://padlet.com/shs_music/GCSE_music

http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music/music-gcse/

https://www.musictheory.net/

https://stroudhigh.musicfirst.co.uk/app/

Final pieces of advice

Go on the WJEC, Eduqas website, look at the digital resources and complete as

many as you can. LEARN your key signatures, tempo markings plus any other subject

specific vocabulary. Make sure that you have learnt both of your Set Works in detail.

Listen to a variety of film music. Describe how the composer(s) use the musical

elements to create an atmosphere/mood.

Music

Practise 'listening' to a wide variety of music, linked to the 4 Areas of Study.

Aim to list the instruments/voices, tempo, dynamics, tonality, texture, rhythm and melodic line of each piece that you listen to.

Complete the listening exercises on the WJEC, Eduqas website/other websites.

Regular listening will improve your aural skills. Listen to your Set Works regularly. Learn the chord

progressions for each one. Make sure that you know all the music vocabulary from

the back of the specification. Learn the elements of music. Read through the Eduqas text book, noting all the

exam tips given, plus complete the suggested listening activities.

Work through the Eduqas revision guide, completing all the mock questions.

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Exam Board – AQA

Recommended resources/links

Year folder/Year11/GCSE PE/ Paper and Mark Schemes; Exam Questions.

BBC Bitesize/PE revision world/YouTube (there are lots of videos on YouTube

that are done by PE teachers and talk you through certain topics).

Also the AQA GCSE (9-1) PE text book by Ross Howitt & Mike Murray.

Teacher-made resources

ZigZag resources – Topic on a page/Topic Tests & mark schemes

Kahoot/ Quizlet

Twitter/BBC Sport/Sky Sports

Final pieces of advice

Focus on AO1, AO2 and A03 advice.

Don't spend too much time looking at the

multiple-choice questions.

Use the textbooks and get revision guides

PE

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Use the Personal Learning Checklists (PLCs) for each

chapter, RAG rate and focus on the areas of weakness

first.

Use ESQ’s, alongside your notes and the textbook. Work

through the questions, and then mark them using the

mark schemes.

Topic on a page/Mind maps/spider diagrams/flash cards.

Focus on the definitions, key terms and longer answer

questions.

Exam Board – Edexcel

Recommended resources/links

https://padlet.com/shs_physics/ehlb92a3py7v

Final pieces of advice

You must have attempted and marked all responses to past papers.

Past paper mark schemes are a vital source of understanding how to write the

perfect answer.

Physics

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Use the revision notes to confirm your understanding

Make your own notes but make it brief

Don't put off having a go at the circus questions - use your notes with them but later on have another go without the notes. The mark schemes offer you an opportunity to check the best way of writing an answer

Use the quick fire questions to practise your understanding. Great if you can get someone to test you

Revise on the bus or when walking or if you see a physics teacher in the corridor who will ask you 'what are the units of acceleration?'

Exam Board – AQA

Recommended resources/links

https://padlet.com/shs_resistantma/mc3cfrvuk2q7

www.technologystudent.com/

www.BBCBitesize

Final pieces of advice

Use the AQA website for reference. Print off the specification and highlight any gaps

in your knowledge. Use the above links to plug the gaps in understanding.

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Product Design

Post-it notes and Youtube clips;

Use your revision booklet.

Exam Board – Edexcel B

Recommended resources/links

https://padlet.com/shs_re/GCSE_Paper2

https://padlet.com/shs_re/GCSEBuddhism

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zb48q6f

https://studywise.co.uk/gcse-revision/religious-studies/

http://www.rsrevision.com/GCSE/index.htm

http://www.scandalon.co.uk/gcsers/

Final pieces of advice

Be very aware of the requirements of each part of the paper - D part bullet points in

particular. Don’t forget to put the 3 elements for A part questions on separate lines.

For B and C, make sure you clearly differentiate between the points and the

developments and you have a clear SOWA for C.

RE

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Past paper practice Key words Key quotes SOWAs Knowledge lists

Spanish

Exam Board – AQA

1. Grammar Use kerboodle

Grammar focus – p200 – 231 of the Mira text book

Focus on two grammatical points each week make sure you can use them - write and practise

some examples

Use your revision guides if you have bought them

2. Vocabulary

Use kerboodle

Use the mock exam papers – the listening transcript and the reading paper

Vocabulary pages at the end of each unit

Use your notes in your file – read – highlight

Use memrise – create an account if you have not yet done so

3. Listening skills

Use kerboodle

Watch www.euronews.com every day (5 minutes will do – you can watch the same news item

in Spanish and English and get the transcripts – this will help you prepare for the more difficult

questions)

Use BBC GCSE Spanish Bite Size to practise listening papers

4. Reading skills

Use kerboodle

www.20minutos.es – excellent for reading the headlines – make a note of new vocabulary

Pages 182 – 199 are some reading exercises related to each module

Use BBC GCSE Spanish Bite Size to practise reading papers

5. Speaking and writing

Use mind maps and revision cards for ideas and content

Lots of practise roles plays and photo cards can be found in year folders

At the end of each section in kerboodle, are practise writing and speaking activities

Use kerboodle for online test and revise activities

Linguascope

Username stroudhigh

password #langs4life

Final pieces of advice

Revise a little and often to help with the retention of vocabulary

¡Buena suerte!

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Exam Board – AQA

Recommended resources/links

https://padlet.com/shs_textiles/ugggo7jmu005

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-

technology-textiles-technology-4570/past-papers-and-mark-schemes

Final pieces of advice

Practise your design drawing several times so it becomes second nature. Be sure to

decide on a wide range of techniques and fabrics to use in your final design so that

you can annotate your work in detail. Be sure to complete your prep booklet -

https://padlet.com/shs_textiles/ugggo7jmu005

Ensure you take a range of coloured pencils, a sharp pencil and black pen into the

exam plus rubbers and sharpeners to keep work neat. Consider completing question

1, the design question, last to help with timing which should be judged at just over 1

minute per mark.

Textiles

The exam is a 2 hour Written Paper (Textiles

Technology 4572 Unit 1 code 45701), is out of 120

marks and is worth 40% of the GCSE (the coursework is

worth 60%). You will answer all questions in two

sections. The first section is based on the Pre-release

design material issued on 1st March and prepared for

in school. The second section is based on Textiles

theory knowledge covered in the CGP ‘GCSE Design &

Technology Textiles Aqa Revision Guide’.

In March you will be given a Booklet specific to the set

design question

Use the AQA Exam booklet and revision guide

combined with the 2018 Textiles exam prep in-house

booklet. Past papers are also available on the AQA

website

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