∗ To provide subject specific advice on revision techniques and examinations in English, mathematics and science.
∗ To practise revision techniques.
∗ To effectively plan your revision in preparation for your examinations.
Aims of the session
Year 8 examinations will take place4th to 15th June
1. Students will be given a two week timetable grid.
2. Teachers will tell students on which day and lesson they will have their examination in each subject
3. Students will therefore have a complete examination timetable before the half term holidays.
4. Students can then construct a revision timetable
Creating a revision timetable is essential.Once students know when their exams are going to be, help them to plan out a revision timetable.
Revision timetable
∗ The English examination consists of 2 papers.A reading paper and a writing paper.
∗ Both papers will be completed in lesson time under the supervision of your child’s teacher.
∗ Any support necessary will be provided in this setting.
Summary:
What is being examined?
Reading – Paper 1
∗ Identify and interpret key information
∗ Select quotations to support∗ Explain and analyse writer’s
use of language, using subject specific terminology
∗ Explain and analyse writer’s use of structure using subject specific terminology
∗ Evaluate texts critically
Writing – Paper 2
∗ Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively
∗ Organise information using structural techniques to support cohesion
∗ Use a wide and developing vocabulary
∗ Accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar
∗ Papers are provided by AQA and encourage familiarity with the GCSE exam papers
∗ Examined skills have been developed throughout the year, as part of the year 8 curriculum and normal assessment procedures
∗ End of year 8 exams can inform key areas for improvement for individuals, as well as the cohort, moving forward onto GCSE content
Rationale
How to Prepare at Home - Reading
∗ Having read a piece of fiction, list 4 key pieces of information about either the protagonist, the setting or another focus.
∗ Annotate extracts considering the effect language and structure can have on a reader.
∗ Practice selecting the best quotations.
∗ Discuss at home how effective the piece of writing is – why do you like the extract and what specifically has the writer done well?
How to prepare at home - writing
∗ Complete synonym mind maps for “boring” words e.g. happy / sad.
∗ Find an image and divide it into 9 boxes. Each box is a paragraph of your description – what specifically would you focus on?
∗ Practice writing for 45 minutes and self assess your work or ask a parent to read it.
∗ Take a “boring” sentence and turn it into a more exciting sentence e.g. “the cat sat on the mat”.
1. Clouds2. A bird – Eagle3. Thoughts4. Danger . . . .
Student friendly mark scheme –Section B
∗ Writing is engaging∗ The purpose of the task is
met convincingly∗ Ambitious vocabulary∗ Well used and subtle
language techniques∗ Original use of structural
features∗ Fluently linked paragraphs
∗ A range of sentences are accurately used
∗ A wide range of accurate punctuation
∗ Grammatical accuracy∗ Accuracy of spelling
Year 8 Parents Information Evening
New Mathematics GCSE• Much greater emphasis on multi-
step problem solving• Need to know not just the
content, but how to apply the content in many different ways
Year 8 Parents Information Evening
This questions requires students to understand and be able to apply:• Equations of circles• Co-ordinates• Equations of
straight line graphs• Area of a triangle
What does this mean for our current Year 8s?
• You are now well on your way through your Mathematics GCSE course.
• Everything you learn in the classroom is helping to equip you with the tools you will need to solve problems such as the one you have just seen.
• Whilst you feel like it’s something you can’t do – you’re probably right. You can’t do it……YET.
Learning in Maths
• Teachers will revisit areas of maths over and over again – everything is linked.
• Building fluency and automaticity in your maths, so that your mind isn’t too busy doing the basics to focus on the problem you’re actually trying to solve
Learning in Maths• Rexposure to content to shift to long-
term memory
• Need to build automaticity and fluency in key skills
• Doing Maths makes you better at Maths
Revising for Maths• Focus – little and often
• Before you sit down to revise, decide on a topic you are going to focus on– be specific, chunk it up.
• When not using screen-based resources, turn them off.
Suggested Methods for revision:• Revision guides (available from the Maths Office)
• Include lots of topic based questions, as well as mixed exercises
• Flashcards• Good for memorising key formulae
• Mind Maps• Good for showing links between topics
Revision in science● Advice on how to organise and prepare for
examinations● A range of revision techniques which can be adapted
to suit individual needs and the requirements ofdifferent subjects
● An opportunity to put some of the techniques intopractise
● Information on content and skills to be examined indifferent subjects
Revision in science
A range of revision techniques which can be adapted tosuit individual needs and the requirements of differentsubjects
Two pieces of advice for revision:1. Take your notes or information and transfer it into
information you can remember.2. Force yourself to recall/remember the information.
Revision in scienceA light microscope uses a series of lenses to produce a magnified image of an object.
1. The object is placed on a rectangular glass slide.
2. The slide is placed on a stage with a light source below.
3. Light shines through the object and into the objective lens which is used to enlarge an object
4. The light passes through the eyepiece lens and from there into your eye
5. You can focus the image and make the image clearer be using one or more focusing screws.
What revision technique would you use to remember this?
Revision in scienceWhere do you place the microscope slide?
On the stage
What do you use to make an image clearer?
By using the focusing screws
What do you do to make an image appear larger?
Change the objective lenses
Revision in science
● Information on content and skills to be examined indifferent subjects
3 exams - biology, chemistry and physics
Students will only be tested on Units 1 and 2 in each subject.
Biology Chemistry
Bio Unit 1 Topic 3.4 + 3.5 DNA Topic 3.6 DNA extraction
Topic 3.15 Offspring and characteristics Topic 3.20 + 3.19 Variation
Topic 3.12 AllellesTopic 3.21 + 3.22 Human genome and mutations
Topcs 4.2 EvolutionTopic 3.12 +3.12 Punnett
squares
Bio Unit 2 Food groups Topic 1.17 +1.18 Enzymes
Digestive systemTopic 1.12 Enzymes in
digestion
Topic 8.1 DiffusionTopic 8.3 Gas exchange
into blood
Topic 8.9a Aerobic respiration
Topic 8.9b Anaerobic respiration
Chem Unit 1 Topic 1.2 AtomTopic 1.3 +1.4 Protons, Neutrons and Electrons
Topic 1.10 Calculating mass and atomic number
Topic 1.14 The periodic table
Topic 0.1 Element formulae Assessment + DIRT
Topic 0.1 Naming compounds Topic 0.2 Word equations
Recap - Group 1, 7 ,0 elements
Chem Unit 2 Topic 5.1 Reactivity series
Topics 5.3 Displacement Topic 5.4 Metal ores
Topic 5.7a Extracting iron Topic 5.7 b Electrolysis
Creating metal oxides/rusting Topic 5.10 Recycling metals
Reversible and nonreversible reactions
Physics
Phys Unit 1 Topic 3.7, 3.8 + 3.9 Wasteful energy
Topic 3.3 Efficiency Sanky diagrams
Topic 3.11 + 3.12 Efficiency equation
3.13 Renewable and nonrenewable energy
Topic 8.4 + 8.5 Work Done Force
Topic 8.6 + 8.7 Work Done equations
Physics Unit 2 Topic 3.9 EMS
Topic 3.19 + 20 Dangerous waves
Topic 2.1 Waves structure Topic 2.2 Sound waves
Topic 2.10 Human ear and frequency Making sounds
Topic 2.11 Infrasound Topic 2.11 Ultrasound
Incentives
Once you have been revising for 45 minutes give yourself a treat. Have a break perhaps watch your favourite T.V. programme. Then you must have the self discipline to go back to your revision.
Helpful tips on the day.
Make sure you have everythingyou need.• A watch• Pens, pencils, ruler, rubber,
sharpener• Calculator if needed and
allowed.• A pen you can write with
quickly, comfortably and legibly
• Think about the advice and feedback you have had from your teachers following previous assessments.
• Read the instructions.
• Read each question carefully.
• Time yourself
Divide the time appropriatelybetween the number of questions you have to do and watch the clock to stick to this.
Read the instructions.Think about the advice and
feedback you have had from your teachers following previous assessments.
Read each question carefully.
– Time yourself
Divide the time appropriatelybetween the number of questions you have to do and watch the clock to stick to this. Do not panic if you run out of time – but make sure you round off your answer even if facts are missing – conclusions are worth a lot.
In the exam