Supporting your Daughter or Son for Success in Year 11

GCSE Results Summer 2014

School name

% achieving 5+ A*-C

GCSEs (or equivalent) including

English and maths GCSEs

% achievin

g the English

Baccalaureate

% achieving grades A*-C in English

and maths GCSEs

English: % of

pupils making

expected progress

Maths: % of pupils making

expected progress

Wellsway School 76% 45% 77% 81% 83%

Ralph Allen School 73% 36% 73% 80% 74%

Norton Hill Academy 69% 42% 69% 77% 77%

Oldfield School 69% 18% 72 84% 74%

Hayesfield Girls School 66% 28% 69% 85% 72%

Saint Gregory's Catholic College 66% 41% 67% 77% 72%

Chew Valley School 60% 32% 62% 68% 63%

Beechen Cliff School 60% 45% 62% 58% 81%

Broadlands Academy 53% 7% 54% 78% 37%

Writhlington School 53% 24% 59% 66% 60%

St Mark's CofE School 49% 21% 49% 71% 62%

Somervale School 44% 14% 44% 57% 50%

Bath Community Academy 38% 6% 40% 72% 50%

England - state funded schools only 56.60% 24.20% 58.90% 71.60% 65.50%

A Level Results Summer 2014Average Point Score per

A level entry

A level entry

expressed as a grade

A level studen

t(full-time

equivalent)

Grades AAB or higherin at

least 2 facilitating subjects

Ralph Allen School 231 B- 786.5 28%

Wellsway School 229.8 B- 814.3 18%

Hayesfield School 214.8 C 746.6 16%

Somervale School 214.2 C 770.1 0%

Norton Hill Academy 211.9 C 773.3 8%

Writhlington School 200 C- 682.3 6%

Oldfield School 216.7 C+ 747 10%

Beechen Cliff School 215.3 C+ 845.6 18%

Chew Valley School 215.2 C+ 772.3 14%

Bath Academy 194.3 D+ 597.7 0%

Local Authority 217.6 C+ 780.6 15.30%

St Brendans 200 C- 671.1 4%

England - state funded schools and colleges 211.2 C 772.7 11.90%

We aim to:• Give you some clear strategies for supporting

your children with effective revision

• Give advice about health and well-being of young people during a stressful period

• Give some specific advice about preparation for English and mathematics

A quick biology test………

• Mitochondria – the parts of a cell which release energy in respiration

• Cell membrane – controls the passage of substances in and out of the cell

• Ribosomes – the parts of a cell which synthesise protein

• Chloroplast – a part of a plant cell which absorbs light energy to make food

• Vacuole – a region of a plant cell filled with cell sap

• Nucleus – controls the activity of a cell

• Diffusion – the spreading of particles of a gas or a dissolved substance to regions of lower concentration

• Organ – a part of the body, made of specialist tissues, which performs a function in the body

• Tissue – A group of cells with similar stucture and function

• Respiration – reactions which break down sugar to produce energy

• Photosynthesis – the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and water to oxygen and glucose using energy from sunlight

• Muscular tissues – these contract to produce movement

• Glandular tissues – these produce substances such as enzymes and hormones

• Epithelial tissues – these cover parts of the body

Your turn!

• Use the answer grids to define the biological terms

countdown

Effective revision strategies

Why do we revise?

Stimulus Sensory Memory

Short – term

memory

Long – term

memory (long term store)

Rehearsal

Retrieval

The aim of effective learning is to ensure that new material progresses from short – term memory to long – term memory. Once there, effective revision keeps retrieving previously learned material and bringing this back into short – term memory, so that this material can be used to respond to questions.

Effective revision strategies - what the research says

• Dunlowsky et al (2013) studied 10 strategies used by students to revise and prepare for examinations. The findings were:

• Higher effectiveness– Regular practice testing– Distributed practice

• Moderate effectiveness– Elaborative interrogation– Self – explanation– Interleaved practice

• Lower effectiveness– Summarising– Highlighting– Mnemonics– Imagery to represent text– Re-reading

A blend of these techniques, tailored to how the student likes to learn is more effective than using one technique in isolation

There is a strong scientific consensus that regular and distributed practice have the greatest impact and should be part of any revision repertoire used by the students.

Memory performance over timePe

rcen

tage

of m

ater

ial r

ecal

led

Time

After 10 minutes

After 1 day

After 2 days

After 3 days

Does music help you learn?• A recent study by Perham and Vizard (2010) shows

music did not improve learning;• In the study someone else talking, music enjoyed by

students and music disliked by students all had a similarly distracting effect;

• The best condition for study and the learning of new information was silence.

Implications

• The more difficult the material being revised, the greater the need to minimise distractions;

• The material being revised will be recalled in the silence of the examination room. It therefore makes sense for the material to be learned under the same conditions, so that the conditions of recall replicate the learning conditions;

• Think of the example of the ‘Crimewatch’ reconstruction.

Examinations and stress

• We need to distinguish between:• A – Eustress (positive and motivational)• B – Distress (damaging to health and

relationships)

Recognising stress

• These are high stakes examinations and your child will probably be feeling under pressure;

• This pressure is likely to grow between now and May;• You might see some of the following behaviour signs:

– Increased moodiness and irritability;– Increasingly argumentative;– Disrupted sleep patterns;– Becoming withdrawn;– Complaining of stomach aches and headaches;– Making negative statements about him or herself.

How to manage this

• Listen and try to be available;• Offer reassurance – these examinations will not last

for ever;• Try not to lose your temper;• Encourage your child to use problem – focused

strategies, by being well planned and developing feelings of control;

• Encourage your child to use emotion – focused strategies by taking planned breaks and arranging some positive distractions.

English Language IGCSE

Speaking and Listening - 20% of total marksApprox. 10–12 minutesIndividual Task and Discussion.

Coursework Portfolio - 40% of total marks.

Candidates submit three assignments, each of 500–800 words.• Assignment 1: Film Review• Assignment 2. Saving Private

Ryan • Assignment 3. Letter to The

Daily Mail

Exam -40% of total marks.

Reading Passages (Extended)Tuesday 5th November

• 2 hours• Candidates answer three

questions on two passages of 600–700 words each, linked by a common theme.

• Eligible for Grades A*–E.

Question 1You are Nicole Panteli, the journalist. Write a newspaper article for the local newspaper basedon your visit to the moor, with the title ‘Big Cat or Tall Story?’.In your newspaper article you should comment on:• what the local people believe about the ‘beast’• your own memories and your experience while driving across the moor• your opinions on the ‘beast’ and the locals, and predictions for the future.

Base your newspaper article on what you have read in Passage A, but be careful to use your ownwords. Address each of the three bullets.Begin the newspaper article: ‘Last week I went on a trip down memory lane to investigate a longstandingmystery…’.

Write about 250 to 350 words.Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for thequality of your writing.

Question 1You are Nicole Panteli, the journalist. Write a newspaper article for the local newspaper basedon your visit to the moor, with the title ‘Big Cat or Tall Story?’.In your newspaper article you should comment on:• what the local people believe about the ‘beast’• your own memories and your experience while driving across the moor• your opinions on the ‘beast’ and the locals, and predictions for the future.

Base your newspaper article on what you have read in Passage A, but be careful to use your ownwords. Address each of the three bullets.Begin the newspaper article: ‘Last week I went on a trip down memory lane to investigate a longstandingmystery…’.

Write about 250 to 350 words.Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for thequality of your writing.

Key Skills:Understanding the extract and finding key informationCreating a voice that makes senseMaking inferences and deductions

Revision activities:• Take an opening or double page of

any novel. • How are the characters

introduced? • Do they change?• How is setting introduced?• Write the story from a character’s

point of view• Plan out ideas with a clear

beginning, middle and end

Question 2 Re-read the descriptions of:(a) the appearance of the beast in paragraph 3, beginning ‘As she rounded…’(b) the appearance of the farmer and his farm in paragraph 4, beginning ‘A little further...’.Select four powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should include imagery. Explain how each word or phrase selected is used effectively in the context.

Write about 200 to 300 words.

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer.

Key Skills:Selecting good descriptions Give a meaning (dictionary definition)Explaining the effect of language

Revision activities:• Read a newspaper or

magazine• Choose an article/story• Does it have a point of

view?• How is it written?• What is the purpose?• How are language devices

used to support the purpose?

• Which features of language would you comment on? Why?

Question 3Read carefully Passage B, Unicorns and Yetis, in the Reading Booklet Insert and then answerQuestion 3(a) and (b) on this Question Paper.Question 3Answer the questions in the order set.(a) NotesWhat are the reasons for not believing in the existence of unicorns and yetis, according toPassage B?Write your answer using short notes.You do not need to use your own words.Up to 15 marks are available for the content

(b) SummaryNow use your notes to write a summary of what Passage B tells you about the reasons fornot believing in the existence of unicorns and yetis.You must use continuous writing (not note form) and use your own words as far aspossible.Your summary should include all 15 of your points in Question 3(a) and must be 200 to 250words.Up to 5 marks are available for the quality of your writing.ontent of your answer.

Key Skills:Finding key pointsWriting in a short and concise way

Revision activities:Chose a short article from a magazine/newspaperSummarise the key points in one paragraph

Literature IGCSE

Coursework – 40%

• Candidates will study two or more texts and complete a coursework task on these.

• Candidates will be asked to comment on the connections across the texts.

50 marks

Examination (Unseen Poetry and Prose) – 60%

Section A: unseen poetry text.• Foundation tier - a number of

structured questions • Higher tier - single open response

question.• 35 marksSection B: Drama text• Foundation tier - answer a two

part question on the prose or drama text of their choice.

• Higher tier paper - a choice of two open ended questions on each text.

• 40 marks

Revision Guide

• £2.75

Revision Techniques for Maths

• Similar to other subjects• Some recall of facts• Mainly skills and methods

REVISION TECHNIQUES

Bad Revision

REDUCE DISTRACTIONS

GENERAL TIPS

• Use Revision Aids • Try different revision techniques• Use revision guides• Use web sites

GENERAL TIPS

Create a REVISION ENVIRONMENT

Choose a suitable place for this work. Use it visually with posters, post-its, lists etc. This may help you remember key points for the exam.

SOME OTHER USEFUL REVISION TECHNIQUES

• VISUAL TECHNIQUES e.g., flow charts and spider diagrams Very useful to help you remember key information and to help you remember the sequence of things or how different pieces of information link together.

• INDEX CARDS These can be bought at a stationers and are very useful for producing your own revision notes by summarising your notes into bite size chunks.

• POSTERS Another visual technique that can be very effective. Design them to summarise important areas of content and stick them up in your room. Make them colourful and visually striking for maximum effect.

• POST-ITS Use post-its on your notes to help you remember things that you are having difficulty with. You can also stick them on your bedroom wall or on the back of the loo door and keep testing yourself.

• LISTS Very useful to help you remember key information and to help you remember the sequence of things or how different pieces of information link together.

• GAMES Produce your own simple game e.g. matched pairs • LOOK, COVER, WRITE, CHECK A simple and effective method for

self testing. Really useful for learning spellings or grammar or facts

SOME OTHER USEFUL REVISION TECHNIQUES

• RECORDING & LISTENING A really effective method for ‘audio’ learners and for preparing for language oral exams.

• USE HIGHLIGHTER PENS To highlight key words and help them stick in your memory

• USE A COMPUTER TO SUMMARISE NOTES, PRODUCE DIAGRAMS You will end up with a neat and professional looking set of revision notes.

• TEST YOURSELF WITH PAST EXAM PAPERS This will really help you to see the relevance of your revision. It will also help you to get your timing right, which is a crucial aspect of exam preparation.

Mymaths

7 Simple Revision Strategies:

1. Display your exam timetable and revision timetable in a place where you, your family and visiting friends will see it regularly.

2. Use 40 – 10 revision technique. 40 minutes work, 10 minutes break.

3. Never rely on reading alone to revise. Make sure you are processing information by solving problems, producing concept maps or writing short notes.

4. Do keep up hobbies like sport or music. Maintain a social life but in moderation.

5. Get up early and eat a proper breakfast on revision and exam days. Choose foods carefully.

6. Vary the subjects you revise, saving your favourites for last.

7. Ask your teachers for advice on exam technique – they’re the experts.

During the examination1. Read the entire question before answering, checking that you have

also looked at any additional text, graphs, tables or other information.2. Look for important command words like describe, explain, compare,

analyse or evaluate in the questions. (Highlight these command words)

3. Look at the number of marks available for each question – this is a guide to how many separate written statements are needed, the required length of the answer, the amount of time to spend on the answer, or how many stages there are in a calculation.

4. Find any additional help sheets available to you (for example a formula or data sheet in science).

5. Always finish a question, even if you think you made a mistake at an early stage or had to make a guess. You will score marks despite this.

6. Show all of your working out in mathematical calculations.7. Check carefully for errors at the end. If you used a calculator in any

questions, check these questions first.8. Check the whole paper (even the back page) to make sure that you

have answered every question that you should have.

Revision Timetable

11

Revision timetable

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

8 am

9 am

10 am

11 am

12 pm

1 pm

2 pm

3 pm

4 pm

5 pm

6 pm

7 pm

8 pm

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