Ten Top Tips

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Ten Top Tips

• Preparing for GCSEs

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Top Tip 1

• Climate for Learning
• Removing the Barriers

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Learning environmentHabitual or learned behaviour
www.ucc.vt.educ/studysk/studydis.html
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The perfect learning environment
Quiet, comfortable, warm room
Well ventilated
No clutter
Comfortable chair
Well lit
Spacious desk
No interruptions
Books and files to hand
No distractions - TV, music, e mail, phone
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Other factors

• Regular routine
• Agreed timescale
• Physical exercise / relaxation / social life
• Normal pattern of sleep
• Avoid caffeine / chilli not withdrawal
• Healthy eating / water
• Employment Law (from www.qca.org.uk)
• i) Not before 7am or after 7pm
• ii) Recommended no more than 8 hours in any
  shift
• iii) Not more than 8 hours per week
• iv) Can have a detrimental effect to exams

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• Top Tip 2
• Organisation and Timetable

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Timetable

• Revision Timetable Invest time in making a
  revision timetable or wall chart which specifies
  which revision per evening/day
• Know what they need to revise for each subject
  you need a list of topics
• Ensure that other commitments are highlighted
  worked around
• Plan breaks social time
• Ensure that the exams/time place are shown
• Display a copy in your kitchen or communal area
  as well as the place where your son/daughter
  studies
• Use ticks to indicate jobs done

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Organisation

• Work space equipment
• Remove distractions
• The right equipment
• Box with pens/paper/hole punch/ highlighters/
  equipment
• File for revision notes/dividers
• Box of plain postcards
• Revision Guides

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Top Tip 3

• Resources
• Internet and Websites

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Why use the internet to revise?

• Updated
• Interesting/eye-catching/motivating
• Visual/auditory learners
• Break up traditional methods
• Personalised revision plans
• Links to exam specifications

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What types of resources are effective?

• Past papers
• Revision Topics
• Summary checklists
• Tests/ Question and answers
• Revision tips/ideas

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Practical revision

• Plan short blocks of revision and review
• Check what needs to be revised
• Bookmark favourite websites
• Write out notes/mind maps
• www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
• www.samlearning.com BS27KO
• Supplement not replace!

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Top Tip 4

• SAM Learning
• Past Papers

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SAM Learning?

• SAM Self Assessment Method
• 750,000 students will use SAM Learning this year
• Second most hit site UK web site during last
  May
• Used by more than half of all English state
  secondary schools

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SAM Learning at Kings

• After 1 month, students have already put in 700
  hours of revision and exam practice.
• Revision exercises for reinforcing basics
• Exam practice with answers.
• Link from www.kowessex.co.uk
• CentreID BS27KO
• Userid DDMMYYAB
• Password DDMMYYAB

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Exam Boards

• www.aqa.org.uk
• www.ocr.org.uk
• www.edexcel.org.uk

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Top Tip 5

• Revision Guides

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The Kings of Wessex GCSE Revision Guides
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Top Tip 6

• Memory
• Mind Mapping

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Left Brain

• The left side of the brain controls
• Verbal ability
• Attention to detail
• Reasoning
• Left brained people are good at
• Communication
• Persuading others
• Maths
• Logic
• Your left brain prefers reading, quiet and dogs

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Right Brain

• The right side of the brain controls
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Right brained people are
• Daring
• Intuitive
• Creative with writing and art
• Your right brain prefers day-dreaming, philosophy
  and sports.

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Top Tip 7

• Memory
• Note Taking

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Top Tip 8

• Study Buddying

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Study Buddying

• Working with your child
• Explanation, question and answer
• Be the student
• Testing
• Revising with friends
• Ensure the focus is on studying
• Keep promises to one another
• Arrange to have breaks together at particular
  times
• Act as tutors for each other
• Ensure the arrangement is equal and beneficial
• Regular rewards for working well are worthwhile

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Top Tip 9

• The Day of the Exam

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The Day of the Exam
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Before the exam

• Know the exam timetable KingsNET
• KingsWEB gtgt Exam Info Timetable
• gtgt Combined Summer
  Schedule 2007

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Ensure that your son/daughter

• Knows where to be each day
• Knows the start time for each exam
• Gets there early allows contingency time!
• Allows time for brain to wake up-shower!
• Eats breakfast or takes energy rich food
• Attends the Exam Briefing

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Be practical!

• Encourage a normal routine for exams
• Going to bed and getting up at sensible times

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Be practical!

• Check your child has all the correct equipment -
  including spares
• Plus any notes or books allowed in the exam in
  the correct format
• Remind them to use the toilet beforehand!
• Bring water to exam and sip throughout

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Calming influence

• Keep anxieties at bay. Be reassuring.
• Youve done the best you can!
• Remind them of strategies to keep calm
• Itll all be over by three! Itll be fine
• Shelve issues that are not of immediate
  importance!
• Dont insist on lengthy post mortems

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Just before the exam

• Last minute revision?
• Do whats right for you
• A moment to yourself

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During the exam

• Nervousness is normal extra adrenaline!
• Deep breaths I can handle this!
• Read the instructions AND then through the WHOLE
  PAPER before picking up pen
• Write down key formulae, facts, quotes

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During the exam

• Mark the questions you will answer
• Stick to the time-scale for each question
• Answer the questions you are most confident about
  first
• Allow a few minutes checking time at the end

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Dont make this mistake!
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Top Tip 10

• What the research says?

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• How long should I revise for?

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How often should I revise?
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How should I revise?
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Research shows that you remember the most when

• You revise in short sessions with short breaks in
  between
• You revisit your revision a number of times over
  a period of time
• You practice the tasks that you will be required
  to do in your exam