Year 10

Purpose of the eveningExams

AssessmentsKey Dates

Teenage Myths

• I’ve got no homework… • It doesn’t matter how I do in the Year 10

exams…• I can re-do my coursework…. • The best way to revise is…..• My target grades are B’s, so I will be OK…

Jill.davidson@northumberland.gov.uk

EnglishMr N A Hamilton

English

Students prepare for two qualifications:• GCSE English Language• GCSE English Literature

GCSE English Literature (9715)

Exam Board AQATwo Levels of entry –

FoundationHigher

Your son/daughter’s performance this academic year will begin to determine which level they will finally be entered for in the summer of 2016.

GCSE English Literature

• The coursework will be completed in year 10 – one controlled assessment which is worth 25% of their total mark – a comparative essay on Shakespeare and poetry.

• Examination texts will be studied during year 10 and 11 working towards two written exams in the summer of 2016

Literature exams

Unit 1: Exploring modern texts (1hr 30) – ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘DNA’Unit 2: Poetry across time (1hr 15) – ‘The Moon on the Tides’ Anthology - the ‘Relationships’ cluster and an unseen poetry question.

English Language• All students follow AQA GCSE English

Language (4705) • The coursework component is 40% for GCSE

made up of four assessments• One examination paper worth 60%:

Understanding and producing non-fiction texts (2hr 15) – Section A tests reading, Section B tests writing – two levels of entry:

• Foundation• Higher

Three Top Tips for English• Become familiar with the texts your

son/daughter is studying and discuss them.

• Past papers and mark schemes are available on the AQA website:

• http://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/exams-guidance/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes

• Encourage your son/daughter to read and discuss non-fiction texts e.g. newspapers, leaflets, magazines

Revision Guides• English Literature – specific text guides are

commercially available to buy • English Language guides are available in the

library or to buy commercially (Pearson ‘Always Learning’ Revise AQA GCSE – by Tier)

• English Language workbooks also available commercially (Pearson ‘Always Learning’ Revise AQA GCSE – by Tier)

MathsMr M Smith

GCSE Maths

Two TiersHigher Tier – Edexcel 1MA0H

Foundation Tier – OCR J567F

NO Coursework!

• Both a blessing and a curse.

QWC Questions (4 Marks)

QWC Questions (5 Marks)

QWC Questions (5 Marks)

www.mymaths.co.uk

www.mathswatchvle.com

Top Tip for Maths• Be positive about maths – it is a key qualification for all

students• Encourage them to begin working independently – 30 mins

twice a week at this stage would be ideal• Don’t revise things that they already know how to do –

challenge themselves to improve/ perfect 1 new skill each time they revise.

• Don’t be discouraged – we all make mistakes but over time these will reduce and the marks will improve.

• Practise, Practise, Practise!!!

Maths Revision Guides

One revision guide, one workbook sold as a pair.

They cost £5 (50%RRP) for the pair.

ScienceMiss S Neale

GCSE Sciences

Exam Board AQA

Two RoutesScience A and Additional Science

Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Both routes prepare students for Level 3 study of Science subjects

Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Students will take three exams in each subject in May and June of year 11. These marks are combined with the ISA mark to give an overall grade.

All modules have equivalent weighting (25%)

Science A and Additional Science

Science AStudents will take the Science A qualification in

year 10. This is ONE GCSE.Students will take one exam in Biology (B1),

Chemistry (C1) and Physics (P1) in June.

Additional ScienceThis GCSE qualification is completely separate

from Science A and is taken in year 11.

Science A and Additional Science

Science A

ISA date: Wednesday 10th November

Lessons after half term will all be used to prepare students for this

What is an ISA?

Investigative Skills Assignment

Research

Exam 1: Hypothesis, Plan, Results Table

Practical Work

Graph

Exam 2: Own results analysis, Case Studies

What is an ISA?

Specimen ISAs and examiners commentaries are available on the AQA website

http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/support/pdf/AQA-SCIENCE-CONTROLLED-ASSESSMENT-LEAFLET.PDF

QWC Questions (6 Marks)

In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.

Students are presented with an A4 side of information to read, often including charts or graphs.

QWC Questions (6 Marks)

They are then asked to • describe a process • give advantages/disadvantages • evaluate a new development • explain the data

In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.

Three Top Tips for Science

Download past exam papers and mark schemes from AQA website

Watch and make notes from the website myGCSEScience

Encourage your child to use the BBC website:– use the bitesize revision materials– watch science programmes from iPlayer– browse the scientific news articles

Science Revision Guides

Nelson Thornes revision guides are available from the science technicians.

They cost £3.25 (50%RRP) each.

All Students

• Year 10 Exam Week – 23rd March

• Careers’ Week – 13th July