NUMBER

35

Number of school weeks until exams start 29 (Week beginning: 11th May)

Number of holiday weeks 6(October, Christmas, February, Easter)

NUMBER 13

Number of weeks until mock exams

Seven weeks this half term plus five weeks after October half term -plus October half term!

NUMBER 15

• On average the number of exams your child will sit over the exam period

• English (3), Maths (2), Science (3/6/9), plus four options

• 2 weeks before May half term and then 3 weeks after that

Teenage Myths

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

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

OK…

Year 11 is not a

‘Full Year’Exams start on

11th May

Changes to Exams from last year.

• All exams are linear with terminal exams at end of Year 11.

• No re-sits/multiple chances *.• Controlled assessments are units, moderated &

awarded at end of Year 11.• English Language is now:

60% written exam40% controlled assessmentSpeaking & Listening is graded separately.

• *Last years Core Science (Science A) will be able to re-sit in Yr 11 but 1st entry grade counts for the school.

• The mock exams will be run to a ‘normal” exam timetable (9.00am and 1.00pm start times).

Overview & Focus•Reports

•Mock Exams•Parents Evening

•External Exams

Dates

•Reports; 29th Oct.

•Mock Exams; 8th Dec.

•Results Day; 14th Jan.

•Parents Evening; 26th Feb.•Easter;28th Mar – 13th April•Exams Start; 11th May

Other important dates re: Progression post 16.

• Opportunities at post 16 Evening. 11th Nov.

• Post 16 Open Evening. 15th Jan.

• 1:1 Interviews begin re: Post 16 option choices.

2nd March

Other Information

Tracking 1st Half-term (October)Data Drops• January• FebruaryParents Evening• March• April

Need to hit the ground running.

1st Indication of progress will be from the reports issued in October.

Preparation for Mocks• Must have a structured, planned approach.

• Not ‘How much do I know without revising’.

For success Revision needs to be:-

• Organised

• Focused

• Structured

• Regular

As parents you will get information/help from:-

• Reports

• Mocks

• Parents Evening

• Data Drops

gary.marshall@northumberland.gov.uk

English

Mr N A Hamilton

GCSE English Literature (9715)

Exam Board AQATwo Levels of entry –

FoundationHigher

Your son/daughter will know which they are entered for by October half term

GCSE English Literature

• Students completed the coursework element in Y10 worth 25% of their total mark

All students will have their results in the next two weeks, subject to moderation

• We are now working towards the two written exams in May

Unit 1 (1hr 30) – ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘DNA’ Unit 2 (1hr 15) – ‘The Moon on the Tide’ Anthology - the ‘Relationships’ cluster and an unseen poetry question.

English Language• Two routes –

AQA GCSE English Language (4705) – two levels – FoundationHigher

Cambridge iGCSE English Language (0522)

You will have been informed by letter if your son/daughter is being entered for the iGCSE, if not it will be AQA GCSE

English Language

Both routes have an element of coursework - GSCE students have started this and have received their marks to date – they still have 2 pieces to do • ‘Of Mice and Men’ – before October half term• Spoken Language study – Jan/FebiGCSE students have 4 short assignments to complete before Christmas – 3 written and one Speaking and Listening.The coursework component is 40% for GCSE and 60% for iGCSE of the total mark.

English Language

Both routes have a final written examination in May/June –GCSE Unit 1 (2hr 15) – Section A tests reading, Section B tests writing.iGCSE Paper 1 (Core) (1hr 45) – two questions testing both reading and writing

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 for both routes on their respective websites.

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

• http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-english-first-language-uk-0522/past-papers/

• 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)

• Cambridge iGCSE 0522 study guides are available commercially

Maths

Mr M Smith

GCSE Maths

Two TiersHigher Tier – Edexcel 1MA0H

Foundation Tier – OCR J567F

NO Coursework!

• Both a blessing and a curse.

End of year 10 exam

• Every student has received an individual list of the topics based on this test that they need to work on during this term

• This work is supported with online and paper resources and of course by their teachers

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.

Science

Miss S Neale

GCSE Sciences

Exam Board AQA

Two Routes

Science A and Additional Science

Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Both routes prepare students for Level 3 study of Science subjects

Science A and Additional Science

Science AStudents took the Science A qualification in

year 10. They have their result.

Students can retake this qualification this year. They must resit all three exams (B1, C1 and P1) in June.

Retake ISA date: Tuesday 11th November

Science A and Additional Science

Additional Science

This qualification is completely separate from Science A.

Students will take one exam in Biology (B2), Chemistry (C2) and Physics (P2) in May.

ISA date: Thursday 5th February

Biology, Chemistry and Physics

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

All modules have equivalent weighting (25%)

Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Biology ISA date: Wednesday 1st October

Chemistry ISA : Completed in Year 10

Physics ISA : To be completed in lessons during the last week of September

Resit ISA : Thursday 5th February

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.