SUPPORT STUDY SUCCESS
AS & A2 EXAM DATES
1) The Early Bird Catches The Worm
Yes, you may sigh at this over-used phrase your parents regularly fire at you but it really does work. Getting up early means you make the most of the day and, if you feel you've done enough, you can take the evening off.
2) Set Yourself Realistic Targets
Make sure to set your own targets which suit your capabilities - not your friends’. There's no point in trying to do 10 hours of revision a day if you know you won't; you'll only feel disappointed.
3) Exercise
Going for a jog - or any other exercise - is a great way to switch off and renew your energy levels. Your brain may be tired but your body probably won't be.
4) Take Regular Breaks
Experts recommend every half an hour or so. Even if it's just getting up to make a drink gives you an opportunity to re-focus.
5) Work Hard; Play Hard
Ok, maybe don't play too hard, but planning to see friends or family on your breaks means you have something to look forward to and means you can reward yourself for all that hard work.
6) Steer Clear Of Ca�eine
If you simply can't survive without coffee, have a couple of cups in the morning and when you do get that low, refuel with high-energy foods such as nuts. Having the full 8 hours sleep has been proven to increase memory retention by up to 35%.
7) Eat Well
Resist that trip to McDonald's; fast food will only make you feel sluggish. Stock up on brain-boosting foods such as pumpkin seeds, blueberries, celery and walnuts.
8) Know Your Learning Techniques
Don't feel you have to join the revision group just because everyone else is. Some people just work better alone. Think about the techniques that work for you – cue cards, mind maps, posters, Q&A sessions, websites etc.
9) Keep Hydrated
We all know our brains love water. Keep a bottle of water by your desk and make sure you drink it regularly. If you get really bored, add some squash to spice things up.
10) Ban Facebook/Twitter
"But why?" we hear you gasp in horror. How many times have you refreshed your homepage only to realise there are no new updates as you've been glued to Facebook for the past four hours. It's distracting and it serves no purpose.
Revision tips for studentsWhen you’re preparing for GCSE, AS or A2 exams, sometimes it seems as though you can’t move for revision tips and, while most of the tips for revision you get offered are well-intentioned, it can be hard to sort the useful revision tips from the useless.
To help you get off on the right foot with your revision, we've created these useful revision tips. They are equally valid for GCSE, AS and A2 exams.
Revision tip one: Plan your revisionIt’s important to take a structured approach to exam revision, because it means you can be sure of covering everything you need in the time available.
People who do not plan their revision often end up spending most of their time covering areas they already know well. A proper revision plan will help you focus revision on the subject areas you really need to cover:
When creating your revision plan, work backwards from the date of your first exam.
Do you know what you need to do in each subject to help improve your grades? If not – ask your teacher.
Allocate more time to tricky subjects/topics and areas you don’t know well. These will have the biggest impact on your eventual results.
Be realistic when creating a timetable. You can’t spend every minute revising – build in time for breaks and other commitments too.
Stick your revision timetable up somewhere and tell your friends and family about it so they can help you focus on sticking to your plan.
Revision tip two: Create the right environmentWhen you revise at home, follow these revision tips to build surroundings that will help you revise effectively:
Try to set aside an area that’s just for revision. Avoid your bedroom if possible – you want to create a space you associate only with revision.
Make sure your desk is lit well (with natural light, if possible) and in a quiet spot, away from distractions like the TV.
Most people revise most effectively in a quiet environment. At certain times, however, playing music may motivate and inspire you.
Find a spot where it’s easy to avoid distractions. Turn your phone off, move away from the TV and shut down your internet connection
Have everything to hand before starting. That means pens, pencils, paper, textbooks, exam papers – anything you need to revise.
Use the school or public library.
Revision tip three: Think about your techniqueWithout the right revision technique, your meticulously-planned revision schedule and revision materials will be useless. These revision tips will help you make productive use of every minute of your revision time: Simply reading textbooks and notes is not enough for effective revision. You need to be active, making notes and diagrams.
Short chunks of revision work best for most people. For instance, revise for 30 minutes, then take a ten-minute break.
Use past papers, textbooks and syllabuses to work out what you should be revising.
Use a whole variety of materials: notes, textbooks, online resources – and create mind maps, diagrams and posters.
Past papers are a really valuable way to test your knowledge. When you work through questions, make sure you have the mark scheme too.
Go over material more than once, but leave a day or two in between. This will help reinforce knowledge and fix it in your mind.
Revision tip four: Don’t overdo your revisionPush yourself too far and you’ll burn out, get tired or simply become less effective. It’s important to think about your mind, your body and when you perform best: Take frequent breaks. Ten minutes off every 30 – 40 minutes is a good balance for most people.
Stay hydrated and don’t get too hungry. Keep a glass of water on hand, along with healthy snacks like fruit and nuts.
Set a tangible goal for each day, such as learning 12 quotations. This will improve learning efficiency. Small steps will have a big impact. You can’t do everything at once!
Remember your friends and family. Spending time with them will keep you stimulated and stop you going ‘stir crazy’!
If things aren’t going quite to plan, don’t panic – just re-evaluate what you can cover in the remaining time, and focus on what you can achieve.
Ask for help! Your subject teachers and tutors are always willing to help. Don’t panic in silence!
And �nally...Help!If you find that you are not sleeping, can’t concentrate, it’s all getting too much; then there is help at hand. Contact your tutor, Housemaster/mistress or any other member of staff. Father Simon is also available and if necessary he will arrange for an appointment with the School Counsellor or see you himself. Of course you can also contact your teachers. Just remember you don’t have to face this on your own. A few minutes chatting with someone can help to put things in perspective. We do not want you to make yourself ill over a few exams!
Department ClinicsUpper Fifth Lower Sixth Middle Sixth
Art Wed/Thu 4-5.30 Wed/Thu 4-5.30 Wed/Thu 4-5.30
Biology Tues 1.30-2.00 Tues 1.30-2.00 Tues 1.30-2.00
Chemistry Tues 1.30-2.00 Tues 1.30-2.00 Tues 1.30-2.00
Classics/Latin every lunchtime every lunchtime every lunchtime
D&T Wed 1-1.30 exam Wed 1-1.30 exam Wed 1-1.30 exam Weds 4.15-5 practical Weds 4.15-5 practical Weds 4.15-5 practical Fri 1.15-2 practical Fri 1.15-2 practical Fri 1.15-2 practical
Drama individual individual individual
Economics na Tues 4.15 Mon 4.15
English Thurs 1.00-1.30 1:1 coursework tutorials 1:1 coursework tutorials with subject teachers by with subject teachers by arrangement after February arrangement after February Half term weekly group Half term weekly group tutorials, to be confirmed. tutorials, to be confirmed.
French Tues 1-2 Tues 1-2 Tues 1-2
G&P na Weds 4.15 Weds 4.15
Geography Weds/Thurs 4.15 Weds/Thurs 4.15 Weds/Thurs 4.15
German Tues 1.30 Tues 1.30 Tues 1.30
History Fri 1-1.45 Viet A Tues 4.15 Wed 4.15 Viet B Thu 4.15 French Wed 4.15Mathematics set 1 Thurs 4.15 Mon/Fri 1.30-2 Mon/Fri 1.30-2 set 2 Mon 4.15 Mon 4-5 Mon 4-5 set 3 individual Tues 4-5 Tues 4-5 set 4 Tues 4.15
Music individual individual individual
PE na na Thurs 1:30-2:00
Physics Tues 1.00-2.00 Tues 1.30-2.00 Tues 1.30-2.00
Psychology na M/T/W/F 1.30 M/T/W/F 1.30
RS Weds 1.30-2.00 Mon 1.30-2.00 Tues 1.30-2.00
Spanish Weds 1.00 Fri 4.15 Fri 4.15
Useful Revision WebsitesSubject WebsiteGeneral www.s-cool.co.uK www.revisionworld.co.uk/gcse-revision www.gcsepod.co.uk www.educationquizzes.com www.getrevising.co.uk
Revision skills/grade http://www.vision2learnforschools.comimprovement tips
Revision Help Site http://getrevising.co.uk Create your revision timetable here, for example. http://www.revisionworld.co.uk
Biology www.maniacworld.com/shooting-sheep.htm testing reaction times http://science.howstuffworks.com research website to find out how ADH works www.cellsalive.com/mitosis.htm videos of mitosis and meiosis www.fao.org/english/newsroom/focus/2003/fmo8.htm arguments for and against GMO’s teacherscorner.net www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_11/BL_11.htmlvirtual lab to conduct experiments on effects of temp. pH, etc. on enzymes www.DNAi.org/index.html Interactive activities on nucleic acids www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/neurobiology.html www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFG-aLidT8s Introduction to homeobox genes www.plant-hormones.info/ plant hormones www.youttube.com/watch?v=1968Wco1u0s&feature=related comparing sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
Chemistry iGCSE – bitesize – useful video clips and questions to check knowledge and understanding. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa/ A level- chemguide, knockhardy, labskills (via Gateway) are all good to check information and both labskills and knockhardy have some good multiple choices. Chemgym costs but is good for quick questions on the move. http://www.chemguide.co.uk http://www.knockhardy.org.uk/sci.htm http://www.chemgym.net Classics http://quizlet.com
Design & Technology www.technologystudent.com http://www.mr-dt.com/ http://www.ergonomics4schools.com/learningzone.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/resistantmaterials http://www.the-warren.org/
Economics www.tutor2u.net www.economicshelp.org www.hsbcukeconomyexplained.co.uk www.whystudyeconomics.ac.uk www.bankofengland.co.uk www.economist.com www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/economy
Not all appropriate for all levels
Useful Revision WebsitesSubject Website
English http://www.englishbiz.co.uk/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/ http://www.revisioncentre.co.uk/gcse/english/
Geography http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/Whats+on.htm http://www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk/ks3-resources/introduction/ http://www.rgs.org/GeographyToday/Geography+Today.htm http://www.geographyinthenews.rgs.org/ http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/GCSE/AQA%20GCSE.htm www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/ www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/geography www.revisionworld.co.uk/gcse-revision/geography http://www.thinkgeography.org.uk/ReviseGeography/ReviseGeography/GCSE_Geog.html www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/gcse/revision.html http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/gcse/index.html www.youtube.com (type in case study or relevant topic)
Government & Politics http://www.earlhamsociologypages.co.uk/asanda2.html Large archive of AS and A2 resources for all government and politics topics, across all exam board specifications. http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/politics/ Blog, revision materials and general electronic resources. www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics http://www.politicshome.com/ Politics news source
History http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history Nazi Germany http://www.activehistory.co.uk/ username Chigwell, password olu54 http://johndclare.net/ http://schoolhistory.co.uk/ http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ http://www.mrallsophistory.com/revision/ http://www.casahistoria.net/GCSE_history_revision.htm
Maths http://www.schoolworkout.co.uk/GCSE.htm http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/maths http://www.collinsrevisionapps.co.uk/ This is a link to an app you can purchase for your iPhone to revise your maths. https://go.chigwell-school.org/personal/dmorse/maths/default.aspx http://www.mymaths.co.uk/ http://www.examsolutions.net/index.php http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/ http://www.mathsnet.net www.examsolutions.co.uk/index.php
Modern Foreign http://www.languagesonline.org.ukLanguages http://www.linguascope.co.uk (chigwell / Harsnett) http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize www.vocabexpress.com (most year groups and languages from III Form to UV are covered by our departmental subscription. Further details and usernames/passwords available from Mr Coppell)
Not all appropriate for all levels
Website
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Useful Revision Websites
MVI - Uni Offers
Subject WebsiteFrench http://www.frenchrevision.co.uk/ http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/french http://www.languagesonline.org.uk http://www.linguascope.co.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/french http://www.frenchrevision.co.uk/ http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/french
Spanish www.espanol-extra.co.uk (Chigwell / 1629) We also subscribe to www.kerboodle.com at A Level in Spanish, and students have been issued with individual usernames and passwords.
Music http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/ http://quizlet.com www.musictheory.net
PE http://revisionworld.co.uk/a2-level-level-revision/pe-physical-education http://www.teachpe.com/a_level.php www.pe4u.co.uk/ Physics http://www.youtube.com/ search igcse+physics+edexcel. Short films by Ben Ryder
Psychology http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/psychology http://www.holah.co.uk/page/home/ (Mainly OCR Board (we are doing Edexcel) but useful for general information – glossary etc). http://aspsychology101.wordpress.com/downloads/
RS http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/ http://groodle/course/view.php?id=63 Logon on to Groodle for more links. http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/religious-studies http://www.thatreligiousstudieswebsite.com www.rsrevision.com/contents/games.htm
Uni Offer Grades
Not all appropriate for all levels
Website
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WebsiteF
Offer Grades
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©2011
AQA City & Guilds CCEA Edexcel OCR WJEC
Warning to Candidates
1. You must be on time for all your examinations.
2. You must not become involved in any unfair or dishonest practice in any part of the examination.
3. You must not:
sit an examination in the name of another candidate;
have in your possession any unauthorised material or equipment which might give you an unfair advantage.
4. Possession of a mobile phone or other unauthorised material is breaking the rules, even if you do not intend to use it, and you will be subject to penalty and possible disqualification.
5. You must not talk to, attempt to communicate with or disturb other candidates once you have entered the examination room.
6. You must follow the instructions of the invigilator.
7. If you are in any doubt speak to the invigilator.
The WWaarrnniinngg ttoo CCaannddiiddaatteess must be displayed in a prominent place outside each examination room. This may be a hard copy A3 paper version or an image of the poster projected onto a wall or screen for all candidates to see. Effective from 1 September 2011
The start times for exams are
9.00 am and 1.30 pm
They take place in the Sports Hall
unless they are listening exams.
21st April
22nd April
23rd April
24th April
25th April
26th April
27th April
28th April
29th April
30th April
1st May
2nd May
3rd May
4th May
5th May
6th May
7th May
8th May
9.00 D&T: ADV INNVTN CHLLNG
ASSIGNMENT 6 Hrs
9th May
10th May
11th May
12th May
13th May
9.00 ECON: MARKETS
IN ACTION WRITTEN 1Hr 30
9.00 GCE RELIGIOUS
STUDIES UNIT 1 1 Hr 15
9.00 GCE RELIGIOUS
STUDIES UNIT 3 1 Hr 15
13.30 GCE GEOGRAPHY UNIT 1 2Hrs
13.30 GCE MUSIC UNIT 1 1 Hr 45
13.30 PSYCHOLOGY
SOCIAL & COGNITIVE 1Hr 20
14th May
15th May
9.00 D & T: ADV INNVTN
CHLLNG RFLCTN TEST 1 Hr
9.00 CLASSICS: CLASSICAL
GREEK LANG WRTTN 1 Hr 30
9.00 FRENCHWRITTEN RESPONSE 2 Hrs 30
13.30 GCE HISTORY UNIT 1F 1Hr 15
16th May
17th May
18th May
9.00 ENG LIT: PTRY & PROSE
1800-1945 WRTN 2 Hrs
13.30 GCE GEOGRAPHY UNIT 2 1 Hr
19th May
20th May
9.00 MECHANICS M3 1 Hr 30
9.00 CORE
MATHEMATICS C1 1 Hr 30
9.00 LISTENING (F) 25 mins
9.00 LISTENING (H) 35 mins
9.00 READING (F) 35 mins
9.00 READING (H) 50 mins
9.00 GCE GERMAN UNIT 1 2 Hrs
9.00 GCE GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICS UNIT 1 1Hr 30
9.00 PHYSICS: MECHANICS
WRITTEN PAPER 1 Hr
13.30 PSYCHOLOGY
UNDERSTANDING
THE INDIVIDUAL 1 Hr 40
21st May
22nd May
9.00 STATISTICS S3 1Hr 30
9.00 CLASSICS: LATIN
LANGUAGE WRITTEN 1 Hr 30
9.00 CORE MATHEMATICS C2 1Hr 30
9.00 BIOLOGY: CELLS,
EXCHING & TRNSPT WRTN 1 Hr
13.30 GCE CLASSICAL
CIVILISATION UNIT 1D 1 Hr 30
13.30 ECON: THE NTNL &
INTENTNL
ECON WRTN 1Hr 30
13.30 GCE HISTORY UNIT 2Q 1 Hr 30
23rd May
24th May
25th May
13.30 CLASSICS: CLASS GRK
VRS.PRS LIT WRTN 1 Hr 3O9.00 CORE PRINCIPLES
OF CHEMISTRY 1 Hr 30
26th May
27th May
28th May
29th May
30th May
31th May
1st June
2nd June
3rd June
9.00 GCE GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICS UNIT 2 1Hr 30
9.00 GCE HISTORY UNIT 38 1Hr 30
9.00 D & T: PRODUCT DESIGN
WRTTN PAPER 1 1Hr
9.00 D & T: PRODUCT DESIGN
WRTTN PAPER 2 1Hr 30
9.00 ECON: THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY WRITTEN 2Hrs
9.00 GCE SPANISH UNIT 1 2Hrs
13.30 BIOLOGY: MOLCS, BIOD,
FOOD & HLTH WRTN 1 Hr 45
13.30 CHEMISTRY APPL OF
CORE PRINCIPLES 1 Hr 30
13.30 LATIN: LATIN LANGUAGE
2 WRITTEN HGH 1 Hr 30
4th June
5th June
6th June
7th June
8th June
9.00 GCE CLASSICAL
CIVILISATION UNIT 2A 1Hr 30
9.00 ENG LIT:DRAMA
& POETRY PRE-18OO
WRTN 2Hrs
9.00 SPORT & RECREATION 1Hr 30
13.30 FURTHER PURE FP2 1 Hr 30
13.30 MECHANICS M1 1 Hr 30
9th June
10th June
13.30 GEN.PRINCIPLES
OF CHEMISTRY 1 Hr 40
13.30 GCE GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICS UNIT 3B 2 Hrs
13.30 OPTIMUM SPORTS PERF. 1 Hr
9.00 FURTHER PURE FP1 1Hr 30
9.00 STATISTICS S1 1Hr 30
13.30 ECONOMICS: TRANSPORT
ECONOMICS WRITTEN 2 Hrs
9.00 GCE CLASSICAL
CIVILISATION UNIT 3C 1 Hr 30
9.00 GCE GERMAN UNIT 3 2 Hr 30
9.00 PHYSICS: ELCTRNS,
WVES & PHTNS WRTTN 1 Hr 45
12th June
11th June
9.00 DRAMA
THEATRE TEXT IN
CONTEXT 2 Hrs 30
9.00 GCE GEOGRAPHY
UNIT 3 2 Hrs 30
9.00 GCE SPANISH
UNIT 3 2 Hrs 30
13.30 GCE CLASSICAL
CIVILISATION UNIT 4C 1 Hr 30
9.00 RUSSIAN
WRITTEN RESP. &
RESEARCH 2 Hr 30
13.30 PHYSICS:
THE NEWTONIAN
WORLD WRITTEN 1 Hr 15
13.30 GCE RELIGIOUS
STUDIES UNIT 3B 1 Hr 30
13th June
14th June
15th June
13.30 BIOLOGY: COMNCTN,
HMSTS & ENRGY WRTN 1 Hr 15
13.30 GCE GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICS UNIT 4B 1 Hr 30
16th June
17th June
9.00 CORE MATHEMATICS C3 1Hr 30 9.00 GCE GEOGRAPHY
UNIT 4A 1Hr 30
9.00 CHEMISTRY
GEN PRINCIPLES
OF CHEM.II 1Hr 40
18th June
19th June
9.00 GCE MUSIC UNIT 4 2Hrs 15
9.00 FRENCH
WRITTEN RESP.
& RESEARCH 2Hrs 30
9.00 PHYSICS: FIELDS/
PRTCLS/FRNTRS WRTTN 2Hrs
9.00 GCE RELIGIOUS STUDIES
UNIT 4C 1Hrs 30
13.30 CORE MATHEMATICS C4 1Hr 30
20th June
21st June
22nd June
9.00 BIOLOGY:
CNTRL,GENOMES &
ENVMNT WRTN 2Hrs
23rd June
24th June
9.00 FURTHER PURE FP3 2Hrs 30
9.00 MECHANICS M2 1Hr 30
9.00 STATISTICS 1Hr 30
25th June
9.00 AEA Mthematics
ENGLISH VERSION 3Hrs