Kirkwall Grammar School
Raising Attainment
How to help your child
prepare for the 2014 SQA
examinations.
What’s different this session?
• For S4 – the change to Nationals and the
move to the new build
• For S5/6 – the move to the new building
• School closure does not mean extra
holiday – staff will advise on home study
Points to note
• For S4-6 the change to SQA Appeals
– No Appeals as we have known them.
– Results Service:
• Exceptional Circumstances
• Re-count/ re-mark
• S5 and S6* in 2014-15 will sit new
National Highers
Current Qualifications
Replaced
by
New Qualifications
Advanced Higher
(Revised)
Higher
(Revised)
National 5
National 4
National 3
(Revised)
National 2
(Revised)
National 1
(Revised)
Courses at National 1-4 will not be graded. They will be
assessed Pass/Fail within the Centre.
National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Courses will be
graded A – D.
Assessment Arrangements
• Higher / Intermediate 2 / Intermediate 1
– Unit Assessments (NABs).
– Final Examination
• Nationals
– Unit Assessments (UASPs)
– Final Examination for N5
• All Unit Assessments
•
•
•
•
Usually internally assessed
Must pass these for final full award
Only two attempts permitted per assessment
If preparing for re-sit ; pupils should take responsibility for finding
out when, where and what needs to be done to improve and to pass
Prelim Examination Dates
• S4 Prelims
– Start 13th January 2014
– 7 School Weeks from now
(+ Christmas Holidays)
• S5/6 Prelims
– Start 27th January 2014
– 9 School Weeks from now
(+ Christmas Holidays)
• Now for ideas of ways that you can
support your son or daughter in the run up
to exams.
Study Timetable
• Time for pupils to take stock of what they
know and what they don’t.
• Time to plan for and prepare for exams
Study/ Homework Planning
• What are essential commitments?
• When is there free time?
• School / hobbies / paid work* / socialising /
family / homework / studying / rest / Study
Support / more rest
Can they do it all? (Yes!)
• Help the student to divide up the day into
sections eg morning / afternoon / after school /
evening.
• Draw up a timetable (proforma on SQA website
and there is an ‘App’ for that!).
• Fill in the essential activities.
• If there is no time for study - think about
priorities.
Encourage students to use the
supports provided
• Teachers
• Course Outlines
•
•
•
•
•
•
Textbooks
Notes
Websites
Facebook/ Blogs (Subject related!)
Study Guides
SQA / Education Scotland/ Parent Zone
• Work with friends – testing each other.
• Remember repetition / ongoing revision/
going back to basics if necessary
• Use past papers - but cleverly
– Look at questions and analyse what is being
asked
– Use exam timing.
• S4 – new courses so no past papers but are
SQA recommended books. (SG past papers
may be helpful)
Help students prioritise
to achieve
• Minimum of 2 hours per subject per week
• Most likely that will only cover homework
and other essential work.
• Use even little bits of time (on the bus?
Walking to school?)
• Real study takes time.
Scholar – what is it?
• Scholar is Heriot Watt University’s world
famous on line support.
• Scholar log in and password - from your
class teacher.
Scholar Subject Areas
• Sciences
• Mathematics
• Business
• Languages
What does Scholar offer?
• Comprehensive online interactive learning
materials, activities, assessments and revision
packs.
• The learning platform gives access to online
communities, resources, monitoring information
and information tools.
• Study guides which contain key reference
materials and learning activities.
• Tutor notes with valuable curriculum and
planning information.
Education Scotland
Parentzone
•
•
•
•
•
•
Your child at school
Curriculum for Excellence
Get involved
Supporting learning at home
Additional support needs
Resources for parents
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone/
Different ways to study
(We don’t all learn the same way!)
• Write out what has been covered in
lessons and what is needed for Prelim.
• Read textbooks and take notes
• Re-write notes from jotters
• Write shortened note forms
• Practise remembering ** facts
Parents – encourage students to
choose the way that suits them.
Students can:
• Rewrite notes for each subject; record on
MP3 player/ Ipod ….
• Post-it notes on walls / pin boards
• Devise wall charts
• Draw mind maps
Parents: you can help!
• A quiet place to study
• Regular Study Times
• Take breaks (15 minutes in every hour
suits some)
• Health and Wellbeing
– Feed regularly – good fresh food
– Sleep regularly
– Fresh air and exercise
• Be there for them!
• Coax, cajole, persuade.
• Keep calm and encouraging.
• They will do you and, most importantly,
themselves proud.