The Friary School
Introduction
This booklet has been put together to provide you with
information. It does not have all of the answers but it is
up to you to use it as you think best. We hope you find it
useful.
How well you do in your final examinations will depend
on how much effort you put into your classwork,
controlled assessment and studies.
Ultimately your grades will be a reflection of the amount of time and effort that you put in
now.
Sections
1.
Mind Mapping
2.
Reading
3.
Note Taking
4.
Concentration – some basic guidelines
5.
Planning for effective revision
6.
7.
Understanding the Exam Questions – terms and
definition list
Exam Tips
8.
Making a Timetable
9.
Revision Survival Guide
10.
Revision Guides and Other Useful Resources
1. Mind Mapping
Mind maps are an excellent tool for effective learning. Mind maps stimulate both right and
left hemispheres of the brain and the combination of language, logic, colour and images
makes this an excellent memory tool. Used correctly, they reflect the way the brain
naturally organises information.
They can be used to:


record large amounts of information in a small space;
generate new ideas and organise them at the same time.
The ‘rules’ of mind mapping
Everyone can create their own personal style of mind mapping. Use these rules as a guide to
help you find your own personal style.
1.
-
Paper
Blank paper
Landscape not portrait
Use only one side
6. Colour
- Stimulates the right hemisphere
- Use one colour for each main
branch
2. Central image
- Have a central image which
attracts the eye
7. Spacing
- Leave lots of space so that you.
can add to the mind map
3. Branches
- Main branches are thicker to show
important key ideas
- Use curved lines to create interest
8. Symbols
- Use arrows to guide the eye
- Create your own symbols
4.
-
9. Personal style
- This is important, it is your mind
map and it needs to be in a style
appropriate to you
Words
Only use key words
Main branch word – upper case
Lower branch word – lower case
Size should relate to importance
5. Images
- Help to simulate the right hemisphere
of the brain
- Easy to remember
- Attract the eye
- The eye takes in images more quickly than
words (and remembers them for longer)
10. Have fun
- When learning is fun you learn
faster and you remember things
- Make your mind maps fun!
A couple of examples……
2. Reading
There is more than one way to read! Different texts can be read in different ways for
different purposes.
a) Skim-reading
Quick ‘skim’ reading to get a general impression. This can
mainly be used to assess the relevance of a piece of text or sort
out which texts might be worth reading in detail later on.
b) Scanning
Similar to ‘skim’ reading but with the purpose of finding specific
information. For example, using the index to find a word and
then locating the given page in a book.
c) Receptive Reading
Reading at a steady speed from start to finish as you would read a story. It is useful to
get a good general idea of the contents.
d) Intensive Reading
This is reading in depth, taking notes and asking questions raised by the reading.
3. Note Taking
Note taking is an excellent way in which to record, store and retrieve information quite
quickly. You could make notes when you are reading, and when you are revising. You must
do it properly though.
Different people make notes in different ways; the most important thing is that you
understand them later. When you are making notes, ask yourself the following questions:
a) Why am I taking these notes?
b) What are the key points?
c) How am I going to arrange and organise these notes?
d) Do they make sense?
Once you have completed a set of notes, check through them carefully to make sure that
you have covered all of the main points and that you understand them. It is also useful to
underline and highlight key words or quotes.
Top Tips for Revising with Notes
-
The method will only be effective if you actually write things down.
Try to write as concisely as possible, you only want to note down the key points so that
you can then refer back to them quickly and be reminded of them.
Place your notes in different locations around the house so that you are reminded of key
concepts e.g. on the fridge, in the bathroom, on the doors etc.
Use colours to distinguish important ideas and to highlight key concepts. Don’t spend
ages just making your notes look pretty though.
Sometimes, making mnemonics can help.
Once you have created a set of notes, revisit them later and test yourself on the content.
Revision cards can be particularly useful
Post-it notes can also help
4. Concentration – Some Basic Guidelines
1. Set aside a time and place for study and study only!
a) Identify a specific place that you can use for revision.
b) Ensure that your study area has:




good lighting;
ventilation;
a comfortable chair, not too comfortable;
a desk/table or area large enough to spread out your materials.
c) Ensure that you avoid having the following in your study area:





A distracting view of any other activities you may wish to be involved
in;
A mobile phone;
A loud stereo;
A television;
A friend who wants to talk a lot;
2. Divide your work into small, short-range goals
a) Don’t set vague targets which are too
demanding e.g. ‘I am going to spend all day
Saturday studying’. This is not practical and
could end up demotivating you.
b) Take the time block that you have scheduled
for study and set a reachable study goal. For
example: finish making notes on chapter seven
of my Science book, complete one maths
exercise, write the rough draft to my English
essay etc.
c) Set your goal when you sit down to study before you start to work (reward yourself
once you have achieved it…chocolate is good for this!).
Make sure that any goals you set are challenging but achievable.
5. Planning For Effective Revision
-
Make a list of all the subjects that you are revising for.
-
Look through the syllabus/check with your teacher and make sure that you cover each
topic that may come up.
-
Make a detailed revision timetable several months/weeks before the exam. Make sure
that you include time-out to relax and do other things.
-
Find out how many papers there are for each subject. Find out where, when and how
long each exam is. Do you know what each paper covers and if you need any special
equipment e.g. a calculator?
-
Be clear about what you already know and are therefore confident with.
-
Organise a suitable place to work away from distractions.
-
Do a ‘reality check’ – check your understanding of what you have been revising: get
others to test you, test yourself, complete an online activity etc.
-
Decide how much time you need to spend on each area.
-
Take regular ‘stretch breaks’. Every 30 minutes or so move around and have a stretch,
then re-focus.
-
Keep your revision organised and planned. If for some reason you fall behind on your
timetable, re-organise it realistically so that you are still able to cover everything.
-
If you have made some notes, review them on the same day to help you remember
them. Look at them again two days later, then a week later to check you have
remembered the key points.
-
Make sure that you are in the right frame of mind. Be positive and believe in yourself!
-
Drink water, eat high-energy foods and get some good sleep (at least 8 hours). Your
brain needs to be rested, fed and watered in order to learn most effectively.
-
Use a range of methods for your revision, such as: mind maps, body actions, recording
notes on a phone or other device verbally, flash cards, post-its etc.
6. Understanding the Exam Questions – Terms
and Definition List
Analyse
Look very closely at the detail
Compare
Say how things are the same and different
Illustrate
Give examples to make your points clear. It can also mean to use diagrams,
drawings or figures to support your answer.
Outline
Describe without too much detail. Give the main features of.
State
Present the information clearly but briefly.
Summarise
Using your own words, bring together the main points without including
detail or examples.
Review
Go over the whole think picking out the important parts to give your
opinion on.
Clarify
Make it simple and clear.
Comment on
Give your opinions or point of view.
Consider
Take it into account. What are your thoughts
about it?
Demonstrate
Show using lots of examples
Describe
Give a detailed account of something as it is. You do not need to give your
opinion on it.
Discuss
Give the important reasons for and against and come to come conclusion
from these.
Contrast
Show how things are different.
Explain
Make the information clear by giving reasons and further evidence to
support it.
You can add some other exam terms below and find out the definition yourself:
7. Exam Tips
-
Get a good night’s sleep before the exam.
-
Before you set off from home, relax and imagine yourself walking calmly
to the exam room and successfully completing the exam. If you see it
and believe it, it is more likely to come true.
-
Make sure that you take all of the equipment that you might need.
-
Get to the exam early.
-
If possible, take a bottle of water into the exam room (with the label
removed).
-
Read through the whole paper.
-
Don’t spend too long on one question; be clear at the start of the exam
about how long you will spend on each question.
-
Read the instructions carefully. Put a tick next to the questions that you
want to do/have to do.
-
Look at how many marks are awarded for each question – this often
indicates how much detail you should go into.
-
Underline the important words in a long question – this will help you to
break down the question and check you have answered all parts.
-
Don’t’ be afraid to write on the exam paper – you might want to
underline words in a question or make very quick notes.
8. Making a Timetable
Where can I get further help?
There are a couple of useful websites below. There are also lots of examples in the other
booklet as part of this pack with subject specific websites and revision guides. Be cautious
when using any website though and make sure that the information you are working with is
accurate and relevant to the content of your course.
The best person to ask for any further guidance is your subject teacher though. Don’t forget,
there are lots of opportunities in school to attend revision and booster sessions, make the
most of them!
www.s-cool.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
AND please read the question carefully and think before you put pen to paper……
9. Revision Survival Guide
Relax and Stay Calm
Prepare well - pace, not race.
Make a list of things that are worrying you and talk them over with someone who knows
what you are going through—get help if you are stuck!
Recognise the symptoms of stress: Excessive tiredness, irritability, headaches,
increased heart rate and inability to relax, may all be cues that you are suffering from
stress.
Tackling stress: Take a break, go for a walk, breath deeply in and out through your nose
Time
to the count of 5, have a bath, have a chat with a friend, go
outmanagement
for a while.
Be realistic
withmotivated.
your revision timetable. Mix
Come back to the revision when you feel more
relaxed and
your subjects up and try not to spend more
than 50-60 minutes on each one. Factor in
breaks too.
Exercise
Take time out to get some fresh air,
socialise and take part in your favourite
sport.
Stay Positive
Sleep
‘If you think you can, you can,
If you think you can’t,
you can’t!’
Wind down before bed with a hot drink and
relaxing music. Avoid computer games
before you go to sleep as these will not
help you to relax.
Eat Well
Henry Ford
Eat
Breakfast
on the
morning of
each exam
you
Avoid lots of fizzy drinks and caffeine,
drink smoothies, milkshakes or water
instead. Have plenty of fruit.
Nibble on bread sticks and pasta.
Carbohydrates will give you energy.
Use the power of ‘brain food’ such as
proteins found in fish and cheese.
Have small ‘treats’ to reward yourself for
hard work!
Never under-estimate the power of positive thought. Imagine yourself succeeding as
you walk to your exam. If you see it and believe it, it is more likely to come true!
Be confident, if you have worked hard and prepared well you will succeed!
10. Revision Guides and Other Useful
Resources
This section of the guide provides information about websites
and additional materials which can be used to support
revision in each of the subject areas.
In many cases the students may already have been made
aware of the availability of these resources and be using them. There
is certainly not an expectation that students have a revision guide for
every single subject. All topics will be covered sufficiently well in class and
guides are simply useful to support students in their preparations for examination.
Many of the websites are very useful and we encourage you to draw your son/daughter’s
attention to these if they are not already using them. In the case of some subjects, activities
on a particular website may be set as part of a home learning task.
If you are considering purchasing a revision guide, please check that the version you
purchase is for the correct board and tier of examination (where appropriate). A note in the
planner to your child’s teacher could resolve any uncertainty in this area.
If you are in receipt of free school meals and would like assistance in purchasing a particular
guide, there is a fund available to support this. If you would like to discuss this further,
please contact the school.
Modern Foreign Languages – OCR (French and
Spanish)
The languages department offer CGP higher and foundation revision guides and Malvern
guides for Vocabulary and Grammar. The students pay their French/Spanish teacher for a
guide; they are then ordered to the school and passed onto students. The CGP Guide costs
£2.75 (if ordered through the school at a discount rate), others cost approximately £5.00.
Useful Websites:
www.languagesonline.org
www.linguascope.com
For linguascope, the students will need a username and password which cannot be
published for copyright reasons. If students are unsure about this information, they can get
it from their teacher
ICT - OCR
Please refer to the ICT Subject page on the school website which
has useful revision materials – all chapters from the text book are
available in PDF format on the Y11 HLA page – pupils need to know all of this so it will come
in handy!
There are hard copies of the textbook available from the first link below, however, there is
no need to purchase this as all of the pages can be accessed from the ICT subject page at
www.friaryschool.com:
http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Title/9781444108644/OCR_Information_and_Commun
ication_Technology_GCSE_Student_Book.htm
There are a number of useful revision guides available:
Letts GCSE ICT revision guide. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letts-GCSE-Success-RevisionGuide/dp/1844195244/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351177499&sr=8-1
CGP. http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/productDetail.asp?book=IHR42
The following website is also useful for revision: http://my.dynamic-learning.co.uk/ (on ICT
subject page on school website):
Username = ocrictg
Password = student
Teach-ict.com is another useful website for theory.
English GCSE - WJEC
Useful books:
English Language: CGP Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar for
GCSE. The Study Guide
English Literature: York Notes for GCSE for set texts (students will
need to check which ones are needed for their particular teaching group)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/ (students need to go to the reading
and writing pages)
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/english/writing-to-argue-persuade-instruct
http://www.gcse.com/english/punctuation.htm
http://www.educationquizzes.com/gcse/english/?gclid=CITjuIntl7MCFaTMtAodZhUA4g
Mathematics - Edexcel
Revision guides can be purchased from CGP. Students could
purchase a GCSE Mathematics Revision Guide (Foundation or
Higher as appropriate), which costs £4.95
Websites:
www.mathswatchvle.com
Centre ID: friary
Username: student
Password: friary
www.mymaths.co.uk
Username: friary
Password: circle
Food, Child Development and Textiles - AQA
Students will receive a revision pack after the 1st March which is when the exam
board permit the release of this material.
Revision guide for Food Technology
Revision guide for Food Technology.
Both are available from the Food Technology
Department
Both of these guides are highly recommended for
child development.
Science – OCR Gateway
GCSE CGP revision guides can be purchased. These are also available in school (Foundation
or Higher as appropriate) and cost £3.50.
Websites:
The Science area of the school website contains useful revision information and past papers.
The following websites may also be helpful:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/
http://www.docbrown.info/page20/ocrgateway0index.htm
DT Graphics – AQA
The following revision guides are useful:
Course guide produced by the exam board: AQA Design and
Technology Graphic Product. Nelson Thornes. ISBN: 978 1 4085 02747, cost approximately
£14.00. Content is covered in class.
GCSE Design & Technology Graphic Products AQA Revision Guide by CGP approximately
£6.00
GCSE D&T Graphic Products AQA Exam Practice Answers £2.00
GCSE D&T Graphic Products AQA Exam Practice Workbook (GCSE Design Technology) £5.00
The Lonsdale revision guides are also good.
www.technologystudent.com is a very good website for information. This will also provide
information on the student’s specific exam theme when it is released around April time. The
site contains some very useful printable activities.
Resistant Materials - AQA
Recommended books:
AQA Design & Technology Resistant Materials Technology by Ian Fawcett,
Roger Smith and Mick Whittle ISBN 978-1-4085-0273-0
CGP – GCSE D&T Resistant Materials AQA Specification – The revision guide ISBN 978-184762-353-9 (£4.50)
Lonsdale School Revision Guides – The Essentials of GCSE Design and Technology: Resistant
materials edited by Brian Russell ISBN 1-903068-47-9 (£6.99)
Resistant Materials (continued)
Lonsdale School Revision Guides – The Essentials of GCSE Design and Technology: Resistant
materials Student Worksheets edited by Brian Russell ISBN 1-903068-83-5 (£3.00)
Useful websites:
www.technologystudent.com
www.bsieducation.org
Religious Education – Edexcel
All students are provided with a school revision guide for the
course which is free of charge. They can also purchase official
revision guides from their class teacher. These are CGP Guides
and they cost £2.00 each.
There is a different guide available for each of the two exam papers that students sit. Both
are excellent and provide some useful support.
Business Studies – WJEC
A range of past papers are made available in lessons. They are
used for both classwork and home learning tasks.
Revision sheets are also issued and will be made available on
the Business Studies website once they are given to students.
www.businessstudiesonline.co.uk - this website is very useful for helping students to revise.
Music – OCR
OCR GCSE Music Study Guide - 2nd Edition: Graeme
Rudland/Reece Galley/Margaret Marshall
£15.95
Useful websites:
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/gcse/amlw/music/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/
Art – AQA
AQA GCSE Art and Design: Student Handbook" ISBN-10: 1408503204
PE – OCR
A guide is available to buy from the department:
GCSE physical education complete revision &practice.
It will cost £6.00 from the department (£10.99
elsewhere).
Geography – Edexcel
For the summer 2013 examination:
My Revision Notes: Edexcel B GCSE Geography:
Dynamic Planet: Unit 1
The Geography department also offers students the chance to purchase a Revision CD. The
department has produced revision software that can be taken away on the CD and loaded onto
home PCs as a programme. The software contains PowerPoints from the lessons, revision
materials and timed examination questions with mark schemes and model answers. The cost of
the CD is £3.00 (cheques payable to the Friary School) and these can be ordered from your son /
daughter’s geography teachers and will be produced once payment has been received.
Psychology – OCR
Information on the course available at www.ocr.co.uk
There is a revision guide for the course by Dwyer and Roberts which retails at £13.99 and is
called ‘Revise for GCSE level Psychology OCR’.
History – AQA
There are a number of websites available, however, these are the
best two:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/shp
http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/revision/
The following books are recommended by the History department for revision and are
available either from your history teacher or online.
If you like to complete activities to help you revise the two student
workbooks would be ideal and contain all the detail you need.
GCSE Schools History Project Enquiry in Depth: The American West,
1840-95 and a Study in the Development: Medicine by Philip Allan
at £6.00 each. Answer booklets for the activities are available
online.
The Bitesize book supplies the knowledge you need with support
from a CD Rom and links to the excellent Bitesize website.
GCSE Bitesize History Schools History Project Complete Revision and
Practice (Bitesize GCSE) by Allan Todd. Prices vary between £5.99
and £9.99.
A book which provides all the notes you need for the exam with
some knowledge tests included.
GCSE History Schools History Project Revision Guide [Paperback].
£4.85 - £5.00.
Many subjects have
referred to the school
website as a useful source
of information for websites
to aid revision.