Mark Rutherford
School
Revision Tips for
Parents & Students
CONTENTS
Examination Timetable
3-4
Top Tips for Parents and Students
5-9
Applied Business Studies
11
Child Development
12
Computing
13
Catering
14
Dance
15
Drama
16
English Language
17
English Literature
18
Geography
19
Graphics
20
History
21
ICT
22
Modern Foreign Languages
23-24
Mathematics
25
Media Studies
26
Music
27-28
Physical Education
29
Religious Education
30
Resistant Materials
31
Science
32
2
MARK RUTHERFORD SCHOOL
YEAR 11
EXAMINATION TIMETABLE
From Monday 11 May to Friday 22 May:
Students attend all lessons as normal unless they have an exam in the afternoon
when they can stay at home in the morning to revise.
From Monday 1 June:
All students continue to attend all lessons in subjects they still have an exam or
coursework to complete.
PLEASE NOTE:

After a morning exam all students continue with normal lessons 3, 4 and 5 - unless
preparing for an exam that afternoon.

Students must meet on the tennis courts 15 minutes prior to the start time of the exam.
DATE
Mon
11 May
Tues
12 May
Weds
13 May
Thurs
14 May
AM
PM
Religious Studies: Christianity
French: Listening & Reading
IT: Living in a Digital World
Fri
15 May
Spanish: Listening & Reading
Construction: Technology (BTEC)
Science: Principles of Science (BTEC)
PE: Theory of PE
Turkish: Reading & Written
Astronomy: Paper 1
Mon
18 May
English Literature: Unit 1, Exploring
Modern Texts
Business Studies: Intro to Business
Written
Travel & Tourism: The UK Travel &
Tourism Sector (BTEC)
Tues
19 May
Drama: Written paper
Geography: Skills & Challenges
Business: Financial Records
Turkish: Listening & Written
Science: Core
Biology
Weds
20 May
Thurs
21 May
English Literature: Unit 2, Poetry Across
Time
Fri 22 May
Travel & Tourism: Business Environment
(BTEC)
3
DATE
AM
PM
HALF TERM
Mon
1 June
History: Aspects of International Relations:
Germany
Tues
2 June
English Language: Unit 1, Understanding
and Producing Non-fiction Texts
Weds
3 June
Maths: Additional Maths (FSMQ) paper 1
Computing
Thurs
4 June
Maths: Non Calculator
Fri
5 June
Music: Unit 1
Mon
8 June
Tues
9 June
Religious Studies: Islam
Geography: Natural Environment
Science: Core
Chemistry
Turkish: Writing Written Paper
Catering
D & T: Resistant Materials Unit 1
Maths: Calculator
Geography: Human Environment
Home Economics: Child Development
Science: Additional
Physics
Weds
10 June
History: British Society
Thurs
11 June
Religious Studies: Mark’s Gospel
Polish: Unit 1
Fri
12 June
Dance: Unit 1
Science: Additional Science
Biology
Mon 15
June
Chemistry
Science: Further Additional Science
Media Studies: Unit 1
Tues
16 June
Polish: Unit 2 & 4
Weds
17 June
Physics
Science: Further Additional Science
Urdu: Unit 1 & 2
D & T: Graphic Products Unit 1
Thurs
18 June
Fri 19 June
Mon 22
June
Italian: Unit 1 & 2
4
Top Tips for Parents
How to help your child prepare for exam success
1. Talk to your child about how you can support them, and what they would find helpful.
2. Help to plan your child’s revision timetable. If you know that they are not at their best in the
morning, then encourage them to rest then and work when they are livelier.
3. Provide a dedicated quiet space with good natural light for studying and if you have other
children in the house, remind them about the importance of revision time.
4. The internet can be a valuable tool for revision or… a huge distraction! Make sure your child is
using on line resources responsibly!
5. Ensure that your child takes regular breaks from studying to relax, take exercise and socialise
with family and friends.
6. Encourage them to tell you about what they are studying and offer to help with testing them,
and reassure your child that their welfare is your concern more than their results.
7. Ensure that your child has a healthy diet while revising and taking exams – they may need to
be reminded to eat proper meals regularly, and avoid too many sugary drinks and snack food.
8. Know the times, dates and locations of your child’s exams – incorporate this into revision
planning and ensure that your child will be properly equipped for each exam (they may need
calculators, rulers, etc).
9. Know that students are not allowed to take mobile phones into any exam – they must be
handed in to invigilators.
10. If your child has a medical condition, i.e. hay fever or diabetes, make sure that the school
knows about it. There are special considerations for some conditions.
11. If there is a family crisis or emergency, make sure the school knows about it, since the
additional stress can affect your child’s exam performance.
12. Ensure your child gets plenty of sleep during the exam period, and reassure them that you are
proud of them for working so hard… and that you will love regardless of their exam results!
Your child will get the best results from their revision if they
develop good revision habits.
5
Revision Tips for Students
1.
Revision plan
The top tip for successful revision is to make a plan, otherwise it is easy to waste your precious
revision time. We recommend that you start your revision at least six weeks before your exams
begin. It is helpful to look at your exam dates and work backwards to the first date you intend to
start revising.
2.

List all your exam subjects and the amount of time you think you will need for each one. It is
unlikely that the amounts will be equal. Many people find it advisable to allocate more time
to the subject or topics they find the most difficult

Draw up a revision plan for each week

Fill in any regular commitments you have first and the dates of your examinations

Use Revision Checklists or Specifications for each subject as a starting point. Look at what
you need to know and try to identify any gaps in your knowledge. (A good way of doing this
is to look at the results of past papers or tests you have worked through)

Revise often; try to do a little every day

Plan in time off, including time for activities which can be done out in the fresh air. Take a 5
or 10 minute break every hour and do some stretching exercises, go for a short walk or
make a drink

You may find it helpful to change from one subject to another at ‘break’ time, for example
doing one or two sessions of maths and then changing to Geography, or alternating a
favourite subject with a more difficult one. It helps to build in some variety

Write up your plan and display it somewhere visible

Don’t panic; think about what you can achieve, not what you can’t. Positive thinking is
important!
Where to study:
Creating good conditions to study in can help you make the most of the time you spend
revising. Here are some suggestions:

Find a quiet place to study and make sure you are sitting comfortably

Make sure your desk is well lit

Keep background noise to a minimum and avoid distractions (including television and social
networking!)

Have everything you need to do your revision to hand before you start
6
3.
How to study:
There is no ‘right way’ to revise, as long as the method you choose enables you to gain a solid
grasp of key facts and concepts and consolidate your knowledge. Some students are happy to
read their classroom notes from start to finish, others prefer to simplify the information as much
as possible, turning everything into skeleton notes, diagrams or mnemonics. In practice, most
students find that mixing techniques suits the varied nature of the subjects being revised, and
provides essential variety when studying.

Turn your notes into revision tools; write ideas and facts on to cards to use as ‘prompts’,
create memory aids such as diagrams or mnemonics (e.g. initial letters to make a word you
need to remember or SMART objectives: Specific; Measurable; Achievable; Realistic;
Targets). These will help you remember key facts, write key facts/notes out and display
these around the house where you will see them, record yourself reading notes and listen
to them instead of reading

Study with a friend and test each other’s knowledge, but remember you are meeting to
revise rather than to chat!

Work through past question papers – and use a watch to time them so that you can practise
timing your answers

Choose study and revision guides sensibly. It’s not hard to find help with revision – as well
as established published revision guides, there are hundreds of websites offering help and
advice. The problem is not how to find such help, but how to judge which is the best source
for your needs. Save valuable time and get recommendations from your teachers

Keep yourself more alert by changing revision methods during a session. For instance, try
switching from note taking to memorising; from reading to asking someone to test you

Attend any revision classes that your teachers may be running at school and get their
advice on revision methods

Look after yourself – sometimes revision can become a competition – who stayed up
latest, who worked longest, who’s worrying the most. But the more tired you are the less
efficiently you’ll work. You need to rest as well as study, eat well, drink lots of water and
make sure you pace yourself. Don’t rush, and equally don’t over-revise by doing too much
too soon

Allow time to relax between finishing your revision and going to bed. Aim for 8 hours of
sleep a night
7
4.
Last-minute revision tips:
Although time may be short, you can still make a difference to your grade. Try and prioritise; do
what you can.
5.

Use your revision tools (prompts, diagrams etc) to check final facts

Keep calm and consolidate your existing knowledge rather than trying to learn new topics

Don’t stay up all night revising; being overtired will not help you to do your best
Dealing with exam nerves:
It is natural to feel nervous before an examination. The more prepared you feel, the easier it
will be to conquer your fears.
Your revision plan will have helped you to feel in control of the process.
You know that you have planned your work carefully around the topics you needed to focus on.
You have filled the gaps in your knowledge and you know what to expect from exams in each
subject.
Make sure you are confident about:

where and when each exam will take place

how much time is allowed

how many questions you need to answer
Think positively and keep the exam in context – even if you do badly, there will be other options
open to you.
Allow yourself some fun-time each day to relax and remember to eat sensibly – your brain cells
need energy to function well. Make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.
Dehydration makes you tired and reduces concentration.
Ensure that you have a good breakfast before morning exams, and a hearty lunch to prepare you
for afternoon exams!
8
6.
7.
Exam tips – sitting the exam:

Check you have the correct equipment with you before you leave the house (pens pencils,
ruler, scientific calculator, etc.)

Take a watch or clock so that you can time your answers

Leave home so that you arrive for the exam in plenty of time

Listen carefully to instructions given in the exam hall

Read the instructions on the front of the exam paper, and at the beginning of any sections
in the exam paper (e.g. to show all workings, time limits, word limits etc.)

Look through the paper first and mark difficult questions/initial thoughts

If there is a choice of questions, select the questions that will best enable you to
demonstrate your knowledge to the examiner

Look at the marks available

Pace yourself and allow enough time to answer all the required questions

Write as neatly as possible to help the examiner to mark your work. Marking untidy writing
is difficult

For longer answers, take a few minutes before you begin to produce a structured plan of
what you are going to include in each section

Allow yourself ten minutes at the end to read through your answers and correct any
mistakes. Cross out anything you do not want the examiner to read (e.g. an earlier answer
to a question)
Exam tips – after the exam



It is easy to fall in to the trap of wondering how well you performed and to discuss this with
your fellow students. Your time would be better spent looking ahead to your next
examination. Don’t panic – you won’t be the only student who is anxious about their
answers
Don’t compare your answers with those of other students – this can create negative
feelings

Have some fresh air and food and take time to relax before you start revising again!

Don’t rush to your textbooks to check your answers – there is no point at this stage

Focus on the next exam and how you might improve your exam technique

Have a quick look at your revision plan. Do you need to adjust it?
9
Subject Specific
Revision Tips
10
Applied Business Studies
Unit 2: Financial Records
This unit is assessed via a one hour exam, worth 40% of the GCSE.
There are four sections that make up the unit:
2.1: Investigating the flow of financial documents used in business
trading
2.2: Investigating business payment methods and costs
2.3: Investigating the nature of financial statements in business
2.4: Investigating the importance of financial statements to business
The questions will be asked in three different ways: multiple choice,
short-answer and extended-answer.
“Make the Grade” revision pages are in the textbook, from p.116-p.121.
They include a revision checklist, common mistakes and practice and
advice on answering the different styles of questions. These pages
have also been photocopied and made available to students, along
with copies of past exam papers.
Students also have their class folder, which contains class notes,
handouts, practice questions and other revision material.
Revision classes will be held after school in the weeks leading up to
the exam.
The textbook ISBN is: 9781846903779
11
Child Development
There are a number of revision guides available and they are useful as a starting point:
ISBN 1847622968
Make sure you also have a copy of the revision
list from your teacher and go through it
carefully and identify any topics that you need
help with.
ISBN-139781906415617
Useful websites: www.babycenter.com ;www.mothercare.co.uk; www.smanutrition.co.uk
www.pampers.co.uk; www.kinderstart.com;www.bbc.co.uk
CORE TOPICS: There are always questions on:




Development: Make sure you understand each type of
development and know how this can be encouraged.
Play: Types of play and toys
Nutrition
Safety in the home and out and about as well as hygiene
REVISION CARDS
How do you revise?
We can help you with
some revision cards.
Please speak to your
Child Development
teacher.
Read each question twice and make sure you understand it. Start by planning the long
answer questions then leave it and go back later, you will then have time to think about how
to structure your response.
Plan essay or long answers before you start writing them out.
Be specific with answers – do not be vague or waffle.
Try to answer every single question.
Check how many marks there are for each question and remember that you need to explain
your answers not just state facts.
Remember- use link words –“AS”, “BECAUSE”
Also be aware that children are people – he or she NOT “it”! They are individuals so talk
about what they “generally” “usually” “typically” do e.g. “Generally twins develop their speech
more slowly”. When talking about children always use the words “child” or “children” never
kid.
12
Computing
The exam board used for GCSE Computing is OCR. The Computer Systems and Programming
exam lasts for 1½ hours and is worth 40% of the final mark. You will have completed 60% of the
course through the Controlled Assessments. The website for the Computing GCSE is
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-computing-j275-from-2012/.
On its Learning (https://bb.itslearning.com/) there is a Computer Science
class with access to all of the revision booklets, created in house, that
summarise the key topics. There is also access to the GCSE Computing
textbook. You will also find quizzes on there to test your knowledge.
The key areas to revise are:







Fundamentals of computer systems
Computer hardware
Software
Representation of data in computer systems
Databases
Computer communications and networking
Programming
The Dynamic Learning site is an invaluable resource for revising for this exam. There are lots of
practice questions and it is interactive. The web address for this site is: http://my.dynamiclearning.co.uk/. Remember the centre ID is 108223. If you can’t remember your username and
password, please speak to your Computing teacher.
Other useful websites include:
http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_computing.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/computing/
https://www.youtube.com/ (lots of fantastic videos on computing topics)
In addition, there is an OCR Revision Guide that you can purchase. There are
copies in the school shop.
13
Catering
This revision guide with notes is
available to download or buy as a
book from any bookseller
Available from the
school shop.
The Industry
Types of establishments that provide food & drink; contract caterers.
Health, Safety and Hygiene
Personal hygiene – hand washing, general body hygiene, reporting sickness, protective clothing. Food
safety – cleanliness, temperature control, cooking, monitoring and storage. The main points of the Food
Safety Act. Common causes of food contamination. Common types of food poisoning. Health and Safety
– common health and safety signs, fire precautions, safe use of equipment. The main points of the Health
and Safety at Work Act. Simple first aid procedures. Risk Assessment – identification and control of
hazards (HACCP).
Food Preparation, Cooking and Presentation
The importance of colour, texture, flavour, shape, temperature and time. A wide range of culinary
skills. Appropriate methods of cooking. Appropriate methods of presentation.
Nutrition and Menu Planning
Functions and sources of the main nutrients. Current healthy eating guidelines. Vegetarian
choices, nut allergies, wheat intolerance, lactose intolerance. Types of menu - table d'hôte, à la
carte and themed.
Job Roles
Chefs – Head, Second (Sous), Pastry, Larder, Sauce, Vegetable, Assistant (Commis). Food and
Drink Service – Restaurant Manager, Waiting Staff
Costing and Portion Control
Costing raw materials for a range of food items using standard recipes. The appropriate methods
of portion control and their significance.
Specialist Equipment
Small and large scale catering equipment - hand equipment- powered equipment. Small and large
scale food service equipment hand equipment. The safe use, care and cleaning of food
preparation and service equipment.
Communication and Record Keeping
Types of communication used, e.g. verbal, written, telephones, fax, ICT The need for accurate,
appropriate record keeping. Different methods of record keeping used in – stock control, data
logging and restaurant bookings.
Environmental Considerations
Conservation of energy and water, when preparing food. Reduce, re-use and recycle waste in the
preparing and serving of meals. Why it is important for the industry to address these areas e.g.
sustainability. A range of disposable products and materials used for packaging and assess their
fitness for purpose – appeal, temperature control, recycling, biodegradable, hygiene, cost, ease of
storage and handling.
14
Dance
The exam board used for GCSE Dance is AQA. This will be a valuable revision aid for the written
paper: www.aqa.org.uk/
On this website you will find past papers and their marks schemes. You can find these by typing
GCSE Dance into the search engine and then clicking the fourth link down (AQA GCSE Dance) in
there you will find past papers. I would suggest you try these under the supervised time of an hour
as this is how long the paper will be.
You can view 2 of the three sets works on: www.youtube.com, you can view BIRDSONG by
Siobhan Davies and NUTCRACKER! by Matthew Bourne on this website.
Miss Caddick will provide you with a GCSE Dance Revision booklet that will give you with relevant
information on:

Choreographic structures

Choreographic devices

Performance skills

Physical Setting and Lighting

Accompaniment

Costume

Nutcracker!

Birdsong

Ghost Dances

Faultline
There will also be exam style questions for you to answer and practise with.
Others ideas for revision in dance are:
Make Flash cards: Key words on one side and their definition on the other. (E.g. Action, canon)
Create power point presentations with a picture from a dance works on one slide and an area to
describe on the next (E.g. Costume, set, movement)
MAKE SURE! You have full descriptions of Costume, set Design, Lighting and Accompaniment for
TWO of the three Dance works we have studied.
15
Drama
To ensure your success in the written paper, read and re-read the set text ‘Confusions’ as you will
not know what section they will give you to write about. There are two sections to the written
paper – don’t forget the second section! This is the part where they ask you to evaluate your
scripted performance for the examiner (Unit 2). It is worth taking the time at home to practice this
part – give yourself 20 minutes to write a full evaluation.
Past papers can be found here: www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/drama/drama-gcse/
They will not be relevant to our script ‘Confusions’ so just use them as a guide as to what you
might be asked.
To practice I would suggest you do this activity 3 times a week. Spend one hour every
time.
Choose a short section from the play – say a couple of pages. Familiarise yourself with the
section and think about what is happening between the characters.
Thinking like a director and actor answer the following questions and pay attention to the
suggestions in italics:
1. How would the actor playing __________ move at the beginning of this section? You
should refer to the character’s movements and facial expressions giving reasons for your
answer.
2. Describe a suitable costume for that same character in this section. In your answer refer
to the period, garments, colour and how costume choice, hair and make-up would
emphasise elements of the character.
3. As an actor how would you play the role of ___________ (another character from this
section) in this section?
In your answer you should refer to: Character motivation, Voice, Movement and gesture,
Interactions with other characters
Give reasons for your answers.
Now thinking like a stage designer answer the following questions again paying attention to the
italics:
1. Draw a basic labelled ground plan of your chosen stage showing only entrances, exits and
audience position. Write the name of the type of stage as a title.
2. Give a full written explanation of your design ideas for this section.
In your answer you should refer to:
•
your chosen production style and how it is linked to your choice of stage;
•
your choice of set;
•
how you would use colour to create atmosphere;
•
any other ideas you might like to include.
Further research would help you to describe the material, colour and style of the costumes
these characters would wear particularly if you choose to keep the play set in the 1970’s.
The examiner will know if you have done this through your answer.
16
English Language
Unit 1
Section A – Reading
1. Read through a magazine or newspaper article and identify all the presentational
devices and write 2 PEE paragraphs commenting on their overall effect and contribution
to the text
2. Create a poster to put up on your bedroom wall of all the key terms needed for Section
A with their definitions and effects created
3. Find a leaflet and explain in detail who you think is the intended audience and what the
intended purpose is. Provide evidence from the text to support your opinion
4. Read a newspaper or magazine article and summarise in your own words what the
main point of the article is
5. Find a copy of an advertisement. List all of the persuasive devices used in the advert
and then write a PEE paragraph explaining how the advertisement persuades the
reader to buy the product
6. Identify facts and opinions in articles or leaflets. How do these work together to engage
or influence the reader?
7. Read newspaper or magazine articles and highlight WHERE the story is taking place,
and WHAT happens
8. Read extracts from non-fiction books, such as biographies, and consider how language
is used to achieve effects
9. Refer to the past papers and practise responding to the questions, using the mark
scheme to assess your answers
Section B – Writing
1. Complete posters of each of the writing styles (inform, explain, describe, argue,
persuade) and put them up on your bedroom wall
2. Describe a person who inspires you
3. Write a speech for Year 11 students informing them of the importance of exam revision
4. Write an article arguing for or against 16 year olds being given the vote
5. Write a letter to Mr Peacey persuading him to build a swimming pool at the school
6. Explain what your dreams and ambitions are for the future
7. Learn three new words every day to use in your writing
8. Experiment with using a variety of punctuation to enhance your written style
9. Practise planning written responses – use spider diagrams to plan at least 5 paragraphs
17
English Literature
Of Mice and Men
1. Write a 200 word summary of the story, identifying the key events
2. Create a chart in which you identify the key themes in the novel. Under each theme write
down key events and quotations that relate to each theme
3. Create character profiles of the key characters in the novel. Include features of their
personality, key events/chapters, quotations, and how they ‘drive’ events in the text
4. Consider the author’s message. What is Steinbeck trying to say? Is the story moral?
5. Research and revise the social and historical context of the novel
6. Brainstorm ways in which the context of the novel is evident in the story
7. Complete a timed essay at home; give yourself 45 minutes to complete the task
The Crucible or An Inspector Calls
1. Write a 200 word summary of the play, identifying the key events
2. Write a PEE paragraph explaining what the main themes and ideas are within the play
3. Create character profiles of key characters in the play. Include features of their personality,
how they change (or not) over the course of the play, and include key quotations for each
character
4. Revise each Act separately – where does it take place? What do we learn about the
characters in each Act?
5. Create a tension graph to show changes over the course of the play
6. Complete a time essay at home; give yourself 45 mins to complete the task
Literature Poetry
1. Create a detailed chart demonstrating the links between the poems
2. Write a 100 word summary of each poem including how the poem portrays/explores the theme
of conflict or relationships (depending on which cluster you have studied!)
3. Look at the poems written in first person. How does this affect the way the poem is
understood?
4. Create a poster for your bedroom wall that has a list of connectives and connective phrases
that you can use in your comparison essays
5. Select on key quotation for each poem that you have studied and explain what the reader
learns from this. Look at key words specifically in your explanation and try to provide an
alternative interpretation of the quotation
6. Complete a timed essay at home – give yourself 30 mins
7. Practise responding to unseen poems – identify language features, themes and ideas
Useful Revision Websites
www.aqa.org.uk (exam board – syllabus information and past papers)
www.universalteacher.org.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature
www.sparknotes.com
www.englishbiz.co.uk
www.s-cool.co.uk
www.revisioncentre.co.uk
www.samlearning.com (useful for practising spelling, punctuation and grammar)
www.litcharts.com
www.shmoop.com
www.cliffnotes.com
18
Geography
Exam board – Edexcel, Geography A.
Revision guides – Revise Edexcel GCSE – Geography A – Geographical Foundations for the
linear spec – Revision Guide.
My revision notes – Tomorrow’s Geography for Edexcel GCSE spec A – Steph Warren.
3 examinations in total 1 - Unit 1 – Geographical skills and Challenges - 1 hour
2 – Unit 2 – The Natural Environment – 1 hour 15 minutes
3 – Unit 3 – The Human Environment – 1 hour 15 minutes
Topics to revise – Remember case studies are vital!
Unit 1
Geographical skills
Challenges to the planet
Unit 2
Coasts
Tectonics
Rivers
Watery World
Unit 3
Population Change
A Tourists World
Settlement Change
Economic Change
Top Tips for revising Geography –
-
Revise in short bursts 20-30 minutes at a time, split up the topics so you are revising a
different element every time, not just going over the same topic – make a timetable!
Case study cards including key specific facts
Glossaries
Annotated diagrams
Writing notes in red pen (it’s meant to make you recall facts you can’t remember!)
Practise exam questions and mark them using the mark scheme
Thought showers for each topic
Useful websites - School, bitesize, coolgeography, Edexcel website – past papers
19
Graphics
Main Topics to Revise and Cover
 Design Process (Brief, Research, Specification etc.)
 Printing Processes
 Charts and Graphs- Bar, Pictographs, Flowcharts, Pie sequential,
schematic
 Printing Effect
 Typography, logos, icons and signs
 Drawing Techniques
 Materials- Modelling, Smart, Packaging, thermoplastics & actual
product
 Key Designers- R.Sabuda, W.Ollins, A.Alessi, M.Calvert,
J.Kinnier, H.Beck
 Card and Paper- Sizes, types, how is it is made
 CAD/CAM and ICT
 Quality Control/ Quality Assurance, risk assessment, health and
safety
 Production methods (continuous, mass, batch, one off)
 Mechanisms and paper engineering
 Moral, Social, Environmental, Sustainable and Economical Issues
 Tools, equipment, and machine used for modelling in school
Tips
 Read each question carefully, particularly as it may give you a
clue to a future question
 Make sure you have the correct equipment (see equipment list)
 Look at the mark allocation per question and give sufficient time
for this (a general rule 1 minute per mark)
 Put an answer for every question
 Read through the whole exam paper before answering, to get
an idea of the whole exam (you may get tips/ answers for
previous questions)
Exam theme is...
Promoting
Firework
Safety for
Children
Equipment List
Needed for Exam
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2 HB Pencils
Range of colour pencils
Sharpener
Rubber
30cm Ruler
Set Square (60x30x90)
Set Square (45x45x90)
Compass
Black biro
Black outliner
USEFUL BOOKS:
CGP, GCSE D&T Graphic Products AQA Specification,
The revision Guide
(ISBN ISBN 978 1 84762 356 0)
AQA Design and Technology,Graphic Products
(ISBN ISBN 978 1 4085-0274-7)
Both books available from Amazon and other websites
USEFUL WEBSITES:
http://www.technologystudent.com/
http://www.mr-dt.com/graphics/main.htm
http://www.mr-d-n-t.co.uk/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/graphics/
And of course the “its learning” wesbite that is accessible from the MRUS website, has more
brilliant information, links, your revision list/topics and also past exam papers which you must
download and attempt!!!
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History
We are doing the OCR exam board for history.
The following website has useful podcasts for students to download:
http://www.mrallsophistory.com/revision.html
Other web sites for revision:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir1/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/germany/
This covers:
The Treaty of Versailles
The League of Nations
The Road to war
The Weimar Republic
Nazi Germany
Useful Revision guides:
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ICT
The exam board used for GCSE ICT is Edexcel. The exam, Living in a Digital World, lasts for 1½
hours and is worth 40% of the final mark. You will have completed 60% of the course through the
Controlled Assessment task. The website for the GCSE ICT is
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/ict-2010.html.
Your teacher will issue you with lots of revision materials that you can use. These will include
practice papers.
The topics that you need to revise are:
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Personal digital devices
Connectivity
Operating online
Online goods and services
Online communities
Issues
Other useful websites include:
http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_new.html
On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/ search for GCSE ICT Edexcel. This will bring you to a
whole range of revision videos. Some examples are listed below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om-z-QBpAsw (ICT GCSE Speed Revision Topics 1-3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MW8rag7ed0 – Topic 1 Computer Systems and Mobile
Technologies – GCSE ICT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCEJOysFQws&list=PL1_BC3C6QlMkthfmpyQcoX1oCjA9phm
yY –Uses of Digital Devices (from here you can find a number of lectures on Digital Devices).
In addition, there is an Edexcel GCSE ICT revision guide that you can purchase.
Copies are available in the school shop.
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Modern Foreign Languages
French
AQA website - Past papers and mark schemes
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/french_a_assess.php
French teacher.net - More complex resources and grammar exercises
http://www.frenchteacher.net/sheets.htm
French index - Vocabulary and very useful grammar exercises
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/rgshiwyc/school/curric/hotpotatoes/frenchindex.htm
MFL Sunderland - Very good for vocabulary
http://www.sunderlandschools.org/mfl-sunderland/resources-fr-ks4-wks.htm#pd
Useful tips for A/A*
http://www.myfrenchresources.com/%5CResources%5CKS4%20FRENCH%20RESOURCES%5C
EXAM%20AND%20REVISION%20SUPPORT%5CInstructions%20to%20succeed%20the%20writi
ng%20exam.pdf
Extremely good for revisions for GCSE type questions
http://www.myfrenchresources.com/%5CResources%5CKS4%20FRENCH%20RESOURCES%5C
EXAM%20AND%20REVISION%20SUPPORT%5CInstructions%20to%20succeed%20the%20writi
ng%20exam.pdf
Good GCSE video, good for listening
http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/modlang/french/index_fr_video.htm
KS3, 4 and 5 resources
http://www.myfrenchresources.com/
Reading Higher and Foundation exercises:
http://www.wildfrench.co.uk/
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Italian
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/ Audio and video resources
http://italian.about.com/ Pronunciation tips, grammar, audio
http://www.atantot.com/Ks2it.htm Basic vocab free access after 4pm
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/rgshiwyc/school/curric/HotPotatoes/italianindex.htm Basic vocab
and key verbs
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/italian/italian.htm Basic vocab and easy games
http://www.oneworlditaliano.com/english/italian/italian-exercises-free-online.htm
revision and practice
Grammar
Spanish
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/rgshiwyc/school/curric/hotpotatoes/spanishindex.htm
AQA website for practice papers.
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/new/spanish_materials.php?id=08&prev=11
http://atantot.co.uk
There is also the following website for all 3 languages:
www.linguascope.co.uk
Login: Rutherford
Password: homework13
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Mathematics
Revision Guides/Resources
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CGP GCSE Maths Edexcel Linear Revision Guide (available from the school shop)
Maths Watch CD Rom (available from the school shop)
Maths Watch Online (available on the school website under learning centre)
Practice papers and solutions available on “Its Learning”
www.mymaths.co.uk
www.mangahigh.com
Revision Tips for Mathematics
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Work hard in all lessons and produce all home works to at least your target grade.
Attend the maths surgery after school each Thursday to receive help with current
classwork, homework or difficulties you have with a particular topic.
Know your tier of entry (Higher or Foundation).
Use a download of the specification or the “Graded Skills Booklet”, provided by your
teacher, so that you know what topics you need to cover.
Highlight your strengths and weaknesses so you know the topics you need to revise.
Spread the topics you need to revise over your revision timetable between now and the
exam.
Use the revision guide / maths watch CD / mymaths website to revise the how to do.
Worked examples are really useful so you know what has to be done and why.
Try practice questions – available on maths watch CD and the mymaths website.
If you don’t understand re-watch the mathswatch CD or work through the mymaths
lesson.
Use the 6 week revision programme linked to the maths watch CD which requires
about 20 minutes per night watching the video clips in order to cover the whole course.
Work through practice papers (available on “Its Learning”) and past exam papers. The
best way to revise maths is to practise.
Do one past paper under proper exam conditions – get someone to supervise you.
Work with friends, asking each other questions and teach each other difficult topics.
Make revision enjoyable!
Learn the formulae triangles.
Put the formulae you need to learn off by heart on posters around your bedroom.
Learn how best to use your calculator – sort out the basics, then the fancier buttons
which make life easier.
Make sure you have the correct equipment for the exam
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2 pens (black ink), 2 pencils, ruler (with scale visible), eraser, sharpener, compasses,
protractor
Calculator (with new or spare batteries) for the calculator paper
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Media Studies – Revision Tips!
The exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes long. It will be based on the pre-release material (the brief).
There are four tasks to complete, one of which is a creative piece (storyboard, website
homepage etc.). All tasks are worth 15 marks, therefore you should aim to spend an equal
amount of time on each (around 22 minutes).
When you receive the pre-release material:
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Use the four weeks before the exam to plan effectively – lesson time will be spent only on
this.
Ensure you know what the brief (pre-release material) is asking of you.
Pay particular attention to WHAT you are creating, and WHO you are creating it for.
Practice writing in role – you are responding to the ‘company’ who have set the task.
Ensure you practice creating a range of practical artefacts – you could be asked to
storyboard the opening credits or design the website homepage, for example.
Your exam topic - Television News
Be familiar with:
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Codes and conventions of TV news programmes
How news stories are chosen an ordered in the programme
How the newsreader/other presenters speak and behave
How news programmes differ depending on time of day and channel
How news programmes have developed historically and how they make use of new
technology (including social media)
How audiences respond to different news programmes
Ensure you continue to WATCH and ANALYSE news programmes as you approach the
exam!
Don’t forget the four key concepts. You will be expected to cover these through your exam
responses, whether talking about existing products or analysing your own:
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Language (media terminology and analysis)
Audience (who has been targeted, how audiences influence media products)
Representation (how people, places and things are presented in the media – stereotyping)
Institution (who creates media products, how they are regulated)
Useful websites:
BBC Bitesize - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/ztnygk7
Media Knowall (good for key concepts)
http://www.mediaknowall.com/gcse/keyconceptsgcse/keycon.php?pageID=keyterms
Media Knowall (TV News pages) http://mediaknowall.com/gcse/news/news.php?pageID=tvnews
How to construct a storyboard: http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/
Glossary of key film terms: http://community.dur.ac.uk/m.p.thompson/filmterms.htm
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Music GCSE Questions – If in Doubt!
Describe the timbral (timbre) effect used
Brass instruments –
Mute
What is the Dynamic mark used?
Piano – for if the music is quiet
String instruments –
Arco (Bowing)
Pizzicato (Plucking)
Drums -
Using brushes
Using sticks
Guitars -
Distortion
Delay
Reverb
Forte - for if the music is loud
Describe the Rhythms used
Syncopation
Cross rhythms
Triplets
Polyrhythms
Son Clave Rhythm
Back Beat
Describe the tonality
Major or Minor
Atonal or Modal
Harmonic Devices
Drone
Pedal
What Metre/Time
Signature is used?
4/4
3/4
6/8
Describe how the melody moves
Name the Cadence
Perfect
Plagal
Interrupted
Imperfect
Tierce de picardie
Harmony keywords:
By Step, by Leap, Scalic, Arpeggio
Consonant
Dissonant
Chromatic
Diatonic
Dominant 7th
Name the melodic
device
Order of Sharps
Order of Flats
Describe the texture of the extract
FCGDAEB
BEADGCF
Monophonic has one layer of
sound
What key does the music
Modulate to?
Dominant
Sub Dominant
Relative Minor
Tonic Minor
Homophonic has two layers of
sound
Polyphonic has many layers of
sound but all are independent
Canon or a Round
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Riff/ostinato
Sequence
Augmentation
Diminution
Pitch bends
Inversions
Ornament
Improvisation
Imitation
Repetition
Passing notes
Name the Melody instrument
Italian Tempo terms:
Slow
Adagio
Lento
Largo
Grave
Medium
Moderato
Andante
Andantino
Go to BBC Bite size and listen to the
instruments on the elements of music
section
Remember the Saxophone is a
woodwind instrument.
Fast
Allegro
Vivace
Presto
Structure of the piece:
Classical
Binary
Ternary
Rondo
Canon
Ground Bass/Continuo
Theme and variation
Sonata
Minuet and Trio
Popular
Strophic
Through composed
Pop song structure
12 Bar blues
World music
Call and response or Antiphonal
Cyclic
Arch shape
Vocal devices and techniques
Articulation:
Staccato
Legato
Slur
A cappella
Portomento - Slide
Melisma or Syllabic
Vibrato
Falsetto
Rapping
Chords used in chord
progressions:
Major
I or 1
IV or 4
V or 5
Minor
VI or 6
II or 2
III or 3
Ornaments used:
Drumming devices and techniques
Fills
Played with brushes
Instrument
Families:
Name the
voice
Woodwind
Brass
Strings
Percussion
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Types of ensembles
Male choir
Female Choir
Mixed choir
Duet, Trio, Quartet etc.
Orchestra
Chamber orchestra
Windband
Samba group
African drumming
Rock band
Pop band
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Trills
Mordents
Grace notes
Acciaccatura
Appoggiatura
Other Keywords:
Leitmotif
Fusion
Parallel movement
Alberti Bass
Rubato
Physical Education
Useful materials for revision can be found on the school’s It’s Learning site, BBC Bitesize
website, Pocket poster revision guide (£2) and in the Edexcel revision guide (£5) (the CD
in this is very useful). The school shop stocks another revision guide (£4), Revision
Workbook (£4) and a Revision DVD (£3).
Mon /Wed Lunch & Thurs/Fri afterschool
How Long?
Plan to revise for at least 1 hour a day in the lead up to your exam.
E.g. 20 minutes—break—20 minutes—break—20 minutes
Top 10 Revision Tips
1. Make a revision timetable and stick to it
2. Practise, practise, PRACTISE!
3.
Revise in distraction free environments
4.
Work hard - earn your planned breaks
5. Get enough sleep before the exam
6. Use different revision methods
7. Don’t leave it to the last minute
8. Attend school revision sessions
9. Use colour and diagrams in revision notes
10. Condense notes onto revision cards.
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Religious Education
 Use a variety of different revision techniques
 Attend Intervention Sessions in school
 Work through past year papers
 Systematically reduce your notes until they consist of keywords
 Learn a range of material relating to a particular topic so that you are able to be flexible in
your answers
 Know that half the battle with revision is starting, therefore use a variety of approaches to
starting revision that are effective
 Learn key words and appropriate vocabulary
 Systematically learn material thoroughly
 Learn all topics well
 Concentrate on the topic you are revising
 Know the link between effort and attainment
 Complete your coursework before it is time to start revise
 Discuss your revision with parents, teachers and friends
 Use any opportunity to revise, e.g. an unexpected absence by your teacher
Websites you will find useful for Religious Education
1. Ensure that you buy a revision guide. Purchase at school shop or Amazon
2. Go over practice past papers. (Collect some from any teacher in the RE
department.)
3. Access the school It’s learning. Revision material has been placed there for you.
4. For Past papers and Revision materials use Sites below:http://www.edexcel.com/i-am-a/student/Pages/Pastpapers.aspx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
http://www.teachre.com/
http://www.reonline.org.uk/knowing/what-re/christianity/
http://request.org.uk/oldsite/unpacked/teachings/teachings.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/
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Resistant Materials
Summer Exam (2 hours, 120 marks, 40% of the grade)
Examination Focus
The Exam lasts for 2 Hours and you need to supply a black ball point-pen, a pencil, a ruler, an
eraser, a pencil sharpener and coloured pencils. The maximum marks for the paper is 120.
There is a specific theme for Section A which will be published on the 1st March this will be given
to you by your teacher. All the questions in Section A will follow the Design Process and each
question/task leads on from the one on the previous page; so it is important to look ahead before
committing your answer to paper. For example, there will be a question on specifications where
you will be asked to produce 3 justified specification points based on the design brief. You would
then be asked to produce 5 creative, sketched and annotated ideas and then be asked to evaluate
the ideas against the specification points you have listed previously.
All sketches should be completed in pencil and, annotated as per the instructions in the question
and the guidelines. For example, details of materials and finishes (3 marks) method of
construction (3 marks) design features and sizes (3 marks), quality of sketches (3 marks).
You should practise sketching to a good quality in 3D to improve your skill and speed.
The second section relates to tools and equipment, sustainability and the 6 R’s, health and safety,
stages of making a batch of 10 products and Smart Materials. There may also be questions on
market influences, product maintenance, and quality control.
You will have researched the context leading up to the exam, so it should not phase you in any
way providing you have followed the guidance given.
As always, read the question and be clear what it is asking of you.
Useful Revision Websites:
Materials and processes
Smart Materials: http://designinsite.dk/htmsider/md950.htm
General revision guides covering all topics
http://www.technologystudent.com/
http://design-technology.info/revisionguides/rm-revision/default.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/resistantmaterials/
www.design-technology.info
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Science
Online revision guides for Core and Additional Science can be accessed at
www.CollinsOnlineLearning.co.uk username: 50pupil and password: kw03 Click on the
Essentials Revision guides. You will also find electronic textbooks for all the science GCSE
courses including the triple science units.
Double award students will be taking OCR Gateway Additional Science unit 1 (B3,C3,P3) and
unit 2 (B4,C4,P4) this summer. It is a good idea to check the specification, you will find it together
with past papers and mark schemes on the OCR website: www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcsegateway-science-suite-additional-science-b-j262-from-2012.
Past papers can also be collected from the science department.
BBC GCSE Bitesize revision has tutorials and tests
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_gateway/
We strongly recommend using the OCR Gateway Additional Science revision guide which can be
bought from the school shop for £3.50.
Triple Award students will be taking 6 exams in June, they can access Gateway Biology,
Chemistry and Physics specifications, past papers and mark schemes on the OCR website. Past
papers are also available from the science department. BBC Bitesize has triple science revision
materials at www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_ocr_gateway/
Single GCSE students will be doing OCR Gateway Core unit 1(B1,C1,P1) and unit 2(B2,C2,P2)
this summer. For these students the links for bitesize and the exam board are:
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/
www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-gateway-science-suite-science-b-j261-from-2012/
Revision Ideas
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Revise key points several times to make them stick.
Don’t copy out the revision guide, you will run out of time.
Make summaries of the information; try to get the whole topic onto one side of A4 paper.
Create spider diagrams/concept maps and stick them on your wall. Use different colours.
Try “Look, Cover, Write, Check" or get someone to test you.
To learn diagrams, draw a copy of the diagram without labels then add labels from memory.
Highlight key words and ideas in your revision guide.
Make your own revision cards. Try putting questions on one side and answers on the other.
Practise on real exam questions and use the mark scheme to check your answers.
Work with somebody else and take it in turns to teach each other.
Download and use a CGP revision App from www.cgpbooks.co.uk/apps/home.asp
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