YEAR 11
STEPS TO SUCCESS
- A PARENTS’ GUIDE
GCSE MATHEMATICS
2012-2013
Mathematics - School support
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Every Thursday afterschool targeted
revision sessions
Teachers available at lunchtimes
Small group Mentoring
Mock analysis and topic specific
targeted homework
Scheme of work finished in January
Exam practice – past papers
Mathematics - Parent support
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Exam timetable
Revision timetable – sit down and plan
How to revise – pick up a pen and DO
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Revision books – available here
Past papers – mark scheme’s
Websites - Fronter, Mymaths, Edexcel
Equipment – scientific calc, ruler,
compass, protractor etc..
A Typical question and
example of the mark
scheme
Mathematics
Exam dates
2 7 th F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 3 – n o n
calculator
4 th M a r c h 2 0 1 3 – c a l c u l a t o r
Also
June 2013 – non calculator
June 2013 – calculator
GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND
LITERATURE
The key dates in Year 11
Language
Literature
Unit 1 Exploring Modern
Controlled Assessment (15%)
Texts. (40%) Examination.
Creative Writing. December
May 2012.
2012.
Unit 1 ‘Reading and Creating
Non-Fiction Texts’ resit for
Unit 2 Poetry examination
some students (40%) January
(35%)
10th 2013.
January 16th 2013.
Controlled Assessment (15%)
Based on the novel being
studied for Literature exams.
February 2013.
Speaking and Listening tasks
(20%) Between November and
April 2013
How we are preparing students
 Any students resitting English Language in January have had
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weekly revision classes with their teacher and will have 2 days’
worth of intensive revision in December.
Extra teachers work in lesson time with groups who need to resit.
Year 12 mentors.
January to April weekly Controlled Assessment booster sessions.
Easter revision classes.
Mock examinations in December and March.
Revision guides and booklets on Fronter.
Drop in sessions during summer study leave.
Theatre trips
Visiting speakers
Sample essays, mark schemes and examiner feedback used
consistently in lessons.
You can’t revise for English…..?
 Know the assessment objectives.
 Read the texts (more than once!)
 Make notes on characters, settings, themes.
 Learn the notes made in class.
 Learn key quotations.
 PLAN essays – lots of them!
 Do the homework. Students will be set a minimum
of an essay a fortnight. The planning, research and
writing of these is ALL important revision. A
suitable amount of time should be spent on this.
 Read sample essays on the AQA website.
How you can help your child.
 Check they spend enough time researching and planning essays.
 Encourage them to extend their answers by commenting on
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TECHNIQUES rather than PLOT.
Read through the sample assessment materials on the AQA website. The
examiners’ report is also available here.
Encourage students to read – even if it’s only the sports pages of the
Sunday paper.
Encourage students to discuss the texts at home.
Ask them about what they are doing.
Read the text with them if they are reluctant readers.
Encourage students to attend extra revision sessions and to attend
theatre trips and workshops.
Students might find publications like York Notes helpful with revision.
Remind students that revision is also necessary for Controlled
Assessment.
Encourage attendance.
www.aqa.org/English
GCSE SCIENCE
2012
Exam Dates
UNIT 1: P3,B3,C3:
TUESDAY 22 TH JANUARY
2013 9:00AM
UNIT 2: P4,B4,C4:
WEDNESDAY 5 TH JUNE
2013 9:00AM
Support Provided by
the Science Department
•Lunchtime Intervention Sessions in rooms S3, S8 and S7:
For students who have missed lessons, or who need to
complete their piece of Controlled Assessment
•Revision Guides
For sale from the prep’ room at lunch and break time.
£3.50
•Thurs drop-in sessions 1:15 to 1:45 in S3
Coursework consultation/any other issues
Support Provided by
the Science Department
•Regular updates and information via Year 11 assemblies.
•Programme of revision classes several weeks before each
exam session.
•Saturday Morning Master-Class in May 2012.
•Work set on the Fronter VLE for snow-days.
•Past exam papers available on Fronter VLE
Long Answer Questions
-New style of question in the new course
-Open ended questions worth 6 marks
-No specific mark-scheme – “best fit
approach”
-Scientific vocabulary vital
Long Answer Questions
C3 - Long Answer Question
– Allotropes of carbon
Explain the term allotrope and state
why diamond, graphite and
buckminsterfullerene are allotropes of
carbon.
Describe a use for each allotrope and relate its use to its
properties.
Explain the properties of diamond and graphite in terms of
their structure and bonding.
Long Answer Questions
Level
1
Mark
1-2
2
3-4
3
5-6
Explains the term allotrope as different structures of the same element
States that the allotropes mentioned are all forms of carbon
Explains that allotropes have different physical properties but similar chemical
properties.
Gives one use for each allotrope and links the use to a property
E.g. diamond – cutting tools, due to hardness or high melting point
Graphite – pencils, due to slipperiness or electrodes, due electrical conductivity
Buckminster Fullerene (C60) – drug delivery systems, 60 carbon atoms arranged in a
cage-like structure which can carry molecules around the body
Explains the properties of diamond and graphite in terms of their structure and
bonding.
e.g. diamond; hardness or high m.pt due to each carbon atom being joined to four
others in a 3D tetrahedral lattice
e.g. graphite; slipperiness due to layered arrangement, where atoms are covalently
bonded to three others forming single layers of regular hexagons which can slide
over one another
A real question from a Physics exam:
A real question from a Physics exam:
c) What happens to microwaves when they
hit the metal grill in the door of the
microwave oven?
..................................................................(1)
A real question from a Physics exam:
A real question from a Physics exam:
c) What happens to microwaves when they
hit the metal grill in the door of the
microwave oven?
They bounce off the metal door
..................................................................(1)
A real question from a Physics exam:
Mark Scheme:
“ The microwaves will be REFLECTED back
into the microwave oven.
Do not credit ‘bounce’”
Where to find out more
WWW.PARENTSCENTRE.GOV.UK
Dfes site with information on helping your
son/daughter learn
WWW.QCA.ORG.UK
Guidance on qualifications.
WWW.JCQ.ORG.UK
Guidance on exam, controlled assessment
and coursework rules
Key dates
DECEMBER:
ENGLISH CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT
NOVEMBER:
MOCK EXAMS
JANUARY:
SCIENCE UNIT 1
ENGLISH UNIT 1 RESIT
ENGLISH LIT UNIT 2
FEBRUARY:
ENGLISH CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT
MATHEMATICS GCSE
MAY:
ENGLISH LITERATURE UNIT 1
JUNE:
MATHEMATICS GCSE
SCIENCE UNIT 2
Post-16 Progression: key dates
 6th Form Information Evening: Thurs 1st Nov, 6pm
 Year 11 Meetings with a senior teacher: week beginning
5th November
 Deadline for 6th Form Applications: Fri 23rd November
 2nd Y11 Meeting with senior link: March
 6th Form Induction Days: Wed 26th & Thurs 27th June
2013