Every exam board
and future employer
wants people who
communicate
effectively.
Year 11 English
1. Cambridge IGCSE English Language
2. Edexcel Certificate in English Literature
Both qualifications involve exams at the end
of year 11.
Cambridge IGCSE
1. Portfolio: 3 pieces of coursework =
40%
 It is planned, drafted and completed in class.
 Planning and redrafting also happens as part of
their homework.
 It is marked by the teacher who can give feedback
between drafts.
 The final copy is sent to the exam board to be
moderated.
 They are marked on their reading and writing
skills.
Cambridge IGCSE
1.
Portfolio: 3 pieces of coursework = 40%





It is planned, drafted and completed in class.
Planning and redrafting also happens as part of their homework.
It is marked by the teacher who can give feedback between drafts.
The final copy is sent to the exam board to be moderated.
They are marked on their reading and writing skills.
2. Exam: Reading Passages = 40%
– Tuesday 5th May 2015.
– It lasts for 2 hours.
– They have to answer questions after reading 2
different non-fiction/media texts.
– The questions assess students on their reading
and writing skills.
– The core paper = grade G to C
– The extended paper = grade C to A
Cambridge IGCSE
1.
Portfolio: 3 pieces of coursework = 40%





2.
It is planned, drafted and completed in class.
Planning and redrafting also happens as part of their homework.
It is marked by the teacher who can give feedback between drafts.
The final copy is sent to the exam board to be moderated.
They are marked on their reading and writing skills.
Exam: Reading Passages = 40%
–
–
–
–
–
–
Tuesday 5th May 2015.
It lasts for 2 hours.
They have to answer questions after reading 2 different non-fiction/media texts.
The questions assess students on their reading and writing skills.
The core paper = grade G to C
The extended paper = grade C to A
3. Speaking and Listening Test = 20%
 An individual 3 minute talk on a subject they are passionate
about.
 Followed by a 7 minute question and answer session.
 This is recorded and sent to the exam board.
EDEXCEL Certificate in
Literature
•
•
•
•
The equivalent of an IGCSE.
Consists of 2 exams in May 2015.
There is no coursework as it is 100% exam.
Copies of the set texts cannot be taken into
the exam so quotes must be memorised.
• They answer just 2 questions in each exam.
• Both exams = G – A grades.
EDEXCEL Certificate in
Literature
Exam 1 = Monday18th May 2015
60% 1hr 45mins
• ‘An Inspector Calls’
• ‘Of Mice and Men’
Exam 2 = Friday 22nd May 2015
40% 1hr 30mins
• Unseen poetry and prose
• Poetry Anthology
English
GCSEs will
all be over in
just 24
weeks!
Essential reading
How can you help them?
• To read is to succeed!
– Encourage your child to read something for
pleasure for at least 15 minutes a day:
– Novel, newspaper, football magazine, film
review, graphic novels.
– But Facebook doesn’t count 
– And of course you should be re-reading the
literature texts as often as possible.
– Be an active reader
SLIME all over the Lit texts
S = structure
L = language
I = imagery
M = meaning
E = effect
Write lots!
• Answer practice papers in timed
conditions.
• Know your genres; practise writing
letters, journals, reports, news reports,
interviews, opinion based articles etc.
• Try and use the different language
techniques you have learnt in every
lesson.
(PEE, AFOREST, PIRATE-MOUSE)
How can you help?
• It is all about the S.P.a.G.
– Spelling, punctuation, and grammar
• There are lots of free apps that help with
spellings:
–
–
–
–
4pics1word
The logo quiz
Scrabble
Miss Spell’s Class
• Make sure grammar is a habit.
Spellings!
There are lots of tips to help with spellings:
• Smartphone or tablet? Download a free
word based app like scrabble
• In the car? Have a go at the number plate
game.
• Have a go at countdown
• Read lots and look up unknown
vocabulary in a dictionary (or on Google)
• Look, cover, write, check
Useful Websites for English
•
•
•
•
•
BBC Bitesize
BBC Skillswise
Englishbiz.co.uk
sparknotes
Youtube – UCGS revision
videos are particularly helpful.
Maths at KS4
Year 10 & 11
1. Foundation Edexcel Certificate in
Maths GCSE.
2. Higher Edexcel Certificate in Maths
GCSE
Both qualifications involve an exam at the
end of year 11.
Foundation Edexcel
Certificate
• This course has a heavy emphasis on
number and functional skills of
mathematics needed in adult life.
• Possible grades achieved from the
foundation course are C-G.
Higher Edexcel Certificate
• This course has a heavy emphasis on
algebra and the application of
mathematics.
• Possible grades achieved from the
higher course are A*- D.
Four Strands
• We continue to cover the four strands of
maths over the GCSE years, with
increasing difficulty.
1. Algebra
2. Shape and Space
3. Data Handling
4. And Number
How can you help?
• A little maths everyday helps!!!
– Encourage your child to practice a skill
everyday: times tables, long multiplication
etc.
– Talk about time with them: get them to
read timetables for bus routes or trains.
– Ask them to measure ingredients when
cooking: discuss metric and imperial
measures.
Ways to revise
• Answer practice papers in timed conditions.
• Know your weaknesses and work on them.
• Try and use different revision techniques,
writing our flashcards, completing problem
solving questions, learning “parrot fashion”,
making rhymes to formulas, put post-its with
formulas around your mirror.
Useful Websites for Maths
• www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize ( a
great revision website)
• www.mymaths.co.uk ( this has lessons
and questions attached)
• www.math-aids.com (this has
worksheets and answers)
Enhancements
• Maths: Every Tuesday
• English: Every Wednesday
Next……
We will now split into different rooms:
1. Maths team in maths classrooms to show
MyMaths lessons to help your child at home,
see revision guides and workbooks.
2. English team in classrooms to answer any
questions you may have and to collect past
exam papers.
Thank you for your time.