NUMBER
35
Number of school weeks until exams
start
29
(Week beginning: 11th May)
Number of holiday weeks
6
(October, Christmas, February, Easter)
NUMBER
13
Number of weeks until mock exams
Seven weeks this half term plus five
weeks after October half term -plus
October half term!
NUMBER
15
• On average the number of exams your
child will sit over the exam period
• English (3), Maths (2), Science (3/6/9),
plus four options
• 2 weeks before May half term and then
3 weeks after that
Teenage Myths
• I’ve got no homework…
• It doesn’t matter how I do in the
mocks…
• I can re-do my coursework….
• The best way to revise is…..
• My target grades are B’s, so I will be
OK…
Year 11 is not a
‘Full Year’
Exams start on
th
11 May
Changes to Exams from last year.
• All exams are linear with terminal exams at end of
Year 11.
• No re-sits/multiple chances *.
• Controlled assessments are units, moderated &
awarded at end of Year 11.
• English Language is now:
60% written exam
40% controlled assessment
Speaking & Listening is graded separately.
• *Last years Core Science (Science A) will be able to
re-sit in Yr 11 but 1st entry grade counts for the
school.
• The mock exams will be run to a ‘normal” exam
timetable (9.00am and 1.00pm start times).
Overview & Focus
•Reports
•Mock Exams
•Parents Evening
•External Exams
Dates
• Reports;
29th Oct.
th
• Mock Exams;
8 Dec.
th
• Results Day;
14 Jan.
• Parents Evening; 26th Feb.
th
th
• Easter;28 Mar – 13 April
• Exams Start;
11th May
Other important dates re: Progression
post 16.
• Opportunities at post 16 Evening. 11th Nov.
• Post 16 Open Evening.
15th Jan.
• 1:1 Interviews begin
re: Post 16 option choices.
2nd March
Other Information
Tracking 1st Half-term (October)
Data Drops
• January
• February
Parents Evening
• March
• April
Need to hit the ground running.
1st Indication of progress will be
from the reports issued in October.
Preparation for Mocks
• Must have a structured, planned
approach.
• Not ‘How much do I know without
revising’.
For success Revision needs to be:-
• Organised
• Focused
• Structured
• Regular
As parents you will get information/help from:-
• Reports
• Mocks
• Parents Evening
• Data Drops
gary.marshall@northumberland.gov.uk
English
Mr N A Hamilton
GCSE English Literature (9715)
Exam Board AQA
Two Levels of entry –
Foundation
Higher
Your son/daughter will know which they are entered
for by October half term
GCSE English Literature
• Students completed the coursework element
in Y10 worth 25% of their total mark
All students will have their results in the next two weeks, subject
to moderation
• We are now working towards the two written
exams in May
Unit 1 (1hr 30) – ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘DNA’
Unit 2 (1hr 15) – ‘The Moon on the Tide’ Anthology - the
‘Relationships’ cluster and an unseen poetry question.
English Language
• Two routes –
AQA GCSE English Language (4705) – two levels –
Foundation
Higher
Cambridge iGCSE English Language (0522)
You will have been informed by letter if your son/daughter is being
entered for the iGCSE, if not it will be AQA GCSE
English Language
Both routes have an element of coursework GSCE students have started this and have received
their marks to date – they still have 2 pieces to do
• ‘Of Mice and Men’ – before October half term
• Spoken Language study – Jan/Feb
iGCSE students have 4 short assignments to
complete before Christmas – 3 written and one
Speaking and Listening.
The coursework component is 40% for GCSE and
60% for iGCSE of the total mark.
English Language
Both routes have a final written examination in
May/June –
GCSE Unit 1 (2hr 15) – Section A tests reading,
Section B tests writing.
iGCSE Paper 1 (Core) (1hr 45) – two questions
testing both reading and writing
Three Top Tips for English
• Become familiar with the texts your son/daughter is
studying and discuss them.
• Past papers and mark schemes are available for both
routes on their respective websites.
• http://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/examsguidance/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes
• http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-andqualifications/cambridge-igcse-english-first-languageuk-0522/past-papers/
• Encourage your son/daughter to read and discuss nonfiction texts e.g. newspapers, leaflets, magazines
Revision Guides
• English Literature – specific text guides are
commercially available to buy
• English Language guides are available in the
library or to buy commercially (Pearson
‘Always Learning’ Revise AQA GCSE – by Tier)
• English Language workbooks also available
commercially (Pearson ‘Always Learning’
Revise AQA GCSE – by Tier)
• Cambridge iGCSE 0522 study guides are
available commercially
Maths
Mr M Smith
GCSE Maths
Two Tiers
Higher Tier – Edexcel 1MA0H
Foundation Tier – OCR J567F
NO Coursework!
• Both a blessing and a curse.
End of year 10 exam
• Every student has received an individual list of the topics
based on this test that they need to work on during this term
• This work is supported with online and paper resources and of
course by their teachers
QWC Questions (4 Marks)
QWC Questions (5 Marks)
QWC Questions (5 Marks)
www.mymaths.co.uk
www.mathswatchvle.com
Top Tip for Maths
• Be positive about maths – it is a key qualification for all
students
• Encourage them to begin working independently – 30 mins
twice a week at this stage would be ideal
• Don’t revise things that they already know how to do –
challenge themselves to improve/ perfect 1 new skill each
time they revise.
• Don’t be discouraged – we all make mistakes but over time
these will reduce and the marks will improve.
• Practise, Practise, Practise!!!
Maths Revision Guides
One revision guide, one workbook sold as a pair.
They cost £5 (50%RRP) for the pair.
Science
Miss S Neale
GCSE Sciences
Exam Board AQA
Two Routes
Science A and Additional Science
Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Both routes prepare students for Level 3 study of Science subjects
Science A and Additional Science
Science A
Students took the Science A qualification in
year 10. They have their result.
Students can retake this qualification this
year. They must resit all three exams (B1,
C1 and P1) in June.
Retake ISA date: Tuesday 11th November
Science A and Additional Science
Additional Science
This qualification is completely separate
from Science A.
Students will take one exam in Biology (B2),
Chemistry (C2) and Physics (P2) in May.
ISA date: Thursday 5th February
Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Students will take three exams in each
subject in May and June. These marks
are combined with the ISA mark to give an
overall grade.
All modules have equivalent weighting (25%)
Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Biology ISA date: Wednesday 1st October
Chemistry ISA : Completed in Year 10
Physics ISA : To be completed in lessons
during the last week of September
Resit ISA : Thursday 5th February
What is an ISA?
Investigative Skills Assignment
Research
Exam 1: Hypothesis, Plan, Results Table
Practical Work
Graph
Exam 2: Own results analysis, Case Studies
What is an ISA?
Specimen ISAs and examiners commentaries
are available on the AQA website
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/support/pdf/AQA-SCIENCECONTROLLED-ASSESSMENT-LEAFLET.PDF
QWC Questions (6 Marks)
In this question you will be assessed on
using good English, organising information
clearly and using specialist terms where
appropriate.
Students are presented with an A4 side of
information to read, often including charts
or graphs.
QWC Questions (6 Marks)
They are then asked to
• describe a process
• give advantages/disadvantages
• evaluate a new development
• explain the data
In this question you will be assessed on using
good English, organising information clearly and
using specialist terms where appropriate.
Three Top Tips for Science
Download past exam papers and mark
schemes from AQA website
Watch and make notes from the website
myGCSEScience
Encourage your child to use the BBC website:
– use the bitesize revision materials
– watch science programmes from iPlayer
– browse the scientific news articles
Science Revision Guides
Nelson Thornes revision guides are
available from the science technicians.
They cost £3.25 (50%RRP) each.