The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
1
How do you support students
for the exams?
The Ashcombe School
Key to success
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
2
• Clear sense of what you want to achieveambitions and sense that you can only
do your best
• Thorough preparation- planning, health,
environment
• Effective revision techniques
• Management of stress
• Parents can play a major role in this
process
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
3
How have you revised in the past?
•
•
•
•
When have you started revision?
How have you prepared for revision?
How have you revised?
How successful has your revision been?
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
4
What are your main motivations
for the exam?
• Negative reasons
• 1) Parents say I must do it
• 2) Just here because I am here-
• Dominated by fear of failure
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
5
How do you help to motivate
students?
• Major concern• Should you interfere and tell pupils to
work yet run the risk of confrontation?
• How do you encourage pupils?
• One of the major questions we get asked
by parents
The Ashcombe School
Key issues
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
6
• 1) All pupils want to do well- some find it
more difficult than others to start
• 2) Stress is a major factor surrounding
young people and many will go into
defence mode when confronted with
threats
• 3) Success breeds success
• 4) Pupils need a sense that they are
doing this for themselves
The Ashcombe School
What is driving you?
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
7
• Focus on the results day- what would be
a success
The Ashcombe School
Negative psychology method
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
8
• How would you feel if you missed out?
The Ashcombe School
Where will it get me?
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
9
• Put up pictures of college, University, or
future employment
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
10
I’ll show them
• Has anyone doubted you
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
11
I’m going to do it for me
• I know I can do it and I will
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
12
How do you prepare?
Have you got the following?
Specifications,
Assessments (past exam papers)
Examiner reports
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
13
Public Examinations:
What?
3 examining boards:
1) AQA
• www.aqa.org.uk
• Then follow the route:
• There are links to
Specifications (the syllabus)
Assessment material
Coursework
Notice board
Examiners’ reports
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
14
Public Examinations:
What?
3 examining boards:
2) Edexcel
• www.edexcel.org.uk/
• Then Qualifications / subject index (select relevant letter)
• When you reach subejct page, select correct qualification
and scroll down to find specification, assessment material
and examiner reports
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
15
Public Examinations:
What?
3 examining boards:
3) OCR
•
•
•
www.ocr.org.uk
Then Candidates /Parents
Useful documents
 Datasheets, Factsheets, Overviews & Info packs
 Information Briefs
 Markschemes and materials
 Specifications and Syllabuses
 Specimen assessment materials
 Student Guides and Materials
•
Then scroll down to find your subject
The Ashcombe School
Frequently asked questions
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
16
What happens if the pupils miss / are
late / clash for a Public Examination?
– Clash: tell us as soon as possible (although
we try and identify them);
– specific arrangements will be made on an
individual basis
The Ashcombe School
Frequently asked questions
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
17
What happens if the pupils miss / are late
/ clash for a Public Examination?
– There are strict regulations about what we
can do for pupils who are late; if problem
ring school immediately and get into school
as quickly as possible
– If pupils do not sit exam, no marks unless
there is a doctor’s note given to us
– If pupil is unwell, the best approach is to
come in and sit the exam, and then we can
put in Special Consideration report
(v. helpful if this is supported by doctor’s
note - can be obtained after the exam)
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
18
Revision: definition
• Revision is another word for reviewing.
• It is the process by which you re-read
course essays, notes and textbooks in
order to understand and remember what
you have learned.
• To be effective, revision requires accurate
notes and careful planning....but that's not
all .....!
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
19
Learning & Revision: factors
for successful preparation
NB Everyone
is an
individual!
Learning
Physiological
Psychological
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
20
The role of stress ...
U6
contrast 7&8
Need to balance
• Some stress to get on with revision
(results do matter; future education
and employment may depend on the)
• Not too much stress which may make
them give up! (Sense of perspective;
realistic expectations)
Tailor to the
individual
Psychological factors
Vulnerable stage
-6th form feel
ought to be coping
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
21
Basic needs
– Heat (well oxygenated)
– Air (breathe deeply if you panic! Take
fresh air every now and then)
– Sleep (relax before sleep; 8 hours;
nocturnal work burns up mental
energy needed for the next day)
Physiological factors
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
22
Diet
– Diet :
• protein for the brain (fish, eggs, milk);
• nuts + bananas for energy (chocolate
effects don’t last as long!!)
• water
Physiological factors
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
23
Preparation
– Basic preparation:
– Tidy room
– Tidy desk
– Filed notes
– No TV
– Sound?
– Organisation helps relieve stress
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
24
Preparation
– Equipment:
New stationary
All files, books, paper, pens, calculator near
you
Physiological factors
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
25
Preparation
Timing for revision:
As a general rule, most effective
if knowledge is 'reinforced'
• Short bursts
• Review regularly
– short term memory
– long term memory
Understand how your memory works New facts fade after a few hours
 Revise within 4 hours, fades after 24 hours
 Revise within 24 hours, fades after 4 days
Revise within 12 days,
Physiological factors
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
26
Preparation
– Timing:
• Draw up plan / timeline
Puts you in
control .. Not
a waste of
time!
• Dates of exam in red
• Blank out time you can’t revise in black
• Allocate sessions
Physiological factors
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
27
Preparation
– How to allocate?
– List subjects + topics - grade
confidence (A - D)
– Mix easier with more difficult - no
more than 2 subjects per day
Physiological factors
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
28
Preparation
Suggestion … NB lots of different
ways - choose what's appropriate for
YOU
– How long?
• 40 minutes’ revision
• 20 minutes’ break
– e.g. eat, drink, song, TV, chat
Physiological factors
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
29
Preparation
http://www.scool.co.uk/default.asp
Physiological factors
The Ashcombe School
How do you start?
– Give 'the big picture’
• Look at the specification / syllabus
topics
• Look at past papers & examiner
comments
• Know what the exam ‘types’ are (essay,
multichoice, practical, oral)
• Start in the spring break
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
30
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
Construct Meaning
– Look at the text books
– Look at exercise books
– Look at teacher support notes
– Look at any other revision guides /
web sites etc
– Produce clear exam notes- ideally
typed so you can add to them
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
31
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
Variety of techniques
• Use MULTISENSORY methods (VAK)
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
32
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
Visual learning
• Visual
– flashcards
– imagine story
– posters
– spider diagrams / mind maps
– PowerPoint
– colour, font, highlighter CODES (not
random!)
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
33
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
34
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
bacula
Auditory learning
7x7=49
• Auditory
friend
– Say/record list aloud- ipod
– Say spellings aloud
– Teach your friends and family
A litre
– Put to rhyme / music (Beans means
...of/ water’s a
pint and three
for mash ...)- create your own
quarters
– Word link
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
35
– Group revision
Learning & revision
Two and a quarter
pounds of jam
weigh about a
kilogramme
The Ashcombe School
Auditory Learning
• Mnemonics
" SOH - CAH - TOA! "
Pronounced "...soaker toe-er..." where:
Sin Ø = Opposite/Hypotenuse
Cos Ø = Adjacent/Hypotenuse
Tan Ø = Opposite/Adjacent sides
" To Oil A Car Always Have Some Oil Handy "
A litre of water’s a pint and three quarters
Two and a quarter pounds of jam weigh about a kilogramme
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
36
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
Kinesthetic learning
• Kinesthetic
– write out (notes  summary 
summary again  key words on cards
 carry round and test yourself)
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
37
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
Kinesthetic Learning
• Kinesthetic
– mini whiteboards / frames
– rhythmic action
– verbalise
– match flashcards
– Computer games
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
38
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
Kinesthetic Learning
• Kinesthetic
– get someone to test aloud (friend,
family) - if you can explain it to
someone else, you can explain it in an
exam!)
– ask questions
– create poster/PowerPoint
– do practice papers under ‘timed’
conditions
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
39
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
Memorisation
• Employ memory strategies (chunking,
clustering, categorising)
• Ask questions, and give TIME for
processing the answer
– descriptive (what ...who ... where
..when)
– reflective (why ...compare ..)
– speculative (what if ...)
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
40
Learning & revision
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
41
What will your parents be
experiencing?
advising, tracking, guiding, supporting
caring adult
resigned flock
The Ashcombe School
Where will you revise
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
42
• School- would it benefit you to treat
revision as a job?
• Home- away from friends
• When will you stop?
• What days will you work?
The Ashcombe School
4/14/2020
Gov Dev
Jun 04
43
Main points
• Find balance between working hard
and working too much
• Devise revision timetable for outside
lessons
• "You can only do your best!"