Revision Tips
GCSE Science:
BTEC, Additional and
Triple Award
Controlled Assessment and Exams Breakdown
for Science courses
Course
Units
Additional (4408)
AS1 (35%), AS2 (40%), ISA (25%)
Biology (4401)
B1 (25%), B2(25%), B3(25%), ISA(25%)
Chemistry (4402)
C1(25%), C2(25%). C3(25%). ISA(25%)
Physics (4403)
P1(25%), P2(25%), P3(25%), ISA(25%)
BTEC (Principles of
Applied Science)
Unit 1 - EXAM (25%), Unit 2 - Assignments (25%),
Unit 3 - Assignments (25%),Unit 4 - Assignments (25%),
Revision Strategy for Science
1. Complete the checklist for the topic
2. Choose an area you feel less confident
about
3. Revise the key information for 15 minutes
using the sources on the next slide
Approximate Grade Boundaries:
0%
U
35%
D
4. Download an exam paper and find the
question about that topic and answer that
question without your notes.
50%
C
60%
B
5. Improve your answer using your
notes/websites.
70%
A
80%
A*
6. Mark it using the mark scheme.
7. Repeat steps 4 - 6 with a paper from a
different year on the same topic until you
are achieving a grade above your target
grade.
Useful websites/books:
• Your notes / revision guide
• Doddle www.doddlelearn.co.uk
Browse for AQA Additional or Separate Sciences
• AQA website: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science work through the past
papers and use mark schemes and examiner reports
• My GCSE Science http://my-gcsescience.com/
• S-Cool http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse
• Creative Chemistry: http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk/gcse/
• Gridlocks (puzzles): http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/gridlocks/
• Masterminding Molecules (revision game):
www.mastermindingmolecules.org/
GCSE Maths
Maths GCSE – Edexcel
2 Papers – Each 1 hour 45 minutes
– Paper 1 – non-calculator (50%)
– Paper 2 - calculator (50%)
Both papers are out of 100
Revision Strategy
• Keep your PLC updated and target the areas that
you know are red first, followed by amber.
• Use your revision guide to make notes, then
answer the questions in your maths book or a
separate revision exercise book.
• Make revision cards of key information and
formulae that you need to remember.
• Look back over past exam papers that you have
completed to identify areas where you can
improve your knowledge and exam technique.
Revision Tools
• The revision guide and PLC are the best guides for you.
• You can access videos at www.hegartymaths.com or log in to
the mathswatch videos at www.mathswatchvle.com. For
mathswatch, the centre ID is “Queensmead”, username is
“apupil”, and password is “mathswatch”. Make sure you watch
videos actively. This means making notes, stopping the video
to attempt questions before looking at solutions.
• Revision Classes: These run every Tues, Wed and Thurs for
both Foundation and Higher tier students. Please see
information in the maths corridor each week or ask your
teachers what sessions are on. Some are general revision and
some are specific topic based sessions, so you should use your
PLC to identify which you need to go to.
GCSE History
The Course: History
Four papers:
• Unit 1: Crime (25%) – you need subject knowledge and an
awareness of change over time to do well here
• Unit 2: Germany (25%) – you need subject knowledge to do well
here
• Unit 3: Protest (25%) – you need to be able to use and analyse
sources (and have some knowledge) to do well here
• Unit 4: Controlled Assessment (25%) – you have done this
Revision Techniques: History
To revise knowledge, you need to process the
information. This means that your mind has to use the
information in some way.
- Okay: Reading the information in your book/revision guide
- Better: Writing notes or creating your own revision quizzes on the
information
- Much better: Drawing timelines (annotated in colour if you like),
answering practice questions, creating mnemonics (e.g. acronyms
like TRAWL)
- Best: Use a combination of all of the above
DOs and DON’Ts: History
DO…
DO NOT…
Use a variety of revision techniques (see previous
slide)
Let yourself get bored by using the same revision
techniques (e.g. reading through your notes
repeatedly)
Use other people to motivate you (e.g. get a
friend/parent to test you)
Set yourself clear targets (e.g. “Can you test me
on this topic in half an hour?”)... this creates
pressure on you to actually do the preparation!
Be unrealistic (e.g. “I’m going to memorise all of
Germany today.”)
Revise little and often (e.g. revise Sub Unit 1.2 on
Germany for 15 minutes at a time, then switch to
another paper/Sub Unit/subject)
Revise in large chunks (e.g. “I am going to spend
the next 5 hours revising Maths”). You won’t work
for all that time!
GCSE Geography
Exam Information
• Controlled Assessment = 25%, Dynamic
Planet 25%, People and the Planet 25%,
Making Geographical Decisions 25%.
• Revision sessions are with your individual
class teacher... Make sure that you know
when they are, and attend every week!
• You also MUST revise thoroughly at
home... Revision in school is not enough!
Geography Revision Tips...
• Make sure you have all your old books... Read
through them and create your own revision
notes/spider diagrams from them
• You will be given a revision guide in your lessons.
• Use the booklets that we filled in at the end of Year
10 to revise... Be honest with your teacher if you have
lost them.
• Plenty of exam questions... Ask your teacher for extra
or go on the Edexcel B GCSE Geography website!
• You can also revise and take the mini quizzes on the
GCSE Geography Bitesize Revision website.
GCSE MFL
French, German and Spanish
Exam breakdown
Skill
Exam or Controlled
Assessment
Writing
Controlled Assessment-2 pieces
30%
Speaking
Controlled Assessment-2 pieces
30%
Listening
Exam
20%
Reading
Exam
20%
% of GCSE
Revision
• Memorisation technique:
• When trying to learn language phrases, not full sentences, break
paragraphs into groups of 3 or 4 words. Repeat section out loud twice
in TL (French/German/Spanish)-check you know what it means in
English. Repeat it once more in the TL and then test yourself via
English orally and/or in writing.
• Revision classes:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mrs Alves-French-Monday lunchtime
Miss Husk-Spanish-Tuesday lunchtime and Thursday 2-45pm
Mr Lynch-French-Thursday lunchtime
Miss Manley-Spanish-Tuesday and Wednesday 2-45pm
Mrs Mepham-German-Wednesday 2-45pm
Mr Moffat-German-Thursday lunchtime
Websites
• www.Aqa.org.uk for past papers and you can practise past
papers in exam conditions and mark yourself via the
markschemes there.
• www.linguascope.com-beginner for basic vocabulary
revision-Intermediate-username-Queensmead; PasswordWow
• All students have an interactive DVD and vocabulary book
for independent study-distributed at consultation evening.
• All students have a specification booklet-organised
according to themes-with ALL the language of the Listening
and Reading exams.
• www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/gcse/- for listening and reading
practice.
GCSE Home Economics:
Child Development
Exam Board OCR
Specification J441
Teacher Mrs P Waller
pwaller@qmschoo.org.uk
Assessment breakdown
• Exam 40% 1hour 30 mins
– One question on each of the areas of study eg the
family, parenthood and pregnancy
– One essay question
– All questions are compulsory
• Controlled Assessment 60%
– 3 Short projects on Teenage Pregnancy, Safety and
Food (A grade =18/20, B,15, C13, D10, E8)
– 1 Child study on a child aged 5 or under ( A=
50/60, B45, C40, D35, E30)
Revision Techniques
• Revision cards are useful for learning the basic
information. Folders and revision guides provide
this
• Use exam papers from website with the mark
schemes to check your knowledge
• OCR Child Development papers and mark
schemes:
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-homeeconomics-child-development-j441-from-2012/
• Revision sessions are on a Friday after school or
on a Wed or Thursday after the lessons.
Resources to help with revision
• http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcsehome-economics-child-development-j441from-2012/
• Collins Revison Guide (£3 from school)
• OCR GCSE Child Development by Carolyn
Megitt
• AQA Home Economics Child Development by
Sandy Green
Health and Social Care
GCSESingle and Double award
The controlled assessment and exams
break down:
• This course is worth up to 2 GCSEs. Most
students are studying for the single award
(Unit 1 and 2) and some are studying for both
(Units 1,2,3 and 4)
• Unit 1- exam 40 % of Grade 1
• Unit 2- controlled assessment 60% of Grade 1
• Unit 3- controlled assessment- 60% of Grade 2
• Unit 4- exam- 40% of Grade 2
Revision strategies:
Unit 1- Learn all key words- make flash cards/glossary!
• 1.1- Create grids for each life stage and 4 areas, PIES to show key
developments.
• 1.2- Draw mind maps/table for the groups of factors and their effects on
PIES development.
• 1.3- Make a list of expected and unexpected events- draw same
tables/mind maps, for ways these events affect your PIES.
• 1.4 – Make Positive/negative tables for ways that different types of
relationships can affect you.
Unit 4- Learn all key words, make flash cards/glossary!
• 4.1- Do same as 1.1, but for key needs at each life stage.
• 4.2- Write bullet pointed lists of different ways you can apply each care
values in range of jobs and for caring for different life stages.
• 4.3- Draw mind map of self concept and how different groups of factors
can affect it.
• 4.4- Find examples of different types of health promotion that fit the 3
aims.
Revision sessions/ List of useful
websites & books:
Revision Sessions:
•Tuesday lunch time: Unit 1 students
•Wednesday after school: All Unit 3 and 4 students
Useful books:
•Miss Boldero’s revision guides for unit 1 and 4 or core textbook.
Websites:
•http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse09/hsc/Pages/default.aspx
•http://www.channel4learning.com/sites/gcsease/health_social/2.html
•http://getrevising.co.uk/resources/subjects/health_and_social_care
•http://www.educationforum.co.uk/health/gnvq.htm or for students
aiming for top grades, use the A level linkhttp://www.educationforum.co.uk/Health/unit4.htm or the Open
University resources: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind
GCSE Business Studies
GCSE Business Studies
Assessment
Unit
Topic
Date
Assessment Type
% of Final Grade
1
Introduction to Small
Business
May 2014
Exam
25
2
Controlled Assessment
April - September
2013
Coursework
25
3
Building A Business
June 2014
Exam
50
GCSE Business Studies
Revision Techniques
Flashcards
•
•
For key information and facts. You can carry them
around with you and test yourself
anywhere...bedtime/on the bus.
Use it to remind and test yourself on: Definitions,
A sequence of simple analysis.
Past exam questions and analysis
•Complete some past exam questions. Mark your
answers. Fill in the answers you missed. Go through the
paper and colour code each topic (Red-need to revise,
Amber-Need to go over a few bits again, Green-I’ve got
it)
•Use it to test your ability to: recall the information you
have revised, to answer the question asked, not just
write down everything you know, to follow the
command words in an exam. E.G. ANALYSE,
JUSTIFY
GCSE Business Studies
Useful Revision Websites
www.tutor2u.net
www.businessstudiesonline.co.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcs
ebitesize/business/
GCSE Religious Studies
Students will be sitting a Full
Course GCSE with Edexcel
To gain this qualification, students must sit
two 1 hour 30 minute tests that require
students to answer ONE question from each
of the FOUR sections studied.
Note: Each question is broken down into four
sections, adding to 20 marks.
Unit 1
Religion and Life
•Believing in God
•Matters of Life and Death
•Marriage and Family
•Religion and Community
Cohesion.
Unit 8
Religion and Society
•Rights and Responsibilities
•Environmental and Medical
issues
•Peace and Conflict
•Crime and Punishment
To revise for RS use GCSE
Bitesize on the BBC
website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/
gcsebitesize/rs/
When answering the 8 mark
questions, students must
remember to include religious
view points. In order to recall
these points, students may
benefit from constructing mind
maps of each topic.
Revision
• Revision Guides and
Workbooks are
available from the RS
department and can be
paid for through Parent
Pay.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/s
chools/gcsebitesize/rs/
• http://www.truetube.co
.uk/
GCSE Resistant Materials
RESISTANT MATERIALS
Controlled assessment (Unit 1):
•Unit 1 is worth 60% of final grade
•Your controlled assessment is worth a total of 100 marks.
•You will have 40 hours to complete the design and make activities.
A break down of your controlled assessment:
Design activity ( 50 marks)
Make activity (50 marks)
You will undertake a design activity covering the following
three stages and eight assessment criteria:
You will undertake a make activity covering the following three
stages and five assessment criteria:
Stage 1 Investigate ( 15 marks)
Stage 4 Plan (6marks)
1.1
Analysing the brief (3 marks)
4.1
1.2
Research (6marks)
1.3
Specification (6marks)
Production plan (6marks)
Stage 2 Design (20 marks)
Stage 5 Make ( 38 marks)
2.1
Initial ideas ( 12 marks)
5.1
Quality of manufacture (24 marks)
1.1
Review (4 marks)
5.2
Quality of outcome (12 marks )
2.3
Communication ( 4marks)
5.3
Health and safety (2marks) evidence throughout
Stage 3 Develop (15 marks)
Stage 6 Test and evaluate (6 marks)
3.1
Development ( 9 Marks)
6.1
3.2
Final design (6marks)
Testing and evaluation ( 6marks)
Exams (Unit 2) Knowledge and Understanding of resistant materials:
Overview of content
•Unit 2 is worth 40% of final grade
• Students will develop knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials and
processes used in design and technology.
•Students will learn about industrial and commercial practices and the importance of
quality checks, and the health and safety issues that have to be considered at all times.
• The knowledge and understanding students develop in this unit can be applied easily to
Unit 1: Creative Design and Make Activities.
Overview of assessment
• This unit is assessed through a 1-hour and 30-minute examination paper set and
marked by Edexcel.
•The examination paper will be a question and answer booklet and all questions are
compulsory.
•The examination paper will consist of multiple-choice, short-answer and extendedwriting questions.
• The total number of raw marks available is 80.
Revision strategies
Revision sessions after school 2:45 ( Room 36)
Content to be covered:
Date
Teacher
Coursework help deadline is the 8th of March
Each Tuesday
MGI
Theory- Know your materials
Each Wednesday
BIS
• Test yourself by analysing the materials and manufacturing processes used in the manufacture of
new products.
• Complete past exam papers and familiarise yourself with the mark schemes. Understand what
the mark schemes are expecting of you in relation to the question.
• Write down a handful of the most difficult bits of information for each chapter that you have
studied , use the PLC
• Know your materials and properties- don’t go into the exam unclear about basic definitions:
ductility, malleability, hardness, toughness and elasticity.
• Many exam questions ask you to apply your knowledge and understanding to unfamiliar
products. Make sure that your revise manufacturing processes and properties that apply to all
materials.
Useful resources
Websites:
• www.technologystudent.com
• www.idcreatures.com
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/
• www.designaddict.com
Programmes/films:
• Richard Hammonds Engineering connections
• BBC clips Design Technology and Engineering
Books
• Edexcel GCSE Design and Technology: Resistant materials
Year 11 ICT, OCR Nationals Level 2
Year 11 OCR Nationals ICT – coursework
submission
 If you are a short course student (i.e. only studying 1 hour per
week), your current focus should be:
 Completing your Unit 2 Website coursework.
 Finishing off Unit 6 Spreadsheet stadium coursework and Unit 7
Database coursework from last year.
 If you are a full course student (studying an additional) 3 hours per
week, your current focus is:
 Completing the Unit 5 Magazine coursework.
 Finishing off any remaining Unit 2 Website coursework.
 Completing your Unit 6 Spreadsheet stadium coursework from last
year.
 You want to aim to complete these projects by the time we return
from February half term.
Year 11 OCR Nationals ICT – coursework
submission
• Remember to:
– Utilise Google Drive to backup your work so you
can finish off tasks at home.
– You can attend catch-up sessions Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after school in
the V Block, 3-4pm.
• Need access to resources?
– Check out Learning Resources (W Drive)  ICT
 ICT  Curriculum Info  OCR Nationals
GCSE Art and Design
GCSE Art and Design
• Controlled assessment and exam break down:
– 60% Coursework – Themed on Age/identity project
– 40% Exam – Student choice of topic
GCSE Art and Design
Times of Revision Sessions:
EVERYDAY – So no excuses…
GCSE Art and Design
List of useful websites:
• Art2day.co.uk – great for Artist research and project starting points
• TATE collectives/young TATE exam help – excellent resource for exam unit
• Studentartguide.com – visual guide of fantastic GCSE work, with breakdowns as to why it
graded so highly…
GCSE Physical Education
AQA GCSE Physical Education
60% Practical / Controlled Assessment
• 4 activities (2 must be player / performer role)
• KPA & KPB for all 4 activities
• KPC for 1 activity.
40% Theory / 90 minute examination on 16th May
•Section A – multiply choice = 10 marks
•Section B – short answer questions = 30 marks
•Section C – Scenario based questions = 40 marks
GCSE PE Theory Revision
Green Students
Red Students
Every Monday Lunchtime G3
Every Friday Lunchtime G3
After School Revision G3:
27th Jan
10th Feb
3rd March
17th March
31st March
28th April
12th May
After School Revision G3:
27th Jan
10th Feb
3rd March
17th March
31st March
28th April
12th May
For practical assessment dates for coach / official / performer / organiser
please contact COY / WAL / CRT
Revision Resources
Revision Guides
Students can purchase a
revision guide from
the PE department. A
Payment of £5 is
required through
parent pay.
Online Revision
GCSE Academy – PE shared area
Magic Box – PE shared area
Fronter – PE room
S-Cool PE website
BBC Bitesize GCSE PE website
Revision Tip:
Read through the scenario for 2014
Identify the units that are connected with the scenario
Revise these units first