Katherine Anderson: Head of Year 12
Kiersten Best: Director of Post-16
Preparing for
Examinations
• Take yourselves
back to when you
were preparing
for your driving
test.
• What steps did
you have to take
to ensure that
you would pass .....
Here are some of the things
we thought about:
 Lots of practice – with
professionals but also with
others (family members,
friends, etc).
 It’s okay to make mistakes
while support is in place. Learn
from mistakes.
 Not reliant on the “never mind,
I can take it again .....”
mentality because it’s too
costly.
 Seeing the goal increases
intrinsic motivation.
 Breaking things into blocks and






building up.
Working hardest on the things
that are most challenging.
Know what you can do and then
what you need to do next.
Support to get better – all
environments.
Vary ways to build confidence.
Manage circumstances – cope
with the stress of the test.
Share and unpick the criteria
for passing.
Examinations
 An examination is only an opportunity to “show
what you know”.
 Study leave date: Friday 9th May 2013
 Only 26 school days to go!
 Preparing for exams needs to be focused and
SMART.
Make a revision timetable
There are now less than 9 weeks until your exams. How ready are
you?
1. Make a checklist of topics and subtopics
2. Traffic light the topics NO IDEA, OK, CONFIDENT
3. Use a revision timetable to identify when you can revise.
Remember to mark on lessons, work/voluntary commitments,
relaxation time.
 You could use a paper revision guide like the one provided or you could
produce one online and keep it on your phone etc!
4. Divide up the content you need to revise into the time
available. Spread out NO IDEA, OK, CONFIDENT wisely.
5. Remember you have more time in the Easter holiday/half term
to cover more content.
6. Give yourself time to REVISIT each topic during the revision
programme.
7. You should spend 20 hours per subject
Plan
Make sure you are ‘actively’
revising – don’t just re-read your
notes
There are many different revision activities you can use and some will suit
different learners.
Think about how you best learn and you may find that a good starting
point for identifying how best to revise.
Of course it goes without saying that if your revision strategies made you
successful at GCSE you don’t necessarily need to reinvent the wheel – just
make sure they are appropriate for the subjects being studied now!
If you learn best by talking,
discussing or listening try …
•
•
•
•
•
Discussing topics with others
Taking verbal quizzes from others
Teaching others challenging topics
Listening to relevant radio /TV programmes
Recording material onto phone/MP3 player and
listen to it instead of music!
If you learn best by doing, moving
or exploring try …
• Tracing important words and diagrams in the air
• Using revision cards and stick post-it notes around
the house
• Remember facts by thinking about where you learnt
them
• Explore the web.
If you learn best by looking,
drawing reading and writing try …
•
•
•
•
Reading books and notes
Using mind-maps
Watching appropriate TV shows and videos
Use PowerPoint presentations (you could ask your
teachers for ones used in class)
• Learn diagrammatical explanations.
Prepare
GET information.
SHAPE it to make it memorable.
PLACE it somewhere familiar.
REVIEW it regularly.
PHYSICS / GEOGRAPHY
ENERGY
SOLAR POWER
Solar Power
Advantages:
No Pollution
Disadvantages: Expensive initially
limited sunshine
GET
limited energy
SHAPE
What are the advantages of solar power?
What are the disadvantages of solar power?
REVIEW
PLACE
Past-papers
‘Champions
are not born,
they are
made’.
Working with past papers:
 check which exam board and paper you will sit.
 plan your answers to questions.
 unpick the questions – identify the trigger words
and ‘translate’ them.
 look at the past papers against mark schemes and
examiner reports.
 practice under examination conditions.
 get feedback from teachers.
Reports
 Year 12 reports have just been written and will be with you
in time for Pupil Mentoring Day on Thursday 3rd April.
 The attainment grade is not the mock exam but the mock
combined with other assessments.
 Attainment grades should be close to ALPS targets or
could be higher!
 A higher performance at the end of Year 12 could lead to
higher predictions in Year 13.
Research shows that we remember …
Looking forward...
 All AS grades will have to be recorded e.g. UCAS forms.
 UCAS is the central body through which all students make
applications to British Universities.
 Achievement at the end of Year 12 in all courses will shape your
future.
 Year 13 Parents information evening – applying to university Wed
25th June 7pm
 Parent and student surgery – writing personal statement. Mon 7th
July 5pm
Making Yourself Marketable
 How are you shining above everyone else?
 What proof do you have of an interest in or
passion for something?
 What experiences?
 What voluntary work?
 How do you plan to use your summer holiday?
Contacts
katherine.anderson@st-pauls.org.uk
Head of Year 12
kiersten.best@st-pauls.org.uk
Director of Post-16 learning and progress
Arianne.mcintyre@st-pauls.org.uk
Learning Mentor and Chaplaincy support