HGCSC Exams & Revision
Some Top Tips to help you succeed in
the final stage of your education at
HGCSC.
We Know you can do it! Believe in
your ability, work hard to succeed
and ask for help if you need it.
Good Luck from all the staff at HGCSC.
GCSE Exam
Period
April 2015 –
June 2015
Where can I get help with exams?
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Subject teacher / subject leader
Head of year
Key Stage Manager
Tutor
Mentor
Parents / Carers
Peers / friends
Websites / internet / revision booklets
‘He who does not ask a question learns
nothing.’
(Swahili Proverb)
Preparation
• Know what the test/ exam involves
• Make a revision timetable and stick
to it.
• Look at revision sites on the
internet.
Revision Techniques
You should use a variety of
revision techniques
Coping
• Reward yourself for completing sections of
revision
• Break revision down into manageable chunks
• Ask for help with anything you don’t understand
• Take regular breaks.
Top Tips for good
time management
1 Be SMART
Set achievable, targets that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic,
Time-bound
2 Reward yourself
When you finish a task, give yourself a treat.
3 The right place
Don't waste time trying to work in a place with too many distractions - find
a good place to work.
4 Prioritise
Organise your work into 'date required' order
5 Stay alert
Work in short bursts - no more than an hour at a time
6 Make it manageable
Break down long tasks into smaller sections
7. Plan ahead
Decide in advance when you are going to do each piece of work
8. Tomorrow V today
Don't keep putting things off
9. Be organised
Have the right equipment for doing the right task. Don't waste time having
to search for things
Top Tips for making a
revision timetable
Revision Timetable.
• Planning a timetable helps you to get organised and you can
see just what time you have available to revise. (You might be
surprised.)
• Sticking to this plan for a few weeks will help you to get
higher marks in your exams. One weeks worth of revision will
have little impact on your results.
• Have your plan visible where you can see it every day.
• Colour code different subjects so you can see how much time
you are spending on each subject.
Revision Timetable.
• Write on when you can also have free time. It is still possible!
• It is possible to do revision in the morning. Some people get
up early and could spend 20 – 30 minutes revising a subject.
• If you are revising in lessons listen carefully and take
advantage of the extra time studying the subject.
• Find a quiet space at lunch and do some revision with your
friends.
• Use all your time wisely – DON’T WASTE IT!
Example Revision Timetable
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Sun
7am
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
8am
school
school
school
school
school
TV
French
9am
school
school
school
school
school
English
Break
10am
school
school
school
school
school
Break
French
11am
school
school
school
school
school
English
Maths
12pm
school
school
school
school
school
lunch
Lunch
1pm
school
school
school
school
school
Science
Geography
2pm
school
school
school
school
school
Break
Break
3pm
school
school
school
school
school
Science
History
4pm
Tea & TV
Trampolining
Tea & TV
Drama club
Tea & TV
Break
Tea
5pm
Tea & TV
Tea & TV
Football
Tea & TV
French
Tea
Homework
6pm
Maths
Geography
Technology
English
Out
Out
Break
7pm
English
Science
Maths
RE
Out
Out
Maths
8pm
RE
History
Science
History
TV
out
Break
Example Revision Timetable
My Exams are on:
Name:
Monday
7.00 am
8.00 am
9.00 am
10.00 am
11.00 am
12.00 pm
1.00 pm
2.00 pm
3.00 pm
4.00 pm
5.00 pm
6.00 pm
7.00 pm
8.00 pm
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Top Tips for different
revision techniques
There is no right or wrong way to
revise but there are lots of different
ways to do it...
Talk about
key ideas
with a family
member or
friend
Highlight key
points in your
notes
Practice using
past paper
questions
Make notes
on key ideas
Make a mind
map, poster,
diagram,
chart or
cartoon
Revision
Techniques
Test each
other
Record your
key ideas
and play
them back
Are you ready to revise?
Good study conditions
Concentration is easier if you
create the best possible conditions for study.
You should study alone if possible –
free from distractions and interruptions.
You should be in comfortable surroundings - with
all your study materials to hand.
Practise for success
•Lots of your study tasks will become easier - as you practise
more.
•Be prepared to advance slowly at first. Be prepared for 'bad
days' and problems.
•There is no magic formula - only regular work.
•Every time you are tempted to give up - give it one more go
instead.
•Successful people are often those who practise more - like
athletes, musicians, and even film stars.
Each time you complete a study session, you will know a little
more. This will help you to feel more confident.
How to take notes
What to record
•Notes are a shortened version of some information.
•You should choose only the main points from the
original information.
•Don't try to record all of the source materials.
•Show the difference between the main points and any
examples.
Structure
•Use headings and sub-headings for separate sections.
•Use letters, numbers, or indentation to identify
individual items/topics.
•Keep the items/topics separate: this makes them
easier to see.
Many people have good visual memory. Clear layout
helps recall of details.
Build in clarity
•Listen, read, or watch closely, thinking carefully about
the subject.
•Decide which parts will be most useful.
•Convert the original material into your own words. This
will help you to remember it at a later date.
Layout
•Write as clearly as possible.
•Leave spaces between each topic.
•Use a system of numbered points. This helps to keep one point
distinct from another.
•Don't use continuous writing.
•Don't write in complete sentences.
•Don't string points together.
•Write on one side of page only.
Brevity
•Write incomplete sentences. These are notes - not finished
writing.
•Miss out any words which are not important.
•Use abbreviations wherever possible.
•You can also use mathematical symbols such as + = < & >
•Use diagrams, graphs, or pictures where possible.
Some people devise their own personal code of abbreviations and
signs.
Storage
•Keep notes in a loose-leaf binder or a pocket file.
•Use coloured dividers to keep sections separate.
•The loose-leaf method allows you to add new notes without
trouble.
•You can also re-write pages, and add diagrams or pictures.
•Some people prefer small index cards by compressing your notes
for revision (ideal to take with you when you are out!).
•Keep things separate, with clear labels for easy recall.
Mnemonics
Mnemonics can help you to recall information. You remember
one thing by means of another.
For instance, the notes in music are (on the lines) E,G,B,D,F and
(in the spaces) F,A,C,E.
You can remember these as 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favour'
and the single word 'FACE'.
Keep it simple. Mnemonics need to be short, sharp, and
effective.
Layout – (mind maps, posters, diagrams, charts or cartoons)
•Lots of people have a very visual memory.
•You remember the shape of words on a page, or things
which have been written as symbols or pictures.
•The clear layout of your notes may help you to
remember the contents.
•You might remember complex topics if they are
presented in a simple visual manner.
Practice past papers
•De-mystify exams by looking at past papers.
•Choose a question, and make an outline plan for an answer.
•Do this in your own time, at your own pace.
•Then see how much you can write in half an hour.
•The more experience you have of tackling questions, the less
nervous you will feel.
•Repeat this sort of preparation, and you will feel more
comfortable
Study groups
•Why not revise together with some of your friends?
•Many of them will have the same fears and problems as you.
•Discuss your feelings with each other, and learn from what the
others say.
•You can test yourselves by posing each other questions. Turn
your revision into a fun quiz.
•Study groups can help you feel less nervous.
•There is nothing wrong in working along with other people.
•This is not 'cheating' - it's learning!
‘We must believe that we are
gifted for something, and that
thing, at whatever cost, must be
attained.’
Marie Curie
Top Tips for success
during the exam...
Get some sleep the night before
the exam. It's too late to do any
worthwhile revision at that
stage and a late night session
will burn up the mental energy
you will need the next day
When time is up, finish and
forget. Concentrate on any
other exams you may have.
Stay focused.
Leave time to review. Make
sure you haven't made any silly
mistakes.
Plan out your time in the exam.
If there are 4 30-minute
questions make sure you spend
the same amount of time on
each one.
Read the questions several
times. Don't answer until you
are sure what they're asking.
Circle or underline the key parts
to questions.
Make sure you have everything
you need for the exam. Always
have one or more spare pens.
Draft your answers. A few
minutes of preparation will help
you to improve your
performance
Make sure you know exactly
when and where your exams
are well in advance - arrive
early.
Know where the marks in each
question are and focus on those
sections that carry the most.
Exam
Technique
Reminders
 Plenty of revision
 Eat breakfast, have a drink and get plenty of sleep the night
before.
 Arrive on time / early
 Be prepared with equipment: 2x BLACK pens, pencil, ruler,
rubber, colours & calculator when necessary. (All must be in
a clear pencil case)
Reminders
 Water in a clear bottle, all labels removed.
 Correct uniform worn correctly.
 Mobile phones / smart devices MUST be handed in and
turned off.
 Calm & quiet waiting outside the exam room.
 No talking once you enter the exam room.
‘Don’t be afraid of hard work.
Nothing worthwhile comes easily’
Gertrude B Elion.