KS4 PIAG Thursday 17th January

Please find included the hints and tips from the

sessions delivered during the Revision Carousel

Revision Hints and Tips

Working together to support our students

My Notes

Top tips:

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Questions to ask:

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Use of technology for revision

Centre ID: SN14HS

User ID: DOB followed by initials, e.g. 010801DJ for David Jones born 1st August 2001

Password: Same as the User ID until changed by the student

Subjects Covered:

Applied Science, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, D&T, Drama, English,

French, Geography, History, ICT, Maths, Music, PE, Physics, RS

Username: Hardenhuish

Password: echalk

Subjects Covered:

Biology, Chemistry, D&T, English, History,

Computing, Maths, Music, PE, Physics,

Geography, Languages, Art

How to revise for English

English Literature

• Create quizzes for themselves

or for a ‘revision buddy

• Try varying their topics: mixing

up their poetry anthology with their novels to aid recall

• Not just ‘re-reading’ our set

texts but annotate extracts, create character profiles or track the development of themes

• Don’t try and tackle everything

at once

Memorising Quotations

• Choose just FIVE key quotes from

each text to start with

• Record them onto cue cards,

adding in blanks for words each time

• Create drawings or cartoons to represent each quotation

• Analyse the language of the

quotation in a mind-map

• Create a Memory Palace whereby

each quote is attached to an item in a room they are familiar with

English Language

• A good deal of marks in the examination are awarded for what we call SPaG

(Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) so any activity that requires the checking of accuracy would help – maybe check the accuracy of homework for other subjects?

• Practise writing both non-fiction and fictional texts with different purposes.

Use a website like www.writingexercises.co.uk to get prompts & ideas for writing

• Don’t underestimate the power of reading! Reading of a range of fiction & non-fiction is crucial in ensuring students have a broad understanding and experience with the subject

Guides produced by Cambridge University

Press are endorsed by our exam board and

are good quality resources. The CGP Book

pictured is also excellent for supporting

Literacy activities.

Websites we like:

How to organise your revision

Making organised revision folders for each subject is something

you can start immediately. By having separate, structured folders

for each subject, you will be able to have all of the important

information about each subject

Getting Started

When getting started, you will need to:

• Buy different coloured folders for each subject, write the name of the subject on each folder and store them together in an organised way.

• Buy the materials you need to make visually interesting notes e.g. coloured

pens, highlighter pens and coloured paper.

• Find out from your teacher the exam board used to examine each subject

e.g. AQA, and the units that are being studied.

• Print off a specification for each subject. These can be found on the

examination board websites.

• Print a copy of the most recent exam paper and mark scheme for each unit. These can be found on the examination board websites.

Making a Revision Folder

For each subject produce a revision folder containing:

• A copy of the specification. This will be a useful checklist for your revision.

• A copy of the most recent exam paper and mark scheme for each unit. This will remind you about key facts about your exam which will assist your revision. For example, finding out how long the exam is and how many marks the exam is worth will enable you to work out how many minutes you have per question, helping you pace your answers.

• Key information sheets containing key terms, equations, diagrams, etc. This

will mean all the key information is in one easily assessable place.

• Revision notes for each topic in a form of your choice e.g. key content notes, mind maps, revision cards or posters. Find the method of revision that suits you or use a range of methods to write notes on your main topics. You can use your class notes, the textbook or websites like GCSE Bitesize to help you write effective notes.

• Assessments you have completed in class e.g. mock exams. This will remind

you about your areas of strength and areas for development within the subject.

Enjoy Active Revision

Using a range of revision strategies will make revision for

more enjoyable anything that sees keywords being used,

questions being answered and theory being put into practice

can only serve to increase performance in exams.

Sing it!

Why is it we can manage

to remember the lyrics

to a song but not the key bits or infor-

mation for revision.

Try turning it into a song!

If your creativity is not flowing then

Getting

Baking

Have a go at creating

some revision cupcakes

with keywords.

Take a pic and share it

with your friends. This

ought to make those

keywords memorable .

Get active and get outside

Taking a brisk walk or doing exercise about 20 mins

before revising can boost

memory and brain power.

Furthermore, doing a little bit of exercise helps

people deal better with stressful situations: it

reduces anxiety and increases self-esteem.

SEN strategies for revision

• Before a revision session spend 2 minutes writing down everything you already know about the topic- only revise the things you DON’T know. At the end of your revision session do the same 2 minute activity to see how much you have learnt and what you are still unsure of.

• Try to revise in lots of different ways- by watching, listening and doing.

• If you have exam access arrangements, try to use these in your revision sessions (ask someone to scribe etc., use extra time to plan).

• Make mind maps and revision resources using post-its, organise them, then take them down and start again putting them back as they were.

• Use flashcards in different ways- make pair cards or start with the answer and decide what the question might be.

• Use you tube to find videos to support your revision- there are lots of strange teachers out there making clips! Search “how to revise…..” and see what come up.

• Only worry about the spellings that you will be marked on, eg: in English you will probably need to argue or persuade, therefore learn how to spell ‘furthermore, however, in conclusion’. Remember- you don’t need to know every spelling, and you won’t be marked on spelling in all your exams.

• Use apps and revision sites like www.wordle.net to make word posters- stick them in the bathroom and read them whilst you brush your teeth.

Make and use revision tools

goconqr.com

Create and use thousands of resources

Getrevising.co.uk

Exam style questions and answers

www.s-cool.co.uk

Word clouds for Keywords

www.wordle.net

Give some of the below a try and see what you like, they may well

work for some subjects and not others.

You'll never know until to you try!

Self Testing Methods

Flashcard basics and top tips

Write a question or cue on one side of the card and the an-

swer in bullet points on the other side. Add as much infor-

mation as you can recall. The general rule is not to include

more than 7 facts but this is different for each person – how

much can you recall from one Cue?

Top Tips: Keep them neat and tidy, Using images makes for

stronger memories., Shuffle up different topics or event

subjects to take advantage of the benefits for the brain (this is called interleaving – read

more about it here)

Flashcard Leitner box method

Once flashcards are made it is tempting to just thumb

through them all but time can be better spent. In the Leitner

method all the cards are initially placed in first box. These

are tested daily. The cards correctly recalled are promoted

to the next box which is reviewed at different spacing.

Those incorrectly guessed return to the first box.

Flashcard Creative testing.

Using your flashcards don’t just recall what is on the other side but ask more difficult

questions like: “What is the opposite of this concept?” “Give a real life example of this

concept.” Or “Draw this concept.”

1. Daily 2.Every other day

3.Weekly 4.Fortnightly 5.Monthly

Cooperative learning

1. Teaching others the concepts you are learning remains a powerful technique.

Ensure that the person taught can be tested using flashcards or exam questions.

2. Testing others and being tested

Distill, distill, distill, distill and distill again.

Summarise a page of information into smaller chunks from memory

Questions

Common places for questions

1. Google the exam board and the qualification

2. Revision guide questions

3. Workbook questions

Questions

Uncommon places for questions

1. “Practice paper +” books

2. Quizlet.com

3. Quizizz.com

4. GCSEPod.com

5. Kahoot.com

How to revise for Maths

Exam Tips

• RTQ – read the question

• SYW – show your workings

• ATQ – answer the question!

• Use a highlighter pen to identify key words in the question or use a pen/pencil to underline them

• Attempt the questions you know how to answer first

• Stay calm, don’t panic if you can’t do a question. Leave questions you are unsure about until the end

• In the calculator exams, use your calculator!

MyMaths

www.mymaths.co.uk

Corbett Maths

corbettmaths.com

BBC Bitesize

www.bbc.co.uk/education

Revision Videos

www.examsolutions.net

Revision Tips

• Highlight key words, examples and formulae in your exercise book

• Look through your exercise book or revision guide before start-ing homework task

• Create revision cards/posters on topics you find difficult

• Use post-it notes and stick key facts around bedroom, wardrobe door or a mirror

• Complete past paper questions

• Use revision guides and workbooks

• Learn the formulae you need

• Make sure you have learnt your times tables

Planning for Revision

3 steps to plan an effective home revision timetable

Long Term revision Plan

• Put at least an hour aside with your child.

• Ask to see their statement of entry with exam dates.

• Write these on the long term planning sheet.

• Discuss the timing and pattern of the exams.

• Work backwards from the date of each exam.

• Block out any special events or days out.

• Plan for at least one day off per week.

• Discuss what subjects to focus on each day.

• Stick plan some where prominent e.g. fridge door.

• Allow some flexibility – redraft as necessary.

Short Term Revision Plan

• Weekly plan using Y11 Revision Booklet.

• Complete at least a week in advance.

• Look at the revision checklists/exam spec for each subject.

• Plan the specific topics/units to revise for each subject.

• Vary the subjects each day.

• Include revision sessions at school.

• Plan for recovery time after an exam e.g. evening off. • Write down planned leisure activities/fun things.

Daily Revision Plan

Exam questions and how to use past

papers effectively