YEAR 11 STEPS TO SUCCESS- A PARENTS’ GUIDE

GCSE MATHEMATICS2012-2013

• Every Thursday afterschool targeted revision sessions

• Teachers available at lunchtimes• Small group Mentoring• Mock analysis and topic specific

targeted homework• Scheme of work finished in January• Exam practice – past papers

Mathematics - School support

• Exam timetable• Revision timetable – sit down and plan• How to revise – pick up a pen and DO

• Revision books – available here• Past papers – mark scheme’s

• Websites - Fronter, Mymaths, Edexcel• Equipment – scientific calc, ruler,

compass, protractor etc..

Mathematics - Parent support

A Typical question and example of the mark scheme

Exam dates27 t h February 2013 – non

calculator4 t h March 2013 – calculator

AlsoJune 2013 – non calculator

June 2013 – calculator

Mathematics

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

The key dates in Year 11Language Literature

Controlled Assessment (15%) Creative Writing. December 2012.

Unit 1 ‘Reading and Creating Non-Fiction Texts’ resit for some students (40%) January 10th 2013.

Controlled Assessment (15%) Based on the novel being studied for Literature exams. February 2013.

Speaking and Listening tasks (20%) Between November and April 2013

Unit 1 Exploring Modern Texts. (40%) Examination. May 2012.

Unit 2 Poetry examination (35%) January 16th 2013.

How we are preparing students

Any students resitting English Language in January have had weekly revision classes with their teacher and will have 2 days’ worth of intensive revision in December.

Extra teachers work in lesson time with groups who need to resit.

Year 12 mentors. January to April weekly Controlled Assessment booster

sessions. Easter revision classes. Mock examinations in December and March. Revision guides and booklets on Fronter. Drop in sessions during summer study leave. Theatre trips Visiting speakers Sample essays, mark schemes and examiner feedback used

consistently in lessons.

You can’t revise for English…..?

Know the assessment objectives.Read the texts (more than once!)Make notes on characters, settings, themes.Learn the notes made in class.Learn key quotations.PLAN essays – lots of them!Do the homework. Students will be set a

minimum of an essay a fortnight. The planning, research and writing of these is ALL important revision. A suitable amount of time should be spent on this.

Read sample essays on the AQA website.

How you can help your child.

Check they spend enough time researching and planning essays. Encourage them to extend their answers by commenting on

TECHNIQUES rather than PLOT. Read through the sample assessment materials on the AQA website.

The examiners’ report is also available here. Encourage students to read – even if it’s only the sports pages of the

Sunday paper. Encourage students to discuss the texts at home. Ask them about what they are doing. Read the text with them if they are reluctant readers. Encourage students to attend extra revision sessions and to attend

theatre trips and workshops. Students might find publications like York Notes helpful with revision. Remind students that revision is also necessary for Controlled

Assessment. Encourage attendance. www.aqa.org/English

GCSE SCIENCE2012

Exam Dates

UNIT 1: P3,B3,C3:TUESDAY 22TH JANUARY

2013 9:00AM

UNIT 2: P4,B4,C4:WEDNESDAY 5TH JUNE

2013 9:00AM

Support Provided by the Science Department

• Lunchtime Intervention Sessions in rooms S3, S8 and S7:

For students who have missed lessons, or who need to complete their piece of Controlled Assessment

• Revision Guides For sale from the prep’ room at lunch and break time. £3.50

• Thurs drop-in sessions 1:15 to 1:45 in S3 Coursework consultation/any other issues

Support Provided by the Science Department

• Regular updates and information via Year 11 assemblies.

• Programme of revision classes several weeks before each exam session.

• Saturday Morning Master-Class in May 2012.

• Work set on the Fronter VLE for snow-days.

• Past exam papers available on Fronter VLE

Long Answer Questions

- New style of question in the new course

- Open ended questions worth 6 marks

- No specific mark-scheme – “best fit approach”

- Scientific vocabulary vital

Long Answer Questions

C3 - Long Answer Question – Allotropes of carbonExplain the term allotrope and state why diamond, graphite and buckminsterfullerene are allotropes of carbon.

Describe a use for each allotrope and relate its use to its properties.

Explain the properties of diamond and graphite in terms of their structure and bonding.

Long Answer Questions

Level Mark1 1-2 Explains the term allotrope as different structures of the same element

States that the allotropes mentioned are all forms of carbon2 3-4 Explains that allotropes have different physical properties but similar chemical

properties.Gives one use for each allotrope and links the use to a propertyE.g. diamond – cutting tools, due to hardness or high melting point Graphite – pencils, due to slipperiness or electrodes, due electrical conductivityBuckminster Fullerene (C60) – drug delivery systems, 60 carbon atoms arranged in a cage-like structure which can carry molecules around the body

3 5-6 Explains the properties of diamond and graphite in terms of their structure and bonding.e.g. diamond; hardness or high m.pt due to each carbon atom being joined to four others in a 3D tetrahedral latticee.g. graphite; slipperiness due to layered arrangement, where atoms are covalently bonded to three others forming single layers of regular hexagons which can slide over one another

A real question from a Physics exam:

A real question from a Physics exam:

c) What happens to microwaves when they hit the metal grill in the door of the microwave oven?

..................................................................(1)

A real question from a Physics exam:

A real question from a Physics exam:

c) What happens to microwaves when they hit the metal grill in the door of the microwave oven?

They bounce off the metal door..................................................................(1)

A real question from a Physics exam:

Mark Scheme:

“ The microwaves will be REFLECTED back into the microwave oven.

Do not credit ‘bounce’”

WWW.PARENTSCENTRE .GOV.UK

Dfes s i te with information on helping your son/daughter learn

WWW.QCA .ORG.UK

Guidance on qual ifi cat ions.

WWW. JCQ.ORG.UK

Guidance on exam, control led assessment and coursework rules

Where to find out more

Key dates

DECEMBER: ENGLISH CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT

NOVEMBER: MOCK EXAMS

JANUARY: SCIENCE UNIT 1

ENGLISH UNIT 1 RESIT

ENGLISH LIT UNIT 2

FEBRUARY: ENGLISH CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT

MATHEMATICS GCSE

MAY: ENGLISH LITERATURE UNIT 1

JUNE: MATHEMATICS GCSE

SCIENCE UNIT 2

Post-16 Progression: key dates

6th Form Information Evening: Thurs 1st Nov, 6pm

Year 11 Meetings with a senior teacher: week beginning 5th November

Deadline for 6th Form Applications: Fri 23rd November

2nd Y11 Meeting with senior link: March

6th Form Induction Days: Wed 26th & Thurs 27th June 2013