A Students Guide to

Revision

The Broxbourne School

2010-11

Revising is all about MEMORY. The memory is like a muscle. If you dont exercise it, it will grow weaker and weaker, but if you do exercise it, it will get stronger and stronger.

TAKE LOTS OF BREAKS. Most people can only concentrate, understand and remember for between 20 and 45 minutes at a time. DO NOT REVISE FOR LONGER WITHOUT A BREAK. If you do, most of what you do you will not remember. Once you have finished learning something, your brain actually increases its power and carries on remembering. It will be sorting out what it has been learning, creating a more complete picture of everything it has just learnt. Only then does the rapid decline in memory begin and as much as 80% of what you learn in a day can be forgotten almost immediately. BUT WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP THIS? To maximise your learning, you need to catch the top of the wave of your memory. To do this, you need to look back at what you have been revising at the correct time, when the memory is stamped in far more strongly, and stays at the crest of the wave for a much longer time. Look at the diagram below:

You need to review what you have learnt: After 10 minutes At the end of a day At the end of a week At the end of a month The week before the exams

How do you learn?

What type of learner are you? Tick the statements which best describe you, your actions and the things that you say. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) I see what you mean That sounds right That feels right I get the picture I hear what you are saying I found it easy to handle That looks about right That rings a bell That touched a nerve When relaxing, I like to watch a film or video When relaxing, I like to listen to music When relaxing, I like to go to the gym I like to read a book to relax When relaxing, I like to listen to the radio When relaxing, I play sport I prefer to talk to people face to face I prefer to talk to people on the telephone I prefer to talk to people whilst Im doing something else I get impatient when I listen to others I like listening to others talk 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) I wave my hands about a lot when Im talking I forget peoples names, but I remember their faces I dont forget peoples names I shake hands when I meet people If Im lost or need directions, I prefer a map If Im lost or need directions, I prefer to be told If Im lost or need directions, I prefer to be shown the way When Im bored, I doodle When Im bored, I tend to chat When Im bored, I fidget When Im angry, I seethe and say nothing When Im angry, I have an outburst and sometimes shout When Im angry I clench my fist, grind my teeth or storm off When I want to reward someone, I write them a note or send them a card When I want to reward someone, I tell them When I want to reward someone, I pat them on the back or hug them Im well organised I dont like reading books or instruction manuals I cant sit still for very long What type of learner are you? (2)

What type of learner are you? (3) Now check your learning style:

Visual learner

I ticked of the following questions: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37

B.

Auditory learner

I ticked of the following questions: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38

C.

Kinaesthetic learner

I ticked of the following questions: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39

VISUAL LEARNERS
Writing down key facts Using Mind Maps Creating pictures and diagrams Using timelines Using pictures, diagrams and charts Watching videos, films, TV Programmes

AUDITORY LEARNERS

Hearing a presentation Reading aloud to yourself Making a tape with key points to listen to Verbally summarizing Explaining your subject to someone else Talking to yourself Using Mnemonics May work well with music Use computer software

PHYSICAL LEARNERS
Using highlighters to select Key Words, main ideas Make Index Cards Sorting cards into an order Making models Recording information as you hear it e.g. a Mind Map

Before you start revising, it is worth making sure you have everything you need at your fingertips. This will stop you wasting valuable time trying to find things.
EQUIPMENT: Highlighters Coloured pens Post-It notes for formula/key words Different coloured paper for different subjects (you will need lots of this) CD Player/Computer for revision CDs WHERE TO REVISE? Not in front of the T.V. At a table, preferably in a quiet place Its worth trying to sort the bedroom out. Get rid of clutter, so a desk is empty enough to have proper space to work Keep all the materials for each subject in one place to save time

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO REVISE? Revision timetable An up to date set of class notes Any revision materials given out by departments Revision lists Lists of exactly what is in each exam Any Study Guides which have been bought (but check a guide is covering what is in your course)

Topics need to be revised more than once based on what we know about the brain. It is important that when constructing a revision timetable to consider the following issues: Be realistic - remember sessions should only be for 30 40 minutes with 10 minute breaks Start NOW 1 session on a week night 3-4 a day at the weekend During holidays/study leave, revision should be far more intensive Build in treats time with friends, evenings out etc. Social time is vital in the overall scheme, as long as there is a balance between work and play Try and get a variety of subjects across each day Build in slots to review the learning of the day When you write next weeks timetable, have you remembered to include review slots for the work covered last week? Discuss with someone at home how you are going about your revision

BREAKING IT DOWN:
If youre thinking, Im doing Maths for 40 minutes and then half an hour of French, alarm bells should go off in your head. It means havent broken the subject down into key areas to tackle your work in an organised manner; eg, Im doing algebra and irregular verbs. You should have a list of topics, but if not, a list is provided in the Subjects section of this booklet. You need to use those key headings to do the following: Identify those topics you feel weak in the danger is you push these to the back of your mind Use each heading to break the topic down further. On the next page is a framework for doing this At first, the big picture may look and feel totally overwhelming. You need to prioritise your workload. You need to be aware of the fact that revision takes time and for a few months, the social life has to give a bit. Why dont you arrange with friends to have time off session together?

PLANNING YOUR REVISION

THINK LEVELS! LEVEL ONE IS THE SUBJECT LEVEL TWO IS THE TOPICS WITHIN THAT SUBJECT LEVEL THREE IS THE INDIVIDUAL TOPIC DIVIDED INTO STUDY UNITS

SUBJECT

TOPIC

TOPIC

TOPIC

TOPIC

TOPIC

STUDY UNITS 1

STUDY UNITS 1

STUDY UNITS 1

STUDY UNITS 1

STUDY UNITS 1

EXAMPLE OF A REVISION TIMETABLE FOR A WEEKEND DAY

TIME MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING

ENGLISH

MATHS FOOTBALL PRACTICE Quadratic equations

40 mins

Of Mice and Men Lennies character SCIENCE

BUSINESS STUDIES Marketing RE The Existence of God

FRENCH Irregular verbs

40 mins

Biology Respiration FRENCH

40 mins

Holiday vocabulary HISTORY

REVIEW SLOT

40 mins

FOOTBALL PRACTICE USA Student Movement REVIEW SLOT

REVISION TIMETABLE FOR A WEEKEND DAY

TIME MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING

40 mins

40 mins

40 mins

40 mins

Remember to build in review slots.

The following strategies can be used for turning class notes into revision notes across all subject areas. They should be read in tandem with the specific advice offered by departments.

Brainstorm a topic using a spider diagram Make a chart to fit the information Put key words onto Post-It Notes, stick them around the house to learn them Make up tests to try later Put notes onto revision cards Make your own flash cards questions one side/answers on the back Create a Mind Map (see later section) Use different colours to represent different things Use Mnemonics for difficult spellings/sequences (e.g. Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain colours of rainbow) Make a flow chart Make a timeline Use pictures to represent key ideas List two sides of an argument Identify similarities/differences Plan an exam answer and write the first paragraph Create a dictionary for each subject Turn headings into questions Fill the bedroom walls with posters for key ideas Make up cartoons Label pictures Record key quotations/foreign language vocab

Town Beach City

Erosion

Tides

GEOGRAPHY Oceans Coastline

Mountains Cliffs Peeks

THE MIND MAP a magic formula

for revision notes Do you like taking notes? More importantly, do you like having to go back over and learn them before exams? Most students certainly do not! And how do you take your notes? Most people take notes and make lists on lined paper, using blue or black ink. The result looks very boring! And what does your brain do when it is bored? It turns off, tunes out, and goes to sleep! Add a dash of colour, rhythm and imagination and the whole note-taking process becomes much more fun, uses more of your brains abilities and improves your recall and understanding.

4. Then add facts and ideas by drawing more, smaller branches on to the appropriate main branches, just like a tree. 5. Always print your word clearly on its line. Use only one word per line. 6. To link ideas and thoughts on different branches, use arrows, colours, underlining and boxes.

How to read a Mind Map

1. Begin in the centre, the focus of your topic. 2. The words and images attached to the centre are like chapter headings: read them next. 3. Always read out from the centre, in every direction (even on the left-hand side, where you will have to read from right to left instead of the usual left to right).

How to draw a Mind Map

1. Start in the middle of the page with the page turned sideways. This gives your brain maximum room for its thoughts. 2. Always start by drawing a small picture or symbol. Why? Because a picture is worth a thousand words to your brain. And try to use at least three colours, as colour helps your memory even more.

Using Mind Maps Using

A Mind Map mirrors the way your brain works. You can use Mind Maps for taking notes from your study books, for taking notes in class, for preparing homework, for class presentations, for reviewing tests, for checking your knowledge on any subject, for gathering vocabulary phrases and language structures, for reviewing what you have just studied, for revising, for brainstorming ideas with friends, for essay planning for coursework and in exams and for helping you understand anything you learn.

3.

Let your thoughts flow, and write or draw your ideas on coloured branching lines connected to your central image. These key symbols and words are the headings for your topic.

All these methods set out below will help with revision techniques

and Can you remember dates and events?

Can you make a chronological list of events which, for instance, lead up to a battle in history, or an important event in the plot of a novel? Tree charts may help to trigger your memory

What are the two sides to an argument?

What are the arguments for and against a point or question? Try drawing up a split list with the for and against points to be included. This one compares the pros and cons of using a credit card. ADVANTAGES (Pro) a. Wide range of outlets b. Buy now, pay later c. Convenience of payment d. Security no cash e. Perks e.g. insurance, gift schemes DISADVANTAGES (Con) a. Need good credit record b. Interest charged after time allowed for repayment c. Minimum age 18 (usually) d. High interest rates e. Risk of fraud

ACIDIC GASES

DRY DEPOSITION

WET DEPOSITION

RAIN

SNOW

CLOUD

What happens next and why?

Try to use the consequences of each action to jog your memory about the next stage. This makes a useful flowchart of events. Heres one to illustrate how global warming happens.

FOSSIL FUELS ARE BURNED Causing

What are the similarities and differences between objects or substances? Again,
split lists which compare and contrast are good memory joggers. This one compares two types of blood vessel:

CO2 EMISSIONS Causing

BLANKET OF CO2 AROUND THE EARTH Causing

ARTERY TUBULAR ENDOTHELIUM PRESENT TRANSPORTS BLOOD THICK WALL NO VALVES CAN CONSTRICT BLOOD FROM HEART HIGH PRESSURE

VEIN TUBULAR ENDOTHELIUM PRESENT TRANSPORTS BLOOD THIN WALL POCKET VALVES CANT CONSTRICT BLOOD TO HEART LOWER PRESSURE

GLOBAL WARMING

The school library is open for an hour after school each day, as well as computer rooms being available some lunchtimes for Year 11. The internet has an overwhelming amount of resources for revision but needs to be used wisely. You need to remember, just because something is on a web page it is not necessarily reliable information. There are many useful sites, as the list below suggests. However, it is important you do not waste time simply reading and scrolling up and down the page. You can: Have a pen and paper ready and do the activities which are suggested Copy information into a programme of your choice and underline key words, delete less important sentences, cut and paste key words etc The emphasis must be on making that information your own in the same way you must make your textbook notes your own.

Useful addresses
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision - A very well regarded site that contains a lot
of information and activities

www.samlearning.com - This site will give you lots of exam practice using past
papers. All you need is your personal ID. This gives you free access to this service. Personal ID is: Centre ID > EN10BS Username > DOB + initials e.g. 060190CA Password > Username

www.mymaths.co.uk
username: Broxbourne password: compass

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/studentlife - School work support. You can talk to

others about revision topics and contact teachers to answer your questions within 24 hours.

www.gcse.com www.s-cool.co.uk www.examzone.co.uk - This site is run by the exam board Edexcel. It includes
model answers, mark schemes and revision notes.

www.revisionaid.co.uk An access site to other more subject specific materials.

BUSINESS STUDIES
Students will have studied the following topics: Business aims and ownership People at work Finance Marketing Production Business environment Business communication and Marketing You will be given a revision guide and practice exam papers, but you must also create your own revision resources.

SCIENCE STUDY GUIDES AND REVISION STRATEGIES

Check which module and which tier of entry (higher or foundation) you have been entered for. You need to know what you are being examined on so make sure you have a copy of the correct part of the specification. Revision guides are issued from the school library. Past papers are available on the OCR website and on Moodle. Make some revision notes or mind maps that include keyword definitions. Try out revision websites such as GCSE bitesize or SamLearning.

SCIENCE Biology B1 = Understanding ourselves B2 = Understanding our environment ADDITIONAL SCIENCE Biology B3 = Living and growing B4 = Its a green world SEPARATE SCIENCES Biology B5 = The Living Body B6 = Beyond the Microscope Chemistry C5 = How much? C6 = Chemistry Out There Physics P5 = Space for Reflection P6 = Electricity for Gadgets Physics P3 = Forces for transport P4 = Radiation for life Chemistry C3 = The Periodic table C4 = Chemical Economics Physics P1 = Energy for the home P2 = Living for the future Chemistry C1 = Carbon chemistry C2 = Rocks and metal

MODERN LANGUAGES FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN Listening and reading examinations You will sit a listening and reading examination in the summer. This exam covers all the material learnt throughout the GCSE course. You have a text book and a workbook which has vocabulary lists at the end of each chapter, covering all the required topic areas and practice exercises for the GCSE. There is also a booklet available with the complete list of vocabulary for the AQA GCSE reading and listening exams at a cost 1.50 from the finance office. The topic areas are: Lifestyle health, relationships with family and friends, future plans, marriage. Leisure free time and modern technology, media, shopping, fashion and holidays Home and Environment home and local area, special occasions, the environmental problems and being environmentally friendly Work and Education school, work, advantages and disadvantages of jobs and future plans For all these topic there is an emphasis on understanding opinions and advantages and disadvantages of various issues. Useful Websites www.samlearning.com Key stage 3 is very helpful for foundation vocabulary and key stage 4 AQA is an excellent way to cover all vocabulary areas, particularly for the reading examination. www.linguascope.com user name: brock password badger11 Beginner has revision of basic language and Intermediate has listening and reading tasks and vocabulary revision. www.languagesonline.org.uk Has basic revision as well as grammar and GCSE tasks. www.gut.org.uk - Listening and reading tasks for German. www.zut.org.uk Listening and reading tasks for French.

English & Literature

Poetry: Duffy/Armitage or Clarke/Heaney Pre 1914 Poetry Poetry from Different Cultures Twentieth Century Novel
Texts for English and Literature exams are blank text no annotations in the texts students use in the exam. Revision will involve identifying key quotations and commenting upon the effect of language,

Reading: Magazine articles Leaflets Newspaper articles

structure and form. Students revise from their own annotated copies of set texts.

Students study a variety of twentieth century novels for English Literature. Each teacher will provide a list of topics for each text. Each student should do a full re-read and /or a skim re-read before the Literature exam.

R.E. Students will have studied the following topics:1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Deity End of Life Good and Evil Religion and Science Religion and Human Relationships Religion and Medical Ethics Religion, Peace and Justice Religion and Equality

The Department will provide revision documents for each of these areas, but pupils must create their own revision resources and practise past paper questions.

History
International Paper 1. The Cold War Who was to blame for the Cold War? / Who won the Cuban Missile Crisis? / Why did the USA fail in Vietnam? 2. The USA 1945 1975: Land of Freedom? - Why was there a Red Scare in the USA? / How successful was the struggle for civil rights in the 1950s? / Who improved civil rights the most in the 1960s and 1970s? British Society 1890 1918 Living conditions in the 1890s Booth and Rowntree Liberal Reforms Debate on Female Suffrage Suffragists and Suffragettes Womens contribution to WWI Womens voting rights in 1918 Civilian life during WWI

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Remember to always follow this sequence: Analysis of Task Research Analysis of Research Specifications Possible Solutions (ideas) Prototypes / Models (Food Tech Methods of Testing, HACCP, Systems and Control) Industrial Manufacture Quality Control Quality Assurance Evaluation

GEOGRAPHY Population and Settlement Natural Hazards Rivers and Coasts Economic Development

FOOD TECHNOLODY We will know the theme for some of the questions on this summers exam paper on 1st March 2011. Ms Moone and Mr Birch will inform students of this and will supply revision materials. Once coursework is completed all lesson time will be spent on revision for the exam.

MUSIC
12 set works:
AREA OF STUDY 1 1. Handel And the Glory of the Lord 2. Mozart Symphony 40 3. Chopin Prelude AREA OF STUDY 3 7. Miles Davis All Blues 8. Jeff Buckley Grace 9. Moby Why does my heard feel so bad? AREA OF STUDY 2 4. Schoenberg - Peripetie 5. Bernstein Somethings Coming 6. Steve Reich Electric Counterpoint AREA OF STUDY 4 10. Capercaillie Skye Waulking song 11. Rag Desh Anoushka Shanka, Chirianji Lal Tanwar, Steve gorn and Benjy Wertheimer 12. Koko - Yiri

As well as the 12 set works, you also need to know the styles and characteristics of music from each of these areas of study: AREA OF STUDY 1 AREA OF STUDY 2 Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods Expressionism, Atonality Binary, Ternary, Rondo form Serialism, 12 tone series Symphony, Sonata form, Variation form, Concerto Musicals Oratorio, Aria, Chorus, Recitative Minimalism, ostinato, looping, metamorphosis AREA OF STUDY 3 The Blues, jazz, chords, improvisation Rock Dance/Electronic music, sampling AREA OF STUDY 4 British folk music, work songs, Celtic music Indian Raga, Tala, Indian instruments African music, types of drum, playing techniques

ICT - STUDY INFORMATION: All coursework requirements and assessment criteria can be found in the online unit websites, which can be accessed via the School ICT Intranet and via Moodle, our VLE. Details about the courses can be found on www.ocrnationals.com, however, the number of units required by the current Year 11 is less than that stated on the website.

Maths:
Use the resources on Moodle and text books to practice as many questions as you can. Extra tutorials and exercises are available on www.mymaths.co.uk or from the MathsWatch CD Rom (there are extra copies of this in the library that you can borrow). Your teachers will give you lists of topics for your tier. We will publish an extra revision list for Paper 2 between the two exams. Collect this from the exams notice board after Paper 1 (also published on Moodle). Remember that practice is the key to success!

ART & DESIGN GCSE PAINTING & GRAPHICS You need to prepare for your exam by following this sequence: Develop: Draw from first hand observation and collect only relevant research images from your own photography and the internet. Analyse examples of artists and designers work which will help you. Experiment: Try your ideas in different ways employing different materials. Make critical and evaluative comments comparing different possibilities in order to select the best way of working. Record: Draw accurately and develop your skills of painting and use of materials to communicate your idea effectively. Resolution: Make sure you have a fully prepared colour study for your exam session. Bring all your work to the exam. Present and evaluate your unit of work. Any problems, please see your teacher.

UNIT 4890 STRATEGIES FOR REVISION Condense notes from your school folder by summarising key topic areas Use lots of colour, pictures, diagrams and abbreviate key terms Make cue cards, spider diagrams Practice exam style questions use mark schemes to check your answers Refer to the syllabus/specification to ensure you cover everything Study the pre-released material and create possible exam question
Roles of the participant
Health & general fitness

International sporting

Individual difference
Psychological factors

events

Roles of schools Principles of training

TOPIC AREAS
Injuries

Media Science and ICT

Sponsorship p

Aerobic and anaerobic

Diet Leisure & recreation

Components of fitness

PESSCL & PESSYP

EXAM PREPARATION

Be prepared for the different styles of question throughout the paper and the level of detail needed in your response:
SECTION A PART 1 Multiple Choice Questions SECTION A PART 2 Short Answer Questions SECTION B Pre-Released Scenario, with long answer questions, assessing quality of written communication and technical language

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT GCSE Revision Guide (available from the

Finance Department)
AQA Website www.aqa.org.uk Course textbook and class notes Revise with friends test each other!! Submit exam papers to your subject teachers for feedback and marking