GCSE Focus – Reaching Potential

Aims for Parents/ Guardians How to support your child during the GCSE Examination Season How to help your child with Maths and English Revision Strategies Examination Preparation Opportunity to discuss any issues with a member of staff

GCSE Examinations Students will have an examination timetable. Ensure that they know which examination that they have on each day. Is it in the morning or the afternoon? Check that they know what equipment they should have for each examination.

Any issues during the Exams Illness – Contact the School and get appointment at the GP Pastoral Issues – Contact the Upper School Team for support Subject Concerns – Speak to the member of the staff and refer to the guidance given

Mayflower English Faculty Parents’ Guide Preparing for the GCSE English and English Literature Examination

Current context and choosing a tier Paper 1: 1 hour and 45 minutes Section A: Reading response to non-fiction / media texts 15% What is the argument in item 1 and how does the writer support it? How does the writer of item 2 use fact and opinions to try to support Friends of the Earth? How do the designers of item 2 use presentational devices to get their message across Compare how the writer of the two items use language to interest the reader and persuade the reader to their point of view? Section B: Choice of one from four questions 15% Writing which seeks to argue, persuade or advise. Write a letter persuading your headteacher to find more ways to make your school or college environmentally friendly.

Paper 2:Paper 2: Foundation and Higher Tier 1 hour 30 minutes 30% Section A: Reading response to poetry from different cultures and traditions from an Anthology 15% Compare how imagery is used to present ideas and feelings in ‘This Room’ and one other poem. Section B: Choice of one from four questions 15% Writing to inform, explain or describe. Describe yourself.

English Literature Foundation & Higher Tier 1 hour and 45 minutes. 70% Section A: One question based on post 1914 Prose. There will be a choice of questions. (This will be referred to as the set text. ‘Of Mice & Men) In ‘Of Mice and Men’ Steinbeck presents some of his characters as being weak in some way. Choose two characters you think are weak. Write about these characters and how they are presented. Section B: One question based on pre and post 1914 poetry from the Anthology There will be a choice of questions. Compare how women are presented in four of the poems you have studied. To do this, compare.Mother, any distance greater than a single span. by Simon Armitage and three other poems, one by Carol Ann Duffy and two from the Pre Poetry Bank. Compare the women in the poems and how they are presented. I rise in the dawn and I kneel and blow Till the seeds of the fire flicker and glow; And then I must scrub and bake and sweep Til the stars are beginning to blink and peep Verbs used to show how hard she must work Rhyming couplets used to create a nursery rhyme quality/ traditional

How can I help my child? Ask if they need help on regular occasions. Gentle reminders work best! Stay calm. Teenagers taking exams can get tunnel vision, so rows can be common place at the stressful time. Anger can be a cover for fear. You can’t make them study, but you can emphasise why they need to study. Try to diffuse negative thoughts. Try to be realistic. Ensure you child is eating regular meals and eating food that will help them.

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “ There is so much to learn” Have a revision calendar Write on the Exams and key dates Divide the day into three sessions (morning, afternoon and evening) Focus on subject topics Have variety in subjects and activities

How to help you child deal with common exam issues 40 minutes revising 10 minutes testing 10 minutes resting

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “ I can’t concentrate!” Concentration levels do vary for each individual Begin working for short periods Introduce the ideas of rewards and goals

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “ This is so boring…..” Revision is not fun! Get actively involved with the materials Use a range of techniques Have variety and goals

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “I like studying in bed” Have a quiet place without distractions Insist on no TV, no computer games and no phone calls when revising Ensure a place at a table or desk Quiet music in the background

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “I can’t remember anything” This is a panic cry Try to recall information after a revision session Use strategies such as charts to jog memories, post-it notes of key terms

How to help you child deal with common exam issues “I don’t understand” Contact the subject teacher Use a range of resources including textbook, revision guides and notes Examination Boards have guidance

Tips from Parents “As a parent it is never good to get caught up in arguing about revision, however frustrated you may get. Try to remain calm and be open to negotiation when it comes to free time/rewards” “Don’t try to make your child sit at a table for hours revising. It doesn’t work. Encourage short timed sessions of revision”

Tips from Parents “Encourage them to talk to you about what they have been doing. It’s good for them to know that you are interested!” “Help them to stay calm. It’s always about trying to do their best and come away knowing that they have tried their hardest!”

Tips from Parents “If you find yourself getting stressed out, step back. Ask for support from a family member. Share the worry!” “Plan in ‘guilt- free’ me time. This will reward revision. Let them enjoy playing on the computer game, watching TV etc” “Organisation! Organisation! Organisation!”

Tips from Parents “Make sure they have a dedicated study area. Try to organise work by subjects. Stick the revision timetable up somewhere” “Keep in touch with them. Encourage them every day…..don’t nag!”