Preparation for Summer Mock Exams Good evening Parents and carers My name is …… I know many of you have children that have gone through this process before – with older children, please see this as a refresher. For parents who are going through this process for the first time I hope you find what I have to say useful.

What you should be doing ACTIVE LEARNING AND REVISION ORGANISATION WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING NOW! I would like to focus on 3 areas. GOOD REVSION TECHNIQUES ORGANISATION AND WHAT ACTIVITIES YOU SHOULD BE EXPECTING YOUR CHILD TO DO.

Study skills. Organisation Revision Organised space:- Clear desk /ilab Organised folders/books/notes Organised time A study timetable which is:- Clear Flexible Realistic Active and productive Silent and focused No distractions Preparation for exam conditions Memory based Tested by others 1- Organisation Desks should be completely decluttered to avoid distraction. Students should prep themseleves for hard work – Importance of posture is sitting up straight can help with focus n and readying the mind for work.. 2- All work and notes are organised into folders or clearly referenced/divided books. Study time table Avoid being overly ambitious – I will revise 5 hours a night At least 2 hours a night of revision on week days it what students should be aiming for. EARLY REVISION. – Many of you have gone through preparing for exams – IF IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE GOOD REVISION to you THEN IT PROBABLY ISN’T ACTIVE REVISION – students should be producing something MIND MAPS REVISION CARDS EXAM RESPONSES/PRACTICE PAPERS A REDUCTION OF NOTES to A sheet 2) Silence, concentration and focus is ESSENTIAL. – This prepares them for the intensity of sitting their exams. Hours of silence and focus should be practiced. - NO TV NO SOCIAL MEDIA/MUSIC VIDEO SITES NO MOBILE PHONES OR MUSIC IF there is no quiet space or desk for your child to work, then they should be encouraged to go to the library or use the library at school to revise. Revision closer to the exam:- Memorising and learning important facts/dates/formulas. TESTING BY PARENTS/SIBLINGS – this is about commiting things to memory 3) Regular breaks – but not too long or too often – 15 MINS BREAK AFTER AN HOUR WITH SHORT – 2 – 5 MIN BREAKS DURING.

Awareness of the need to make time for all subjects. Student needs to increase the time spent on revision on the weekend.  Awareness of the need to make time for all subjects.  An example of student study timetable she desgined her self. I will work with her on how much time she spends on the weekend. A distributuon of time across all subjects. Which will change as it gets closer to the exams for a particular subject.

In the lead up to the exams. Get exam topics from all class teachers. What you should be doing NOW! In the lead up to the exams. Get exam topics from all class teachers. Get revision materials from all class teachers. Begin revision during the half term. Up to the Spring holiday:- Attending revision and coursework afterschool and weekend sessions. Revising - EVERY DAY. During the Spring holiday: - Intense and focussed revision across all subject areas, at least 4 hours a day. One or two designated social events. Avoiding distractions outside of these times. Attending revision and coursework sessions. After the Spring holiday:- Adapted revision timetable. prioritising subjects with early exams. Intense revision every day and on the weekends. Focusing on memorising facts and formulas in the lead up to the exams

Ask Yourself Do I know what I will be tested on? Do I have all of the notes I need? Do I know the expectations for the exam – i.e. -How many questions? -How many marks for each question? -How much time do I need to spend on each question? -Do I know the most effective exam technique for each subject? This will be your first experience of what it is like to sit your GCSEs you must speak with your teachers to ensure you know the answers to all of the questions above. GOOD LUCK YEAR 10  Take a few minutes to read the questions on the board. Do you know the answers? If you don’t your mission next week is to speak with your teachers, to find out.