1. Revision and advice For the parents and guardians of the 12s

2. He’s always got excuse an excuse – I Don’t know what believe to believe. She’s always panicked in the exams – when I try to help her it always ends in a slanging match – it always ends in me making her feel more stressed. Surely she shouldn’t be going out AGAIN when she’s got exams coming up? I didn’t even do Common entrance how can I help him? There’s a million websites but how do you know which are any good? I can’t stand the arguments and stress when I tell him exams are important and try to make him work – it always ends up with him saying it’s his life and slamming the door.

3. I hope that this presentation can help to answer some of these questions…..

4. 10Top tips for successful revision

5. The perfect learning environment Quiet, comfortable, warm room Well ventilated No clutter Books and files to hand No distractions - TV, music, e mail, phone Comfortable chair Spacious desk No interruptions Well lit

6. 1. Preparing a workplace O Find a good environment in which to revise (comfortable with no distractions). O A tidy undisturbed workplace with plenty of space to lay out all revision materials. O A comfortable chair. O Good light. O Pens, pencils, other equipment including plenty of scrap paper. O No distractions.

7. 2. Make a realistic revision timetable O Mark subjects and topics on it O You don’t gain by revising all easy topics – but you’ll have nightmares if you only revise your worst bits! O Put these topics onto your revision schedule firstly as a priority. O Plan your timeline on the weekly sheets. O Divide each topic up into manageable parts. Mr Roets and the form tutors are helping with this!

8. O Use your Harrodian 12s Common Entrance Revision Handbook. This lists the topics within each subject area and allow you to check that you haven’t missed anything. O Highlight the topics that you are unsure of and seek advice from your subject teacher.

10. 3. Know your areas of strength and weakness O Mix your topics up on your timetable. O There is nothing to be gained in revising all easy topics first and you’ll end up having nightmares when you come to tackle all the difficult topics.

11. 4. Always make your own revision notes O Make detailed revision notes which will help you to revise as you make them O Once you’ve made the notes, you’re half way there.

12. 5. Stay focused O Don’t make notes on everything, try to stick to the main points. This makes them easier to read the second time.

13. 6. Use other revision techniques O Use varying methods of revision but remember that if one method suits you best then stick to it. O Varying revision methods breaks up the boredom and aids success.

14. 7. Tick of the topics O Tick off topics when you’ve revised them; feel good about it! O Reward yourself when you have achieved some significant goals – extra rest time!

15. 8. Split up your revision O Revision sessions should be broken up into short sessions, including time to test what you’ve remembered.

16. 9. Short relaxation breaks O Have a short relaxation / exercise break between revision sessions to unwind. O Try not to make these too long.

17. 10.Frequent reminders O Remind yourself how useful your revision is and look back at what you’ve achieved so far. O Its really good for morale.

18. The exams O Ensure that the dates and times of the exams are clearly marked on your revision timetable. (Mr Roets and the form tutors will help with this before half term!) O Arrive in school in plenty of time, not feeling rushed or anxious. O Have breakfast even if you don’t normally!

19. O Water in a clear bottle and a few unwrapped sweets can be taken into the exam. O Mobile phones cannot be taken into the exam. Leave it at home or with the invigilator at the front of the exam hall.

20. Equipment needed O Pens (more than one) O Ruler O Eraser O Calculator, protractor O All in a clear pencil case or plastic bag

21. Active revision techniques

22. Revision How do you revise? Like this? If so, you’re wasting your time. You need an active revision technique.

23. Active Revision Techniques O Simply reading through work is a VERY POOR way of remembering it. O You can spend hours thinking that you’re revising by doing this – but actually, very little information stays in your head!

24. Revision Guides O Can be useful. O Get a recommendation for your subject from your teacher. O One per subject is plenty, though.

25. Summarise points O On A4 paper, don’t just copy out notes. O Use mnemonics e.g. “Richard of York ….. – ROYGBIV- colours of the spectrum). O Draw diagrams

26. Factual revision O Decide on the topic to be revised and go through it, making a list (perhaps as bullet points) of the key points. Lists should contain about 6 or 7 points, certainly no more than 10. If a topic cannot be condensed into a list of this size, you are trying to revise too much at once and need to split the topic into smaller chunks. O Try to learn this list of key points. O Turn the list over and try to write it out again from memory. O Compare the two lists, noting what was correct and what was wrong or missed out – re-learn the wrong ones. O This whole process should take no more than 20 – 30 minutes. If it takes longer, you’re trying to do too much at once again. O A short break (5 minutes) should be taken after each short session and a longer break (15 minutes) every hour or so.

27. Index / Memory cards O Make notes on postcards then these can be cut down again nearer to the exam. O For each topic, write up one set of index cards with the word on the front, and the definition on the back. Shuffle them and drill yourself. Take turns with a classmate testing each other.

28. Revision – concept maps Circulatory system The heart is made of muscle, which never tires. Arteries Carry blood away from the heart Veins Carry blood towards the heart Red Cells Biconcave shape – large surface area No nucleus Full of haemoglobin White cells Protect against disease White blood cells make antibodies and engulf microbes

29. Visualisation O For each word, come up with a specific visual example. This will help you to see the differences between the terms, and help you to use the words correctly.

30. Revision buddies O Revision with a buddy is great - you can share ideas and help each other. Two brains are better than one! O But remember you’re there to revise.

31. Posters or Post-it notes! O Make a poster/post-it of your words, with illustrations and put it up in your bedroom, your bathroom, the kitchen, somewhere you will see it every day.

32. Repeat out loud O Repeat lists or processes aloud over and over again. O Tape onto an ipod and play them back when you have a few minutes to spare!

33. Explain O Explain work to a friend / parent. This is a really good way to revise towards the end and you really have to know what you are talking about. O Don't go it alone! They say a problem shared is a problem halved. So, get friends and family on board: put a copy of your revision timetable up in the kitchen.

34. Testing O Get someone to test you, say the answers or write them down. O Set yourself questions from your notes – go over wrong answers.

35. Revision charts O Make mind maps / spider diagrams; stick them on the wall. O Stick post it notes with key words and phrases round the house so there’s no escape from revision.

36. Internet revision O Try the activities on the Bitesize website.

37. Past papers O When you feel ready, work through past papers. Practise them under exam conditions if you can. O You can do them more than once. O Check your answers at school or at home using your revision materials.

38. Revision websites O www.schoolscience.co.uk www.schoolscience.co.uk O www.skoool.co.uk www.skoool.co.uk O www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision ASK YOUR SUBJECT TEACHER FOR IDEAS!!! Best way forward!