Revision 2021 Rawlins Academy
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Revision 2021 Rawlins Academy
Essential Information
GCSEs Through Time 1951 - O Level replaces CSE 1988 - GCSEs replace O Level 2016 - Reformed GCSEs (less coursework) 2020 - GCSE exams replaced by CAGs (Centre Assessed Grades) 2021 - Government plan to continue with exams (contingency plans to be confirmed)
Changes for 2020/21
● Several changes have been made to the GCSE exam season for 2021
● The main change for Year 11 is that almost all exams will take place in a 4-
week period (rather than two separate 3-week periods with a half term break)
Normal year
2021
● On the next slide you will see the provisional timetable from Ofqual – this is
not yet confirmed (it is out for consultation at the moment) and more details
will come in time, but for now it is as much as we have to work with.
w/c 24th May w/c 7th June w/c 14th June w/c 21st June w/c 28th June Mon AM English Lit 1 DT, Sociology English Lit 2 Business Mon PM Maths 2 Maths 3 Computer Sci Tues AM History Science 2 Science 4 Science 5 Tues PM Spanish Media, Sociology Wed AM English Lang 1 Science 1 Business Geography Wed PM French Geography Film, Spanish History Thurs AM Maths 1 English Lang 3 History History Food, Music Thurs PM History French Drama Dance Fri AM PE Computer Sci Media Science 6 Fri PM Geography Science 3 PE
Exam Boards Art & Design (Fine Art) AQA French AQA Art & Design (Graphic communication) AQA Geography B OCR Art & Design (Photography) AQA History B Edexcel Art & Design (Textile Design) AQA Mathematics (please check with class teacher) AQA Biology AQA Mathematics (please check with class teacher) Edexcel Business AQA Music WJEC Chemistry AQA Physical Education Edexcel Combined Science: Trilogy AQA Physics AQA Computer Science OCR Sociology WJEC Dance AQA Spanish AQA Design and Technology AQA Level 2 BTEC in Creative Media Production Edexcel Drama OCR Level 2 BTEC in Health and Social Care Edexcel English Language AQA Level 2 Award in Constructing the Built Environment WJEC English Literature Edexcel Level 2 Award in Hospitality and Catering WJEC Film Studies WJEC
Exam Preparation ● Because of the compressed exam schedule, there are many more situations where pupils will have two (or sometimes three) exams on the same day ● This means that students will not have the opportunity to spend a few days preparing for each exam (cramming into short term memory) therefore revision needs to begin now and be gradually built up into long term memory, rather than being left to the days or weeks before exams begin.
How Memory Works
The limits to working
For exam success, material
memory (also known as
needs to be in long term
short term memory) mean
memory. Retrieval practice
that you are not able to
helps to transfer material
store enough (cram) in
to your long term memory
order to complete an exam.
This is why your teachers ask This is why it is important to
for a quiet, focused focus exclusively on study -
environment; we want people not a mobile phone, or TV
to focus on the important show, or music
information, no distractions.How does memory work? Sensory input = seeing and hearing new information (e.g. teacher explaining) Attention = focusing attention on the teacher explanation Rehearsal = practising the new information (e.g. answering questions) Encoding = storing the image as image, sound or semantic (meaning) Retrieval = using flash cards or completing past paper questions to recall information from memory
So...what does work?
To be successful in their GCSEs,
students need to:
1. Focus their attention on
getting the information from
their teacher
2. Practise (rehearse) with the
new information in class
3. ‘Revise’ at home using
retrieval practice to retrieve
and encode the information
into long term memoryEffective Revision
The Research – limited effectiveness
Mnemonics Highlighting Re-reading Summarising
Use of key terms/ The use of Revisiting text Writing
acronyms to highlighters or that has already summaries of
remember underlining while been read concepts or topics
concepts readingThe Research – highly effective
Retrieval Spaced Elaboration Interleaving Dual coding
practice (distributed)
practice
Self-testing, using Spreading study Thinking about Developing a Using text and
flashcards or out over a period the ‘why’ behind schedule that images together
practice exam of months your answer - mixes different to aid
questions explaining your kinds of problems understanding
response (e.g. timeline)The Research
Impact
EffortRecreating something you’ve
Retrieval Practice learned in the past from memory
Thinking hard to retrieve
something you learned a while
ago
Increases ability to retrieve
information in examsRevision should involve practising output, not input
The act of retrieving
information from memory,
practising with it and then The process of retrieval
and encoding strengthens
transferring it back to long the contents of long term
memory
term works to strengthen the
memory.
This is why revision should be
about getting information out
rather than putting more
information in.
(Unless you haven’t learned the
information in the first place…
in which case you need to
complete all three stages of
memory coding)So...what is retrieval practice
and how do we do it?Retrieval Practice (the Testing Effect)
Recognition vs Recall
Recognition only requires the ability to Recall requires the abilityretrieve information
identify the correct answer. from memory - a skill that will need in every
exam.
It is a 1 step process - recognise the answer
from the list. It is a 2 step process – students have to generate
a mental list and recognise the correct answer
Recognition is a fairly simple task - all that is from the list.
needed is to look at something and generate
the feeling of familiarity. While recognition (highlighting key points, doing a
multiple choice quiz etc) feels more familiar and
In an exam students do not receive marks for comfortable, it doesn’t do a lot to help with
things being familiar, marks are given for memory.
recalling relevant information and using it to
answer the question. Recall (gap fill, creating mind map, answering
practice exam questions) is far more effective.Retrieval Practice in Action
Retrieval practice involves three steps:
1. Recalling information from memory
2. Selecting the relevant information
3. Doing something with that information.
Examples include:
● Flash cards
● Past paper questions
● Practice questions from textbooks
● Creating a mind map or graphic
organiser (e.g. timeline)
● Interactive platforms e.g. Seneca
LearningSpaced Practice
The opposite of cramming
Spacing out study episodes over
time so you learn for the long
term, rather than forgettingSpaced Practice Another solid piece of revision advice is to space your practice out, rather than cramming it all together. If you organise five hours of study into one hour a day, you’ll remember more than if you study for five hours on one day. Yet time and time again we don’t do this – and the cause isn’t just being disorganised. Cramming all your study together feels good. You finish the study session, thinking “I know this”. The problem is that although you’re currently holding it in short term memory therefore the memories are more fragile and will fade away. Spacing your practice out doesn’t feel as satisfying, but it results in memories that are more likely to be useful when exam day comes around.
Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve
Beating the Forgetting Curve
The original forgetting curve is
shown in the dotted line - look
how much less is lost after each
recall session.
Each ‘recall’ session (immediately
after class; 1-2 days, 5-7 days, 21-
28 days) could be completed by
self testing, using flashcards,
creating a mind map of
knowledge or completing the
relevant section on Seneca
Learning.Cognitive Load Theory
Cognitive Load Theory describes how much
the brain can store before it becomes
overwhelmed with information. This video
gives a brief (30 second) overview.
What is the link between Cognitive Load
Theory and spaced practice?
How would cramming impact on your
cognitive load?Spaced Practice - Methods ● Set aside time each day, even if the exams are months away ● Attend lessons, leave a gap of a few days, then review information ● It may feel difficult, and information may be forgotten, but this is a good thing as it forces the students to retrieve from memory
Resource: Seneca Learning
https://app.senecalearning.com/courses
Motivation
How to help your child revise Plan ahead Learn what works Stay positive Nutrition Reward effort Productive Pool skills Take a break over achievement workspace
Motivation in action
Help to create a Limbic system - Avoid a power
schedule instant gratification struggle
Provide a quiet Schedule short- Avoid comparison
study space term rewards with relatives or
peersStruggling with Motivation?
Wellbeing
Managing Exam Stress
● Have you ever experienced test worry
or exam stress?
● Or have you seen this in people close to
you?
● What does stress feel like?
● Is stress ever helpful?
● What do you do when you feel stressed?
● What coping mechanisms help you?Causes of Stress Helping a Friend
● Pressure from outside about ● Listen to how they are feeling
importance of exams ● Reassure them that this stressful period
● Uncertainty about the exam questions is only temporary
● Unfamiliar surroundings and people ● Help them to take some time out to
overseeing the exams have fun
● Concern about what others will say if ● Let them know that you’re there for
they don’t do well them if they need to talk
● Lack of confidence about revision
techniques and whether they’re revising
effectively
● Feeling that teachers and other adults
don’t understand stress.Explore Resources for Exam Stress ● https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zsvcqhv ● https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrqdy9q
It’s okay not to be okay
Sleep issues Difficulty Negative Increased
concentrating behaviour irritability
changesQuick wins
Alter the Alter the Change what
routine environment you are doingUseful links:
● https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/school-
college-and-work/school-college/exam-stress/
(Childline)
● https://www.cwmt.org.uk/ (Charlie Waller Memorial
Trust)
● https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-
symptoms/exam-stress/ (Young Minds)
● https://www.kooth.com/ (Kooth - free online
counselling for young people)You can also read
