The Snaith School

Making a difference

Helping your son or

daughter prepare for their
GCSE’s

Advice for parents and guardians

Examination Preparation
Throughout your child’s career at The Snaith School we have been involved in the
process of teaching. Learning and assessment in all subject areas. During the
remaining weeks the focus will be on developing your child’s ability to turn that
knowledge and understanding into the best exam results for them.

The key ways in which the school and parents can work in partnership during this
time are:
• Encouraging and recognising what your child can achieve
• Helping them with time management and organisation of their work
• Ensuring that they have access to the relevant information
• Regularly checking progress, homework and coursework
• Above all continuing to recognise their efforts where appropriate

We take every opportunity to motivate your child. I am sure that we can count upon
your help in encouraging them still further.

The Exam Timetable

All GCSE exams will take place between Monday 9 March and Tuesday 23 June 2009.
There are no exams during the week of the bank holiday. In 2009 this is the week
beginning 25 May.

Taking a little time off over the bank holiday is a good idea, however this time off
needs to be balanced with revision. Your son/daughter will need to do quite a bit of
revision in that week. Please make sure that they have plenty of time for it, and that
you have not planned to go on holiday for a full week.

Students who do their best in their GCSE

exams work hard through Years 10 and 11
and do not rely upon last minute revision.
 What can you do to help?
Your child throughout this time may not want to communicate with you
very much. This is natural in teenagers, but as parents/guardians you
can help in a variety of ways, and in following these practical
suggestions we believe you can make a difference in raising
achievement and improving your child’s exam performance.

You can help by

• Recognising how important these exams are and how much time your
son/daughter will need if they are to do as well as they can.

• Not asking them to do too many chores, or look after their younger brother or
sister.

• Encouraging the rest of the family to help out by not disturbing their revision.

• Securing a quiet place for study, where their work can be safely kept.

• Encouraging planned relaxation time, but recognising when they have the
balance right and praising them for that, but also being aware of when they
have the balance wrong, and talking to them about it.

• Making sure they don’t work too many hours if they have a part-time job.

• Talk to them if possible, but do not lecture, harking back to the “Golden Age”
of your youth will not necessarily inspire.

• Encourage them and praise them for their hard work.

• Emphasise the need for a good nights sleep.

• Provide them with reasons for working, such as exam results, future
prospects, sixth form college entry, employment prospects, and the
satisfaction of achieving something.

• Reminding them that it will soon be over and there will be a good break from
school when they can catch up on all the things they have been missing.
 10 Practical Tips
Get your son or daughter to check that they have all the notes and
books that they need for revision. Get them to talk to their teacher if
they are missing any.

Make sure that coursework deadlines are met; your son/daughter cannot
hope to do much revision if they are still trying to finish coursework.

Check that they have a revision timetable that indicates the dates and
the times of the exams in May and June. School has supplied dates and
times of the exams to students and a whole booklet about revision
techniques, this includes a revision plan, ask to see it.

Their revision plan or timetable should be used to plan revision sessions.

These should be spread out evenly so that your son/daughter is not
trying to do too much at once.

Having a timetable displayed in their room is a good idea, as it will help

them stick to their plan.

Use the information provided by subject areas about what is to be

examined, and advice given on subject reports.

If you are unsure contact school, ask to speak to their subject teacher or
Head of Year.

Check how they are doing by letting them explain something to you that
they have just learnt. It’s a good rule of thumb that if you can follow their
explanation then they should be able to produce a good answer to an
exam question on that topic.

Encourage your son/daughter to ask for help at school on any parts of

their work that they do not understand.

Encourage them to persevere and to continue to work hard - reminding

them that it will all be worth it in the end!
 Different Ways of Learning
Recent research indicates that we all learn in different ways. Your son or
daughter by now should know how they learn best. They will have
learned this at the Study Skills day.

This research states that we learn not just by reading, but also by doing.
Note taking, reducing information to cards and memorising it are still
essential, but a variety of methods can be used to help improve their
retention ability and make the tedious element of revision seem less
severe.

Use the GCSE revision guide that your son/daughter has been issued to
consider what methods you might be able to help with (if you are
allowed!!)

Possible ways to help

• Use the textbook/revision guide to devise questions
• Ask your child to answer the question out loud to you. This way
they can organise their answer in their mind before giving it to you,
rather like an exam question.
• Test vocabulary with them.
• Reduce subject matter from notes down to revision cards, which
contain important things such as key words.
• Revising with friends can help especially with problem solving
activities.

Encourage them to plan and organise

their time effectively. There is no doubt
that any contribution parents/guardians
can offer at this time is helping their
child’s time management skills.
 Useful revision tips
You can support your son/daughter by helping them follow these
tips.

• Plan for 25-30 minute sessions, any longer and it is likely that
nothing more will sink in. Take a short break between sessions
and have a glass of water or something similar to drink.
• In the evenings after school, plan to revise one or two subjects
only. Leave some time for relaxation.
• Plan to revise specific topics in each subject, not everything at
once. See the sheet in your child’s revision guide which helps
them to revise a topic.
• Ensure that each session starts with tackling the most difficult bits.
• Plan to cover each subject several times and revisit each one
nearer to the exams.
• Revising with the TV or the radio on is not a good idea. Having
their favourite music on in the background may help.
• Reading is not generally enough. They need to be active learners,
making notes, drawing pictures or diagrams.
• Have everything to hand so that they can start revising, and then
they don’t have to go off looking for a book, worksheet etc.
• Working with a friend can be useful because it allows them to test
each other and to talk about the work.

During the exam period

Try to ensure that they:

• Get a good nights sleep.

• Have something to eat, missing breakfast or lunch will be
counterproductive.
• Have all the equipment that they need, and know when they will
need it.
• Know the time and the place of the exam.
• Leave in plenty of time, a last minute rush will only make them
panicky.
Remember to…….

Wish them well!!

Tell them they have

worked hard enough and
to do their best.

Say that you will be

thinking of them.
 Revision Organiser
Subject Examination Dates _________ __________ _________
Times _________ __________ _________
Exam Venue _________ __________ _________

Topic Key Concepts Key Facts Key People Key Formulae

The Snaith School

Revision Timetable

DAY/DATE Morning 1 Morning 2 Afternoon 1 Afternoon 2 Evening 1 Evening 2

8.00 – 10.00 10.00 – 12.00 1.00 – 3.00 3.00 – 5.00 6.00 – 8.00 8.00 – 10.00
Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday
Revision tips 2

Easter Holiday Schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Time

9.00 – 10.00

10.00 – 11.00

11.00 – 12.00

12.00 – 1.00

1.00 – 2.00

2.00 – 3.00

You can adjust these timings but don’t plan to work for too long. Remember to plan time to relax.
Revision tips 2

Weekly Schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Time

6.00 – 6.30

6.30 – 7.00

7.00 – 7.30

7.30 – 8.30

8.00 – 8.30
Revision Tips 2

Weekend Schedule
What time is already committed?
How much time are you actually prepared to spend working at the weekend?

Saturday Sunday Time

9.00

9.30

10.00

10.30

11.00

11.30

12.00

12.30

1.00

1.30

2.00

2.30

3.00

3.30

4.00

4.30

5.00

5.30

6.00

6.30

7.00

7.30
 The Snaith School
YEAR 11 REVISION CALENDAR

March April May June

01/03/09 01/04/09 01/05/09 01/06/09

02/03/09 02/04/09 02/05/09 02/06/09
03/03/09 03/04/09 03/05/09 03/06/09
04/03/09 04/04/09 04/05/09 04/06/09
05/03/09 05/04/09 05/05/09 05/06/09
06/03/09 06/04/09 06/05/09 06/06/09
07/03/09 07/04/09 07/05/09 07/06/09
08/03/09 08/04/09 08/05/09 08/06/09
09/03/09 Exams Start 09/04/09 09/05/09 09/06/09
10/03/09 10/04/09 10/05/09 10/06/09
11/03/09 11/04/09 11/05/09 11/06/09
12/03/09 12/04/09 12/05/09 12/06/09
13/03/09 13/04/09 13/05/09 13/06/09
14/03/09 14/04/09 14/05/09 14/06/09
15/03/09 15/04/09 15/05/09 15/06/09
16/03/09 16/04/09 16/05/09 16/06/09
17/03/09 17/04/09 17/05/09 17/06/09
18/03/09 18/04/09 18/05/09 18/06/09
19/03/09 19/04/09 19/05/09 19/06/09
20/03/09 20/04/09 20/05/09 20/06/09
21/03/09 21/04/09 21/05/09 21/06/09
22/03/09 22/04/09 22/05/09 22/06/09
23/03/09 23/04/09 23/05/09 23/06/09 Exams End
24/03/09 24/04/09 24/05/09 24/06/09
25/03/09 25/04/09 25/05/09 25/06/09
26/03/09 26/04/09 26/05/09 26/06/09
27/03/09 27/04/09 27/05/09 27/06/09
28/03/09 28/04/09 28/05/09 28/06/09
29/03/09 29/04/09 29/05/09 29/06/09
30/03/09 30/04/09 30/05/09 30/06/09
31/03/09 31/05/09
 Summer 2009 Exam Timetable
Year
Group
Date Start Time Title Duration Involved*
09/03/09 Mon am EL English:Reading Paper 1h 15m 11
10/03/09 Tues am EL English:Writing Paper 1h 15m 11
7/03/09-
15/05/09 MFL Oral exam 11
06/05/09 Wed am Music Integrated Assignment 30 mins 11
12/05/09 Tues pm Religious Studies B (Philosophy & Ethics):Paper 1 2h 00m 10
13/05/09 Wed pm Music (Listening) & Appraising 1h 15m 11
14/05/09 Thurs am Physical Education:Paper 1 1h 45m 11
18/05/09 Mon pm Mathematics B (Modular) Module 5 (non-calc) Written F/H 1h 15m 11
19/05/09 Tues am English Literature Spec A Theory F/H 2h 30m 11
20/05/09 Wed am Citizenship Studies:Written Paper 1h 30m 11
20/05/09 Wed pm Biology 3 Written F/H 0h 45m 11
20/05/09 Wed pm Biology 2 Written F/H 0h 45m 11
20/05/09 Wed pm AS Mathematics Statistics 1h 30m 11
21/05/09 Thurs am D & T (Food Tech) Written F/H 2h 00m 11
22/05/09 Fri am Bus Studies Case Study G3704 and G3705 1h 00m 11
Half Term Holiday
01/06/09 Mon am Mathematics B (Modular) Mod 5 (calc) Written F/H 1h 15m 11
01/06/09 Mon pm D & T (Resistant Mat Tech) Written F/H 2h 00m 11
02/06/09 Tues am English Paper 1 F/H 2h 11
02/06/09 Tues pm Geography A Written F/H Paper 1 1h 45m 11
03/06/09 Wed am History A 1 Written 1h 45m 11
03/06/09 Wed pm French Reading F/H 0h 40m 11
03/06/09 Wed pm French Listening F/H 0h 35m 11
04/06/09 Thur am Chemistry 2 Written F/H 0h 45m 11
04/06/09 Thur am Chemistry 3 Written F/H 0h 45m 11
04/06/09 Thur pm English Paper 2 F/H 2h 11
05/06/09 Fri pm AS Mathematics Core 1 and Core 2 1h 30m 11
08/06/09 Mon pm D & T (Graphic Products) Written F/H 2h 00m 11
09/06/09 Tues am Geography A Written F/H Paper 2 1h 30m 11
09/06/09 Tues pm Bus Studies Written G3701 and G3702 2h 00m 11
10/06/09 Wed pm Physics 3 Written F/H 0h 45m 11
10/06/09 Wed pm Physics 2 Written F.H 0h 45m 11
11/06/09 Thur am Drama Written 2h 00m 11
Mathematics B (Modular) Mod 1 (non-calc) (2.05 pm) Written
11/06/09 Thur pm F/H 0h 30m 9.10.11
11/06/09 Thur pm Mathematics B (Modular) Mod 1 (calc) Written F/H 0h 30m 9.10.11
11/06/09 Thur pm History A 2A Written 1h 45m 11
12/06/09 Fri am Biology 1 Written F/H 0h 45m 10.11
Religious Studies B (Philosophy & Ethics):Paper 2 (Ethics, w/out
15/06/09 Mon am C/Work) 2h 00m 10
16/06/09 Tues am Statistics Written F/H 2h 00m 11
17/06/09 Wed am Chemistry 1 Written F/H 0h 45m 10.11
18/06/09 Thur pm D & T (Textiles Tech) Written F/H 2h 00m 11
18/06/09 Thur pm D & T (Electronic Prod) Written F/H 2h 00m 11
19/06/09 Fri am Physics 1 Written F/H 0h 45m 10.11
Mathematics B (Modular) Mod 3 (non-calc) (9.50 am) Written
23/06/09 Tues am F/H 0h 45m 10.11
23/06/09 Tues am Mathematics B (Modular) Mod 3 (calc) Written F/H 0h 45m 10.11

* May involve some or all of the Year Group indicated.