Transcript Parents and Students

Welcome to parents and students
How to do the best you can in the English
examination
Mrs Johnson KS4 co-ordinator
Do not worry about referring to the booklet now –
tomorrow each student will bring one home
1. The Controlled Assessments
2. What’s on the exam
3. What you can do to improve your child’s
chances of success
4. Looking at example of past papers
5. Looking at examples of revision materials you
can purchase
6. Question and Answer – over to you.
The Controlled Assessments
• English students
Portfolio of pieces include:
Writing about a
Shakespeare play
Writing about Of Mice and
Men (USA novel)
Writing about 2 poems
Writing their own pieces of
original work:
i) a story based on a book,
play or poem
ii) A piece of writing around
their own lives
English students
Unit 3 Understanding and Producing Creative Texts
• 40%
Controlled 2 x 3-4 hrs
A Understanding Creative Texts (20%)
• Up to three written responses from AQA task bank
based on study of play by Shakespeare, a text from
English Literary Heritage & one from different cultures
(may use AQA Lit anthologies)
• Focus: Themes & Ideas + Characterisation & Voice
B Producing Creative Texts (20%)
Responses totalling approx 1600 words to 2 tasks from
the task bank, based upon Moving Images, Prompts &
Re-creations and Me, Myself, I.
EVERY STUDENT:
• Unit 2 Speaking & Listening
20% Controlled
3 equally weighted activities: presenting,
discussion & listening; role-play
As you’ve probably been informed!
• Controlled assessments have to be done under
examination conditions
• The students are prepared for them
• They can take a page of notes in with them
• The time allowed is generous
• We are trying to get the best out of the students.
So, they can have another chance if they do not
perform well, as long as they do not do the same
title.
• Parents can help with any useful contextual
information during the planning stage.
We are increasing our support:
In addition to English lessons some students
are having additional examination practice
once a week with an English teacher.
Other students will be given additional
maths provision.
These lessons will commence week
beginning:
27th Feb. 2012
Examination date
• English F and H
• English Language F and H
STUDENTS WILL BE SITTING THE
SAME EXAMINATION
It lasts 2 hours 15 minutes
Date for your diary = Tuesday 29th May
Duration = 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Section A = 1 hour 15 minutes
• Section B = 1 hour
ENGLISH
• The CONTROLLED
ASSESSMENTS are
slightly different, but
the examination for
both of these are the
same
• There are two tiers –
Foundation and
Higher
• With the Foundation
paper – students can
achieve a grade C
and below
• With the Higher paper
- students can
achieve an A* and
below
AQA GCSEEnglish
• The examination board is the AQA
• Anyone can access the website and look
at past papers, mark schemes and other
information.
The layout of exam
• Examination is in two
parts – Section A –
Reading
• Reading three
different types of text
and answering
questions about each
one in turn and then
comparing two of
them
• Section B – Writing
• Shorter writing
• Longer writing
Skills required in Section A
• Reading means you read texts and you
are graded on your comprehension or
understanding of these three different
texts
• What do the writers imply?
• What can you infer?
• Reading the texts and answering the right
questions
Section A
• Section by section – information is in your
parent booklet
• Reading and Writing non-fiction texts
• 1. First glance –
• 2. Take a closer look –
• 3. Focus on Shape
• 4. Zoom in on language
• 5. Piece together your GAP evidence
Section A
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
All the skills on the previous
slide – but students are
advised to answer the
questions bit by bit –
Read article 1 – answer the
questions relating to that
article
Read article 2 – answer the
questions relating to that
article
Read article 3 – answer the
questions relating to that
article
Finally use all the skills and
put them all together.
Biggest skill is to answer the
questions you have been
asked! Not something the
student feels like saying.
Waffle not required!
HOW to succeed?
•
•
•
•
•
•
This is an improvement in the exam
Take time and with pen in hand
Read the first text
Read the questions
Highlight relevant sections of the text
Read the questions one last time and write the
answers in the booklet provided
• Each question has mark – student must
understand how much writing and the type of
answer is required
Section B
• We no longer know exactly what the students
have to write about
• The AQA wish students to be prepared to write
well in an entertaining manner for any purpose
and not to produce anything to a set formula
• Write using a varied register – recognising the
purpose for writing and the intended audience
• So all students must be able to write in a variety
of sentences
• Structure their writing into paragraphs
• Write in a coherent way – introduction, main
body and conclusion.
These are the different types of
writing you need to be aware of
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
argue
advise
describe
entertain
instruct
inform
persuade
HOW can I tell which is which?
Think:
• Why you are writing
• Who you are writing it
for
• Purpose and
Audience
Look at the glossary
in the booklet given
out to all parents
It is all in the - Glossary
• There are many features of types of
sentences and types of language –
students will have been prepared to write
for a number of purposes in the correct
register.
• Register means the right type of
voice/language for the situation.
Hey dude I need a job! Can I come and work for your company? I’m quite good at
getting up most mornings. I can talk loads so no-one will ever be bored when I’m
around! Get back to me. Laters.
TOP TIPS
• Read the question carefully
• Make sure you are writing for
the correct purpose and you
writing is suitable for the
audience
• Write a plan
• Stick to the time limit
• Shorter writing – 25 minutes
• Longer writing – 35 minutes
• Write in a different style
• SHOW THE EXAMINER
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
Improve your vocabulary
• Learn a new word every day!
• Go on line – Dictionary. com
• If you put a word into the search engine it
will give you a little quiz about further
vocabulary – everyone should be proud to
know the meaning of a few more words –
the examiners will sit up and take notice!
Play the Word Dynamo Challenge and turbo-charge your vocabulary
Start Now
Suggestions
• Look at the exam
papers so you can
see precisely what
the students have to
do.
• If you are worried:
• Access the websites
in the booklet
Revision guides
• Every possible guide available
• I have some examples
• We can order the CGP ones cheaper than
school
• There are work booklets the students can
do for themselves
• Amazon/WHS all well known stockists sell
any number of revision guides –
remember the exam board is AQA
If you have any questions – do not
hestitate to contact school.