Improving Exam Results

1. Improving Exam Results Preparing for GCSE exams – Tricks of the Trade

4. The line drawn between different grades has to be drawn somewhere! A simple fact! I know I’m good at this subject, but I ran out of time! I got 65. 72 A* 66 A 60 B 54 C 48 D 42 E 36 F 30 G One mark may make all the difference!

5. Improving on your exam technique could make the difference of one mark. Every year each exam board produces a report on the performance of students. Part of the report highlights failings in terms of exam technique.

6. Immediately after certificates are issued, each school receives advice from the exam board. Part of the advice is on improving exam technique. This presentation summarises the advice given over a number of years. The advice goes across all subjects.

7. Let’s start with the basics .......................RUBRIC! • Rubric refers to organisational aspects of the exam paper, issues such as ..…….. • The numbering and lettering system used on the exam paper. • The information required on the front cover of the exam paper • Writing extended answers in additional space. What could possibly go wrong in respect to Rubric?

8. You need to know that most examiners are teachers. They have already completed a full days work at school before they begin their marking! Faced with as many as 400 exam scripts to mark, in a three-week period……. …… most start work in the early evening and work late. It could be your script which is being marked at the end of a long evening. Keep the examiner on your side by following rubric rules. The next slide illustrates the issue ……………………

9. A • (a) • i) What is the capital of England? • ii) Which part of England is it located in? • (b) • Name two other large cities in England • Describe the location of one of them. Answers like this make examiners tear their hair out…. Follow the rubric and keep examiners on your side London in the south-east. Manchester and Birmingham are in the Midlands. • A • (a) • i) London • ii) In the south-east • (b) • Manchester and Birmingham • Birmingham is in the Midlands

10. A • (a) • i) What is the capital of England? • ii) Which part of England is it located in? • (b) • Name two other large cities in England • Describe the location of one of them. If you really want to annoy the examiner….. …… change the rubric!! A 1) London 2) In the south-east 3) Manchester and Birmingham 4) Birmingham is in the Midlands Examiners are only human. Keep them on your side. It could mean the difference of one mark!

11. Running out of time in the exam Each exam paper provides you with a different challenge in terms of time keeping. No doubt your teacher will offer you advice in this respect. Running out of time is probably the main problem for candidates who aspire to a grade A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can learn the most basic time-keeping lesson of all........ Don’t repeat the question! Q: How far does the traveller have to go before reaching Nairobi? A: The traveller has to go 10 kms before reaching Nairobi. A: 10 kms.

12. Still on the theme of optimising time….. How much should I write? Part of the answer to this issue is to look at the number of marks available. A question worth only two marks…… “Describe the bones in the human foot”……. ….should have a brief answer…. • There are a large number ✔ • Those near the toes look small ✔

13. A question worth three marks…………….. ….” Describe changes in world population”…. …. is likely to have a longer answer, perhaps with three strands in it….. • 1000 – 1750 The population was rising slowly ✔ • 1750 – 2000 The population went up rapidly ✔ • The figure is now over 6 billion people ✔

14. At the risk of labouring the point. Use the number of marks available as a guide to how much to write. Describe the changes on the diagram. • The creature has less hair ✔ • The creature gets taller ✔ For two marks…………. • The creature has less hair ✔ • The creature gets taller ✔ • The creature gets more upright ✔ • It changes from ape to a human being ✔ For four marks………….

15. Explain Command Words Evaluate Compare Describe List Identify Analyse Relax, describe questions are relatively easy as long as you remember that the examiners are only asking you to state what you can see (on a photo, a diagram, a graph etc.) Describe These questions are harder, you will have to show your understanding by giving reasons for something. Explain Every year, very able students waste valuable seconds by explaining something, when the COMMAND WORD simply asks them to describe something.

16. Describe conditions….. • The houses are crowded ✔ • The houses are close to railway tracks ✔ How would an able student, with poor exam technique, waste their time when answering this question? Explain how conditions caused poor health……. Reason 1: Crowded houses means disease spreads easily ✔ Reason 2: The smoke from the trains makes you ill ✔

17. Explain, giving two reasons (2 marks) Reason 1: Crowded houses means disease spreads easily ✔ Reason 2: The smoke from the trains makes you ill ✔ Explain, giving two reasons (4 marks) Reason 1: Crowded houses means disease is easy to spread ✔ If you get a disease such as Typhoid, you can die✔ Reason 2: The smoke from the trains makes you ill ✔ The soot gets into your lungs and it’s difficult to breathe ✔

18. Another example, this time in Maths, where the need to actually EXPLAIN is often forgotten! Q: Explain why angle PQR = 34°

19. Q: Explain why angle PQR = 34° The candidates are expected to write a sentence to explain how the angle is measured at 34°. Yes, you sometimes need to write sentences in Maths exams!! ANS: “It should add up to a right angle”.... would not get the mark as the explanation does not give enough detail! ... What should add up to a right angle?? ANS: “RQT is measured at 56°, PQT is a right angle (90°), so 90 – 56 = 34°” .... would get the mark as the candidate has explained the rationale √

20. “This is a good beat to work. People are very friendly and serious crime is not very common. However, I am disappointed by the increase in nuisance crimes such as graffiti and petty vandalism. I often have to deal with complaints about large groups of youths being noisy at night, I suppose it’s because there’s very little for teenagers to do in the evenings around here. A growing problem is the dangerous on-road parking now that families often have two cars” List two positive and two negative ….. Serious crime is not common, people are friendly, youths are a nuisance and graffiti is a problem.

21. Compare….. In the USA the number of people living in cities is higherthan in China In the USA you live until you are 76, whereas in China you only live until you are 58. Use comparative words! Don’t just list the differences between the two countries! “whilst” “however” “worse” “higher” “whereas” “on the other hand” “better” “lower”

22. Evaluate is one of the most difficult command words, it is often used in English exams Expect to give an extended answer You will be expected to give an opinion Expect to “weigh up” the pros and cons or the strengths and weaknesses of the information which has been provided. Use phrases like …….. In my opinion … I think this because…. On the other hand, you could argue that …… The most important thing that influenced me was ….

23. When you are asked to Analyse and Evaluate, this is as hard as it gets at GCSE level You will need to fall back on the specific advice given by your subject teacher. Ensure that this is an important part of your revision. Look back at the feedback you have received after completing mock exam papers or extended essays / assignments

24. An example taken from Art............ Art Exam Theme 2009 25% of marks for the exam will be allocated to Assessment Objective 2 “analyse and evaluate images, objects and artefacts showing understanding and context”

25. Where is the focal point of the painting and how does the artist lead your eye to this area? What evidence is there of symbolism in the work why do you think the artist has used these images? Describe the atmosphere/mood of the painting and explain how the artist has used colour and tonal contrast to achieve this. Is the style of the painting: realistic, abstract, semi-abstract or stylised? What evidence can you see to support your choice?

26. …. and finally…. … don’t throw away easy marks Remember: The line drawn between different grades has to be drawn somewhere! I didn’t read the question carefully. I think I’ve blown it!!! 72 A* 66 A 60 B 54 C 48 D 42 E 36 F 30 G I got 65. One mark may make all the difference, so don’t throw it away. Here is an example…

27. (5) When you are asked to provide information from a drawing or a photograph, examiners often report lazy answers! Identify three hazards in this kitchen [6] > There is a boiling pot. > There are leads across the floor > The kettle lead is near water in the sink. The question is embarrassingly easy, but notice that the question is worth 6 marks. You can’t afford a lazy answer, despite the ease of the question! • The boiling pot on the stove is near the front of the cooker. It could easily be touched or knocked over by a child, causing serious burns. • What would you say to further develop the other answers given above?

28. Good luck in the summer Life is not a rehearsal, so prepare well and don’t leave revision to the last minute I’m sure you will all be successful

29. Preparing for GCSE exams – Tricks of the Trade ? ? Any Questions ? ?