Creating Success Through Partnership
PREPARING FOR
NATIONAL
CURRICULUM TESTS & INTERNAL EXAMS
Year 9 Study Guide
Contents
1. Sort Yourself Out
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Make
sure that you have all of the work which is necessary for your
examinations. Check where you keep any full exercise books at home, and make sure that all you need are in the same place. |
Work
kept in files can sometimes be in the wrong order, or some
pieces of paper are never filed at all. Make sure that all files are up to date.
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Have you missed any work due to absence? If
you need to copy up any work make
sure that you borrow the necessary books NOW. Later on your friends will need their books for revision, and text books may be being used by other classes. |
NOTE
In
some subjects work which you have done this year may need to be retained
for use in years ten and eleven.
Ask staff about this, and make a note of books and files you need
to keep at the end of year nine.
HAVE
YOU ANY PROBLEMS THAT NEED SORTING OUT NOW?
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Very
few people are good at all subjects. |
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Sometimes
extra help is needed if you have found something difficult.
You may need to ask a member of staff to go over something
with you. |
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Be
honest.
Are you your own worst enemy?
Is your lack of understanding due to you not listening and
wasting time in class? |
2.
Getting Down To Work
HOW
LONG SHOULD I WORK?
Did
you know...
? When you first start to work, your level of concentration is high. However, after a while your concentration level starts to drop. Once
the end is in sight, your concentration level picks up slightly.
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WHEN
SHOULD I START?
It
pays to take regular breaks.
If you take a break of say 5 to 10 minutes between each
half-hour or three-quarters of an hour’s study, then it will
help you to keep up a high level of concentration.
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Do
not try to cram all of your revision into the last week before the
exams. Spread your work
out and do not let it become a burden to you. |
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Do
not forget your leisure time either.
If you have regular commitments, where you take part in
sporting events, go to a youth club, meet up with friends or help
out at home, then include these in your plan too. |
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If
everything does not fit in you may have to decide where priorities
lie! |
Many
things can distract you from working.
Even if you insist you can revise while you watch “Top Of The
Pops”, experience tells us its not the best way to do it.
Find a quiet place at home, discuss and share your plan and need to study free from interruption with your family.
Don’t forget, there are quiet rooms where you can revise at school.
3.
Am I revising effectively?
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STUDY
HABIT – MEMORY TRAINING |
Almost
Always Do |
Sometimes
Do |
Never Do |
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1.
Do you find it easy to remember names, dates, lists? |
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2.
When you want to memorise something do you work 20-40 mins
then have a break? |
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3.
Do you test yourself after your break? |
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4.
Do you test yourself again the next day, and then at
regular intervals? |
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5.
Do you use games or tricks to help you remember things? |
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6.
Do you try to understand what you try to remember?
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7.
Can you understand diagrams and graphs easily?
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Score yourself: 10 for
Almost Always
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Score
50 – 70 means that you have excellent memory skills. |
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Scores
from 30 – 45 mean that you’re moderately good at remembering things
but you could make things much easier for yourself. |
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Score
of 25 and below mean that you need to develop your memory skills. |
4.
What methods of revision are there?
There
is nothing worse than putting a lot of work into your revision and then
finding you are not doing well in the exams.
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Do you just read work through?
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Do you prefer to make short notes, putting the main points down?
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Do you test yourself on what you have learnt, or get someone else to test you?
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Do you retest yourself later in the week? Have you still remembered the work?
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Do you work with a friend? Is this a help, or do you just start talking about other things?
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Do you revise all subjects in the same way?
5.
Exam procedure
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Have
you the necessary equipment? |
Have
you got a rubber, ruler, pen, and pencil? Do
you need a compass, calculator, coloured pencils etc. Make
a list on each day
of any specialised equipment you need ****
BRING
A SPARE PEN |
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Get
the questions clear |
What
are you being asked? Look
for key words: describe
explain
list the main points
what is its function
show working |
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Get
the facts clear |
Have
you included any facts, or is your answer vague? Count
the number of facts in your answer which a teacher would give you
a mark for. |
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Keep
an eye on the clock |
Have
you time to finish? If
not, get the main facts down as quickly as possible. |
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Time
on you hands? |
Have
you missed a page by mistake? Check
carefully through any questions you have not answered |
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6.
Revision Sites
Click here to go to a long list of GREAT revision websites.
