AQA Core Science exam preparation

Bob BakerHead of Science

rbaker@plymstockschool.org.uk

Specification can be found at: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/science-a-4405

All tonight’s information and other useful revision material can be found at: http://www.science-spark.co.uk

In the next 10 mins….

• What kind of things will be in the exam? • Styles of questioning: knowledge, application,

evaluation• Revision pack - instructions of where to find

resources, plus a starter pack for you to take away

AQA Core Science GCSE

Supporting Science Revision

• How should students be revising?– 3 styles of question, testing 3 different skills

Learn all the definitions and keywords. Be able to label diagrams with keywords and be able to describe processes

Be able to explain why processes happen. Be able to use equations (magic triangles).

Be able to describe & explain trends in results (from tables or graphs)Be able to state the facts & say why one argument is better than another.

Mathematical Skills

E

P x t

Magic triangle!

Things to do• Sit down and sort a plan of when revision will be done. Morning,

afternoon or evening, which days can it be done over half-term. How much time each day? Be realistic.

• Go through checklists/syllabus together and highlight areas that need most attention. (smiley face it when it has been tested?)

• Make sure there are no distractions: ban use of X-Box/ playstation/ ipad/phone(!?) / facebook(!!?!) etc. for 3 weeks!! Or use it as a bribe if enough revision has been done each day! (Don’t use the phone as a calculator – buy a calculator that you can take in the exam)

• Make sure that a table or desk is available with a good amount of light.

• Students should try to eat well and sleep well. Keep hydrated.• Don’t Procrastinate!!! Start Revising!!!! With the understanding that

sometimes some things will be difficult! and breaks will be needed.

How should students be revising

1. Learn definitions – Flash cards, making lists etc make mind maps (fill in revision sheets from tonight)

2. Do recall and short application questions from revision guide (all students have one)

3. Core Science Specimen Paper Questions from http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/science-a-4405/past-papers-and-mark-schemes (look at Unit 1)

Revision Pack• Revision Checklist – check this off with your child – or

check that they have checked it. If they have, look at the relevant pages from the revision guide and test them!!

• Mind maps and answers – tests understanding and great resource as notes

• Youtube channel: http://www.my-gcsescience.com/• BBC Bitesize:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/

• Students already have CGP exam papers • Teachers will be giving more out over the week• Use link to specimen papers from AQA website

Dates of exams

Biology – 5th June

Chemistry – 10th June

Physics – 13th June

Revising the night before the exam?• It is most probably too late to learn the whole

syllabus at this stage!• But it is useful to look over notes and keeping key

definitions fresh in the mind• It is not the time to do that question that you always

got wrong!• It is time to keep calm and maintain confidence in

what you do know• Getting a good night’s sleep, eating well and keeping

hydrated is important to keep concentration up.

On the day of the exam

• Students must have a clear pencil case with:– a couple of sharp pencils– A rubber– A couple of black pens– A ruler– A calculator

• An filled exam pencil case can be bought from the library at school.

All tonight’s information and other useful revision material can be found at: http://www.science-spark.co.uk