how to tackle igcse/a-level paper exams

How to tackle IGCSE/Alevel exam papersHow to tackle IGCSE/Alevel exam papers

Session 1 How to explain (essential skill in gaining high marks)

Session 2 Examination techniques, including key vocabulary

Session 3 Revision techniques

Session 4 Samples of students answers

Session 1 How to explain

Session 1How to explain (essential skill in gaining

high marks)

Describe and explain 1• Think of a favourite film, tv programme, football team, footballer,

record, book, magazine, disc, computer game …. Something that you think is good, better than the rest.

• Describe them.

• Then explain why you think they are the best.

• Use your explanation to persuade you partner to share your view.

• Give them the evidence that supports what you say.

Explaining whyIf you are trying to explain why somethinghappens, you will need to start by stating what youare trying to explain. Follow this using connectingwords and phrases like those below.• I want to explain why…• This is because…• So when…• A further reason is…• Consequently…

Explaining howYou might want to explain how somethinghappens or how something works. Start by statingwhat you want to explain and then use connectingwords like those below.• I want to explain how…• First…• Next…• Then…• Finally…

Good explanationsWork in pairs.• Read each of these explanations about how food is digested.• Identify which they think is the better• Explain why you think that.• In pairs, compare answers and agree the best.

I want to explain how a piece of bread is digested. First you place the bread in your mouth and your teeth start to chewthe bread, breaking it down into smaller pieces whilst salivamixes with it. Next, the saliva, which is an enzyme, starts tobreak up starch, which is a big molecule, into sugars. Youthen swallow the sticky bread pieces. These are forced intoyour stomach by muscles squeezing it down your oesophagus.The food then enters the stomach where it is mixed with acidsand enzymes. These help break the food down a little more.Next the food mixture passes into the small intestine where moreenzymes break the large molecules of fats and proteins intosmaller ones. This allows the smaller molecules to pass throughthe intestine wall into the bloodstream. The intestine acts a bitlike a sieve and only lets small molecules through. What is leftpasses into the large intestine where water and mineral saltsare absorbed. Finally what is left passes out of the body throughthe anus as faeces.

This is an explanation of how digestion occurs After digestion youend up with faeces and food that has gone into the bloodstream.This happens because the food in your stomach and intestineshas been broken down into smaller pieces by enzymes. Acid inyour stomach help break down food as well. In your mouth, thereis an enzyme that changes starch, which is a big molecule, intosmaller ones. You swallow your food when the muscles in yourneck contract and force it down. They can only do this if there is aball of food. You make this by chewing it with your teeth. Waterpasses through the large intestine into the body. Digestionhappens in stages, with different parts being absorbed in differentplaces. This happens in the mouth, the stomach, the smallintestine and the large intestine. Teeth chew on the food and mixit with water. This helps you swallow it. The stomach mixes thingswith the food and when the food ends up in the large intestinemost of it has been absorbed into the blood stream and you areleft with faeces.

Good explanationsWork in pairs.• Read each of these explanations about why air causes

pressure .• Identify which you think is the better• Explain why you think that.• In pairs, compare answers and agree the best.

Example 1: Explaining Example 1: Explaining why why air exerts pressureair exerts pressureAir hitting the surface of things as it moves around Air hitting the surface of things as it moves around causes air pressure. The density of the air can causes air pressure. The density of the air can change and this makes the air pressure change. change and this makes the air pressure change. The higher the density of the air, the higher the air The higher the density of the air, the higher the air pressure. This is because there is more air to hitpressure. This is because there is more air to hitthe surface because the air is thicker in denser the surface because the air is thicker in denser air. In lower density air, the air is thinner. This air. In lower density air, the air is thinner. This means that the air pressure is lower. There is a lot means that the air pressure is lower. There is a lot of air around us but we do not feel the pressure of air around us but we do not feel the pressure because we are used to it.because we are used to it.

Example 2 Example 2 WhyWhy air causes pressure. air causes pressure.

Sometimes the air pressure is high and sometimes it is low. Sometimes the air pressure is high and sometimes it is low. You can explain this using the idea that air is made up of You can explain this using the idea that air is made up of particles. The particles are very small and move very quickly particles. The particles are very small and move very quickly in all directions so they sometimes hit the ground, or you, or in all directions so they sometimes hit the ground, or you, or anything else in their way. Each time a particle strikes a anything else in their way. Each time a particle strikes a surface it pushes against it so the air particle exerts a force surface it pushes against it so the air particle exerts a force on the surface. Many millions of these collisions are on the surface. Many millions of these collisions are happening every second. Consequently, this causes air happening every second. Consequently, this causes air pressure. If the air is not very dense, then there are fewer pressure. If the air is not very dense, then there are fewer particles present and this causes low air pressure. Dense air particles present and this causes low air pressure. Dense air causes high air pressure because there are more particles causes high air pressure because there are more particles hitting the surface at any one time.hitting the surface at any one time.

Describe and explain 2Describe and explain 2• Explain how

– you make a cup of tea– you boil water – a red blood cell circulates

around the body

• Explain – What happens when you

make a cup of tea– why water boils– why a red blood cell

circulates around the body

Describe and explainDescribe and explain• Describe deals with what• Explain deals with why and how.

I want to explain I want to explain howhow…… First…First… Next…Next… Then…Then… Finally…Finally…

I want to explain I want to explain whywhy……This is because…This is because…So when…So when…A further reason is…A further reason is…Consequently…Consequently…

End of session 1

Session 2 Examination techniques

Session 2 Examination techniques, including key

vocabulary

Session 3 Revision Techniques

Session 3 Revision techniques

Here are two pieces of text

about the water cycle.

What is better What is better about version 2 about version 2 than version 1?than version 1?

Why is version Why is version 2 easier to 2 easier to remember?remember?

Do a diagram Do a diagram that summarises that summarises

this text.this text.

Highlight key Highlight key words!words!

What are the big ideas?

Connections?

Exam VocabularyWords frequently used in questions

Give a reason/the

name/

Use information/gra

ph/tableFill the gap Tick the box

Explain Draw Label Describe

Record Choose Suggest Complete

Write your answers Work out What effect..? How could you

tell…?

Sketch Indicate Calculate List

•Each of these words may be used Each of these words may be used to make a question. to make a question. •Create some questions for your Create some questions for your partner using each of the words. partner using each of the words. •Choose something that you know a Choose something that you know a lot about eg a favourite film, tv lot about eg a favourite film, tv programme, football team, programme, football team, footballer, record, book, magazine, footballer, record, book, magazine, disc, computer gamedisc, computer game …sciencescience!


Give a reason/the

name/

Use information/gra

ph/tableFill the gap Tick the box

Explain Draw Label Describe

Record Choose Suggest Complete

Write your answers Work out What effect..? How could you

tell…?

Sketch Indicate Calculate List


• Think of a favourite film, tv programme, football team, footballer, record, book, magazine, disc, computer game …. Something that you know a lot about.

• Create some questions for your partner using each of the words on the previous slide.

Student answers

Session A and D grade samples of students

answers

Explain how an atheroma is formed?

Session 4 Student answers

Describe and explain the difference between HDL and Cholesterol?


Relate the structure to the function of a mitochondrion


Describe and explain the lengths of each potato cylinder


Explain the lock and key model in enzymes


Explain the induced fit model in enzymes


Explain competitive and non competitive inhibitors
