GCSE Exams and Revision

Our Year 11 students will be sitting mock exams during the period from Monday 12 – Thursday 29 November.

View the mock exam timetable

During the first two weeks of the mock exam period, there will be a number of alterations to the logistics of the day: 

AM Registration

All students will register in the dining hall in their form groups. Any messages will be given at this time, and those students who have a P1 exam will called from registration to line up outside the sports hall ready to take their seats in the exam hall. 

Morning Break

Break as usual, other than students who have an exam starting at 11.15 who should be in the dining hall ready to be called to line up outside the sports hall. Students who do not have an exam should go to P3 as usual. 

Lunch Time

Lunch as usual, other than students who have an exam starting at 1.45 who should be in the dining hall ready to be called to line up outside the sports hall. Students who do not have an exam should go to P5 as usual. 

PM Registration

In form rooms as usual, other than students who are in an exam. 

Over these two weeks the form time programme will be suspended to allow students additional private study time. With this in mind, students should ensure they have with them revision guides, notes or any other appropriate revision material to make the best use of this time. 

At Vale of York Academy we recognise that exams are a stressful but very important time. We believe by following some simple rules anyone can be successful in their exams

“Failing to plan is planning to fail”
Allen Lakein

In simple terms students need to:

• Plan their time
• Create a suitable place to work
• Plan WHAT to learn
• Plan HOW they will learn
• Make sure they build time for rest into their exam planners and revision timetables

Planning time and useful hints

We ensure that all Year 11 students have the tools they need to succeed with revision through our Year 11 revision skills day, ‘walking, talking mocks’ and our weekly exam preparation sessions that are built into the Year 11 tutor programme. Useful hints include:

• When creating a revision timetable the key is to be honest and realistic. Build in time to rest, in addition to mapping out the time that will be spent on subject content.
• Start early. Revision is reinforcing old knowledge, not learning anything new.
• Throughout your time at Vale of York get into best practise. Do homework at set times, met all deadlines.
• Plan from your exams and work backwards, build in birthdays etc. Be realistic.
• Somewhere to work – ensure that you have a quiet, calm place to work. If you struggle with this at home, see your Head of Year for help and support.
• Everyone needs a flat surface. Beds just do not work!
• Good lighting. You need to be able to see!
• Start early – all homework needs to be completed in these conditions. Get into best routines.

Plan what you will learn

• There is no point revising what you already know really well and can apply. Work out what you need to know, and what you don’t know. This is what you must concentrate on.
• Test yourself to establish how well you know something. Traffic light it:
• Green – I know it and can apply it
• Amber – I mostly know it but struggles to explain it
• Red – No-idea!

Plan how you will learn

Everyone learns in different ways, some of the following everyone MUST do but some suit only some people and subjects. Try different methods but remember you need to learn a topic but then you really want to be able to explain and teach it.

• Making notes and summarising
• Flash cards
• Mindmaps
• Quizzes
• Past exam papers
• Testing yourself with your friends

We are very proud of the academic achievement and believe this is in no small part to teaching students how to learn and work independently.

Further information

Should you have an urgent question, please contact Mr Foster – Pastoral Leader Year 11.

Useful websites that support learning are: GCSE Bitesize; Get revising; mymaths; s-cool; Linguascope; pinpoint learning; Justmaths online registering and engaging with these sites will ensure you can practise the skills learnt in lessons.

Using The student room revision planner will help you to map out your studies over the weeks ahead.