Improve Teacher Assessed Grades
3 - Provide Evidence
School Exams & Unexpected Tests
Even though formal exams are cancelled, students still need to understand, learn and memorise the topics covered.
Cancelling all tests would be detrimental to learning, as students would be unequipped for exams later in their academic life.
How can students prepare for unexpected tests?
When tests are known about in advance, students can revise, but how can students prepare for unexpected tests?
The steps suggested will aid understanding and are advisable, even if unexpected tests don’t happen, as they make revision for exams easier.
Review Lessons
Review notes as soon as possible after every lesson, summarising them in bullet point form.
Verbalise what was learned
Tell someone what you have learned. This will embed the information more firmly in your brain and help you recall it in the future.
Next time a parent asks what you learnt, tell them! Explain what was taught, even if they are not really interested.
Then ask questions to check their understanding.
Understand before you attempt to memorise
Don’t attempt to memorise information until you understand it.
If anything is unclear after a lesson, email questions to the teacher as soon as possible. Being proactive demonstrates the effort you are making, plus it helps teachers improve lessons.
Ask teachers to record lessons so you can watch them again if anything is unclear.
Take advantage of online learning tools
There are plenty of fantastic online resources and videos to aid understanding.
They are ideal to improve understanding before attempting to commit information to memory.
Where schools are not providing remote lessons, online learning tools are even more important. Many students find them more helpful than attending lessons.
Learning by watching videos can be far more effective than taking notes in class.
Download this eBook to help improve understanding
This eBook lists many fabulous online learning tools.
Click on the image to download the eBook
Many resources described in the eBook stand out as being helpful to
cover GCSE & A Level Syllabuses these include
MY-GCSE Science
Up Learn
I’m Stuck
GCSE Foundation Maths from Scratch
Seneca
Details of MANY more resources are available in the eBook.
Don’t miss more helpful information on using Online Learning Tools in
5. What if there aren’t any Remote Lessons?
This includes how to overcome common mistakes students make when using online learning tools and how to overcome them.
Use Active Revision Techniques
Learning to revise and how to sit exams are important life skills.
This ePamphlet suggests several active revision techniques that are highly effective.
How to revise so you remember - Tips for Effective Revision
Click the image above to learn
TOP Tips for Revision
You might be pleasantly surprised how much better you do in exams if you follow the advice given.
One to one Consultancy
Revision is one area I would advise a one-to-one consultancy appointment with me.
Consultations are most effective when a student has something they need to learn, then we can figure out together what works best.
The earlier students learn how to revise effectively, the better.
Ideally, get me involved helping with revision as soon as students start sitting subject exams.
Better grades are achieved the earlier students adopt new ways of learning.
Prepare for a lovely summer
Even in instances where schools set internal exams for students, these are far less stressful than sitting formal external examinations.
Working consistently throughout the year is a far more successful strategy for students with learning differences.
If you want to succeed, there is no longer the option to chill throughout the school year and cram before the exams. While working consistently is not everyone’s preferred way of working, it does make the summer term more fun. In the summer we should be able to travel and enjoy the sunshine.
The only upside of lockdown is that you will probably have fewer distractions!
