It may seem a bit early in the school year to start thinking about exams and revision but if you get prepared now you will feel the benefit when the time comes around. Here are some helpful tips that we think are worth considering:
Know What You Need To Know
Make sure you know which exam board you are using for each of your subjects. Once you know this get a copy of their syllabus or specification – this tells you what you are going to need to learn before your exams. Here are some links that you might find helpful for this:
AQA Chemistry https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/chemistry/specifications/AQA-8462-SP-2016.PDF
AQA Biology https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.PDF
AQA Combined Science Trilogy https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-8461-SP-2016.PDF
Edexcel Chemistry https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/Specification/GCSE_Chemistry_Spec.pdf
Edexcel Biology https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/Specification/GCSE_Biology_Spec.pdf
Edexcel Combined Science https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/Specification/GCSE_CombinedScience_Spec.pdf
Get Organised
Keep your notes tidy, you’re going to need them! It’s very easy after a lesson to crumple your notes into a bag, leave them in a pile on your bedroom floor or even worse the bin but when it comes to revision you will want to look back through them. So, get yourself a folder for the subject and file them away so that the notes for each topic are together.
Flashcards! Flashcards! Flashcards!
These are a really effective way of learning, especially for short definitions in GCSE biology and chemistry. Learn your flashcards well and you will be able to quickly recall a definition in an exam to pick up, what will feel like, easy marks. Write a question or title on one side and then the definition on the other. For example,
Front– What is the definition of an enzyme?
Back – An enzyme is a biological catalyst that is made of protein.
The beauty of flashcards is that you can test yourself, work with another student or even someone who doesn’t have a clue about the subject! Start making your flashcards as you cover each topic, that way by the time you need to revise a topic you’ll already have a stockpile.
This is just a start so get preparing now! As the year goes by we’ll post more exam tips in the blog (https://www.scienceexamssorted.co.uk/blog/) and on our social media pages so follow us for more helpful hints.