The Final Countdown Tuesday 23 April 2024 Georgie Dee, Head of Year 11, The Grammar School at Leeds As our GCSE students returned to school after the Easter break, Mrs Dee, Head of Year 11 gave an assembly to help students prepare and plan for the final few weeks of revision. Recognising that everyone’s holiday revision may not have gone as planned, she provided advice for those who were on track and those who needed a bit more direction. On track? Some students returning to school after the holidays will feel their revision went as planned. They were able to follow a revision timetable, tick off the syllabus topics and make progress in each subject. If you are on track, Mrs Dee recommends the following: Prioritise which subjects to focus on Review your revision plan and prioritise accordingly. Focus on subjects which are earlier in the exam period. Prioritise subjects or topics that you have found the most difficult. Focus on subjects you have spent less time on so far. Ask for support Ask your teachers for help with anything you are struggling with. Attend subject clinics at break and lunchtime where students can drop in for help with specific questions or homework. Revision classes are also very helpful but come prepared with questions. Maintain a steady pace Maintain a steady pace of revision. Three subjects per evening, approximately 45 minutes each, with a short break between each one. During your revision period review and amend your plan accordingly; reducing your revision time on exam days (maybe to none if you have two exams on a particular day); increasing your revision time on days without exams. Struggling? Not on track Other students maybe struggling if their revision over the holidays hasn’t gone to plan. Recognising the reasons for this such as favouring revision in their best subjects, struggling with motivation or understanding content, Mrs Dee suggests the following course of action: Don’t panic – there is still time. But you need a new plan. Don’t worry about what others are doing or what their plan looks like. Plan for YOU Create a new plan Focus on subjects which are earlier in the exam period. Prioritise subjects or topics that you have found the most difficult. Focus on subjects you have spent less time on so far. Ask for help To help you put your plan together talk to your form tutor or learning support team for help To help with your subject revision attend clinics or revision classes and prepare your questions ahead of time. In between times go and see your teacher if you have difficulties for one-to-one advice so it is not worrying you. They are there to help you. Maintain a steady pace Maintain a steady pace of revision. Three subjects per evening, approximately 45 minutes each with a short break between each one. During your revision period review and amend your plan accordingly; reducing your revision time on exam days (maybe to none if you have two exams on a particular day; increasing your revision time on days without exams. We can only help if we know Finally, it’s completely natural to feel worried or anxious about your GCSEs but you are not alone, so please talk to one of your teachers, and they will do everything they can to help you but please don’t suffer in silence. We would like to wish all A-level and GCSE students both at The Grammar School at Leeds and further afield the very best of luck in their forthcoming exams.
