Introduction
This booklet is aimed at guiding, supporting and providing you and your family with the
necessary tools to enable you to achieve your full potential in your GCSE’s.
We have provided you with some sensible revision techniques, advice on what type of a
learner you are, and how to draw up a basic revision timetable. Please use this booklet,
and then build on it to personalise it to what suits you best.
The second half of the booklet gives you an outline of the topics you will need to revise for
in your subjects- both in your mocks and your GCSE’s. Obviously do not revise for subjects
you have not studied however
I do hope you find this booklet useful and can I wish you all the best in your exams.
This booklet is aimed at giving you an overview of topics and should not be used on its
own, rather in conjunction with your teacher, books, revision guides and online revision
support.
Mr Jackson
(Assistant Principal)
Contents
What type of learner are you?
Designing your own revision timetable.
Revision tips
Subject specific topics to revise Art
Photography
Business Studies
BTEC Engineering
Catering
Childcare
English
French
Geography
German
History
Maths- foundation
Maths- Higher
Music
Drama
Physical Education
Production Design
Religious Studies
Science – Mocks
Science GCSE exams
Sociology
Spanish
A visual learner:
• Prefers to read, to see the words, illustrations and diagrams;
• Talks quite fast, using lots of images;
• Memorises by writing repeatedly;
• When inactive, looks around, doodles or watches something;
• When starting to understand something says, ‘that looks right’;
• Is most distracted by untidiness.
What type of learner are you?
What type of learner are you?
A kinaesthetic learner:
• Likes to get involved, hands on, to try it out;
• Uses lots of hand movements;
• Talks about actions and feelings; speaks more slowly;
• Memorises by doing something repeatedly;
• When inactive, fidgets, walks around;
• When starting to understand something says, ‘that feels right’;
• Is most distracted by movement or physical disturbance.
An auditory learner:
• Likes to be told, to listen to the teacher, to talk it out;
• Talks fluently, in a logical order, and with few hesitations
• Memorises by repeating words aloud;
• When inactive, talks to self or others;
• When starting to understand something says, ‘that sounds right’.
• Is most distracted by noises.
What type of learner are you?
• Rewrite your notes as
mind-maps
• Use colour to highlight
important things
• Draw diagrams and
sketches to help you
remember points.
Read your notes aloud
Record yourself reading key
points of your notes aloud,
then listen to it afterwards
Revise with other students if you
can
Sing the main points. Linking
them with a tune may help
you remember them.
Read your notes aloud
Record yourself reading key points
of your notes aloud, then listen
to it afterwards
Revise with other students if you
can
Sing the main points. Linking them
with a tune may help you
remember them.
How can this help me revise?
Designing your own revision timetable
Below write down all of the subjects that you
currently study
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•Now colour code them;
Red- I find this subject difficult
Orange- This subject is OK
Green- I find this subject easy
Think about…
What makes certain subjects harder?
and…
What makes certain subjects easier?
Why is this?
1. Allocate days for different
subjects – mixing up the subjects so
you are not doing all the hard
subjects on one day.
2. Write down any commitments
that you have e.g clubs, social
events.
3. Decide what times you work best
and put the tasks that require more
energy or concentration during your
optimum times.
4. Start with something that you find
hard, in that way you get it done
quicker.
5. Remember that concentration
time is 32 minutes
6. Take a break.
7. Cross things off as you do them
because it will give you a sense of
accomplishment.
THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK-BUT WORTH THE EFFORT
Creating your Revision Timetable
8. Go over your notes again ten minutes later.
Ask someone to test you one hour later, that
evening, the next day and the next week.
9. Drink lots of water, eat high energy foods
and get plenty of sleep.
10. Use lots of different ways to help you
understand and remember: Mind-maps, pictures,
body actions, songs, taping yourself talking, using
posters or post-it notes.
1. Make a revision timetable. Try to spend ten
minutes every day looking at topics you are
unsure of.
2. Decide how much time you need to spend on
each topic: use your time where it is really
needed.
3. Work out what you already know. Then for
each subject make a list of the important
topics you still need to cover.
4. Make sure you leave time to have LOTS OF
FUN each day.
5. Speak to your parents about a suitable place
to work, with no distractions. Organise
yourself according to your learning style. If
you find it useful, put posters, mind-maps or
post-its on your wall
6. Keep checking that you have understood what
you are revising. If you are not sure, ASK FOR
HELP.
7. Take regular stretch breaks; get up and move
around. Get lots of exercise – your brain needs it!
Top 10 revision tips
Next steps
• The timetables you’ve made should take you up to until your
mock exams.
• The key to successful revision is all in the planning
• If you start revising now you will be better prepared for all
your exams.
• After your mocks will be a good time to “step-up” your
revision plan and make a new timetable based on when the
real exams will be by revising certain subjects on certain
evenings.
Art and PhotographyWithin Art and photography the exam is 3 months of preparatory work which ends with a 10 hour exam within which
the students create their final outcome for their project.
When planning revision timetables we ask that students plan time to complete Art/Photography preparation work
which equates to 3 hours per week outside of timetabled lessons.
Tasks that they could complete during this time are:
ART:
Artist research pages
Observational drawings/studies
Experimentation of different materials and techniques
Art gallery visits
Taking photographs to work from
Creating design ideas for final outcomes.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Artist research pages
shoot plans
Annotated mood boards
Shoots
Developmental shoots
Editing
Annotations of editing
Business StudiesA292 (Worth 25% of grade)
Types of business activity
Business objectives
Stakeholders
Organisation, growth and location
Business ownership
Sole traders
Partnerships
Private and public limited companies
Franchise
Multinational companies
Employment and retention
Motivation
Training
Employment law and trade unions
Organisation and communication
A293 (Pre-scene case study worth 50% of grade)
Types of production
Quality and production
Revenue
Costs
Breakeven
Sources of finance
Profit
Cash flow
Competition
Business ethics
Environmental influences
Globalisation
Government and business
Demand and supply
The EU
BTEC Engineering
Engineering processes used to produce modern
engineered products
Engineering sectors and
Mechanical and electrical/electronic engineering
processes
Scales of production
Modern production methods
Developments in engineering materials and
technologies
Modern and smart materials in engineering
Modern material foams in engineering
Modern material processes in engineering
New technologies in engineering
How engineering contributes to a
sustainable future
Sustainable engineered products
Minimising waste production in
Lean manufacturing
Renewable sources of energy in
engineering
Computing
Fundamentals of computer systems
Computing hardware
Software
Representation of data in computer systems
Databases
Computer communications and networking
Programming
The food Industry- Food & Drink
Knowledge of types of establishments that provide food & drink,
contract caterers & different types of service available in
different establishments
Job roles, employment opportunities and relevant training
Knowledge of the roles, duties and training available for:
Management, chefs and food & drink service.
Health, safety and hygiene
Knowledge of personal hygiene, food safety, common causes of
food contamination & food poisoning, health & safety (signs, fire
precautions & use of equipment), simple first aid procedures,
risk assessment & HACCP.
Food preparation, cooking and presentation.
Knowledge of methods of cooking, key terms & the selection,
storage, preparation & serving of the main commodities.
Catering
Nutrition and menu planning
Knowledge of the functions and sources of the main nutrients, current healthy
eating guidelines, special dietary needs, types of menus & menu planning.
Costing and portion control
Knowledge of how to cost raw materials for a recipe & appropriate methods of
portion control & their significance.
Specialist equipment
Knowledge of small & large scale catering & food service equipment. The safe
use, care and cleaning of this equipment.
Communication and record keeping
Knowledge of different types of communication & their importance. Knowledge
of the types of record keeping & the need for accurate and appropriate record
keeping.
Environmental considerations
Knowledge of the 3 R’s & conservation of energy and water when preparing food
& why it is important to address these areas. Knowledge of disposable products
and materials.
Childcare
Parenthood
The family
Planning for a family
Preparing for the baby
Provision of a safe environment
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Pre conceptual care
Pregnancy
Preparaton for the birth
Labour and birth
Newborn baby
Diet, health and care of the childA healthy dietFeeding a babyWeaningFeeding a young childFood related problemsChild careChild health
Development of the childDevelopmentPhysical developmentIntellectual development social and emotional developmentLearning and playiSupport for the patent and childTypes of support availableChild care provisionEducational and developmental provision
DramaStudents will need to revise their use of acting skills, research/rehearsal
and other preparation completed for each topic, an analysis
of improvements made and evaluating the success of their individual
performance.
Students will need to focus on ONE devised piece and ONE scripted
piece that they have performed in.
Students also have a ‘survival guide’ made by the department to help
In year 11, we concentrate on the exams as we hope all coursework is done. Some students are currently repeating pieces so that they can
raise their grades. If given this opportunity, they must take it!
English Language Exam - Reading skills: Non-fiction texts. Study of 2 non-fiction texts linked by theme. Questions range from selecting
relevant info, to analysing how writers accomplish a particular purpose or highlight a particular perspective. The final question asks
students to compare the texts to see how certain attitudes are conveyed. Students CAN prepare for this by reading a selection of 'real life'
non-fiction, i.e. newspapers, webpages etc, and thinking about issues such as:
Form (what kind of text it is and how this 'shapes' it), bias, perspectives and attitudes, how the ideas are conveyed through a range of
language devices, how texts persuade and inform, how material is organized for effect, how material is designed to appeal to certain
audiences, the purpose of texts and whether that purpose is achieved or not (evaluative skills).
The written element - students use this knowledge in composing their own non-fiction texts. they might be asked to write a credible letter,
review, leaflet, report, speech or article. They must make it appropriate to audience (formal or informal), purpose and form asked for in
the question.
English Literature, students need to revise the set texts by purchasing relevant study guides, re-reading and making notes on their class
notes and re-reading their practice essays. The set texts are:
Willy Russell's 'Blood Brothers'
Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men'
Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird'
Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'.
English
Unit 1 listening (20%)
Unit 3 reading (20%)
TOPICS: Out and about (visitor information, weather, local amenities,
accommodation , public transport, directions)
Customer service and transactions (cafes and restaurants, shops,
dealing with problems
Personal information (general interests, leisure activities, family and
friends and lifestyles
Future plans, education and work (basic internet language, simple
job adverts, simple job applications and CV, school and college and
work/work experience)
Unit 2 speaking (30%)
Unit 4 writing (30%)
TOPICS: Media and culture (music, film, fashion, celebrities, internet)
Sport and leisure (hobbies, sporting events, lifestyle choices)
Travel and tourism (holidays, accommodation , eating and drinking)
Business, work and employment (part-time jobs)
French
ASSESSMENT FOR UNIT 2:
Controlled ongoing assessment
Prepare a task similar to real task 2 weeks before the date.
2 speaking tasks
3 types (open interaction, picture-based free-flowing discussion or
presentation, followed by discussion)
4-6 minutes for each task
Stimulus: 30 words in bullet point shape or mind map format
ASSESSMSENT FOR UNIT 4:
Controlled ongoing assessment
200 words
2 pieces of work
Access to dictionary allowed
Stimulus: instructions or scenario outline in English
No feedback on preparatory work
There will be two Geography exams at the end of Year 11. Each exam will last for 1
and a half hours and each will count towards 37.5% of your overall GCSE grade. The
remaining 25% is based on your coursework grade.
Topics to revise;
Physical Geography Exam
Restless Earth
Living World
Water on the Land
Geography
Human Geography Exam
Population Change
Changing Urban Environments
Tourism
Coursework
(Controlled Coursework) – Historical Enquiry – One internally assessed task
based on The American Civil Rights movement 1945-1972.
(2000 words and 25% of the marks)
Coursework
(Controlled Coursework) - Historical Enquiry - History Around Us A
controlled assessment based on externally set questions but using
Chedworth Roman Villa or other appropriate local sites selected by the
school. (2000 words and 25% of the marks)
Examined Topics
(Paper 1) Part 1 – The Cold War 1945 -1990.
Including the Origins of the Cold War, The Cuban Missile Crisis and the
Vietnam War
Part 2 – Germany 1918 -1945. The rise and fall of Nazi Germany.
(2 hour exam 45% of the mark)
(Paper 2) - How was British society changed between 1890 and 1918?
Including The Welfare Reforms 1900-1918, Votes for Women and the
Home Front in WWI
(1hour 30 min exam 30% of the mark)
Examined Topics
(Paper 1) Part 1 - Medicine Through Time development study Stone
Age, Egyptians Greeks Romans, Dark/Middle Ages, Industrial
Revolution, 20th Century developments
Part 2 - The American West 1840 – 1895 depth study
(2hour exam, 45% of marks)
(Paper 2) – Historical Source investigation from a British aspect of
Medicine through Time.
(1hour 30 min exam, 30% of marks)
Choice 1 – Schools History Project GCSE Choice 2 – Modern World GCSE
Exam Board - OCR Exam Board - OCR
Unit 1 listening (20%)
Unit 3 reading (20%)
TOPICS: Out and about (visitor information, weather, local amenities,
accommodation , public transport, directions)
Customer service and transactions (cafes and restaurants, shops,
dealing with problems
Personal information (general interests, leisure activities, family and
friends and lifestyles
Future plans, education and work (basic internet language, simple
job adverts, simple job applications and CV, school and college and
work/work experience)
Unit 2 speaking (30%)
Unit 4 writing (30%)
TOPICS: Media and culture (music, film, fashion, celebrities, internet)
Sport and leisure (hobbies, sporting events, lifestyle choices)
Travel and tourism (holidays, accommodation , eating and drinking)
Business, work and employment (part-time jobs)
GermanASSESSMENT FOR UNIT 2:
Controlled ongoing assessment
Prepare a task similar to real task 2 weeks before the date.
2 speaking tasks
3 types (open interaction, picture-based free-flowing discussion or
presentation, followed by discussion)
4-6 minutes for each task
Stimulus: 30 words in bullet point shape or mind map format
ASSESSMSENT FOR UNIT 4:
Controlled ongoing assessment
200 words
2 pieces of work
Access to dictionary allowed
Stimulus: instructions or scenario outline in English
No feedback on preparatory work
Factors and primes
Indices and standard form
Surds
Fractions
Decimals
Rounding, estimating and bounds
Percentages
Ratio and proportion
Expanding, factorising and
simplifying expressions
Sequences
Writing and solving equations
Straight line graphs
3-D coordinates
Real life graphs
Maths-GCSE higher tier topicsFormula
Inequalities
Other graphs (quadratic, cubic, k/x
and ax)
Trial and improvement
Simultaneous equations
Quadratics
Equation of a circle
Algebraic fractions
Angles
Plans and elevations
Perimeter, area and volume
Pythagoras (inc 3-D)
Trigonometry (inc 3-D, sine rule and
cosine rule)
Compound units
Congruent and similar shapes
Bearings, scale drawings and maps
Constructions and loci
Transformations
Circle theorems
Vectors
Collecting data and sampling
Graphs and charts
Averages and ranges
Histograms
Cumulative frequency and box plots
Scatter graphs
Probability and tree diagrams
Maths- GCSE foundation topics
Place value, rounding and estimating
Adding, subtracting, multiplying and
dividing
Decimals
Negative numbers
Squares cubes and roots
Factors, multiples, primes, HCF, LCM
Fractions
Percentages
Ratio
Collecting like terms, simplifying
Indices
Expanding and factorising
Sequences
Writing and solving equations
Trial and improvement
Inequalities
Substitution and formula
Coordinates
Straight line graphs
Real life graphs
Quadratic graphs
Angles
Bearings
Scale drawings and maps
Congruent and similar shapes
Time and timetables
Units
Perimeter and Area (inc circles)
3-D shapes
Plans and elevations
Volume and prisms
Constructions and loci
Transformations
Pythagoras’ Theorem
Collecting data
Graphs and charts
Averages and range
Probability
Media
Exam topic- Science Fiction Films
Within this students will need to know:
Audience Theory
Conventions
Media Language
Institutional aspects
Films & Franchises
Representation
Music
Concentrate on developing your listening skills
Revise vocabulary for;
Rhythm and Metre
Harmony and Tonality
Texture and Melody
Timbre and Dynamics
Structure and Form
Strands
The Western Classical Tradition
Popular Music of the 20th and 21st
Centuries
World Music
The participant as an individual (Age, Disability, Gender, Culture, Physique, Environment, Risk & Challenge, Activity Levels & Needs, Training)
Physical & Mental Demands of Performance (Fatigue & Stress, Injury, First Aid & Emergency arrangements, The Respiratory System – Aerobic, The Respiratory System –
Anaerobic, The Circulatory System, The Cardiovascular System)
Leisure & Recreation (Leisure, Recreation)
Diet (Maintaining a balanced Diet, Specific Diets)
Health Fitness & a Healthy, Active Lifestyle (General Health, Healthy Active Lifestyle, The Structure of The Skeletal System, The Structure of The Muscular System, The
Role of The Muscular System, Components of Fitness, Skill Related Components of Fitness, Skill Acquisition)
Training (Principles of Training: Specificity & Progression, Principles of Training: Overload & Reversibility, Aspects of Training, Circuit Training, Weight Training, Further
Training)
School and Physical Education (National Curriculum Requirements, National Healthy Schools Programme, Extra-Curricular Provision)
Organisation Influences (Sport England, National Governing Bodies, Youth Sport Trust, The Dame Kelly Homes Legacy Trust)
Cultural & Social Factors (Social Aspects, Social Groupings)
Opportunities for Further Involvement (Physical Activity Roles, Vocational Opportunities, Further Qualifications, Cross-Curricular Activities)
International Factors (International Sporting Events, The Olympic Games, Competitions)
Social Factors (The Role of The Media, The Influence of The Media, The Role of Sponsors, The Influence of Sponsorship, Role Models, Health & Safety, Sport & Equipment
Rules, Science in Sport, ICT in Sport)
Physical Education
Product Design
Classification and working properties of materials
• Paper/card
• Timber based materials
• Ferrous and non ferrous metals
• Plastics
• New materials
• Manipulating and Combining Materials
Design and Market Influences
• Evolution of Product Design
• Design in Practice Product development
• Communication and representation of ideas
• Design Methodology
• Packaging
• Product marketing
• Quality
Design in the Human Context
• Human factors
• Safety
• Ethical, Environmental and
• Sustainability Issues
• Consumer issues
Processes and Manufacture
• Product Manufacture
• Industrial and Commercial Practice
• Methods of production
• Manufacturing systems
• Use of ICT (Information and
• Communication technology
Religious Studies
Part 1 Philosophy
1. Beliefs about Deity
2. Religious and Spiritual
experience
3. The end of Life
4. Good and Evil
5. Religion, reason and revelation
6. Religion and science
Part 2 Ethics
7. Religion and human
relationships
8. Religion and medical
ethics
9. Religion, poverty and
wealth
10. Religion and the media
Science – Mocks
Triple award classes (Students will sit 3 papers.
B2, C2 and P2 (1 hour each)
All of B2 - Cells, tissues & organs. Organisms in
the environment. Enzymes. Energy from
respiration. Simple inheritance in animals and
plants. Old and new species.
All of C2 - Structure & bonding. Structure &
properties. Masses, moles and yield. Rates and
energy. Salts & electrolysis.
All of P2 - Motion. Forces. Work, energy &
momentum. Current electricity. Mains
electricity. Radioactivity. Energy from the
nucleus.
Double award classes (Students will sit 1 paper 1.5 hours long
(either foundation or higher) with selected parts of B2, C2 and
P2)
From P2 - Motion, forces & speed issues.
From C2 - Bonding, metals. polymers and nano science. Rates
of reaction, reversible reactions and yield. Masses & moles
From B2 - Cells, cell division and sexual reproduction.
Inheritance. stem cells. Evolution. Aerobic respiration,
anaerobic respiration & effects of exercise on the body.
Single award classes
Students will sit 1 paper 1 hour long with selected parts of B1,
C1 and P1
Science GCSE exams
Triple award classes
6 exams (1 hour each)
B2, C2 & P2 for additional
science (See revision guide for
individual topics)
B3, C3 & P3 for further
additional science (See revision
guide for individual topics)
Double award classes
3 exams (1 hour each)
B2, C2 & P2 for additional science (See
revision guide for individual topics)
Single award classes
3 exams (1 hour each)
B1, C1 & P1 for core science (See revision
guide for individual topics)
Unit 1
Studying society- (what is sociology (how does it differ from
psychology and journalism), key concepts eg-culture, norms,
values, socialisation, research methods and the research
process, Pilot studies and samples, social surveys,
questionnaires, structured and unstructured interviews, group
interviews, participant observation, longitudinal studies,
official statistics, primary and secondary data, ethical issues,
sociology and social policy.)
Families
(definition and types of family, theoretical approaches to the
family, conjugal roles, relationships between children, parents
and grandparents, trends in family life (decline of nuclear
family), demography (life expectancy etc), changing patterns of
marriage and divorce
Education
(The functions of education, the development of the UK
education system, government policy and education, factors
affecting achievement eg gender, class, ethnicity)
Sociology Unit 2
Crime and deviance- (definitions, Sociological explanations for
deviant behaviour, crime statistics, patterns of involvement in
crime (age, gender, ethnicity, class), victims of crime, youth
crime)
Mass Media
Definitions and developments, researching effects of mass
media on audience, mass media and socialization, ownership
of media, agenda setting and news selection, representation of
different groups, effects of the internet, moral panics and
deviance amplification
Social Inequality
Definitions and forms of stratification, Explanations of social
class, measuring social class, inequalities based on gender,
ethnicity and age, wealth distribution, social mobility, poverty -
definitions and explanations, significance of social class.
Unit 1 listening (20%)
Unit 3 reading (20%)
TOPICS: Out and about (visitor information, weather, local amenities,
accommodation , public transport, directions)
Customer service and transactions (cafes and restaurants, shops,
dealing with problems
Personal information (general interests, leisure activities, family and
friends and lifestyles
Future plans, education and work (basic internet language, simple
job adverts, simple job applications and CV, school and college and
work/work experience)
Unit 2 speaking (30%)
Unit 4 writing (30%)
TOPICS: Media and culture (music, film, fashion, celebrities, internet)
Sport and leisure (hobbies, sporting events, lifestyle choices)
Travel and tourism (holidays, accommodation , eating and drinking)
Business, work and employment (part-time jobs)
Spanish
ASSESSMENT FOR UNIT 2:
Controlled ongoing assessment
Prepare a task similar to real task 2 weeks before the date.
2 speaking tasks
3 types (open interaction, picture-based free-flowing discussion or
presentation, followed by discussion)
4-6 minutes for each task
Stimulus: 30 words in bullet point shape or mind map format
ASSESSMSENT FOR UNIT 4:
Controlled ongoing assessment
200 words
2 pieces of work
Access to dictionary allowed
Stimulus: instructions or scenario outline in English
No feedback on preparatory work
Good luck all the best
with your exams!“There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs”
Author unknown