Y7 Exams - history and geography in particular - and physics

[Quinteszilla]

DS assessment has come through, and he has fallen from attainment 2 to 5 in History and Geography. He struggles with King John and the Battle of Hastings in particular. Are there any good resources I can find to help him revise?

He also blames Physics for his grades dropping in science.

I don't understand the gradings you mention as they are non-standard, but is it learning facts that is the problem or the actual skills for History.
eg Point Evidence Explain, talking about source bias and accuracy?

Bbc bitesize is ok

A visit to Battle itself might be useful. What did the assessment involve , was it a narrative or extract question ?

I think we may go to Hastings and Battle this weekend actually.
He has spent part of today on Bitesize, which is good.

I have a hard time understanding the grading system too, but I do know that they go from 5 at the bottom to 1 which is the top score!

The assessment was for work done between Christmas and now, which included review of submitted work, prep, and also topic tests.

For all of these subjects, at Y7 level, I think the BBC bitesize KS3 website is helpful.

Also CGP KS3 revision guides can be useful.

For History, does he know how to answer source questions and What/how/why questions?

Battlefield Britain on on Hastings is very good at explaining the background and why William won

Apart from that I would say have a look at what the assignment was and have a look at his finished work and go thru it with him and see what he hasn't done. e.g. maybe he has only 'told the story' without explaining cause and effect/evaluated sources etc.

Ask to meet or email teacher and ask what you can do to help your son improve his performance in the subject.

I would agree - Y7 DD uses KS3 Bitesize, which can be helpful.

Don't panic to much about his geography grade. First term of year 7 in most schools is learning map skills- very maths based work. Second term is usaly a case study or environmental issue-very English based and being able argue a point. Due to this kids often take a jump or a drop.
As others are saying make sure he can make a point give evidence and explain.
Find out what he is doing before you rush off and get revision guides.

I'm a Geography teacher - in Scotland it's not what a pp said, very topic based. Bite size is very good though.

"First term of year 7 in most schools is learning map skills- very maths based work."

Which would explain why he was graded a 2 and has dropped. He is in top set for maths..... I have looked through all his work books now, and it was indeed map based, coordinates etc. Not sure why he finds physics so hard though. Friction and electrics are the hardest parts. It could be the reasoning out.

For ethics he should decide if a statement was fact or an opinion, and he left out whether the statement "Cameron is the UK prime minister" was fact or opinion. Not sure what to make of that, as he knows who Cameron is.

Where can I find good general knowledge and current affair stuff for this age group, any idea?

His teacher should be offering you this advice. They should be monitoring his progress and supporting where needed with advice on websites/books. This drop in grades suggests that guidance is needed and I would expect a teacher to be leading the way

Before you do anything, just ask! If you have email contact for teacher, just email directly, saying the drop is a bit of a concern. Can they explain why he has fallen so much and what he needs to do to improve and if there is anything g you can do to help.
Have you had a good look at his ex book by the way? May well shed some light on it all.

Quality, I suspect advice to the pupil will be forthcoming after half term. Sounds like these grades were issued at the end of half term. It's not poss for teachers to follow them up this week, but they no doubt will It may well be that the teacher has already had a word with the child along the way about what is slipping. Unusual to get a drop from 2 to 5 with no warning....likely to be in comments in ex book, in class verbally etc.

It sounds like just a half termly report? So indicating where revision will have to be focused for end of year exams. I wouldn't worry too much about it at the moment but make sure he asks for help from the relevant teachers in the relevant areas - they may have a mentoring programme with older students helping in specific topic areas.

I'd double check what the numbers in his report mean. If it's Levels, then to go from level 2 to level 5 is going UP and he's perfectly on track.

Chances are 1 is the top level of attainment.

But yes, it would seem very sensible to check the information which came with the report. I must say I'm surprised you didn't do that before coming on here with your question.

As always, the school will be your best source of info about how your child is getting on.....we can't possibly know.

it would seem very sensible to check the information which came with the report. I must say I'm surprised you didn't do that before coming on here with your question.

Sensible yes, if any additional information were included in the report.

The report was made available online in the evening of Friday the 14th, I cannot ask anybody in school until after half term. I wanted to use the half term break for revisions, hence asking MN!
I am very appreciative of all the helpful posters who have pointed me in the right direction!

It is amazing how often one is criticized for asking a question, and how it is assumed that there other options. Nobody is compelled to answer, but is free to ignore thread.

In addition to the school being closed for half term, my son is a new pupil at the school, and it being secondary where mums/dads dont hang around and chat, I dont have any other parents to confer with either.

And if you read my OP Chocolatewombat, I did not ask for help with his grades, or understanding how he is assessed, but "Are there any good resources I can find to help him revise?"

'Physics' is very broad. Did he give any specific work in physics he struggled with to bring down his grade?

Quint, sorry if I upset you. I was replying to other posters as much as to you. Your question about materials for revision was put in The context of the report grades and almost everyone who posted commented on the report grades, not the revision materials, so the focus of posts seemingly moved. I'm sorry if it upset you.
I have looked at the thread again. I think I misread a post. For some reason, I thought YOullneedatray was the OP and I also thought she was saying she would go and check what the grades meant....so my comment about checking what the grades meant was to something I had misunderstood.

It is surprising to receive a report, even online, with no explanation of what grades mean. Perhaps you have had these kind of grades before with an explanation?
Going back to your question about revision materials, I wouldn't bother with extras for Year 7. Are there exams very soon? Most schools will do some revision with the kids before tests or exams and provide them with very focused revision materials....more useful than generic revision guides you might buy. Using his ex book and textbooks would prob be best. Even at GCSE extra revision materials are not really needed.
Apologies again for upsetting you.

Sorry chocolate, I overreacted massively. I am feeling totally at sea both to the whole secondary, grading system, and independent school situation. It is not helped by me feeling very foreign about the British school system in general.

My own parents never involved themselves in my schooling, my homework, or my grades. I just went to my local primary, moved up to my secondary, had exams at the end of Y9 and got into my high school of choice for years 10-13, and moved onto Uni with what seemed like the greatest ease in the world. A very different experience.

No probs Quint. It was my misreading of earlier posts.

I don't think you are alone in feeling as you do. Schools often forget this, as it is all day to day stuff for them.
Never be afraid to ask for clarification from the school and don't worry if your questions feel basic. It is their job to answer your questions and through those conversations everyone can provide a better education for your boy.
If I wasn't clear, I would want to know what the grading system means (effort and attainment grades) with descriptors for each. I would want to know when key assessments come during the year and how they are assessesed and how pupils are expected to prepare for them. I would want to know if any wider reading is expected or not. I'm probably a bit of a pest, because I do ask questions of the school all the time.....but at least I know and I think it makes them realise that they often need to give more info.
Best of luck with your son.

The problem is you don't know what syllabus the school is working to. So you could waste a lot of your child's time working on the wrong material. You really need to talk to school to get right info.

He has been working on whats in his work books. We have gone through every comment, and every topic, and he has filled in with bitesize and youtube videos explaining the physics bits in between. He has also been reading his text books.

We have been working pretty intensively. Me on my MBA work, and him on his school work, and ds2 on reading and bitesize also.

I am very happy we have a big dining table!