DS GCSE notes are almost useless

[mamamedic]

DS is in Year 11. Mocks in Nov and Feb. He's at a Grammar school but on track for 5/6 rather than 8/9. Very happy chap.

I had a look through his notes in various subjects. Shambolic. Bits of paper everywhere, no filing, no obvious order etc. Very limited useful content!

They don't look like they'll be v easy to learn/revise from. TBH I'd like him to ditch the note taking completely in all classes and just listen and learn.

So this is my question...Is it possible to pass your GCSEs by just using the AQA/Edexel/CGP books and revision guides from Amazon? Plus school textbooks and maybe a few online Science videos? Just NOT his notes?

AlexanderHamilton

The following is taken from the Ofqual website:
"How do the new grades relate to the old ones?
We have designed the grading so that there are comparable points at key grades. The bottom of a grade 7 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade A, the bottom of a new grade 4 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade C, and the bottom of the new grade 1 is comparable to the bottom of the old grade G. We have been clear to employers, universities and others that if they previously set entry requirements of at least a grade C, then the equivalent now would be to require at least grade 4."

They also use a table to illustrate this in their blog but it hasn't come through when I have tried to paste it. The government have used the terms good pass (5) and standard pass (4) but it doesn't mean that a standard pass ie. 4 is lower than the bottom of a C in the old GCSE.

Bertie that's very interesting, I strongly suspect DD has undiagnosed ADD. I think perhaps she finds revising from a textbook easier than organising her own notes.

Revision Guides give summaries, not all of the detail.

Particularly in essay based subjects, they can be a useful resource, but those alone are unlikely to get you the top grades. They are intended to be used in conjunction with other resources - so your exercise book which should have more detail, or your past papers you've done for end of unit or year tests or mocks.

Effective revision for most involves some form of note making - it can take all kinds of forms according to the learner, but returning to information and producing some kind of revision documents is really helpful. Top grade students often produce what are sometimes called 'super notes' - they might be asked to do it, or do it off their own backs and have no idea that it's 'super note making' - quite simply returning to text books and reading the whole chapter and summarising key themes and evidences. You could do this from a revision guide, but it doesn't have the detail that a text book will have.

Schools which don't provide text books I think seriously disadvantage their top students. I know it's all about money and they can't afford them, but for those who could get the top grades, the level of detail in a text book is really useful. I've often known good students or their parents ask teachers or students in schools that do use text books, which are good and go out and buy them....it can make a big difference and is absolutely not the same as using a website.

A revision guide is probably enough to get you a pass if you use it well, but for the higher levels, I'd say more is needed.

I'd query with his teachers why his books are in such a state and what they suggest he uses for revision and what school will be providing.

And I sat again, as a teacher, this advice is not correct. Best bet is to download the specification, get a cgp revision guide and workbooks and sign up to mygcse science which has really good advice and work aimed at higher grades. Text books are quite difficult to pick out the actual crucial facts needed.

mocha70
Not only that but a 9 isn't an A*. It's not a 7 is an A, 8 is A and 9 is A**.

The same % of students will get 7-9 as old A/A. It's more like a 7 is a low to mid A, the 8 is a high A to low/mid A and the 9 is the top of the A*. It's going from 2 grades to 3. Same for 4-6 being the old C/B. The divisions have changed to make a distinction between the very top few %.
I must admit I don't like comparisons to the old grades because they don't really map across brilliantly and they don't account for changes in specifications.
Plus I can see MN in the summer where people are increasingly driving themselves potty over DC being predicted a 9 when a 9 is norm referenced and changes each year and no school can actually predict a 9 without being daft.

What does your son want to do after GCSEs, OP?

He's not sure at all. The obvious route would be A levels and uni but I'm not sure that's right for him.

He has a twin who is mad about History and then wants to be a banker (!) He has an older sister who is applying to do Medicine. He just doesn't have the same ambition for his future.

If you asked him he'd say he'd like to be a PE teacher or work with animals. Maybe an animal physio?

I see UCAS do these exhibitions for young people to just see what's out there eg degrees, apprenticeships etc which I think we'll attend and see if that sparks anything!