Revision and Exams

Independent Study

At Leeds East Academy we are committed to supporting all pupils in being able to study and revise effectively independently. We have implemented a home learning policy centred around the knowledge organiser, and teachers use common techniques across the curriculum that are underpinned by evidence based research,s to support pupils in developing effective learning habits and revision techniques.

Knowledge Organisers

Each term every pupil will be issued with a knowledge organiser that provides the key powerful knowledge pupils need to be successful in the subject that term.

Every week, pupils will be directed to learn specific parts of their knowledge organisers by heart. This learning is then tested as an ‘Iterative’ activity at the start of a following lesson. Pupils are also expected to continually revise previously-learned knowledge. This is tested in end-of-term cumulative assessments.

View and download our Knowledge Organisers below.

Why do we use knowledge organisers?

GCSEs and BTECs have become more challenging, with many subjects having had controlled assessments (previously known as coursework) removed and replaced with additional exam papers. The focus of these exams is the retrieval and application of knowledge. This puts increasing pressure on pupils to know and retain even more information for longer.

Our short-term memory is designed to be just that and has limited capacity. Pupils find themselves unable to retain the information, they become stressed and often give up, convincing themselves they are no good at revising or that they “can’t do subject ‘x’ ”.

The secret to success is to regularly revisit the knowledge to be learned (known as ‘spaced retrieval’). This helps transfer the knowledge from the short-term memory to the long-term memory. This not only helps to make it ‘stick’ but it also frees up our short-term memory for day-to-day learning and experiences.

Using the Knowledge Organiser to Support My Child

Many parents ask us how they can help to support their child at home. Some are worried that they don’t have all of the subject-specific knowledge to be able to help their child. Other parents feel unsure about how to check that their child has done their home learning and revision.

The knowledge organisers will help parents to do this easily.

Here are some strategies that might help you to support your son/daughter.

• Read through the organiser with your son/daughter – if you don’t understand the content then ask them to explain it to you – ‘teaching’ you helps them to reinforce their learning.
• Try converting the information into a mind map or make your own version using clip art imagery if the organiser contains a lot of text. Display on the wall or the fridge door until the memory ‘sticks’.
• Test them regularly on the spellings of key words until they are perfect. Make a note of the ones they get wrong – is there a pattern to the spelling of those words?
• Get them to make a glossary (list) of key words with definitions or a list of formulae.
• Try recording the knowledge from the organiser as an mp3 sound file that your child can listen to. Some pupils retain more information this way.
• Read sections out to them, missing out key words or phrases that they have to fill in. Miss out more and more until they are word perfect.
• Once they are word perfect and can remember all of the knowledge on the organiser, use the internet or a book to find out more or ask the teacher for some (more) exam questions.

Video Strategies for Using the Knowledge Organiser

Coming Soon

Effective Revision Strategies

(Research taken from https://www.learningscientists.org/)

Here are the six most effective revision strategies and techniques according to current research. You should use these strategies to maximise the impact of the time you spend revising for all of the subjects you are studying. They are listed in order of impact on results (i.e. spaced practice will have the biggest impact on your progress).

The Leeds East Academy Revision Guide is now available both online and as a handy printed reference guide. The guide been created to help students achieve the best possible exam results this summer. Putting plans in place now and spreading revision over the coming weeks will be much more effective than trying to cram your revision immediately before your exams.   To view or download a printer-friendly PDF of the guide, click here.

Bound copies of the LEA Revision Guide are available throughout the Academy. Speak to your coach or contact Student Reception for more details.

Examinations 

Tips from ActionJacksonUK

ActionJacksonUK is a motivational speaker and youth coach. His number one passion is to make everyone into a champion. Click on the two videos for hints and tips on how to succeed: