Learn how to develop your skills here
Learn how to develop your skills here
HOW TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY WRITING
Highlighters, if used properly can have a huge impact on a student in terms of developing their extended writing skills. They should be used to highlight the connectives needed when addressing a specific command term.
For example, if you are asked to compare and contrast, once you have finished your answer, highlight the connectives you have used to answer the question properly. If you only highlight one/two connectives, then you most likely haven't answered the question properly which means your answer can be improved. If on the other hand, you have 4/5 connectives highlighted, then you know you are answering the question right in terms of skill requirements.
Top tips for students:
Use a different colour highlighter to address a different skill
For example - orange - effect (as a result/therefore/this could lead to)
Green - evaluation - to conclude, my most important reason, short term/long term, however, even though
Blue - application/linking - data/facts/figures/stats/ key information from a case study
Yellow - compare and contrast - connectives that either compare or contrast
Watch the examples below.
EVERY MARK MATTERS
HOW TO: LIST / STATE / IDENTIFY / SUGGEST
DIFFICULTY LEVEL - EASY
These types of questions usually carry low marks. They are just testing your ability to recall knowledge and demonstrate understanding.
How to answer:
Keep your answers short so you can move on quickly to more challenging questions that carry more marks.
Bullet point them and move on.
Do not write a paragraph as you will be wasting time. You will need every minute of the exam, especially towards the end which is where the higher marked questions will be.
Example 1: State two functions of the liver (Biology)
(1) Production of bile (2) Store and release glucose as needed
Example 2: List two features of a sole trader (Business Studies)
(1) Unlimited liability (2) The owner gets to keep all the profits
Watch
How to list/state/identify/suggest
(new spec 2018 examples included)
Subject-specific examples
AQA GCSE Chemistry - Specimen question paper 1H (First exams 2018)
Question: Use the spectra to identify the two metal ions in the mixture (2m)
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calcium ions
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sodium ions
AQA GCSE Geography - Specimen question Paper 2 (FIrst exams 2018)
Question: Suggest two reasons for the slow rate of urban growth in many higher income countries (HICs) (2m)
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In many HICs, the process started earlier than LICs and NEEs so the vast majority of people moved to the cities when the industry was developing
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Many cities are already overcrowded in HICs so some people are tending to move to rural areas
AQA GCSE Business Studies - Specimen question paper 1 (First exams 2018)
Question: Identify two methods of external growth that a business could choose (2m)
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Takeover
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Merger
AQA GCSE Physics - Specimen question paper (First exams 2018)
Question: The National Grid ensures that fossil fuel power stations in the UK only produce about 33% of the total electricity they could produce when operating at a maximum output. Suggest two reasons why (2m)
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conserves fuel reserves
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spare capacity to compensate for unreliable renewable resources
AQA GCSE Chemistry - Specimen question paper 1H (First exams 2018)
Question: Suggest one improvement that could be made to the apparatus used that would give more accurate results. Give a reason for your answer (1m)
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Use a pipette/burette to measure the acid because it is more accurate volume than a measuring cylinder.
AQA GCSE Biology - Specimen paper 1H (First exams 2018)
Question: Scientists produced a single plant that contained a TMV-resistant gene. Suggest how scientists can use this plant to produce many plants with the TMV-resistant gene (1m)
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Take (stem) cells from the meristem
AQA GCSE Economics - Specimen paper 1H (First exams 2019)
Question: State two sectors of the economy (2m)
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Primary
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Secondary
GCSE Design and Technology - Specimen question paper Paper 1 (First exams 2019)
Question: State two reasons why corrugated cardboard is used as packaging for cooked pizzas (2m)
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Strength to weight ratio so that it can be easily carried but supports the weight of the pizza
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Low cost in comparison to other packaging materials which makes it cost effective for retailers