Revision Courses

Easter Revision Courses - March to April 2009

Why take an Easter Revision Course ?

Examination preparation and practice needs to begin early, during the Easter holidays. However, it may not be easy to do this when you are away from your teachers and your usual daily timetable.

A structured Easter Revision Course including subject knowledge, study skills, examination preparation and practice with detailed feedback from teachers on strengths and weaknesses is an excellent way of starting your revision and increasing your confidence and motivation.

Some students may:

• have gaps in their subject knowledge
• have realised that they should have worked harder during the course
• lack examination technique
• find it difficult to motivate themselves to revise
• wish to maximise their revision efforts
• be on the borderline between grades and wish to ensure the higher grade

An Easter Revision Course can address all these concerns.

Subject Knowledge

Students are encouraged to tell their teachers about any gaps or areas of weakness in their knowledge or notes at the beginning of the course. These can then be specifically addressed in lessons so that students will leave the course being able to perform consistently well in all their examinations. Regular short tests will be given.

Study Skills

All courses begin with an introductory Study Skills session covering topics such as organisation, routine and time management, reading strategies, note-making, summarising, essay planning and structure, revision techniques. Students will be encouraged to reflect upon the learning methods that suit them personally and to draw up their own revision timetables.

Examination Preparation

Students will be taught both general and subject specific skills for examinations, for example timing, question selection, identification of assessment objectives. Examiners’ Reports, which give clear guidelines on how marks are allocated, will be studied in detail.

Examination Practice

During the Revision Course, teachers will introduce mark schemes and model answers, help students plan and write answers to specific examination questions, ask then to mark sample scripts so that they understand precisely how examiners allocate marks. Towards the end of the course, students will sit an examination paper or papers under examination conditions and, afterwards, receive their marks and feedback from the teacher.

Feedback from Teachers

As tuition is either one to one or in small groups, there is plenty of opportunity for teachers and students to discuss problems and progress. All teachers of Easter Revision Courses are experienced in teaching GCSE and/or A level classes and some are also assistant or senior examiners for the Examination Boards.

Course Structure

Most GCSE, AS and A2 specifications are offered. However, there may be some restrictions on days or weeks with regard to subjects where topics or set texts vary among the Examination Boards, for example English Literature, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Classical Civilisation. Please contact us for details.

Last Step Revision (April - June)

'Study leave' can begin and some students are still unsure about areas of the curriculum or what the examinations will entail. A 'last step' course can address these concerns and give focused timed examination practice with detailed feedback from teachers. It is also an opportunity for structured revision away from the distractions of home.

Lessons (mostly individual) can be scheduled during the day (9am - 5pm), evening (5pm - 8pm) or Saturday mornings (10am - 1pm).

International Examinations Revision Courses

One-week revision courses for individuals or groups in

IGCSE

• English First Language (0500)
• English Second Language (0510)
• English Literature (0486 - both open and closed texts)

Cambridge International O level

• English Literature (1123)
• Literature in English (2010)

Cambridge International A level

• English Language (8693)
• English Literature(9695)
• Language and Literature in English (8695)

are held September/October (for November entries) and March/April (for June entries).

Other subjects, for example Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, may also be available.

For groups we also offer a package of revision lessons and activities with accommodation in host families. Teaching is five or six hours a day and evening and weekend activities are arranged.

Sample Timetable