Revision tips for Edexcel GCSE Mathematics – Higher tier Paper 2 (14th June 2013)

Kip McGrath Newcastle-North Tutors Blog

After analysing Paper 1 of the Edexcel (1MA0/1f) Linear – Higher tier GCSE Maths exam on 11th June 2013, here is a list of topics which have not yet been tested and are worth revising over the next few days.

Here goes:

• Questionnaires and Surveys
• Frequency polygon
• Pie Charts
• Scatter Graphs
• Conversion Graphs

• Mean / Average
• Median                    Averages and range questions
• Mode                       from frequency tables
• Range

• Experimental probability and predicting outcomes
• listing outcomes

• Angles on parallel lines (here is a good link)
• Angles in Polygons (interior and exterior)
• Constructions – triangles / quadrilaterals with protractors and or compasses
• Loci
• Circle Theorems

• Area calculations compound shapes
• Area and Circumference of circles
• For circles remember:   Area = π r ² Circumference = 2 π r  or   π d
• Arc…

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Phonics Screening Check ParentsGuide

What is the Phonics Screening Check?

The phonics screening check was piloted in June 2011 and rolled out nationally in 2012. The check focuses solely on decoding words using a phonetic approach.

Is this a reading test?

No, it is just a check on your child’s ability to decode words using phonics. The governments advisers believe phonics is the best way to teach early reading, many other experts believe that a mixed approach works best. (a previous blog post helps explain this)

What does my child have to do?

The screening check contains 40 words, divided into two sections of 20 words, both sections contain real words a made up words.

Made up words?

The made up words do test a phonetic approach, which is what the test is designed to do. The made up words do come with pictures of an imaginary creature to ensure they get some context and not match the pseudo-word to a word in their vocabulary.

Pictures and images of phonetic check.

 You said two sections of words, what are they?

The words in section 1 will have a variety of simple word structures:

CVC (consonant vowel consonant) eg bed

VCC eg all

CCVC eg trip

CVCC eg ring

These words are all made up of single letters, some consonant digraphs (ch, ck, ff, ng, sh, ss, th, zz) and frequent and consistent vowel digraphs (ar, ee, oi, oo, or)

Section 2 will have a variety of more complex words and structures:

CCVCC eg blank

CCCVC eg strap

CCCVCC eg splash

They may also add some additional consonant digraphs (ph and wh) some less frequent vowel digraphs, including split digraphs (a_e, ai, au, aw, ay, ea, e_e, er, ew, i_e, ie, ir, oa, 0_e, ou, ow, oy, ue, u_e, ur) and trigraphs (air, igh)

How does my child do the test?

Teachers administer the check one to one with your child, and simply record if your child’s response is correct or incorrect.

Do you have a practice check?

Yes, here is a sample test for you to try with your child.

A sample phonics check.

What is the pass mark?

The government uses the term ‘minimum standard’, but the pass mark is 32.

What if my child misses the minimum standard?

There are really two outcomes, all pupils who do not meet the minimum expected score will do a retest in June in Year 2. The second is really down to the class teacher, to use their professional judgement. Does the test show them something they didn’t already know, does it highlight a concern that needs addressing or are they happy with your child’s progress.

If you need further advice and help call Simon or Sally at Kip McGrath Ashford, 01233 626333 or send an email to simon@kipmcgrathashford.co.uk or book a FREE assessment through our website www.kipmcgrath.co.uk/Ashford

Related articles

• Phonics Screening Test Results 2012 (kipmcgrathashford.co.uk)
• Teaching Initial Consonant Blends (engagedineducationresources.com)

Summer-born hit by school streaming

A report on the BBC website by Angela Harrison today highlights the impact of streaming pupils at an early age.

The report, by the Institute of Education at London University, suggests that “by the age of seven, those born in September are three times as likely as those born in August to be in the top streams.”

The author of the report, Tammy Campbell, said “If teachers place younger pupils early in their school career in lower ability groupings, and older pupils in higher groupings, this hasty (and potentially premature) sorting may have a significant impact on subsequent differences in educational attainment.”

The study found that 97% of the children in the study were grouped by ability by the time they were seven – within their year, class, or both.

About a third were grouped within their year for English or maths and nearly 80% were grouped within their class for all or most lessons.

The report goes on to highlight that the research also suggests grouping by ability had a bad effect on children in the lowest groups.

This is thought to be because behaviour of both pupils and teachers can be affected and that such children might get fewer opportunities and be de-motivated.

My question is it a chicken or egg situation? Are children put into the top stream at a young age because they are older or more clever?

Our experience as teachers and parents of two children, one the youngest in her year, one the oldest is very interesting…. read on later.

Related articles

• Summer-born children suffer educational inequality, study finds (schoolsimprovement.net)
• Summer-born hit by school streaming (bbc.co.uk)
• Summer-born pupils ‘being stuck in lowest ability sets’ (telegraph.co.uk)

Phonics Screening Test Results 2012

Phonics Screening Test Results

This is one of the most common question I get asked by parents.

The initial answer is that there isn’t technically a “pass” score, but there is a benchmark score. (I know it’s a semantic argument but Sir Jim Rose, a Government advisor is quoted as saying that “the phonics screening check would give leverage to parents and help them get help if their children were below the minimum standard” )

Ideally it is seen as a diagnostic test of phonetic decoding and allows schools and teachers to make decisions about your child’s reading.

The draft 2012 Technical report has appeared in the government files recently (and took a huge amount of finding) which gives us more detail.

The benchmark score was……

32 out of 40.

The graph below from the draft report shows the breakdown percentages of each individual score.

Breakdown of 2012 Phonics Screening Test Scores

As a mathematician there are a few interesting comments relating to the above (but that’s for a new article!)

However the most important comment for a parent is that 58% of all year 1 students “achieved the expected standard or higher”

In a subsequent post I will add more detail to what is tested, a handy guide, some sample words to practice and the real words from the 2012 test.

Phonics Screening Test 2013

The DfE have confirmed that the phonics screening check will be administered during the week commencing 17 June 2013.

We will be publishing more posts this week that explain how the test is administered, the results from last year, some sample words and guidance and advice for parents.

Phonics screening test “pass rates”

As World Book Day approaches our colleagues in Kip McGrath Urmston, both working mums and teachers, give some invaluable advice on the most troubling question of the year: who should my child go as?

Impact Tuition & Dyslexia Centre Urmston

Ideas for World Book Day Outfits 2013

It is almost that time of year again – World Book Day. On the 7th March 2013, school children across the UK are encouraged to dress up as a favourite book character.

When it comes to World Book Day, parents tend to fall into 2 distinct categories; the ones whose hearts sink when that letter comes home and the ones who rub their hands with glee at the thought of the wonderful creative opportunity offered by a day of fancy dress at school. If, like me, you fall into the former group, try some of these ideas to avoid a)unwanted stress and panic b)tragically disappointed face on your child.

Although it can be fun to make your own costumes, if you are that way inclined, it can be too time consuming for many busy parents. Here in Urmston we are…

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GCSE Maths Revision Topics Edexcel Higher Tier 4th March 2013 1MAO/2H

Brian Pennock, the owner of Kip McGrath Newcastle has kindly listed the topics that didn’t appear on paper 1 of the edexcel maths exam.

Here goes:

• Translation
• Constructing shapes using compasses, protractors and rulers
• Volume and surface area
• Area and perimeter (circumference) including Circles
• Pythagoras theorem
• Trigonometry (SOH CAH TOA, sine rule and cos rule)
• Mean, median mode and range (raw data, frequency tables and grouped frequency tables)
• Sampling (describing random sampling, calculating sample size for stratified) sampling
• Stem and Leaf plots and Pie Charts
• Timetables problems
• Probability (listing outcomes, relative frequency etc)
• Quadratic graphs
• Gradients of graphs in the form y = mx + c or ax + by = c
• Inequalities (graphical and algebraically)
• Trial and improvement
• Writing expressions
• Substitution
• Simultaneous equations
• Equations of cirles (in the form  X² + y² = r² )
• Using a calculator and rounding (decimal places and significant figures)
• Estimation / Approximation (make sure you round those numbers even though you have a calculator)
• Surds (simplifying and rationalising the denominators)
• negative numbers

This is by no means an exhaustive list, however these topics have not yet been tested, Good luck to all with the final preparation and of course the exam on Monday 4th March.

Brian Pennock, the owner of Kip McGrath Newcastle has kindly listed the topics that didn’t appear on paper 1 of the edexcel maths exam.

Kip McGrath Newcastle-North Tutors Blog

After analysing Paper 1 of the Edexcel Maths GCSE (1MA0/1H) Higher Tier – Linear GCSE Maths exam on 28th February 2013, here is a list of topics which have not yet been tested and are worth revising over the weekend.

Here goes:

• Translation
• Constructing shapes using compasses, protractors and rulers
• Volume and surface area 
• Area and perimeter (circumference) including Circles
• Pythagoras theorem 
• Trigonometry (SOH CAH TOA, sine rule and cos rule)
• Mean, median mode and range (raw data, frequency tables and grouped frequency tables)
• Sampling (describing random sampling, calculating sample size for stratified) sampling
• Stem and Leaf plots and Pie Charts
• Timetables problems
• Probability (listing outcomes, relative frequency etc)
• Quadratic graphs
• Gradients of graphs in the form y = mx + c or ax + by = c
• Inequalities (graphical and algebraically)
• Trial and improvement
• Writing expressions
• Substitution
• Simultaneous equations
• Equations of cirles (in the form  X² +…

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Contest is the stuff of dreams

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Contest-stuff-dreams/story-18275701-detail/story.html#axzz2MDIqngtp

BEING able to paint the Earth from the moon and becoming a world-class pianist are some of the dreams of Ashford children.

Imaginations were fired at a half-term workshop at the Kip McGrath Education Centre in Norman Road.

Children were asked to produce creative writing explaining their dreams and all those who took part are being entered into a national competition.

Centre owner Sally Fisher said: “We had a really good turnout. One of the children wanted to go to the moon so she could look back at the Earth and paint it, somebody else wrote about being a pianist and one of the children said they just wanted to be happy and wrote all about what happiness means.”

A big thank you to the pupils of Ashford who gave up a day of their half term to write about their Big Dream.

Dream a Big Dream Writing Workshop

On Friday 22nd February we are holding our creative writing workshop, partly helping some of our students write their entry for the Dream a Big Dream writing competition.

We can’t wait to find out their dreams, whether large or small. We have space for 14 students and are close to capacity.

The local press has run with the competition and we expect one journalist to visit on the day.

We have an incredibly special and moving written piece from a very important person to read to our students, outlining their dream and how they achieved it.

Thanks to the Kentish Express and The Ashford Advertiser

 

Related articles

• Kip McGrath Competition Encourages Young People to Dream Big. (kipmcgrathashford.co.uk)