GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread

Discussion for GCSE students, including those studying for IGCSEs and O Levels.

Announcements Posted on
Important: please read these guidelines before posting about exams on The Student Room 28-04-2013
Sign in to Reply
  1. bsblitter's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 154
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    Can someone plz tell me what they think of this poetry essay....thanx in advance.


    Compare the methods used to show aspects of people’s lives in Night of the Scorpion (page 9) with the methods used to show aspects of people’s lives in one other poem. (27 marks)
    In both Night of the Scorpion and Blessing, the faith of the people is what allows them to deal with the situation despite the hardship they face in the beginning of the lack of water and of the “scorpion” that poisons the mother.
    In Night of the Scorpion, there is a belief that it is god who sends them the problems they face although they receive this with an open heart. In Blessing, the peasants recognise that it is the “voice of a kindly god” that can bring them back water. The idea of it being the “voice” suggests a lack of force and no need to even move which highlights both their belief in the omnipotence of god but also that perhaps the god is forgetting these people and not generous enough to give them just his voice. This ambiguity makes the readers feel sympathy for the peasants in the same way the peasants in Night of the Scorpion are felt sorry for because it was “steady rain that drove” the scorpion. Again, this highlights the fact that the driving force is known, god, and that they know he is the one capable of driving him back and yet they are weak and powerless against this. The reference to the “steady rain” suggests that there was an underlying threat throughout of this happening thus emphasising how helpless they are, they knew for “ten hours” that this would happen and yet they could not act to stop it.
    Despite this, they still have strong faith in the rescue that will come to them by God. This can be seen in the structure of both due to the extended use of punctuation which implies, although they pass through emotional times, they are able to control themselves. They are somehow punctuated by their faith so they do not worry too much of the scorpion and also do not forget that the water is a “blessing” from god in Blessing. In Night of the Scorpion, the peasants “buzzed the name of God a hundred times”. By comparing the peasants to bees that “buzz”, they are bing reminded that like other creatures and animals, they are also the creation of god and thus providing them with hope that he will save them. The “buzzing” is also continuous and limitless to highlight how strong their faith in their god is. The fact that they know the detail of it being “a hundred times” and the fact that it is the first thing the peasants do once they have “come” suggests maybe that they are familiar with these experiences and so know how to deal with them and are confident that this method works. In Blessing also there is “a congregation: every man woman child” once the water pipe has burst. Here the religious reference of the “congregation” highlights how occupied they are with their religion and its involvement in every aspect of their life. We find out why they are having a congregation. The lack of punctuation in the list of “man, woman and child” highlights the speed at which they are moving to the water and how like they are lost in a rushing crowd, they are also blurred in the sentence. It is as if the whole of society is coming to thank god for his gift which is why there is also a repetition of religious language in “a roar of tongues” that can be interpreted to metaphorically represent the choir in the church.
    The simplicity of their lives and their satisfaction can also be accounted to their religious faith. In Night of the Scorpion, at the end of the poem, the mother “only said thank God the scorpion picked me and spared my children”. This heightens the amount of faith that exists among them because the mother, with her selfless nature, believes that god saved her by sparing her children. In terms of structure, the word “god” is present between the “mother” and the “scorpion” to show that he is the only one who can solve the problem because he stands between her and the scorpion to protect her. The ending of Blessing also highlights how strong the faith of these people is in their religion. Despite the fact that they recognise that they have “small bones” (which may be used to highlight that they are more bones that flesh due to malnutrition and it is their bones which stick out) and that the light is “flashing” in warning and threat that this will not last, they argue that the blessing is still “singing” over them and keeping them hopeful.
    In conclusion, it is evident that there is extended reference to religion and religious experiences throughout and this comes out due to the difficult times that the people pass through. It is this strong faith that makes them able to deal with difficulties and allows them to accept the situation welcomingly as it is.
  2. Liam0324's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Location: South wales
    • Posts: 7
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    Thanks for this its very handy for me as im doing my first gcse exam even though im only in year 9 but thanks anyway
  3. JakeYO's Avatar
    • Full Member
    • Posts: 82
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    (Original post by bsblitter)
    Can someone plz tell me what they think of this poetry essay....thanx in advance.


    Compare the methods used to show aspects of people’s lives in Night of the Scorpion (page 9) with the methods used to show aspects of people’s lives in one other poem. (27 marks)
    In both Night of the Scorpion and Blessing, the faith of the people is what allows them to deal with the situation despite the hardship they face in the beginning of the lack of water and of the “scorpion” that poisons the mother.
    In Night of the Scorpion, there is a belief that it is god who sends them the problems they face although they receive this with an open heart. In Blessing, the peasants recognise that it is the “voice of a kindly god” that can bring them back water. The idea of it being the “voice” suggests a lack of force and no need to even move which highlights both their belief in the omnipotence of god but also that perhaps the god is forgetting these people and not generous enough to give them just his voice. This ambiguity makes the readers feel sympathy for the peasants in the same way the peasants in Night of the Scorpion are felt sorry for because it was “steady rain that drove” the scorpion. Again, this highlights the fact that the driving force is known, god, and that they know he is the one capable of driving him back and yet they are weak and powerless against this. The reference to the “steady rain” suggests that there was an underlying threat throughout of this happening thus emphasising how helpless they are, they knew for “ten hours” that this would happen and yet they could not act to stop it.
    Despite this, they still have strong faith in the rescue that will come to them by God. This can be seen in the structure of both due to the extended use of punctuation which implies, although they pass through emotional times, they are able to control themselves. They are somehow punctuated by their faith so they do not worry too much of the scorpion and also do not forget that the water is a “blessing” from god in Blessing. In Night of the Scorpion, the peasants “buzzed the name of God a hundred times”. By comparing the peasants to bees that “buzz”, they are bing reminded that like other creatures and animals, they are also the creation of god and thus providing them with hope that he will save them. The “buzzing” is also continuous and limitless to highlight how strong their faith in their god is. The fact that they know the detail of it being “a hundred times” and the fact that it is the first thing the peasants do once they have “come” suggests maybe that they are familiar with these experiences and so know how to deal with them and are confident that this method works. In Blessing also there is “a congregation: every man woman child” once the water pipe has burst. Here the religious reference of the “congregation” highlights how occupied they are with their religion and its involvement in every aspect of their life. We find out why they are having a congregation. The lack of punctuation in the list of “man, woman and child” highlights the speed at which they are moving to the water and how like they are lost in a rushing crowd, they are also blurred in the sentence. It is as if the whole of society is coming to thank god for his gift which is why there is also a repetition of religious language in “a roar of tongues” that can be interpreted to metaphorically represent the choir in the church.
    The simplicity of their lives and their satisfaction can also be accounted to their religious faith. In Night of the Scorpion, at the end of the poem, the mother “only said thank God the scorpion picked me and spared my children”. This heightens the amount of faith that exists among them because the mother, with her selfless nature, believes that god saved her by sparing her children. In terms of structure, the word “god” is present between the “mother” and the “scorpion” to show that he is the only one who can solve the problem because he stands between her and the scorpion to protect her. The ending of Blessing also highlights how strong the faith of these people is in their religion. Despite the fact that they recognise that they have “small bones” (which may be used to highlight that they are more bones that flesh due to malnutrition and it is their bones which stick out) and that the light is “flashing” in warning and threat that this will not last, they argue that the blessing is still “singing” over them and keeping them hopeful.
    In conclusion, it is evident that there is extended reference to religion and religious experiences throughout and this comes out due to the difficult times that the people pass through. It is this strong faith that makes them able to deal with difficulties and allows them to accept the situation welcomingly as it is.
    Solid A I'd say.
    Last edited by JakeYO; 11-05-2011 at 23:11.
  4. bsblitter's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 154
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    (Original post by JakeYO)
    Solid A I'd say.
    Thanks for the reply...how do I make it A*?
  5. JakeYO's Avatar
    • Full Member
    • Posts: 82
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
  6. JakeYO's Avatar
    • Full Member
    • Posts: 82
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    Obviously you would have to proof read it; as I can see a few typo's.
    You would also need to paragraph, and use 6 different types of punctuation (semi-colons and colons look good if you can use them).
  7. Chedders's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 5
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    This is a bit late, but if you're still looking for revision tips! :

    -Listen to audios like CRAZY! (good idea to listen to them when you go to bed, apparently it sinks in just as you fall asleep!)
    -Do exam papers and actually CORRECT WHAT YOU GOT WRONG! (they are the holy grail of all that is examination)
    -Go through the syllabus & highlight in traffic light colours things you find easy/okay/hard..then revise the hard things the most!
    -Write the things from the syllabus on little sticky notes and dot them around your bedroom. Then, when you finish revising those things, you can rip them off (uurrg the satisfaction <3). They should be all gone by the time you sit your exam!
    -Do bitesize activities
    -Write out notes
    -Put those notes on little cards then dot them around the house
    -During your revision breaks, get out of the place you're revising or you'll be sick of it!
    -DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Good idea to get rid of facebook during exam period too i've never done that but...er...you'll survive! O_O

    Good luck!
  8. Kidist 123's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 3
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    heyy guys I'm gonna be taking my IGCSE exams in june and i wanted to know if there were any good revision guides for additional math? Any tips would be great!
  9. ndheepa6's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 1
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    i am going to do my IGCSE soon...is revising the past year papers good enough for chemistry(0620) and additional mathematics paper (0606)? :confused:
  10. luqman15's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 172
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    where is the best place to get past papers from for Physics edexcel additional
  11. luqman15's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 172
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    you got any on English language on exams and P.E please got exams comming up.
  12. Jack59's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Location: Derbyshire
    • Posts: 305
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    Think this will come in handy! Got a ''Band 4'' in my English, which Is around equivalent to a B we were told. (The Crucible) So I think I'll be trying to get that to A-A* on of mice and men, so I can send that one of instead.
  13. tomfisher1's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Location: Cambridge
    • Posts: 74
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    Hey there I think that's a rather good poem. However my I suggest something called Rewise learning and another one called learn thru music. They helped me considerable and go along a similar trend to what you have shown.
  14. luqman15's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 172
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    Any for French Reading and Listning
  15. Kalliope's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 5,886
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    (Original post by luqman15)
    where is the best place to get past papers from for Physics edexcel additional
    Have you tried the Edexcel website? xtremepapers.com is good too. Good luck
  16. Zombieland's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 69
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    FOR ALL IGCSE & OLEVEL SUBJECTS


    http://umarsnotes.blogspot.com/
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
    http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse.html
    http://www.gcse.com
    http://www.revisioncentre.co.uk
    http://www.sparknotes.com
    http://www.frenchrevision.co.uk
    http://www.adamzone.co.uk
    http://www.gcsescience.com
    http://www.gcseguide.co.uk
    http://www.topmarks.co.uk
    http://www.englishbiz.co.uk
    http://www.crampuppy.com
    http://www.dineshbakshi.com/



    FOR ICT
    http://www.igcseict.info/theory/8/index.html
    http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse/gcse_topics.html
    http://tutor2u.net/revision_notes_ict.asp
    http://www.igcseict.info/theory/

    FOR BIOLOGY
    http://www.scribd.com/doc/54336596/IGCSE-Biology-Notes
    http://www.e-socrates.org/course/view.php?id=127

    FOR PHYSICS
    http://www.ray-revision.webs.com
    http://greennotes.com.sg/physics/

    FOR CHEMISTRY
    http://www.sparknotes.com/chemistry/
    http://web.pdx.edu/~wamserc/C335W00/default.htm
    http://www.chemguide.co.uk/

    For HISTORY
    http://socyberty.com/
    http://www.storyofpakistan.com/
    http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk
    http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk
    http://www.johndclare.net.uk
    http://www.historygcse.org
    http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk

    For GEOGRAPHY
    http://www.geographyalltheway.com
    http://www.nationmaster.com
    http://www.georesources.co.uk
    http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk
    http://www.census.gov
    http://www.globaleye.org.uk
    http://igcsegeog.wikispaces.com
    http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/geography

    FOR MATHS

    http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/gcse-maths.html
    http://w2.falmity.com/f/MathsSummary.pdf

    FOR SOCIOLOGY
    http://www.sociologyguide.com/
    http://www.angelfire.com/nv/verbigerate/sociology.html
    http://tutor2u.net/sociology/gcse-sociology.html

    FOR BUSINESS STUDIES
    http://business-tes.wikispaces.com/IGCSE - Business

    FOR ECONOMICS
    http://tutor2u.net/revision_notes_economics_gcse.asp
    http://www.o-alevel.com/p/2.html
  17. dippers's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Posts: 426
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    How can I revise for French WJEC and chemistry edexcel-I find chemistry quite hard due to the equations which I can't seem to get my head round. I have the revision guide for Chem.
  18. luqman15's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 172
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    is that the edexcel your on about
  19. Safiya122's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Posts: 572
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    go onto the get revising.co.uk website. Has a ton of things to help you to get the grade you want
  20. Niyi Aderounmu's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 25
    Re: GCSE Revision & Exam Tips Thread
    For Maths I'm currently using a CD called Maths Watch which covers up msot of the math topics of GCSE. For me it's better or quicker than using a textbook and you can memorise the method. However, I'd say that textbook is good because you have a variety of questions which help you get the topics in your head.

    So what I thought is first using the CD and then after going through my notes and using the textbook.
Sign in to Reply
Share this discussion:  
Article updates
Moderators

We have a brilliant team of more than 60 volunteers looking after discussions on The Student Room, helping to make it a fun, safe and useful place to hang out.

Reputation gems:
The Reputation gems seen here indicate how well reputed the user is, red gem indicate negative reputation and green indicates a good rep.
Post rating score:
These scores show if a post has been positively or negatively rated by our members.