GCSE Exam tricks

GENERAL ADVICE Listening Write one letter in the answer box e.g. A You will not gain a mark if you write more than one, even if one of the letters is correct. If you want to change your answer, cross out your wrong answer and write your changed answer next to the answer box. Ensure your writing is clear and legible. Always look at and follow the example where given. Learn vocabulary. Learn words a few at a time but on a regular basis. Set yourself a target of perhaps 5 words a day.. Over five days you will have learned 25 words. Always listen to the whole item before writing your answer. Use the 5 minutes reading time wisely and pay careful attention to those questions which ask you to answer by writing in English. Pick out key words and focus on question topic areas. Students should be aware that when a question asks for the main reason, there will be more than one reason given in the recording and only the main reason must be written down as the answer.

GENERAL ADVICE Reading Write one letter in the answer box e.g. A You will not gain a mark if you write more than one, even if one of the letters is correct. If you want to change your answer, cross out your wrong answer and write your changed answer next to the answer box. Ensure your writing is clear and legible. Always answer in English if the question requires you do so. Read the questions first as they will give you an idea of what the text is about. Read the question carefully. Underline the key question word. In P, N and P+N questions, note that all three options will be used, ie there will always be at least one P, one N and one N+P in the answers’. (AQA exam report). Always follow the example – if the example is a one word answer, ONLY write one word. If an answer asks for two points, only include two points. You will not gain any extra marks by writing more because the examiner will only mark the first two. If a word is written in bold in the question it means that you must focus on that word and take account of it when giving your answer. If a question has exact or exactly in it this means that you must give full details or give a longer answer to be awarded the mark. The questions normally relate to the order that the information is given in a text, especially if the questions relate to a longer text and you are required to answer in English. This means that the first questions will most probably relate to the first part of the text. Don’t get halfway through a text and assume that you have found the right answer. Now is not the time to be lazy! Double check that you have not missed anything which would contradict the answer, eg negatives, opinions from different people or about different things! Look out for verbs and other clues such as tenses, names, times, opinions, reasons… Watch out for negatives, especially when one short word can change the whole meaning, (no… in Spanish). Double negatives can be positive eg no es malo – it isn’t bad = it is good! The higher paper is very long, so don’t waste time, but do answer every question. Never leave a gap. Have a guess – you may be right!

GENERAL ADVICE Reading Write one letter in the answer box e.g. A You will not gain a mark if you write more than one, even if one of the letters is correct. If you want to change your answer, cross out your wrong answer and write your changed answer next to the answer box. Ensure your writing is clear and legible. Always answer in English if the question requires you do so. Read the questions first as they will give you an idea of what the text is about. Read the question carefully. Underline the key question word. In P, N and P+N questions, note that all three options will be used, ie there will always be at least one P, one N and one N+P in the answers’. (AQA exam report). Always follow the example – if the example is a one word answer, ONLY write one word. If an answer asks for two points, only include two points. You will not gain any extra marks by writing more because the examiner will only mark the first two.

GENERAL ADVICE Reading If a word is written in bold in the question it means that you must focus on that word and take account of it when giving your answer. If a question has exact or exactly in it this means that you must give full details or give a longer answer to be awarded the mark. The questions normally relate to the order that the information is given in a text, especially if the questions relate to a longer text and you are required to answer in English. This means that the first questions will most probably relate to the first part of the text. Don’t get halfway through a text and assume that you have found the right answer. Now is not the time to be lazy! Double check that you have not missed anything which would contradict the answer, eg negatives, opinions from different people or about different things! Look out for verbs and other clues such as tenses, names, times, opinions, reasons… Watch out for negatives, especially when one short word can change the whole meaning, (no… in Spanish). Double negatives can be positive eg no es malo – it isn’t bad = it is good! The higher paper is very long, so don’t waste time, but do answer every question. Never leave a gap. Have a guess – you may be right!

Listening June 2016 Hija única Césped Hermanos Religión Ciudad Energía Pueblo Recargar Americana Marea negra Inglesa Encontrar Dar un paseo Están limpiando Partido Zonas al aire libre Comprar Enfermos Regalo Dejará de llover Bocadillos Nieto Hambre Pescado A la derecha de Pez Detrás de Peces Delante de Centro Terrazas

Reading June 2016 Plaza Mascota Patatas fritas Soler Hamburguesas Revistas Universidad Mano Casi Mejores Respuestas. Discoteca ‘light Tener suerte Ya no Tranquilo Tiene que pedirles dinero Turístico Maleducados (not badly educated) Allí (not alley) Sensible (not sensible) Plaza ( square) Comercio (not commercials) Playa Mano (not manly) Demasiado, Saludar (not healthy) Lento a Mascota (not a mascot) Transporte público Dinero (not dinner) Infantil Tienda (shop and tent) Pequeños Notas (notes and marks). Cantante. Sobre todo, lo mejor, lo peor, más que nada, lo que más me gusta etc Inmigración Me hacen + infinitive. Alojamiento Aprobar Problema /inconveniente. Repasar Contento/feliz

Listening June 2014 Calefacción Radiadores Padres Parientes Estudiaré Vivir Beber Las drogas Pescado Sopa Helado Travieso Perezoso Vender

Reading June 2014 Al lado de un parque Todos los días El conejo Después de Perder Seguir Preparar Cambiar Platos Concursos Trabajador Correo electrónico Medio ambiente Nadie Nunca Hartos Decepcionados Un poco Hace Perder peso Escritores Recargar pilas Crear Apuntes Aprender Violencia Paro

Listening June 2013 Compañeros Cambiar Lectura Reducir Comprar Aumento Novelas Menor Basura Número Gimnasio Pájaro Piscina Incendio Empleados Bosque Poco Río Evitar Probablemente Los platos Ocurrirá Con grasa Otra vez Médicos Con víctimas Comer El sida Algo El acoso Saludable Las cosas Antes de Casarse Salir Por segunda vez De casa Por la mañana Dieciocho Pollo Teatro Camping Mochila Ordenador

Reading June 2013 Banco Tercer mundo Economía Material Quince años Violentos Quince euros Legal/ilegal, Pero lo más difícil para mí es Paro/desempleo Mantenerse en forma Aburren Fascinan Impresionantes Vuelos gratuitos Libres Gracioso Ya no Tanto Atasco Hace falta A veces Preocuparse Discutir ¡Qué equivocada estaba! Mayores Organizar conciertos benéficos Inundaciones

Listening January 2013 Camiseta Cenan Descansar Investigar una historia Flores Entrevistar a la gente Lento Emborracharse Ruido Vaqueros Toco la batería Comportamiento Guitarra Hijos únicos Sacar buenas notas Acostarse Hacer ejercicio Simpática Postre. Amable Pendiente Barba Perezoso Electricidad A pie Andar Mar Instituto Parque Servir Propinas

Reading January 2013 Coche Cómodo Eso lo comprendo Estropear Comer chicle Oído Nuevo Odio Muebles Flor Concurso Amenaza Vestido Cristal Camisa Calefacción Corbata Sequía Camiseta Tires Pantalón corto Más que nada Niños Nunca Matrimonio Siempre Ambición Buenas intenciones

Listening June 2012 Me fastidia Cómodo Cuando Orejas Es cariñosa Empezar Quiero mucho Empresa Pierde Emprendedor La paciencia Río Llamar Ejército Llamar al supermercado Talla Aprobar Prueba Demasiados Alumnos Bebé Seis Flores Canción Cantó Concierto Cantar Benéfica Tienda con fines benéficos Bigote

Reading June 2012 Me fastidia Hacer los deberes Respetar opiniones Descansar Controlar mi vida Jugando a las cartas Mismos Campo Propio Camping No tengo que Ordenadores Nadie Pantalla Molesta Enseñar idiomas Nadie me molesta Banco Nada T acceder a mi cuenta No hay nada bueno Correo electrónico Estar harto de (Propio) Ducha Estoy seguro de que Cama Al fondo Comida Debajo de Sana Está orgulloso de ti Caliente Llevarse bien/mal con alguien Limpia A menudo Diferente Ahora No es verdad Aun peor Aparte En lugar de ¡Qué mala suerte! Poco probable Si Sí

Listening January 2012 Conejo Emborracharse Divertido Cuidarse Guapo Reservar las entradas Campo Mirar el periódico Iglesia Compro los libros Ganar Sueldo Recibir Hígado

Reading January 2012 Alojarse Helado No nos dan demasiados deberes Escoger Los profesores ayudan mucho Sobre todo Redonda Ultimo De cuero Ganas Aburrido Ahorrar dinero Genial Cómo Pollo

Listening June 2011 El lago Punto de cerrar Revistas Todo el mundo Botas Compra por ordenador Cartón Siempre Residencia de ancianos Busco Recogiendo basura En la red Limpiando el río Miro el precio Prácticas laborales Monasterio Sabes que Mezquita Mis tíos Egoístas Peluquería Vago El mes que viene Abuelos Pilas Esperar los resultados

Reading June 2011 Me fastidia Compartirlo Me molesta Todos los dias Siempre Diseñar Nunca Páginas web De vez en cuando Sólo Matar Estar harto Peces Emborracharse Bolso de viaje Dormir Mochila No es esencial Maleta Huelen mal Equipaje de mano Seguir Mandar mensajes con mi móvil Evitar apoyar Fumar Organizar Fuegos Escribir Me encanta Llamar Canta Escoger Padres médicos Mi consola Estar en paro Este fin de semana Ella Comprar Meses Pero Enseñar Perro Aprender Quiero ser papá Nunca me insulta Fácil

Listening January 2011 No me gustaría Basura Vivir Escriben en las paredes En otro sitio Relaciones Fresas Casarse Yogur Gamberro Llamar a la recepción Reirse Mandar una carta Pasarás una noche Invierno Sin dormir. Nieve Mensajes de texto Móvil

Reading January 2011 A qué hora Llegar Paquetes Divertidas Hubo Tranquilo Variedad Necesita más Comida Es demasiado Un poco de Camarero Poco/a Repartir periódicos Me molesta Sala de juegos No tengo confianza en Tienda Centro comercial Servicios Piscina Cajas Entre un tren Bolsas Botellas Comodo Dormir ocho horas Acaba de Me gusta más Lo mejor Habladora Gracioso Latas