Steps to success: 

To move your current grade of a 3 to an actual grade 4 

• Using your most recent assessment highlight the areas that you have performed worst in. Begin your revision focussing on these areas.  
• Use the PLT document that you have been given in lesson and has been placed on class charts to help you with this a plan for revision if you do not already have one. 
• Know your keywords – without precise keywords it is very easy to lose 2/3 marks in a 4-mark question. 
• Use the check and challenge activities on GCSE pod to check your understanding of key areas. 
• Use the pods to make notes to help with your revision 
• Use www.teach-ict.com in the J277 section to complete the exam style questions. These are very useful as you can compare your answer with a model answer. 

To move your current grade of a 4 to an actual grade 5 

• Know your keywords – without precise keywords it is quite easy to lose 2/3 marks in a 4-mark question. 
• Know it, list it, test it – write down what you already know about a topic BEFORE using your revision guide or a podcast from GCSE pod, then as your read / listen to  it make a list of any new information. Then cover that text and try and re-write the original test and new information from memory. This is particularly useful topics such as systems architecture and the methods for sorting and searching algorithms. 
• Use your plt list to focus your revision on the areas that you performed weakest in during your last assessment. 

To achieve the highest grades  

• Create spider diagrams / mind maps to link related topics and concepts together. This works particularly well for topics such as network topology and systems architecture etc. 
• Check your understanding using past papers and mark schemes and the practise questions on www.teach-ict.com and check and challenge on www.gcsepod.com. (Past Papers and mark schemes have been put on class charts for you). When you are using the mark schemes, pay attention to not only the correct and acceptable answers but also the unacceptable answers which remind you to avoid them in the GCSE examination. This is also especially useful for the 8, and 12, mark questions. 
• Practice, Practice, Practice – programming is like learning a foreign language. You can practise Python using the free Python software and also free Python apps.  
• Revise frequently using small chunks of time as has been modelled in lessons. 

For all students it is also beneficial to attend the after -school revision sessions and complete all homework tasks.