Below are a range of free resources and links to help you with your revision. Subjects are listed alphabetically.
As GCSE courses progress, students may need additional revision resources to help them consolidate their knowledge and prepare fully for their GCSE exams. These resources can be expensive but, as a school, we can purchase in bulk at a discounted price. This Year 10 letter and this Year 11 letter will tell you more about purchasing revision guides through the school.
Computer Science and IT
There are a number of Computer Science & Information Technology revision guides which are available to purchase through the Finance office. These are invaluable and can be used throughout the course for homework, preparation for PIP assessments as well as in preparation for their mock and final exams.
Computer science specific websites
The exam board website give access to a range of examination reports, the specification, past papers and mark schemes – https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/computer-science-j277-from-2020/
Useful revision sites include:
BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zmtchbk
Craig’n’Dave Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0HzEBLlJxlrwBAHJ5S9JQg
Exa MOOC: https://courses.exa.foundation/
GCSE Pod: https://members.gcsepod.com/login/
Information technologies specific websites
Again the exam board website gives access to a range of examination reports, the specification, past papers and mark schemes – https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/information-technologies-level-1-2-j808/
MrBrown Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrIaluSo_OM&list=PL04uZ7242_M6-bJHYBn2UO5tGq-0LFcIv
GCSE Pod: https://members.gcsepod.com/login/
Geography
Geography revision at Vandyke:
Pupils are advised to obtain a revision guide which includes a workbook of questions to aid their work at home. These can be used for homework tasks or for straight revision purposes. Near to their exams they will be offered a chance to purchase a school case study book which should also help with their revision of specific places within the exam.
Further to this pupils are encouraged to use relevant websites and phone apps which will encourage them to revise or to simply have a greater understanding of the world around them. The list below comprises of both websites and apps.
The exam board website (AQA) can be used to find past papers and mark schemes, they also include examiners reports which can identify key things pupils should be doing to reach top marks.
AQA – https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035/assessment-resources
The BBC is good for general news and bitesize for revision:
BBC news – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news
BBC Bitesize (please bare in mind this website covers many topics we do not study at Vandyke) – https://www.bbc.co.uk/education
Revision buddies (app)
Games to improve general world/map knowledge:
Geolinks – https://geolinks.pbworks.com/w/page/11412796/Geography%20Games?
Jetpunk – https://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/how-many-countries-can-you-name.php
Geoguessr – https://geoguessr.com/
For pupils who wish to do additional research or broaden their knowledge of world geography, the following list of documentaries and programs can be found on you tube and often have excellent examples which can be used within their exams:
Unreported World and the Tribe (Channel 4)
Megacities and History of the world (Andrew Marr)
Amazon, Arctic, Going tribal (Bruce Parry)
Greece, Indian Ocean, Russia, Caribbean (Simon Reeves)
Galapagos (BBC)
Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Dragons of Galapogos (David Attenborough)
History
The exam board we use is AQA and their website is a valuable place to find the specification, the examiners reports, past papers and mark schemes. High attaining students independently and regularly engage with this freely available information to gain additional tips on how to achieve the highest marks.
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/history/gcse/history-8145
There are four exam units:
Paper 1: Understanding the Modern World
Germany 1918-1945, democracy and dictatorship
Conflict and tension between East & West 1945-1972
Paper 2: Shaping the Nation
Britain: health and the people c.1000 to the present day
Elizabethan England c1568 – 1603
There are several History revision guides which are available to purchase through the Finance office. These are invaluable and can be used throughout the course for homework, preparation for PIP assessments as well as in preparation for their mock and final exams.
In addition, there are several useful websites which offer good additional information to help prepare for your exams:
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/
https://www.revisegcsehistory.co.uk/
To immerse yourself in the period whilst enhancing your understanding of the course, we recommend watching a film or documentary or reading a novel set in the period. Recommended titles include:
Films:
Hitler: The Rise of Evil
History File (episodes available for the Germany and Cold War units)
Downfall
The Pianist
Sophie Scholl
Valkyrie
13 Days
The Lives of Others
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Bridge of Spies
Books:
Fatherland – Robert Harris
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
Alone in Berlin – Hans Fallada
Two Brothers – Ben Elton
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold – John Le Carre
The Hunt for Red October – Tom Clancy
Maths
Follow these links to find the most useful revision sites for GCSE maths (higher and foundation):
Maths Watch – https://vle.mathswatch.co.uk/vle/ (your teacher can help with login details)
On maths – https://www.onmaths.com/
Maths Genie – https://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/
Corbett maths – https://corbettmaths.com/
Modern Foreign Languages
Useful websites for French and German
www.atantot.com or www.atantot-extra.co.uk – ask your teacher for the username and password. Good for general vocab revision.
https://funwithlanguages.vacau.com/ – free access to this site for French and German.
www.languagesonline.org.uk click on French or German flag to access vocabulary & grammar practice. Good for tenses.
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/french/ or www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/german/ great for vocab revision, split into topics.
www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zhsvr82 Try the new GCSE bitesize for modern foreign languages
You can also do practice listening and reading questions at different levels. It guides you through the answers and you can see the scripts of the listening extracts.
www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/07-langcoll/02-MFL-resources.shtml Click on the French or German flag and then video quizzes for excellent listening & reading practice. The transcripts for these quizzes could be really useful for widening your knowledge of vocabulary.
https://quizlet.com Free access to lots of different vocab, just type in topic and you will find lots of vocab which you can practise learning.
Click on the following links to access the GCSE vocab list from Edexcel for each language for year 11 GCSE students:
German only
www.lerndeutsch.org.uk – lots of useful top areas, no password required.
www.klar.co.uk – ask your teacher for the username and password.
AS and A2 French
BBC languages website – Le Mensuel, useful for current affairs, A Level topics. listening and reading practice, also help with key vocab.
www.1jour1actu.com/ news website for French teenagers. Good for current affairs & A level topics and reading practice.
www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/news – go to Le Mensuel section and browse by topic for listening and reading practice on current affairs and A Level topics.
For AS and A2 German
www.dw.de excellent reading and listening exercises on current affairs.
www.sowieso.de news articles on current affairs and A Level topics.
https://funwithlanguages.vacau.com/ – look at A level section.
Science
Follow these direct links to find the most useful revision sites for GCSE science subjects:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_aqa/
https://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/exams-guidance/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes
