You’ve reached a major milestone in your education career and it’s now time to assess your knowledge with the OCR GCSE exams. Don’t be daunted thought, by taking responsibility, being disciplined, planning properly and taking advantage of resources like ours, you’ll be just fine. We’ve put together some information below that you should find helpful as you prepare to take your OCR GCSE exams.
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There are five GCSE exam boards and while they’re generally standardised, there are some variations. Some people believe that makes one type of exam easier than another, but in truth it’s all about understanding your individual strengths and weaknesses and properly preparing yourself to that you’re not blind-sided in your exams. The OCRs, for example, are more context-based and practical-based than the AQAs, which are more theory, and EdExcel, which is more multiple choice.
A brief history of the ORC exam board is that from around 1993, a series of mergers, abolitions and handovers culminated with the Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) emerging in 1998. It’s now a major exam board and is owned and run by University of Cambridge. Your OCR GCSE exams will consist of between five and 12 subjects that you’ve covered over a two-year period with mathematics, science, English language and literature being compulsory. You’re required to pass a minimum of five subjects with a C-grade or higher in order to proceed to your IB Diploma or A-levels.
Getting the most out of your OCR GCSE exams all starts with planning and support. Your parents, guardians, teachers, peers and older siblings can offer a wealth of knowledge about how to feel motivated, keep disciplined and maintain your responsibilities at the same time. They’ll have good ideas about finding ways to eat healthily, manage your stress, and making time for social activities so you can maintain a healthy balance during this time.
The key to successful OCR GCSE exam preparation is thorough planning. Take the time to create a study plan that gives you plenty of time to go over all your coursework without having to stay up late, cram, or skip important sections. For best results, cover your material at least four times and take advantage of preparation tools like past papers and quizzes to assess yourself along the way and identify areas that need attention. Focused study time is more productive and also helps prevent boredom through constant revision of material.
Dedicate between three and four hours a day to revision, but break this time up into blocks of 40 minutes to 1 hour so that you actively engage in your material. Between each session, take a five to 10-minute break that includes getting some fresh air, having a healthy snack and hydrating.
Don’t try and do too much in one go, you’ll only become fatigued, overwhelmed, or not retain the information. And don’t distract yourself with phones, tablets, computers, the Internet and social media. Use these to your own advantage by rewarding yourself for completing goals you set for yourself. Similarly, find an area that’s light, well ventilated and quiet in order to revise effectively. Motivate yourself with positive affirmations, it’s amazing what you can achieve when you believe in yourself!
Research various studying techniques to see what works best for you. Some individuals prefer making notes, others like flashcards or mind maps. Whatever works for you, make sure your brain remains engaged. The minute you start daydreaming, it’s time for a break or to change tactics.
A good idea is to take quizzes before and after your sessions to monitor your progress and identify areas you need to focus on. Then make use of past papers so you can familiarise yourself with question styles, number of questions and key themes that come up in OCR papers. Pay attention to your time management too, so you’re well versed by the time you sit your actual exam.
We at GCSE Guide believe in you and know that with your brains and our quizzes, mind maps, revision notes and past papers, you’ll perform really well in your exams. There’s no time like the present, let’s get started!
