Category: Courses

How Our Courses Work

AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR COURSES

We offer a comprehensive range of tuition and revision courses for Year 10 -13 IGCSE, GCSE and A Level students. For the full list of subjects currently available, please select the appropriate level:

IGCSE/GCSE (including courses for Year 10 and retake students)

A Level (including courses for Year 12 and retake students)

If you cannot see the subject you are seeking, please contact us as we do add courses in response to customer demand.

How Our Courses Work

Our top priority is ensuring students receive high quality tuition, which meets their individual needs. Unlike other companies providing revision courses, we do not follow a standard structure and each course is bespoke to the students attending that course. By requesting information in advance of the course on the topics and skills that students wish to cover, our tutors are able to structure the course around their needs and optimise the student’s revision time.

Although each course is bespoke, there are some elements that are common across all courses and some subjects that require a slightly different approach. For example, at GCSE, mixed exam boards are used when there is a significant overlap between content which allows students to maximise their subject options at the same revision venue. In contrast, the majority of our A Level courses are exam board specific.

DURATION AND CONTENT OF OUR COURSES

All our courses, with the exception of May Day Weekend and Pre Exam courses are now 4 days to ensure students are fully prepared for the challenges and greater rigour of GCSEs and A Levels following the 2015 education reforms.

All Justin Craig courses will involve:

  • Tuition from experienced, fully qualified subject experts
  • Teaching and practice of exam technique
  • Stimulating and inclusive study environment, free from distractions
  • A variety of engaging learning and memory techniques
  • Focused revision on the most common exam topics

Students attending multiple courses may notice a difference in approach depending on the subject/level. This is due, in part, to the nature of the subject but also reflects the recent educational reforms. For example:

Maths:  With the increase in content volume and complexity plus greater emphasis on problem-solving and mathematical reasoning, our courses cover all the areas which students find challenging, especially algebra, with particular emphasis given to the transference of these skills to questions asked in unfamiliar contexts. The more rigorous approach needed for students to secure the highest grades is fundamental to our courses.

Science: As a result of key changes arising from the educational reforms for both GCSE and A level students (eg increased maths content, “harder” GCSE content and, for A level, greater emphasis on “levelled questions” and inclusion of practical questions in formal examinations), our student led courses boost content and exam technique expertise, including areas that students frequently find challenging (eg extended practical response questions) together with a clear and detailed breakdown of every topic.

English: Due to the broad range of texts covered and the changing demands arising from the educational reforms, our English courses focus on the key skills, techniques and information required to optimise exam performance. For example, in the new curriculum skills relating to inference, deduction and fluent writing using evidence from the texts has become much more important.

History: With an even broader time period being covered by students and a greater emphasis on exams rather than coursework, the importance of key skills and techniques is now even more important. Our history courses are structured with this in mind. In addition to essay planning, writing and presentation skills, our courses also include elements on the evaluation of sources and evaluation of historians’ interpretations to help with the increased demands of the new curriculum.

Please note our courses have an upper age limit of 19. This allows the best working environment for our students.

For more information on Justin Craig group tutoring and revision, please speak to one of our expert advisors by calling 01727 236135 or email us.

 

GCSE French Revision

GCSE French Revision Course Outline

Our GCSE French revision course will help you improve your French language skills and provide you with the confidence to communicate in a variety of contexts, so that you get the best results in your French exam. We also use past questions from a number of the key exam boards including AQA, OCR and EdExcel to inform our GCSE French studies revision courses.

GCSE French Topics

During our GCSE French revision course you will take part in a range of activities, which will range from tutor-led activities to student-led work and covering all important areas of the subject. You will focus on the topics in which you feel you need most help but also on those that commonly cause students difficulty from the general areas below:

  • Listening and understanding spoken French
  • Speaking in French
  • Reading and understanding French
  • Writing in French

All our tutors are experienced and qualified teachers and most are examiners which means they have an excellent insight into what the exams actually ask of students. Chosen for their enthusiasm and empathy, they also have an in-depth knowledge of the entire subject area.

Book GCSE French Revision Courses and Tuition

If you’re ready to book a GCSE French revision course, please call one of our Course Advisors on 01727 744340 or email [email protected]. We’ll be happy to discuss the options and find a course that fits your requirements.

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GCSE English Language

GCSE English Language Revision Course Outline

Our GCSE English Language and iGCSE English Language revision courses are designed to help students improve the skills you need to read, understand and analyse a wide range of texts and to write clearly, coherently and accurately using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures, so you get the best results in your exams.

Over our English Language revision courses you will take part in a range of activities, from tutor-led activities to student-led work. Tailored to fit the needs of the students on the course, our tutors continuously check that students are concentrating, have understood and are ready to move on.

We offer:

  • GCSE English Language
  • iGCSE English Language

GCSE English Language Topics

The course will focus on the skills that you individually want to develop and those that commonly cause all students difficulty:

Reading

  • Information retrieval
  • Summarising ideas from one or more texts
  • Interpreting impressions and viewpoints
  • Explaining the writer’s attitude
  • Analysing the writer’s methods
  • Writing about language and structure
  • Writing about language and structure
  • Writing about narrative technique
  • Comparing texts

Writing

  • Planning writing responses
  • Interpreting writing questions: identifying audience, purpose and form
  • Different types of non-fiction writing (e.g. explain, inform, argue, persuade)
  • Different forms of non-fiction writing (e.g. letters, speeches, articles)
  • Narrative / recount writing
  • Writing to describe
  • Sentence structure and variety
  • Whole text structure and cohesion
  • Proof-reading for spelling, punctuation and grammar

All our tutors are experienced and qualified teachers and most are examiners which means they have an excellent insight into what the exams actually ask of students. Chosen for their enthusiasm and empathy, they also have an in-depth knowledge of the entire subject area.

Book GCSE English Language Revision Courses and Tuition

If you’re ready to book a GCSE English Language revision course, please call one of our Course Advisors on 01727 744340 or email [email protected]. We’ll be happy to discuss the options and find a course that fits your requirements.

 

Read more
 

GCSE English Literature

GCSE English Literature Revision Course Outline

Our GCSE English Literature and iGCSE English Literature revision courses are designed to help students improve the skills you need to read, understand and analyse a wide range of texts and to write clearly, coherently and accurately using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures, so you get the best results in your exams.Over our English Literature revision courses you will take part in a range of activities, from tutor-led activities to student-led work. Tailored to fit the needs of the students on the course, our tutors continuously check that students are concentrating, have understood and are ready to move on.

We offer:

  • GCSE English Literature revision
  • iGCSE English Literature revision

GCSE English Literature Topics

The course will focus on the skills that you individually want to develop and those that commonly cause all students difficulty, as follows:

Reading and Comprehension

  • Exploring aspects of plot, characterisation, events and settings
  • Distinguishing between what is stated explicitly and what is implied
  • Explaining motivation, sequence of events and the relationship between actions or events
  • Identifying theme and distinguishing between themes
  • Supporting a point of view by referring to evidence in the text
  • Recognising the possibility of and evaluating different responses to a text
  • Using understanding of writers’ social, historical and cultural context to inform evaluation
  • Making an informed personal response that derives from analysis and evaluation of the text
  • Analysing and evaluating how language, structure, form and presentation contribute to quality & impact
  • Using linguistics and literary terminology for such evaluation
  • Comparing and contrasting texts studied referring where relevant to theme, characterisation, context, style and literary quality

Writing

  • Producing clear and coherent text
  • Writing effectively about literature for a range of purposes such as; describe, explain, summarise, argue, analyse and evaluate
  • Discussing and maintaining a point of view
  • Selecting and emphasising key points
  • Using relevant quotation and using detailed textual references
  • Accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar

All our tutors are experienced and qualified teachers and most are examiners which means they have an excellent insight into what the exams actually ask of students. Chosen for their enthusiasm and empathy, they also have an in-depth knowledge of the entire subject area.

Book GCSE English Literature Revision Courses and Tuition

If you’re ready to book a GCSE English Literature revision course, please call one of our Course Advisors on 01727 744340 or email [email protected]. We’ll be happy to discuss the options and find a course that fits your requirements.

 

Read more
 

GCSE Chemistry

GCSE Chemistry Revision Course Outline

Confidently prepare for GCSE and iGCSE chemistry exams with help from a Justin Craig revision course. At carefully selected centres around the UK, we offer the following choice of courses:

  • Separate (Triple) GCSE Chemistry and /iGCSE Chemistry revision
  • Combined Science GCSE Chemistry and iGCSE Chemistry revision

GCSE Chemistry Topics

Our GCSE Chemistry revision sessions are largely focussed on the topics that individual students are struggling with, in the following specific areas:

  • Atomic structure and the periodic table
  • Chemical bonding (inc. ionic, covalent)
  • Quantitative chemistry (inc. mass, concentration)
  • Chemical reactions and change (inc.salts, acids, catalysts, exothermic)
  • Organic chemistry (inc. hydrocarbons, alkanes, polymers)
  • Chemical analysis (inc. chromatography, spectroscopy)
  • Extraction of metals (inc. redox, oxidation, equilibrium)
  • Earth science (inc. fuel cells, atmospheric science, climate change)
  • Earth’s resources and sustainability (inc. recycling, Haber process)

Courses consist of small groups of up to nine students, allowing for group work and individual attention for each student. Group work can be more effective than individual tuition, because it encourages students to discuss key concepts, share ideas and learn from their peers. Every student is given adequate opportunity to raise and discuss their specific queries, ensuring they receive the assistance they need to fulfil their potential in the exams, helping students identify areas in which their subject knowledge or understanding needs increasing.

Our GCSE and iGCSE chemistry revision courses are tailored to meet the specific needs of the students in each group, with materials to address knowledge gaps and queries. All our tutors are experienced and qualified GCSE/iGCSE chemistry teachers and most are also chemistry examiners, giving them an excellent insight into what the exams demand of students.

Building on their previous work and learning, we make sure they have an excellent understanding of core chemistry concepts and ideas via a number of different activities. These can include:

  • Past papers: students may work through previous GCSE or iGCSE chemistry papers, both independently and as part of the revision group.
  • Descriptive sessions: students study chemistry resources and then discuss and describe topics in full.
  • Teacher’s notes: if students require grounding in fundamental areas of GCSE chemistry, the tutor may present a subject in full.
  • Full teaching: this mix of stimulating group discussion and teaching is an excellent way to consolidate and expand knowledge.

Our revision courses also help students cope with the pressure of actually sitting their chemistry exams.  We use past questions from a range of different exam bards, including AQA, OCR and EdExcel when putting together the Chemistry revision courses. Our expert tutors help students understand the different types of questions and explain practical strategies to cope with exam-day pressures – all ensuring they can focus on getting questions right swiftly, and moving on.

Book GCSE Chemistry Revision Courses and Tuition

If you’re ready to book a GCSE Chemistry revision course, please call one of our Course Advisors on 01727 744340 or email [email protected]. We’ll be happy to discuss the options and find a course that fits your requirements.

Read more