How to work through the course
Welcome call
Once you have received your Activate 3 coursebook, you have read through this Course Guide and you have familiarised yourself with the important course resources, you are ready to begin the course. The course begins with an introductory Welcome call with your tutor. This is an informal discussion to make contact with your tutor and ensure you are prepared for the course.
There are then nine modules for you to complete (if you haven't previously studied the Year 7 and 8 Science course with Wolsey Hall, you should also study Module Zero). You will find each module follows the same structure:
Introduction
Each module begins with a short introduction which introduces you to the topics you will be studying in that module. You then move on to the topic work.
Topic work
Each module contains a number of separate topics. You should work through the topics in turn, completing the activities that we direct you to. The activities include completing worksheets, reading the textbook, watching video tutorials and putting the theory into practice through a variety of activities.
The answers to the questions in the coursebook and the worksheets can be found in the Check your answers section for each Topic.
Practicals
There are three practical experiments to complete in the course and they are indicated in the topic pages. For more information on the practicals, see here.
Resources
At the end of the module, all of the resources that we have directed you to are gathered together in a useful overview. This includes the answers to the worksheets.
Now check your understanding
This page gives you a checklist of all of the learning outcomes you have studied in that module and gives you the opportunity to check that you are confident with each outcome before you move on to take the quiz.
Quiz
Each module has a self-marking quiz. When you have completed all of the topic work, you are ready to take the quiz. When you have completed the quiz, reflect on your score. Are there any topics you feel unsure of and would like to revise before completing the assignment?
Assignments
When you are ready to attempt an assignment, we suggest that you read through the assignment guidance box on the first page and check that you have got all the resources you need and enough time to sit the assignment in one sitting. The assignments are formative, which means that you can use your textbook and other resources to help you complete the assignment. For more information on assignments, see here.
Assignment mark schemes
Once you have submitted your assignment, you will have access to the corresponding mark scheme on Canvas. Make sure you refer to this as you read through the comments from your tutor. The mark scheme will allow you to understand why you have received a particular grade and will outline what would be required for a higher grade.
Final Test
There is a Final Test at the end of the course. This test is to be taken without referring to your notes, coursebook or the internet and you should revise before completing it.
This test covers all topics studied in the Lower Secondary curriculum Years 7-9. If you have not studied all three Science Years with Wolsey Hall, make sure you can answer the Reactivate your knowledge questions in the coursebook. If you struggle to answer you may need to use the digital Activate 1 & 2 coursebooks and review these topics. There is a quiz that you can take to help show you where you need to concentrate your revision.
The result of this test will help you choose an appropriate IGCSE course (or courses) following Lower Secondary Science. The result along with your assignment scores will be used by Wolsey Hall staff for advice and guidance.
Mid-course and end-of-course reviews
After Module Four there is a mid-course review and after Module Nine there is an end-of-course review. These reviews give you an opportunity to reflect on your learning, identify your strengths and weaknesses and review your skills and study habits. When you have completed the review document, which is similar to an assignment but is not marked or graded, you have the opportunity to arrange a Review call with your tutor.
The mid-course review is an opportunity to ensure that you are getting the most out of the course and are receiving the support that you need. The mid-course review would be an excellent opportunity to discuss with your tutor about your options for future science study.
The end-of-course review is an opportunity to reflect on your progress since the beginning of the course and to review whether you feel ready to transition to the next stage of studies.