Glossary

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Looking for a quick definition?

We’ve got loads of key subject terms in our subject glossaries. There are three ways of finding what you are looking for:

  • First click on the letters of the alphabet to browse for terms.
  • Select a subject from the drop-down menu above to filter the terms by Subject.
  • Or lastly, type the term you are looking for into the search box.

EXAMPLES

Here are some examples of the kinds of definitions you’ll find on this page.

p orbital
Subject:
Physical Sciences

a lobe-shaped orbital in which electrons may move. There are 3 p orbitals per energy level from...

Pauli's exclusion principle
Subject:
Physical Sciences

every orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons, and these electrons have opposite spin.

pentose
Subject:
Physical Sciences

a 5-carbon sugar molecule.

percentage composition
Subject:
Physical Sciences

a relative measure of the mass contribution of each component in a compound. The percentage...

percentage purity
Subject:
Physical Sciences

the ratio of the amount of a pure compound to the amount of substance containing that compound...

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Quick tip

Pause

Many subjects require students to know work from the previous grades. Make sure your students are able to access the textbooks from previous years or a good reference book that contains the...

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Once your students have completed practice exam papers, encourage them to go over the areas where they struggle and offer them some additional support. Suggest a study guide or additional material...

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Exam practice is essential. Make sure your students have access to practice exam papers for the subjects they take. Make sure the exam papers relate to the correct version of the curriculum.

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Remind your students that studying should be active. They should be making notes, working through examples, doing practice exam papers and testing themselves on the sections they are studying.

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Formulae sheets or key concept sheets are useful for quick revision. Make some sheets your students can stick on a wall or at the back of their books. The more they look at the formulae and key...

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Different study methods work for different students. Encourage your learners to find out what works for them so you can support them.

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Many subjects require students to know work from the previous grades. Make sure your child has access to a good reference book that contains the concepts they need to refer back to.

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Be calm and supportive on the morning of the test or exam. Leave any difficult conversations for another time.

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Make sure your teenager has enough time to relax, do sport, play music and spend time with friends. A balanced lifestyle often leads to better results.

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Sit with your child and help him/her with their studies whenever you get time. Ask him to explain the work to you.

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Try to be supportive even when you are disappointed in your child’s marks. Help your child by asking her teacher for advice, getting additional study material or outside tutoring. This will build...

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Speak openly to your child so that he feels that he can share problems or concerns with you.

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Encourage your child not to cram at the last minute. The work that is learned while your child is panicking is unlikely to be...

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The night before the exam, encourage your child to relax. Allow him to do something fun and make sure he gets to bed early.

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On the afternoon before the exam, get your child to review her notes and summaries, especially for sections of work where she is less confident.

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On the morning of the exam, get your child to go over his formulae sheets to remind him of key information.

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Once your teenager has completed practise exam papers, go over the areas where they struggle. Get a study guide to help you and your student if you need help with a particular section.

[ more ]

Exam practice is essential. Make sure your student has access to practice exam papers for the subjects they take. Make sure the exam papers relate to the correct version of the curriculum.

[ more ]

Studying should be active. Your child should be making notes, working through examples, doing practice exam papers and testing herself on the sections she is studying.

[ more ]

Formulae sheets or key concept sheets are useful for quick revision. Get your teenager to stick them on the wall in their room. The more they look at the formulae and key concepts, the more likely...

[ more ]

Different study methods work for different students. Find out what works for your child so you understand how you can support him or her.

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When you are writing an exam, first write down all the formulae or important facts you are worried about forgetting.

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Make a list of the stationery and instruments you need for your exam and pack it the night before.

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Go to bed early the night before tests and exams so that you can wake up in time to quickly read through the sections you are worried about.

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Stay positive and confident! Believe that you can ace the test or the exam.

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Always test yourself on what you have studied - or ask someone else to test you.

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Make sure you know and can explain all formulas and theorems in your exams. These are easy marks.

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Once you have revised a section, do plenty of practice questions to check that you can apply your knowledge.

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Find out what study method works best for you. Use mindmaps, flow diagrams and/or notes.

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Work through worked examples and solutions step-by-step until you understand them well.

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Keep healthy: Exercise, drink water and eat food that is good for your body and mind.

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Look up definitions for words you don’t understand.

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Study for 30 to 45 minutes at a time and then take a break – otherwise you won’t concentrate as well.

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Create a realistic timetable to cover all the sections in all the subjects you are studying and try to stick to it.

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Give yourself plenty of time to study before tests and exams.

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Do extra questions and worksheets on sections you find difficult.

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Make sure you understand the work you are doing in class and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

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