YEAR 8 COMMON ENTRANCE MOCKS MICHAELMAS 2014
SUBJECT
LENGTH
Maths
Level 2
1 hour
Paper A: Non-Calculator
1 hour
Paper B: Calculator
Please visit http://www.iseb.co.uk/syllabus.htm to download the official CE
syllabus. The exams will cover all topics listed on the CE syllabus apart from
topics with an E next to them.
Mental Test
Topics covered this term will feature prominently in the papers:
30 minutes
EXAM FORMAT
KEY TOPICS
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Formulating expressions and equations from word problems
Plotting and sketching equations on a graph and giving the equation
of a line from inspection
Finding the point of intersection of two lines given as equations
Expressing a number as a product of its prime factors
Using prime factors to find roots or find HCF and LCM of a pair of
numbers
Rounding number to significant figures and decimal places
Trial and improvement to find unknowns
Please also learn all the formulae and facts on the ‘WCCS Maths Gold Card’
which every Year 8 pupil has in their yellow Maths folder.
Please use mymaths.co.uk for helpful revision lessons and activities.
In Year 8 the pupils work at ‘level 7’.
login: wccs
password: decimal
Maths
Level 3
1 hour
Paper A: Non-Calculator
1 hour
Paper B: Calculator
Please visit http://www.iseb.co.uk/syllabus.htm to download the official CE
syllabus. The exam will cover all topics listed on the CE syllabus, excluding
‘Pythagoras’ theorem’ which is covered next term.
30 minutes
Mental Test
Topics covered this term will feature prominently in the papers. They are
the topics listed above under ‘Maths Level 2’ as well at the following topics:
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Formulating and solving simultaneous equations
Solving inequalities algebraically and graphically
Please also learn all the formulae and facts on the ‘WCCS Maths Gold Card’
which every Year 8 pupil has in their yellow Maths folder.
Please use mymaths.co.uk for helpful revision lessons and activities.
In Year 8 the pupils work at ‘level 7’.
login: wccs
password: decimal
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MATHEMATICS CONTACT: [email protected] or
[email protected]
SUBJECT
LENGTH
EXAM FORMAT
English 1
(Reading and
Writing)
1 hour 15
minutes
Two sections lasting 35
minutes each (plus 5 minutes
reading)
(25 marks each)
KEY TOPICS
SECTION A: NON-FICTION COMPREHENSION
Pupils will be required to answer questions on one (possibly two) passages
of non-fiction writing. There will be approximately five reading
comprehension questions. These will test how well pupils can understand,
analyse and evaluate the passage(s).
SECTION B: RESPONSE TO STUDIED LITERATURE
Pupils will be presented with a choice of two essay questions, based on the
literature (poetry, novels or drama) they have studied in class and from
which they must chose ONE only.
For the Michaelmas exam, boys should focus their essay revision on the
texts they have studied this term (Macbeth and As I Walked Out One
Midsummer Morning). The essays will be general (focusing on what makes the
texts enjoyable, the characters in the text, the different themes etc…) and
the boys will be expected to be able to make references to the text.
English 2
(Reading and
Writing)
1 hour 15
minutes
Two sections lasting 35
minutes each (plus 5 minutes
reading)
(25 marks each)
SECTION A: POETRY COMPREHENSION
In this section pupils will be given a poem to read and analyse. This may be a
whole poem, or an extract. The subject of the poem could be anything at all,
but it is chosen to be interesting and thought-provoking. There will be
approximately five comprehension questions.
SECTION B: RESPONSE TO WRITING TASK
In this section pupils will be given roughly six writing tasks, from which they
must choose one only. The range of tasks available will be broad and pupils
are encouraged to choose a title/genre that plays to their creative strength.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ENGLISH CONTACT: [email protected] or [email protected]
SUBJECT
LENGTH
EXAM FORMAT
Biology
40 mins
Answers on the question
paper. Starts with multiple
choice, then short answers
(both tend to rely on factual
recall) then longer questions –
reliant on both knowledge &
understanding (60 marks)
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Answer on question paper.
Starts with multiple choice,
then short answers, (both tend
to rely on factual recall) then
longer questions – reliant on
both knowledge &
understanding. (60 marks)

Answer on question paper.
Starts with multiple choice,
then short answers, (both tend
to rely on factual recall) then
longer questions – reliant on
both knowledge &
understanding. (60 marks)
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Chemistry
Physics
40 mins
40 mins
KEY TOPICS
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Cells & cell functions
Humans as organisms: nutrition, movement, reproduction,
breathing, respiration, health,
Green plants as organisms: nutrition & growth, respiration, variation
& classification
Living things in their environment: adaptation & competition, feeding
relationships.
Classifying materials: solids, liquids & gases, elements, compounds &
mixtures
Changing materials: physical changes, chemical changes.
Patterns of behaviour: metals, acids & bases
Electricity & magnetism: circuits, magnetic fields, electromagnets
Forces & motion: forces & linear motion, force & rotation, force &
pressure
Light & sound: the behavior of light, hearing, vibration & sound
The earth & beyond: the solar system
Energy resources & energy transfer, conservation of energy
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SCIENCE CONTACT: [email protected]
SUBJECT
LENGTH
EXAM FORMAT
French
1h
READING AND WRITING
(50%)
Section A: Reading (25%)
KEY TOPICS
Vocab:

language of the classroom (inc. basic ICT)
 house, home, daily routine and chores
Instructions will be given in
French. There will be 25
 life and work at school
questions on a number of short
 time, dates, numbers and prices
passages (usually arranged in
five or six sections). There will
Tenses:
be several exercises of differing
 Present tense:
length, covering a range of
different approaches to the
 Regular and common irregular verbs.
development of reading skills,
e.g. gap-filling, multiple choice,
 Future tense with aller.
matching headlines to texts,
 Conditional: only je voudrais, j'aimerais.
matching
pictures
to
descriptions, matching two
 interrogative forms + est-ce que.
halves of a sentence, matching
 Past tense (where appropriate to candidate’s ability).
questions
and
answers,
matching people and opinions,
choosing a number of correct Grammar:
answers from a list, answering
 Gender and plural of common nouns.
questions in French (marked
for
communication
only).
 Definite and indefinite articles.
There will be one section with
questions and answers in
 Agreement and position of adjectives.
English.

Common adverbs.
French

Subject personal pronouns.

Common prepositions and conjunctions.
Section B: Writing (25%)
Instructions will be given in the
target language. There will be
two written exercises.
Question 1 (8 marks)
This question will require the writing of five simple sentences in the target
language, each based on a visual or written stimulus. Candidates should
write five to ten words on each stimulus. Marks will be awarded for
content, accuracy and quality of language.
Question 2 (17 marks)
This question will require 80 –130 words of continuous writing in the form
of a letter based on a written stimulus in the target language. Candidates
will be expected to demonstrate the full range of their knowledge of the
linguistic features contained in the syllabus. Marks will be awarded for
content, accuracy and quality of language.
20 minutes
Section C: Listening
This will be based on recorded material. Instructions will be given in English.
There will be a range of test-types mostly in English. These might include:
multiple choice, true or false, box-ticking, matching the recording with visual
or verbal options, completing sentences…
10 minutes
preparation
+ 5minutes
Section D: Speaking
a/ role- play situation
I will give each candidate, at random, one situation from the three which are
set. The candidate will be required to carry out 6 tasks in French which
have been given in English. One of the tasks will be unpredictable and will
require the candidate to respond, unprepared, to my question.
b/ prepared topic
The candidate will be required to speak about the following topic areas:
”House, home, daily routine and chores”. The candidate should introduce
his topic, with me intervening after about 30 seconds to ask at least 4
questions during the course of the 2 minutes.
N.B: Only one prepared topic is required at this stage.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FRENCH CONTACT: [email protected]
SUBJECT
LENGTH
EXAM FORMAT
8J Classics
1 hour
Question 1: comprehension
(15 marks)
(questions and answers in
English, unless specified
otherwise)
Question 2: translation (30
marks)
(translate a passage from Latin
into English)
Question 3: grammar
section (20 marks)
(questions set on a short
passage of Latin to test
knowledge of noun and verb
endings and will include ONE
derivation question + 2 short
English sentences to translate
into Latin)
KEY TOPICS
LEVEL 1
 ALL Level 1 grammar
 1st and 2nd declension nouns
 Present, Imperfect & Perfect tense verb endings
 Present, Imperfect and Perfect tense of sum
 Infinitives
 Imperatives
 Prepositions
 bonus type adjectives
 Numbers 1- 10 (cardinal & ordinal)
 All Level 1 vocabulary
LEVEL 2
 ALL Level 2 grammar
 3rd declension nouns
 Future and pluperfect tenses (all regular verbs + sum)
 Irregular verbs: possum, eo and compounds of eo
 omnis & ingens type adjectives
 Regular and irregular comparative and superlative adjectives
 Pronouns: hic; ille; is, ea, id; ego, tu, nos, vos
 noli/nolite!
 num/nonne?
 Numbers 11 -20 (cardinals only)
 quamquam and ubi clauses
 All Level 2 vocabulary
8J should also revise the following LEVEL 3 material:
 The relative clause: qui, quae, quod
 The present and imperfect passive of verbs in all five conjugations
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8K Classics
1 hour
Question 1: comprehension
(15 marks)
(questions and answers in
English, unless specified
otherwise)
Question 2: translation (30
marks)
(translate a passage from Latin
into English)
Question 3: grammar
section (20 marks)
(questions set on a short
passage of Latin to test
knowledge of noun and verb
endings and will include ONE
derivation question + 2 short
English sentences to translate
into Latin)
Translating ‘by’ after a passive verb
videor meaning ‘I seem’
Pronoun ipse
Purpose clause & the imperfect subjunctive
Expressions of place for named towns & small islands
Present participles
Vocabulary from the first two chapters of Latin Prep 3
LEVEL 1
 ALL Level 1 grammar
 1st and 2nd declension nouns
 Present, Imperfect & Perfect tense verb endings
 Present, Imperfect and Perfect tense of sum
 Infinitives
 Imperatives
 Prepositions
 bonus type adjectives
 numbers 1- 10 (cardinal & ordinal)
 All Level 1 vocabulary
8K should also revise the following Level 2 material:
 3rd declension masc & fem nouns (which go like rex)
 3rd declension neuter nouns (which go like nomen)
 Future tense for all conjugations
 The pronouns ego, tu, nos & vos
 hic, haec, hoc
 ille, illa, illud
 Adjectives: comparatives and superlatives, and how to express ‘than’
in Latin
 Vocabulary from the first three chapters of Latin Prep 2
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LATIN CONTACT: [email protected]
SUBJECT
LENGTH
EXAM FORMAT
KEY TOPICS
History
1 hour
Part A (20 marks)
This question will consist of three
sources, one of which will be a
picture. The written sources may
be primary or secondary or a
combination of both. The question
will begin: ‘Using ALL the sources
and your own knowledge, ...’
Candidates will be expected to
write an essay in which they:
demonstrate
their
skills
of
comprehension, comparison and
differentiation between first-hand
evidence and hindsight; their
understanding of provenance; their
ability to present an overview,
supported by their own knowledge.
Part A: Evidence-based essay
Evidence question relating to Section 2 of the Syllabus. The question
will be on Mary Tudor.
Revise using chapter 3 of Galore Park textbook History: 1485-1750
and the material in your exercise book.
Part B: Essay
Use Galore Park textbook History: 1485-1750 to revise.
Revision of at least two of the following will provide each candidate
with a range of essay questions that they can answer:
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Henry Tudor (Henry VII)
The religious changes of Henry VIII (focusing on the
Reformation Parliament)
The Dissolution of the Monasteries and the Pilgrimage of
Grace
Part B
There will be several essay choices For each of these topics candidates need to be able to describe and
from which candidates must select explain the issues and aims of the army/ leader/ monarch/ religious
one. Each question will be generic figure and the reasons for their success or failure.
and open-ended. Up to 50% of the
marks may be awarded for a good
narrative essay; able candidates will
be expected, however, to express
opinions and use their analytical
skills.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HISTORY CONTACT: [email protected]
SUBJECT
LENGTH
Geography
1 hour
EXAM FORMAT
A variety of short answer
questions, including some based
on a map, and longer answer
questions based on the case
studies.
KEY TOPICS
All work covered over the last five terms will be examined:
- Map Skills
- Locational Knowledge
- Settlement
- Weather & Climate
- Sustainable Development (case study: Lake District)
- Rivers & Coasts (case study: Flooding in Bangladesh)
- Economic Activity (case study: Halifax)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GEOGRAPHY CONTACT: [email protected]
SUBJECT
LENGTH
Religious
Studies
1 hour
EXAM FORMAT
One paper
There will be three questions,
comprising four parts, a-d.
Section1
The Old Covenant
Section 2
Jesus Christ and the
Sacraments
Section 3
The Church
KEY TOPICS
See online ISEB Religious Studies Syllabus B for a full list of topics. Please note that
we do not study Syllabus A.
Section 1:
Use WCCS revision guide 1 to revise:
 Creation: Genesis 1-2
 The Fall: Original Sin; the existence of evil and suffering in the world
today; men and women
 Abraham: his faith, ensurance and example
 Moses: his call, character and example; Moses as a prophet
 Passover
 Covenant and Commandments; the role of the Commandments in
the Christian life
Section 2:
Use WCCS revision guide 2 to revise:
 The person of Jesus: incarnation, childhood, baptism, healing
ministry with outcasts; teaching on repentance and forgiveness
 John the Baptist
 The events of Holy Week: Last Supper, crucifixion, burial,
Resurrection
 The Kingdom: parables (Lk 15.11-32; Lk 10.25-37; Mt 25.14-30)
 Sacraments: Definition, signs and symbols of a sacrament (chapter 7
in navy blue textbook for this and the three following topics)
 Baptism
 Reconciliation/ Confession
 Mass/ Eucharist
Section 3:
Use WCCS ‘Newman’ book and navy textbook to revise:
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Pentecost
St Paul
How Christianity came to Britain
The causes of the Reformation in England
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RELIGIOUS STUDIES CONTACT: [email protected]