Year 11 GCSE support thread 5 - finishing off the exams

[HSMMaCM]

Only another week to go for DD, but I know some of you have two weeks.

[GloriaSmud]

Another week to go for us too.
Usual report from DD1, that Biology was 'alright' but it was 'a bit hot' in the hall. She's just come home and drunk milk straight from the (6 pint) bottle as she was so thirsty! (I wouldn't normally allow it but she hasn't had anything since before we left at 1pm.)

[ErrolTheDragon]

DD thought the biology was good - she was very pleased by the plant hormone one as that was her favourite topic in U1. She said the only one she really didn't know was about how statins work and that was only one mark.

Whether that will balance out her underperformance (relative to target) on the ISA time will tell but quite happy anyway.

She's also pleased that (a) she never needs to do biology again and (b) that she will never need more than 3 pairs of good tights, as she only has 3 pairs she likes and I kept forgetting to get her more. And also that she only has a fortnight more of school shoes!

[TheWordFactory]

Yup dropped a car load off after the exams and everyone was laughing, saying 'never have to do biology/spanish/english/whatever again'.

[Horsemad]

Is she going to college or sixth form Errol?

[Horsemad]

Sorry, 'she' sounds rude 'She is the cat's mother,' my mum used to say to me whenever I used it

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Yay! Weekend!
Biology went well here too. We even finished it!

What are your dd's plans for next year Errol?
Sounds like no more school?

dd and I are even going to a concert this evening
How civilised

[OddBoots]

A week and a half here, they finish on the 17th.

DS is in school all day tomorrow for a science and maths revision day. He isn't entirely happy about it but he will go.

[CandyCrushLoco]

A week to go here as well, I so need it to be over and so does DD; she's exhausted. Not eating before the exams is not good either, she refused breakfast again as she feels sick and I doubt she ate lunch either :(

[LineRunner]

If how do statins work is one mark, what is the required answer? DS asked me the question, and I started blathering on about reductase enzymes. He wrote, 'statins work by lowering cholesterol' which is right, but is it the answer iyswim?

[smoothieooo]

Full on week for DS next week (other than Thursday) then just Media and Russian the week after. The hardest thing is getting him to go to bed at a reasonable hour - even when he's utterly knackered he has to be forced to go up. I've started removing his phone and iPad on week nights too as he sees it as his 'downtime' to be surfing and Whatsapp'ing until 1 in the morning!

[ErrolTheDragon]

I'd have thought nearer your DS's, Linerunner. DD made up something (wrong) to do with HDL and LDL.

DD is staying at her school for sixth form, but they don't have to wear uniform so it'll be converse or docs and jeans starting from the induction days 22nd/23rd June!

Hope your DD gets some rest and can eat this weekend, Candy.

[Littleham]

Just noticed that there is a Hannah's Sweets thread!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2395288-Students-complaining-about-maths-exam-question

[Horsemad]

I can't imagine they want a detailed answer for 1 mark LineRunner, but who knows?!
I'd have said lowering cholesterol too!

[ono40]

I'm a pharmacist - statins work by inhibiting the enzyme that makes cholesterol in the liver but I doubt that's what they were after in GCSE! Not sure how to explain that in lay terms.

OK, off to Pizza Express as a treat, been a long week. Only one more week - we can do this!

[LineRunner]

Errol, that's about cholesterol though, so it may do. One bloody mark.

[LotusLight]

Well if there are resits they may need to do the subject again as I've warned, although it's unlikely. The question if whether to throw all the past papers and other stuff away or hang on to some of it just in case particularly in the A level subjects. (Just one exam left here now - history)

[SugarPlumTree]

Thank goodness the end is in sight an it is the weekend!

No more uniform for DD, school emailed today asking whether the students would like to sacrifice their uniform, not to the BBQ but to their new second hand uniform shop. Head of 6th form was out in the skate park this morning with camera and 3 teachers on scooters and a bike. He just said 'don't ask!' when we looked at him.

[funambulist]

Thanks for the new thread!

I was listening to "More Or Less" (Economics/Maths programme) on Radio 4 at 4.30pm today as I drove home. What do you think came up, but Hannah and her sweets? They went through the question explaining how to do it. I was VERY glad DS1 wasn't in the car. DS2 who was, and who is a bit of a maths geek, claimed he would have been able to do it. He has been told NOT to say this to his brother.

DS2 had Biology today. He said that he was a bit pressed for time so when he was halfway through the time but not halfway through the paper he sped up dramatically and rushed through the rest. He got to the end with time to spare, but, of course, then had to go back through the second half of the paper correcting mistakes and filling in all the bits he'd left out. So, fingers crossed here that he's ended up making a reasonable job of it. Biology is one of his A level choices.

His next exam isn't until Tuesday afternoon and he's exhausted so he's taking the rest of the day off.

[bigTillyMint]

DD came in with her bestie earlier and they said Biology was OK. They have been to the park and are now back again. Let's hope the better mood lasts.

[Angelto5]

My ds is the same -only 4 exams left to go.

He also has to go into school for revision Sunday morning & be in school for 8am Monday for the maths "warm up".

He's doing quite well & tends not to discuss what answers he put as after one of the chemistry exams the teacher had a copy & asked if anyone wanted to go over their answers - one of his mates did & he got quite upset as he thinks he got loads wrong

[TheWoollybacksWife]

Hello all. Only two more exams left here but one is next week (RE) and the final exam is graphics on 17th.

I've posted this on the old thread but hope someone can help me to help my friend.

Is there a revision paper for foundation maths? My friends DD is on her third resit and seems to miss out on a C by a couple of marks each time. I would be grateful if someone could point me in the direction of some hints and tips for her.

In other news DD1 has just rung me after her exam which she said went well. I can't believe that's her finished at uni.

[funambulist]

I meant to write DS1 in paragraph 2 above. Ds2 is not taking GCSEs for all his confidence. I'm glad they're not twins. They're competitive enough being two school years apart.

[CandyCrushLoco]

thanks for the new thread

[funambulist]

Woolly that's great news about your DDs university exams. I hope that she's enjoying the post exam celebrations and doesn't have to wait too long for her results.

[CandyCrushLoco]

I had a call from DC#2, the teacher is concerned about him as he's not been himself this week. We've had tears because it's stressful having a sister doing GCSEs :(
Thankfully I've already arranged a family day out for tomorrow, I think it's much needed. Roll on Friday, and sorry for folk who have another week.