Thats DS should get another chance at ISA. Confused and a bit angry.

[beggingbehind]

Sooo DS is 15 in year 11 and about to sit his GCSE's hes very clever in some areas eg science. He has chosen to Biology, Chemistry and Maths for A level! He has a few long term health issues including MH issues and has had alot of time of the last couple years-not his fault really. Hes trying very hard with all his subjects and still expected to get (the equivalent of (including 9-1s)) 9 A-B's. But heres my predicament he does triple science so you SHOULD get two attempts (plus a third if your grade isnt up to scratch) DS missed a couple of the ISA's due to being in hospitial (for various things from surgery to MH issues- and a broken arm) He did do one in biology and in chemistry but did paper one and a couple of months later did paper two- He got 38/50 a B in both. He was there for all of physics and got 50/50- A. Hes at one attempt at all of them and is gutted about the B's as he knows he know has to get high A on all papers to get an A overall, he asked his teachers if he could have a second attempt, like the rest of his class (some have had three) but was told no as head of science has said no to anyone re doing in triple. But those doing Double science can! I think he should get a second attempt I and him know he can get A/A. But the thing that is worrying me is hes now staying up till 2-3 in the morning revising science, not eating, not getting up going out revising any other subjects. So he can get As on the papers im worried its making him unwell, well it is. JUst other something he should be able to do. Hes so anxious. I hope that makes sence! I just need some guidance if possible -and possible a bit of hand holding!

[beggingbehind]

Hes 16 sorry!

[user1471530109]

It's not as easy as that, I'm afraid. The deadline for results of ISAs being submitted is very very close. This is something you should have discussed earlier.

What is his target grade? Not what you think he could get, but his actual target grade based off ks2 SATs? If it's an A*, and I could see he would need another ISA mark, I'd have had him in our Easter holidays (Science HOD).

[beggingbehind]

yes A*! And i did discuss it with HoD and hes said no and he could still get a high mark. DS believed that its only been recently when hes released that will be very difficult that hes started worrying, hes even re lapsed his SH. I just.. i dont even now. Any way i can help and ill try. Im going in next tuesday for a meeting and i was gonna bring it up then.

[beggingbehind]

Bumping and to say across his 9 GCSE's hes predicted 878AAAAA*A

[Autumnsky]

I don't have any experience on the retake side.

But I think you should firmly ask him to go to bed ealier, otherwise, this will affect his other subjects. Good rest is more important at this stage.

[user1471530109]

The trouble is, an ISA retake is not a quick job. He would have various components. The HOD would have made the decision based on the fact presumably he is capable of doing very well in his exams too. I can't remember the deadline date off the top of my head, but it is v v soon. I'm not even sure what you are asking for is possible.
However, I do agree that going in to the exam with a lower ISA mark than his target is far from ideal. All my cohort have either achieved their target grade or higher.
Does school start back today or next week?

[beggingbehind]

Tommrow

[user1471530109]

All you can do is ask to speak to HOD to explain how you feel and remind him/her that your ds has had health issues.

He has done an ISA though. Pupils aren't to do two. I can see why the HOD said that the triple group only have time to complete one for each GCSE. I don't think any of our triple group have done more than that.

However, like I said earlier. I personally think all pupils should be on or above their target with their ISA going into the exam. It makes such a difference.

Be prepared to be told it's not possible (the deadline I'm sure is any day now) or he will have to complete it after school (a big ask of his teachers).

[user1471530109]

That should say "aren't required to do two"

[CarrieBlue]

ISA marks have to be submitted to the exam board by May 7th (for AQA at least, I presume the other boards are similar). Each ISA takes approx 5 hours for Science. The student also needs to prepare for the ISA with research, a couple of hours perhaps. The ISAs also need to be marked and moderated before the marks are submitted. I can see why the Head of Science is saying there is no time - not all of the possible ISA subjects are easy to deliver to the students.

It would mean your DC missing other lessons in order to complete more ISAs and the science teacher missing lessons. I can't see other subject teachers or parents being happy about that.

I think you need to focus on healthy revision for the exams instead of the ISA, however hard convincing your DC that his current style won't be helping - it's tough on him sadly

[CarrieBlue]

And to a pp for triple science each student needs three ISAs - one in each subject area

[user1471530109]

I meant that Carrie. One ISA for each GCSE. What I was getting in at, is the OP said the double award students had resat one. But triple don't have the time unfortunately and are only required to do one ISA (per GCSE).

I agree. I'd be advising him to do at paper after past paper. And more importantly using the mark scheme to mark them himself.
www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-4401/past-papers-and-mark-schemes

Above link is biology. You can Google the UMS convertor for AQA to work out his grade for that paper too.

Good luck

[CarrieBlue]

Sorry user, misunderstood what you were saying!

[beggingbehind]

Its not that im asking for DS to have ANOTHER attempt im asking for hime to have the same as everyone else! And for the double/triple thing its not that triple dont have time, double did it over the holidays-they dont have time either! The HoD said that he thinks Triple should have two attempts past that and if they dont have there grade -they shouldnt be doing Triple!

[user1471530109]

I've just lost my post!

So he has done two attempts at his ISAs anyway? I'm afraid I agree with his HOD.

38/50 is UMS 75. Each GCSE is out of 400 UMS (100 for each exam and controlled assessment).
He needs 320 to get an A. 360 and A*.
With his 75 UMS in Biology last year, he would need to average 82/100 on each exam. That's 37/60. That is totally doable for a bright pupil. This will give him an A overall. He would need to average 44/60 to get an A*.
This is based on last year's exms ( different every year) and each module will be slightly different. But it's a good place to start. He can still do this with the right type of revision.
Lots. If not all past papers and pay close attention to mark schemes.

[woodlands01]

Agree with the Science HOD! It is unfortunate you DS has missed the opportunity due to illness but I do think it is now too late to rectify this situation. My understanding is that triple science is very tight for teaching curriculum and therefore time for ISA resits are difficult to schedule.
I get what you are saying about the double scientists and that they are being allowed to resit in the holidays, but the planning for double science and triple science will be done differently and by different teachers which is why I suspect your DS is not being allowed to participate. As another poster said, submission and moderation is on a very tight schedule and if triple science teachers have moderated all of their ISA's they may have drawn a line under it and not want to deal with any re-sits at such a late stage.
This should have been dealt with much earlier in the year - probably a combination of parent not understanding implications until too late and teaching staff missing an issue with one student due to being busy and over stretched.

[Littledrummergirl]

My ds1 took seperate sciences last year, he came out with 4Aand 5As so I have an idea of the stress your son is feeling. My advice to you would be accept that he won't be retaking the ISA but that the score is only a quarter of the overall exam and high enough to keep the A. Try to help him to stop fixating on it as it is causing negative energy.
If he is staying up so late then he can't be doing successful revision, you need to help him to chunk it into manageable sizes.
Ds1 broke each subject into topics and then segments, labelled each one red green or amber depending on his understanding and then used a mixture of past papers, mind maps, flash cards and anything else he felt that helped. He created a revision timetable that was broken into slots where he was available to study before adding the subject and a section or two from his list. He would leave gaps for meals, activities, school and sleep. He also had some which were marked as free time. He wanted to stop several activities in order to study but we felt that was counter productive and made him take breaks, all work and no play is very stressful.
I would maybe take him out for a few hours doing something he loves to give him some space.

Also, what does he want to do next? What does he need to continue with the next stage of his life/education. Unless he intends to study it at A level it's unlikely to have any effect on future decisions.

[beggingbehind]

No DS has had ONE attempt the rest of his class has had TWO/THREE! and he was rushed doing his bioligy.

[beggingbehind]

And yes hes chossen Chemistry, Bioligy and Maths for A level!

[beggingbehind]

They only finished there ISA's three weeks ago two (that was the CLASSES second attempt at physics my DS's first)

[greathat]

There are only a certain number of options that can be done. So the double award students would have more to choose from. It could be that the remaining choices are not actually "doable" the school might not have the equipment. In terms of timing it will be much more effective to spend the hours of time revising effectively.

[user1471530109]

OP, I do get it. If it were my dc I'd be upset too. But, it really is too late. Did you speak to the HoD today? When he missed them for being in hospital, it should have been pushed an discussed about another chance. It just isn't that easy unfortunately.

Did you read my post on how many marks he needs to get to get his A and A*? On his upcoming exams? It really is still doable

[beggingbehind]

Yes! That has filled him with a bit of hope has we were then told by a subject teacher that he would have to avrage 50-55/60! Which not to be funny dosent seem that doable! After he missed them for being in hospital they still had another attempt (his first one) so they thought hed been fine with that iyswim! Thanks for your help. Hes not looking so much to A level but more planning for uni.