Year 11-Is there new coursework between now and GCSE exams this summer?

[whataboutbob]

DS has been doing his mocks and it’s really dawning on us how unprepared he is for GCSEs. Lots of aspects to this but mucking around in class, too much phone time, poor sleep habits are all factors. It’s been quite emotional these last couple of weeks as he is realising he is not goingt to do well, but still challenging us to go on his phone, stay over at his friend ‘s etc. I’ve been firm and explained that things need to change and he’s taking it on board.
Anyway, just wondering, will there be a lot more to learn for his subjects or is it mostly going over previous years’ and last term’s coursework from now on in? ( I hope so). We are looking at plans for doing course work and revision regularly over the next months. Thanks for any info/ advice.

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

I should think (as a Head of History) that most subjects will be desperately hoping to finish teaching the course by about Easter. And then squeezing in some revision before the exams.

Unlikely that anyone will be finished by Christmas in Y11 to be honest. The new History GCSE is massively content heavy, and that appears to be a common complaint amongst colleagues.

[whataboutbob]

Thanks for your perspective Bless. History is one of his stronger subjects and one I can help him with . I’m more worried about the sciences.

[TheFirstOHN]

DS2 did GCSEs last summer.
Most subjects finished delivering new material at around the end of the spring term. Maths was a little earlier; Chemistry was still covering the final topic in the first week of May.

[whataboutbob]

Oh dear not what I was hoping to hear! But best to know the facts now. Think I’ll also email his head of year.

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

Good luck! It's not too late, by any means, so don't despair! Little and often will be the key. If he could draw himself up a plan/timetable over the holidays that will perhaps help him see what and where he needs to focus. Is there any chance of getting him to see that 10 GCSEs means Mon - Fri doing two 30 minute slots a night of revision? If he's at least doing half an hour a week subject revision he'll be nibbling away at it for now. And it will begin a good habit. Perhaps by Feb half term he can then gradually increase. An hour revision a night on top of homework is probably realistically all you'll get from him for now.

(I teach teenage boys!)

[TeenTimesTwo]

Science - have you got the relevant revision guides? They contain pretty much everything necessary and sufficient. You should be able to go through the guide with him and get him to say whether he has covered each page.

What's the status of his revision notes? Has he put in that work for his mocks? e.g. cards for all topics in science, mind-maps for history, an A4 sheet for each theme and character for English Lit including quotes?
Christmas holidays would be a good time to sort these out.

My DD1 had mocks in the Jan of y11 and she took a 5 day solid break over Christmas but otherwise did ~5hrs per day revision. So if you have 16 days off - 5 days = 11 days x 5 hours = 55hours. You can get a lot done in that time! This was done as 3hrs between 9am-1pm (plus breaks), then whole afternoon off to go out get fresh air meet friends etc, and hen 2 hrs 4pm-6:30pm.

A strategy for each subject would help. e.g. for science
per topic need to:

• make revision cards / check understanding
  
• learn topic at a time
  
• test by Mum
  
• relearn iffy bits
  
• practice questions
  
• mark and go over where marks lost (understanding, technique, application?)
  

If you agree working hours with phone out of room and he actually works those hours (sets himself a tangible target to meet for that session, e.g. revision cards for B1) then phone at other times should be OK.

And if he wants to see friends during revision slots, then the work needs to be made up in advance not promises of afterwards.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

DD's school some subjects have finished the course and history and science are two of those that have finished. Science started the course in year 9 to achieve this so he should check whether he needs to include year 9. History did the content of a paper a term from the start of year 10 and have got through it all.
The main subjects that are not finished are performing arts as they have worked really hard on and submitted the performances and are not working on theory paper that contact will be finished by end of Feb.
He needs to contact teachers and find out where he is in each course, but it needs to come from him really.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

It depends on the school and the subject. As others have already said, in DD1s year (just finished mocks) they have already finished maths and have from now on as revision. Almost finished English, just a couple of more weeks for the last text (the Novel in their case) then it will be revising and brushing up on essay technique etc. History, physics and chemistry will go up to the wire but biology will be done by half term. DD1s year started most GCSE courses in the last term of year 9. School have learnt a lesson since then and DD2, current year 10, started all GCSE courses at beginning of year 9. So, as Lonecat says, he is going to have to get this information from his teachers himself (tbh he should already know this).

[goldengummybear]

I've been to parent's evening recently and most subjects are finishing teaching around Feb half term.

[TeenTimesTwo]

My DD2 is y9 and she started the science GCSE this term (picking off the easier topics). She also seems to be doing some English Lit stuff as has done some Power and Conflict poems. I hope this means things don't go to the wire come y11.

[catndogslife]

There is no coursework for the 9-1 Science GCSEs.

[TeenTimesTwo]

cat I think the OP means specification/topics not 'coursework' as we had for the old GCSEs.

[ShalomJackie]

My DS is currently in yr 12. Last year realiaed after his mocks that his notes were not great
Basically knuckled down and rewrote them, started revision etc at Easter and got fab results in actual exams. For his A levela he is not making the same mistake and is revising notes at the end of each topic.

It is definitely not too late but it requires him to want to do well and out in the effort and hours. He has to want to do it for himself.

[MaisyPops]

I generally end my y11 teaching around February to March time.
Revision is the students' job. I dont see the logic in rushing teaching to be done early and then months of revision. I teach each topic properly as we go, put in appropriate assessments and revision and then it's up to students to pull their weight.

Ultimately if he wants to do well then he needs to knuckle down and he catching up what he's missed due to poor effort and attitude.

(Sorry if that sounds irritable but I hate the idea that some students get where they think they can mess around in y10 and then feel it's their teachers' jobs to recap (reteach!) everything in y11 when they've devided they are willing to sort it out).

[whataboutbob]

Thank you everyone. Glad to hear others have been here!
He has asked me for help in devising a revision plan for the actual GCSEs. I've told him we need to go for little and often. He has a tendency to blame teachers which is a little alarming (one did lambast his efforts as "a load of waffle" and told him he's scored a 1, but while undiplomatic they were probably right).I still don't know what feedback parents are going to get , no Parents' meeting till Feb so I think I'll email his teachers individually for feedback and to find out how he scored.
Phone out of the room during revision will be non negociable.