GCSE revision. ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH

[lilolilmanchester]

OP says it all, but thought it better to scream at MN that at DS!!

[magentadreamer]

I take it it's going well then?

[lilolilmanchester]

I just can't understand why he can't see that he's not going to get good grades unless he actually spends a bit of time revising! And I also know he will be kicking himself when the results come out.

[scienceteacher]

Is he at home on Study Leave?

Would he be more productive if he went into school?

[webwiz]

I feel your painDD2 doesn't have study leave so she is in school thankfully. DD1 has study leave for A levels and she is revising but she takes an unbelievable amount of time to get started, she is still asleep at the moment so it will be at least three hours till she gets going.

[ChampagneDahling]

I'm so with you on this one lilo. My DS is doing some work but as soon as my back is turned or I leave the room he is onto the tv/computer/ps2/anything with a screen faster than you can say "5 c's would be good". He had disastrous mock results and has pulled up his socks a bit since then (as in he'd done nothing before) but now its all a bit too boring and "what's the point, it's too late to do anything now...".

I'm pulling my hair out - 5 down, 8 to go - less than most folk though so I'm not complaining too much.

How you doing?

[lilolilmanchester]

scienceteacher, he is at home on study leave, has been going in when teachers have had revision lessons, but otherwise he can go to the library. Last time he did that he ended up helping someone else with their maths . He's doing a bit but too little too late I fear. School is closed next week and he still has half his exams to do. He's having this afternoon off having had 7 exams in the last week and has gone to play football, a proper break might do him good. He did a revision plan, which seems to have gone out of the window. I'm only working one day next week so will offer to help test him, he's usually ok about that, but too easily distracted like champagne's son. have taken his xbox controller off him but as soon as your back's turned he's doing something else. Glad to know I'm not alone. Good luck everyone!

[scienceteacher]

What we tell our students is to divide the day into three sessions (ie morning, afternoon, evening) and study for 2 of those sessions each day. It is very important to have down time, and by picking their own schedule, they can have their downtime to suit - eg it is notoriously difficult to get teenagers out of bed in the mornings, so many would choose this time as their R&R.

I remember when I was at school (one hundred years ago), I just followed the school day, and did the subject I would have at that time (so I got to have PE off ).

[nickschick]

Thankfully (for us) my furious rage after the mock results paid off!!!

Ds1 has really oulled his socks up and his revision is going well.

[lilolilmanchester]

well done nickschick and nickschicklet! Some good points scienceteacher. Down time has been taking up more of DS's day than revision time, but I will take your suggestion on board. I think he'll settle more next week after the reality of this week hits home.

[random]

I feel your pain

[scienceteacher]

Does your DS know how to revise? It can be very difficult to read through his notes and textbooks.

A lot of kids find writing out facts on index cards to be really useful. Others like to do past papers. Others like to write out model answers.

BBC Bitesize is good, as are CGP books.

[flamingtoaster]

I introduced the concept of the "revision present" in our house. DS and DD have never been rewarded for exam results as I think that increases stress far too much - but they got a present if they did what we considered sufficient revision. DS would have revised anyway - I don't think DD would have without the incentive!

[lilolilmanchester]

No problem with Maths, he loves doing the past papers - not really like work to him. For the other subjects, not interested in writing note cards or past papers. I have to say tho the revision guides are excellent, especially for science (not just saying that!!) because there are lots of questions which are quite repetitive and I am happy to go through the questions with him as reluctant as he is to do that. History is going to be the worst, a lot to learn. Maybe will revisit the card thing. Unfortunately, the ones he worked least for (English Lit, Food tech, Spanish) are behind him now so too late. I think I'm just worried that he won't do as well as he could and it'll be lack of work rather than ability.

[nickschick]

OIIIII!!! lilo - it was a scarey stroppy rant that did involve several application forms to tesco/mcdonalds/littlerwoods etc......to show him that a life without GESCE results could be hard.

He still repeats the mantra - 'no-ones gives ypu the gcse you have to work 2 years for it' .

He is off to Loreto in Sept.

[ChampagneDahling]

Well nickschick - I tried the "you'll have to get a job if you don't get into 6th form" line with my DS and although he is desperate to stay at school he was really tempted by the teenager's life washing our windows today with his dad ! "seems like a good life to me..." aaarrghh ! or perhaps because it was just like more attractive than like doing geography revision... like what wouldn't be ?!!

I like scienceteachers suggestions, unfortunately downtime seems to be anytime I'm not watching him though - poor chap - we'll all be relieved when it's over .

Have DD revising for school exams at same time roll on 10th June, that's when "we" finish "our" exams . I need a stiff drink (again) - is the sun over the yardarm yet?? Somewhere, anywhere, please.....

[Pimmpom]

I feel your pain

DD had last day of school on Tuesday and now on study leave. I really think she would have preferred going into school for revision. Well, I'm sure that would be preferable to having me nag. It's much harder for her to get up and get motivated at home. If she had to go to school, she would just get on with it.

I will definitely need a holiday this year!

[ChampagneDahling]

I just want to cry

Seemed to have spent ages going through geog revision with ds, just going through revision cards - again - and he seems to have forgotten the whole lot, unless prompted.

Poor boy has 6 exams over 3 days next week with geog on Tues pm and I just want to weep.

Do you think they'll let me go in with him to prompt him...no I thought not....

Perhaps I'll go have a cup of tea and a cookie and see if I feel better - its just too too early for a stiff drink

[webwiz]

ChampagneDahling if he's managing to remember stuff with prompting that means ithe info is somewhere in his brain so he's nearly there. DD2 has 8 exams next week - including 3 on Wednesday which is her 16th birthday, I think she will be very pleased when its over with. I haven't been called on to test her on anything since french and german orals when she kept forgetting everything, I think she had an adrenaline rush in the actual exams and managed to do well (I was very surprised considering how terrible she was whenever I tested her).

DD1 starts A2 exams next week as well - I am keeping out of that one because if I ask any questions at all about how revision is going she shouts at me.

[lilolilmanchester]

poor webwiz - two at once! Another couple of weeks and it'll all be over and we can relax (until the end of August!) DS doing a bit more now, but given that he's got 9 exams left, 7 next week, he's left it a bit late. But I am starting to chill now, I can't do any more.

[ChampagneDahling]

Thank you webwiz, I'm sure some info is in his head and I just hope and pray that the right bits come out and get onto the paper in the right order at the right time on the right day and done is such a way that he ANSWERS THE QUESTION !! I know there are thousands out there in the same boat as us.

Good luck to everyone with exams next week - as you say lilo - 2 weeks and it will all be over and done with

[LaineyW]

How is it going for everyone so far?

My DD has been pleasantly surprised with hers so far, no major panics, thank God. I think her French listening exam was quite hard this afternoon though... but fingers crossed it stays at this level and we don't have any major meltdowns.

Roll on next Thursday when she sits her last one.

[lilolilmanchester]

Hi Lainey... bit mixed with DS, found his history very hard today and the second maths paper hard earlier in the week. 3 more to go - he finishes on Tuesday. Still doing last minute revision, Chemistry tomorrow and he hadn't done ANYTHING til today ("it's only one module, Mum, I can do that in a night" . But have chilled about it a bit more now, there's nothing I can do. Will wobble again nearer results time!

[ChampagneDahling]

We're doing ok thanks for asking. Surprisingly so! English lang (analyse non-fiction media etc) yesterday was a bit wobbly but not his best subject anyway so hey ho, but apart from that DS has been happy and confident after every exam - of course that doesn't mean he's done well - he may just be living in blissful ignorance - but at least he happy and there's a lot to be said for that ! DD end of year exams also going well, so I hope I'll be cracking open the fizz to celebrate end of them (physics next Weds) soon.

Good luck everyone

[mumoverseas]

Another one that can't wait til its over. DS is very tetchy at the moment and I know that although it will all be over soon, he will be an irritible little git in August when the results are due. He did a few GCSEs early last year and the year before and it was like treading on eggshells the week before the results arrived. He seems pretty confident with most of them with the exception of arabic but we always knew that would be the case.
Roll on 3rd September when he goes to his new college

[ChampagneDahling]

Hallelujah!! Final exam today and we're all done and dusted. Can't really believe it after all the stress but I'm sure I'll get used to it ! DS over the moon to be finished and doing his best to do nothing already !

Time to tidy his room now...

Thanks for the support ladies its good to know you are not alone.