Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other (new thread from y12)

This is the only set of A level mocks for DS. They will continue having unit tests until they have covered the whole curriculum then turn their thoughts to revision, and honing exam techniques.

Ds is still waiting to hear from LSE but I think that’ll be after the next lot of TMUA results are known so he’s not holding his breath.

@Ventress how did your DS find his mocks today?

Oh no @AuntyBulgaria hopefully he did better than he thinks, it's not over til the fat lady sings as they say.

DS2's maths mock appears to have gone OK other than the last question which he says he couldn't answer. This is a fairly normal pattern for him though, I feel he just sort of looks at this hard question around 2 hours in and thinks, I can't be bothered to even try. I might be doing him a disservice though, I know I couldn't do it and I did maths A level (a million years ago)!

Well reports from the TMUA today do not sound hugely positive! DS ran out of time on both papers and had to take wild guesses! Oh well.

Results in Feb I believe.

Mocks here too. Final two are today so DS gets tomorrow off school as he doesn’t have to be in if there is no exam.

I’m glad chemistry went well @JustHereWithMyPopcorn.

After these mocks DS has said he will concentrate on his driving test which is mid-February. If he could pass it would make a big difference to him as we live on the edge of a village and public transport is patchy.

How is your mil @bluefineliner? I hope Leeds interview was okay.

No further offers here (waiting on UCL and Durham) and DS isn’t bothered about offer days at Exeter and Warwick and hasn’t signed up for either.

We had snow, enough to cancel rugby on Tuesday, but it hasn’t hung around.

@AuntyBulgaria this will be the only mocks DS will do. They will continue to do topic tests and revision right through to when they stop for study leave (May half term I think?).

I mine will have some mini mocks covering the topics they haven't finished yet ...but only in the form of tests in class I believe.

He's only been back for two days and we are already looking forward to the mocks study leave 🤣 it's so dark, cold and tiring.

No mocks here - thank goodness! Though he did have some mock type things before Christmas not that DS took them seriously as they didn't mean anything.

He has more mocks in March. Those having mocks now is this the only set or do they have more nearer the exams?

Our snow has pretty much gone @JustHereWithMyPopcorn
Business today was really difficult, but everyone thought so, so hopefully that's OK for grade boundaries 🤞
DS and DH are out at the football tonight 🥶, I'm at home with the fire lit. A break will do him good.

Glad the application has finally gone in @MiniMidiMaxi I would have been climbing the walls by now! Bath is a very popular choice I think, probably why it takes them so long to reply. 😩

DS had his Chemistry mock yesterday and came out happy so that's good at least - hopefully the results reflect that! Maths tomorrow, he is currently doing a practice paper while wishing he was somewhere else.

Anyone got deep snow? It started snowing here again yesterday but only for about an hour or so and it's all been washed away by overnight rain. Sun is out but it's freezing and a big snow is forecast for tomorrow evening. I just hope it stays away until he's home form his exam!

It’s been a while since I posted - mainly because DS was taking forever to sort out his UCAS application so didn’t feel in a position to join in! But his application went in today, finally! He’s gradually moved towards the idea of general or joint honours engineering rather than pure mechanical, I can see it suiting him more, so maybe the drawn out timescale was worthwhile after all! Hoping it won’t take too long before he starts to hear back. Bath is the favoured choice here too @JustHereWithMyPopcorn.

Thinking of all the DC as they get into their mocks, DS has another week and a half until his starts. His brother is in y11 with mocks starting next week, so we’ve had a quiet Christmas to give them a chance to revise - with mixed results!

Mocks started today. Geography 1. Went well apparently. He now has tomorrow and Wednesday morning to crack on with Business, if he can get distinction now he is done which would only leave History x2 and Geography x2 for the summer.
History on Friday is giving everyone the fear 😨 Geography 2 on Thursday less so.

Sorry about your MiL @bluefineliner DHs mum had a big stroke 3 years ago and is still with us, all be it in a nursing home. Its so hard as parents and grandparents age.

Glad everyone else is in the mend health wise, and offers are coming in

Happy new year to you all!

I am so sorry to hear about your MIL @bluefineliner. I hope she makes a good recovery and your daughter is able to deal with the impact. I am sure Leeds make any allowances needed. I hope the interview goes well.

I’m sure your DS will be n fine with his chemistry test today - and the rest of the mocks this week @JustHereWithMyPopcorn DS also has mocks this week. He hasn’t done a vast amount of revision but says he’ll use this as the kick up the rear that perhaps he wants now.

Good to see you back @ComingInByAnsible. Thank you for your good wishes. I’ve caught up with DS about the Oxford interview- apparently his school usually get around 40 interviews and this year they got 14! It’s either an enormous year or the colleges have really scaled back their interviews. DS has written it off anyway. I’m glad your DS has bounced back. The Bath offer sounds great! What is his current favourite to firm?

I have asked DS to check his email as he should have had offer holder day invitations from Exeter and Warwick.

I love the sound of all the holidays which have been booked both your DC and your own 😊 DS and his friends are suffering from indecision as some want to do one thing and others something else. I suspect nothing will get booked, or they will fracture into small groups.

@ComingInByAnsiblecongrats on the Bath offer. @JustHereWithMyPopcornI feel the pain DS got a Happy Christmas message from one of his choices just before Christmas and of course as soon as the email comes through it gets their hopes up.

@bluefinelinerso sorry to hear about MIL. Best of luck to DD today.

@ComingInByAnsible well done to your on the Bath offer, my DS would be very jealous as that's who he really wants to hear from (different subject but his preferred uni). He got an email from them on Friday saying 'your application is with us and we'll be in touch soon' not sure what the point of that was (other than to raise and dash his hopes! 😂) as we got the generic email when he first applied telling him they had his application.

So sorry to hear about your MIL @bluefineliner , sending positive thoughts for a speedy recovery. Good luck to your DD in her interview today.

DS is on exam leave through these mocks which our school have never done before - it feels odd. First exam tomorrow morning, Chemistry, the couple of past papers he's sat over this weekend are not looking hopeful....

Happy new year everyone,

That is good news about the Bath offer just coming at the right time for your DS @ComingInByAnsible .

Our new year has started unexpectedly as MIL (who has lived with us for 20 years) had a stroke on Friday and is in hospital now. Not sure of the prognosis as she is very elderly, she can recognise us but her speech is not great. DD was with her whilst waiting for the ambulance and all the time in ED, she was amazing but is obviously very shaken by it all. She has her interview at Leeds today so we are just hoping she can hold herself together for it, she is focused and her Grandma was one of her strongest supporters for her to study med so she would want her to carry on.

Mocks start on Weds but I've been in touch with school to inform them. DD has done lots of revision and prep anyway it is just the last few days have been awful for her so it might affect her exams. I told her these exams don't matter as they have no bearing on anything now.

Happy 2026 everyone, may it be a great year for all our children (and their families!).

I haven’t been on Mumsnet for a while, so much to catch up on!

I am so glad you finished chemo @Ventress, I hope the new treatment is going well and you are feeling ok. I am rooting for your DS for both an Oxford and a UCL offer. Sorry to hear about his break up, he’s had more than his fair share of troubles and I hope he’s spoilt for choice with unis!

@bluefineliner, four interviews is amazing, well done to your DD! Hope she aces them and they translate into offers. Agree that mocks don’t really matter at this point.

Hope your DD is fully recovered @JessyCarr.

Exciting to read about the driving tests passed, holiday plans and other news!

Here DS has taken a while to lick his Oxford wounds but the holidays have helped, as has the Bath offer for politics with economics that arrived in December.

His driving test is end of March and he is definitely improving so hopefully he’ll be ready when the time comes. He and his friends are talking about Malta for the post-A level trip. He is already going on a school music trip to Tuscany so it might end up an expensive summer!

We have booked an offer holder day for Exeter in March. DS liked it a lot when we visited so it’s looking to be a serious contender. The accommodation issue sounds scary though, thanks for the heads up @JessyCarr!

My ds has done his mocks and pleased with the results.
Just finishing his UCAS form, and easing in to the last term of teaching.

He's upbeat & cheerful. I'm shattered 😁

Happy new year all, although it makes exams feel closer 😂
DS has mocks next week and has done a reasonable amount of revision in between a hectic social life and Christmas (and sleeping) He informed me at 2am when he came home, he is quietly confident 🤔 We shall see!
We are skiing at February HT and he has a lads holiday booked for early July. DH and I are planning a holiday, just the 2 of us. That's rather exciting.

Happy New Year everyone!

2026 is an exciting year for our dc, DS already has a school rugby tour and a boys trip to Spain planned!

He has mocks next week which he’s not done a huge amount of preparation for but he’s a bit of a steady Eddie and revises hard for each unit test, and of course his AS levels so he ought to be ok. Apart from confidence they don’t count for anything either.

He needs to keep an eye out for offer holder days as he’s got offers from 2 universities that he’s not visited, but I’m leaving that up to him. Just asked him to keep me updated on when he’s going and where as I’ll need to pay for his train tickets!

Happy new year everyone! 🎉 Let’s hope 2026 brings nothing but good things for our DCs.

Well done on the offers, DS got one from Manchester on Christmas Eve which was a nice surprise. We still do stockings for the kids here despite one of them heading up to 22!

@Ventress im sorry that your DS is having a horrible time at the moment, as young as they are, their feelings are very real and these things hit hard. Hopefully he will gather himself for the mocks, but I agree that they aren’t that important other than getting an idea what they still need to revise. DS has done next to nothing in terms of revision and we did have words yesterday so now I’m the baddie. It’s horrible that they can’t just enjoy the Christmas break without a set of exams to worry about immediately after.

Amazing that your DD is in a position for firming @hels71 that must be such a nice feeling before the new year!

Good luck to your DS’s maths test @AuntyBulgaria 🤞

DS has his summer holiday planned, Greek island with the boys. Something for them to look forward to.

Good luck to everyone with interviews coming up!

That’s wonderful @hels71! How organised your daughter is to already have firmed and requested halls 😊

Well done to your daughter on four interviews @bluefineliner! hopefully she will get her first and second choice. I’m sure she will as she is clearly both very bright and very motivated. Best of luck for the one next week and those which come later. I agree with the teachers that her priority is the interviews and she shouldn’t worry about mocks at all.

DS and I are going out of lunch today. We’re meeting up with his very old friend (and his mum) from nursery who started at university this year. He has really enjoyed his first term and I hope that catching up with him will help raise DS’ mood and help him think about what is in the future rather than the past.

We still have a stocking for DD here too, just an excuse for extra presents I think 😁.

@Ventress your poor DS, break ups can hit hard regardless of who and why. DD went through it during her GCSEs and Y12 mocks and thankfully it didn't affect her grades. Your DS has had a lot to deal with so I agree these mocks are not vital and don't affect anything. DD's mocks start next Weds and although the general theme has been for everyone to revise hard over the holidays, her teachers have told DD not to do this as she has interviews to do/prep for too. I am confident she is on top of things so agree they have to take a backseat atm.

@AuntyBulgaria I am sure the lock in for prep for the test will start soon. Good luck to your DS for the test.

DD has an interview on Monday, then her last 2 at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb. It is great she got 4 interviews but there is an underlying level of stress at all times juggling what needs to take priority. I am, as usual, support crew keeping my distance as much as I can!

The first few months of 2026 are going to be full on for everyone aren't they!

DD has now got offers from all 3 choices! She's accepted one as firm, one as insurance and rejected the other. She's also filled in the form to express interest in living in halls for her firm.
Apparently she will always need a stocking if she is home at Christmas......

DS got a usual presents - clothes, books, underwear and some money. I was toying with bribery to get him to practice driving but DH rolled out his veto (he doesn’t do this often so I listened).

DS has split up with his girlfriend. They’ve been together about 16 months and it’s his first “proper” relationship so he’s quite upset. I feel for him.

He has mocks just after the holidays but isn’t able to focus. He’s been through a lot in the last six months, including recent flu. I’ve told him not to worry about the mocks The school are making a big thing of it but is it really?

Lovely for your DD to go to Greece next summer @wonderstuffand excellent news on the Southampton offer. I’ve said before I know but I really like the Reading campus. I hope you get a chance to visit. Fingers crossed for Liverpool!

No more offers for universities for DS yet, but he’s not expecting any until after all applications are in.

Best of luck to DS for his test on 8th @AuntyBulgaria🤞I am sure he will pull it out of the bag.