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

FM here as well, @MiniMidiMaxi I am restless and not sure what to do, so here I am looking for solidarity
Hope it goes well for them @pinkdelight @AuntyBulgaria
@Fabfabfab yeah saw that, I didn’t sign up. Can’t do another SM

Another FM here - DS's first exam, but core pure is his favourite kind of maths so hopefully he'll be able to enjoy it. I'm more nervous than him and like @MiniMidiMaxi find it really hard to focus on my own work while it's going on. Which isn't ideal as I've got a big deadline looming. But helps to know others are going through all this too.

@MiniMidiMaxi mine has got FM core pure 1 as well today. Eek it's an important one!

He was awake at 6.15 and has been in school all morning as he has maths timetabled. So let's hope he and his friends haven't worked themselves into a right tis. There is only 6 of them that do FM so they're a tight knit bunch.

Good luck to all the maths students for tomorrow! DC has a few days of intense study time now before the next two exams on Monday and Tuesday but then nothing until after half term.

@Echobelly how annoying with a tube strike on the day of exams, let's hope it gets called off and that your DC doesn't feel any additional stress because of it.

@Newlease I rarely look on WIWIKAU but had a look just now and it seems rather annoying that they have created a new place for exam questions which you have to sign up for. Think I'll just stick to Mumsnet...

@Ventress DC said he's with the Cambridge exam board for English. I can't remember exactly but think it begins with a C. Not the OCR this time like with Econ. Not really sure what the difference is and if one is easier or harder than the other although I heard somewhere that the OCR is often more challenging.

DS gets started today - Further Maths (Pure) - it’s a tough one to start off with! He was a bit nervous when he left but he’s worked solidly in preparation. I find it really hard to concentrate on the actual things I need to do while they’re in exams (younger DS has been in GCSE exams all week), I need to find a way of staying vaguely productive!

thanks @Newlease😊

good luck for anyone taking exams today!

Belated birthday wishes @Ventress, too late now!
I didn’t realise the exams sarted for other papers early, for some reason and yesterday WIWIKAU had long discussions on Geo, and still thought its GCSE. Few friends had kids appearing and was keeping up with them!
and completely out of loop now! Clear pension case, thanks for the reminder. Not sure if DD has one, every time I ask about pen/pencil, she tells me it’s not that deep!! steering from writing few GCSE exams! 🤣🫤
glad econ, geo and eng went well for everyone! Good luck to those who are doing FM tmrw , we had been yo yoing about learning and with past papers. Hope it would go well for all kids sitting tmrw, whatever they are doing.
yeah, GCSE was not that far- time flies!
going to the den to ask about pencil case now!

Ed Excel business studies daughter said it was "weird" can anyone shed any light on what that might mean. It was all I got from her

At least there is an option @Echobelly!

@hels71and @Bellini12have your dc spoken to their teachers/lecturers? Might be worth the time and effort. I bet they didn’t do as badly as they think they did.

Timing is always difficult on these essay style exams. We’ve been telling DS this since GCSE!

@Ventress - as luck would have it, there is a bus that goes from round the corner from our house to round the corner from their school, but tube is less stressful!

Eng lit/Lang today. Apparently it was ok...and there's nothing she can do about it if she's messed up, so she's going to forget it...

Just found this thread. DD sat her first exam today (Bus studies Ed excel). She was crying her eyes out when I picked her up. She has worked so hard and is an A grade student. But couldn’t finish 20% of the paper and said her other answers were weak. She just can’t cope with the timings. Pressure got to her even tho she went in calm.

We suspect she is possible undiagnosed SEN but obv too late for that! Extra time would have helped calm her jumbled brain.

A terrible first start but trying to re focus as has another 2 big ones this week (and 2 start of next). She has a horrible timetable. 😪

Yes I think the 30 marker was very good - lots of choices. DS is doing OCR board. Is your DS doing OCR too ? @Fabfabfab. actually I think there is a lots of overlap between boards!

I hope your DDs best friend will have found it okay @Countrylife2002I think getting the first one or two under one’s belt is very calming! Good luck with politics 🤞

Oh goodness @EchobellyI’m glad the strike doesn’t start until after the exam starts.

Glad your daughter was happy with her business exam @BlackBean2023😊

We (DS) have several crammed in next week too. I’m also hoping for revision motivation!

DC's first exam is on Tuesday, when there's a tube strike and their 6th form is in central London - luckily strike doesn't start until midday so they can get in in the morning and that's the only exam affected by it. The rest will be over by the June strikes.

DD had AQA Business today - she was happy with the paper and I’m glad the first exam is a good start.

Next up, Sociology 1 on Monday, Business 2 and History 1 on Tuesday. Then a two week break - the challenge will be keeping the revision motivation going!

Glad English lit went well. DD’s best friend does that but I’ve not heard how it went but maybe that will calm her a little if it’s been ok!

Politics is our nightmare here, dd struggling to focus on it. Making her (and me!) quite stressed as she needs an A. Has another 2 content heavy exams next week too. It’s so difficult when all you can do is feed them and be a venting outlet!

@Ventress DC also said English went really well and particularly liked the 30 marker on Chaucer/Malfi.
2 down, 6 to go!

Sounds like geography was hard yesterday from reading about it although maybe the grade boundaries will therefore be lower.

@AuntyBulgaria hope the further maths exam goes well!

DS has text to say that English literature 1 went really well. So pleased (and a little relieved) for him.

There is a distinct air of further maths panic in the house today!

😂😂 @GirlsInGreen- love it!

Love that, @GirlsInGreen - your DD has style!

Good luck for everyone. DD first today, she flounced out the door saying (in her best Southern Belle accent)
"I have always relied on the kindness of strangers"🤭

Good luck to those doing exams today and well done to any that have already done exams so far. DD's friend said geography was good yesterday, but others who sat the same exam said it was tricky. I think a lot of this is down to individual students perception of what they expected and also how harsh they are on themselves. DD is always on the more harsh side and historically has always done better than she predicts. Hope this continues through A levels 😁.

First exam Friday so we are still bubbling under with stress as DD tackles past chemistry papers and is horrified how difficult some are. Luckily chem and bio are not until after half term so still time to improve confidence.

p.s DS says he’s not Edexcel for economics, he’s OCR . Apologies for the mislead.