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

Ha! Sorry @Ventress for the unnecessary panic! She has enjoyed Lit Lang (the main difference from Lit that I can see, broadly, is that there was no Shakespeare and the NEA was two pieces of creative writing inspired by books of your choice - one fiction, one non-fiction then critical analysis of your writing). She's hoping to do Sociology at uni.

Reminder to all - check your YP still have their clear pencil cases etc to hand!

Good luck to those starting exams next week, DS doesn’t start until the 20th when he has Physics then nothing until after half term. Post half term is full on though. 😬.

At the moment DS is doing next to nothing in terms of revision. He’s basically doing one practice paper a day and behaving like that’s exhausting for him. He’s feeling quite anxious so it’s a fine line between keeping him level and telling him he needs to pull his finger out.

DD has to go in until half term. Then has to go in to all lessons that she hasn't done the exams for. So will effectively be in every day until her last exam on June 18th. Start on Wednesday. She's happy with her English NEA so that's good. And the textiles coursework is finally all in!

Morning all.

I Completely agree about all happening at once @MiniMidiMaxi and @bluefineliner. DS had his last day of school on Thursday with leaver’s assembly and various sports events, but, luckily, his prom isn’t until the end of June. I hope even with earlier celebrations our dc enjoys them!

The DA sound interesting @MiniMidiMaxiI don’t blame you/your son firming a good course just in case. Bath does sound like a great uni. And dropping from 4 to 3 (if 4 isn’t required) is very sensible.

absolutely @bluefineliner! I can’t believe how quickly the last two years have gone. I honestly (naively?!) thought that year 12 at least would be easier than it was. Hard to believe that we, let alone our dc, have almost got to the end of year 13!

All the best to your daughter @bluefineliner- She has great offers so these exams will probably be a walk in the park for her 😊

Ds has his first exam on Monday am - micro economics. Good luck to all who have exams on Monday. You have got this!

I was a little worried when I saw your dc’s exam Monday @MamOfTwo(thinking that DS also has English literature) but then I saw it was lang and lit. That’s an interesting course; have they enjoyed it? What’s next for them?

No leaving stuff here as they are all supposed to be in throughout (no study leave). I think my DS will just not go in on some days. But I am such a rule follower that I hate it when the school calls me to tell me that he hasn't shown up.

I am hoping that they don't bother with phone calls for those students that they know are all on track.

DC on study leave now... feels quite weird that they're effectively no longer in school. First exam in a week and a half, then a couple of weeks to the next an after that the rest are over within a fortnight, just after their 18th birthday.

Birthday falls on a Friday, so I think the plan is we'll go somewhere nice for dinner as a family on the day, as their last exam is on a Tuesday.

Hi all,

So many positive bits of news from everyone! NEAs are something DD hasn't had to do with her subjects so not familiar with them. The results on here sound great so far, nice to get it out of the way with an indication of how they may do now.

@ComingInByAnsible it is nice to know your DS has made decisions, makes things feel a bit more settled, hope he gets accommodation sorted too.

@MiniMidiMaxi it is a lot all at once pre exams isn't it, DD had last day Thurs with all the celebrations that went with it. Her prom is not until the day after results day though, which is probably better for her, one less distraction in this heavy revision period. Hope your DS enjoys his.

DD's first exam is psych on Friday so good luck to all those sitting exams from Monday! I feel DD may be better once we actually start the exams and things feel to be moving forward. It feels like she's been 'locked in' to revision for months now 😂. With most of her exams after half term DD can finally relax after 17th June.

Edited to add - to those who have been here since GCSEs, how on earth has 2 years gone so quickly!! Seems like a few weeks ago we were supporting each other through the relentless amount of GCSE exams, and here we are again 😮.

Last day of school here - just a weekend of 'study leave' as first exam is on Monday (English lit lang). Good luck to all!

DS has gone in for his last day today - signing each other’s yearbooks and shirts, leavers assembly etc. And then prom is in a week. Feels odd to have all this happening before the exams have started/finished but they have to I guess as everyone will finish at different times.

He seems in pretty good shape re revision from what I can tell, has been doing a lot of printing with the goal of going through all past papers. Very glad he dropped down to 3 A-levels instead of sticking with 4!

Although he’s got his degree apprenticeship offer, we’re continuing with the uni application to keep his options open. He’s firmed Bath and will sort out his application for accommodation this weekend now that the portal is open. He’s pretty fixed on the DA though and their grade offer is lower so think uni is unlikely.

Oh gosh, me too. Art GCSE was so difficult. I can’t think how difficult A Level art will have been for our DC. I really hope they have got through it okay and are ready for the next exams.

Fingers crossed for son’s accommodation choices @JustHereWithMyPopcorn I have seen a lot of Bath recently (rugby) - such a beautiful little city.

I hope your Ds1 is doing well 😊

I hope your DS is happy with his choices @ComingInByAnsible. They sound very good. If your DS is like mine he will be very relieved to have made this decision.

Apparently it was last day of school yesterday! Although DS is actually up and I can hear the shower running so perhaps he is taking last minute revision seriously. One can hope!

I hope your DC are into their revision and ready for their exams. DS is also economics, so exam 1 on Monday morning.

I remember the relief of having the art GCSE out of the way when DS did his @ComingInByAnsible fingers crossed it went well for your DD. Glad to hear that your DS has made his choices.

We made the accommodation application to Bath today, so much doubt and swapping around once we were on the portal despite having written a list already! I don't know why I'm worrying about it, he may get none of his preferences - DS1 didn't at Notts and he survived! 😁

Great to read about more fabulous NEA results, @Ventress, @PinkChaires, @Fabfabfab, @HereWeAreToday, @Tebheag! Fingers crossed for the art coursework, @ArchitectureMum, I am sure she’ll do great. My DD finalised her GCSE art coursework now, and it’s such a relief to have it finished!

The big news here is that DS has made his UCAS decisions - he has firmed Warwick and insured Exeter. Accommodation decisions will be next on the uni front, but for now it’s all about revision. First exam (microeconomics) on Monday!

Apologies, I wasn’t trying to gloat, just indicating my own lousy understanding of NEA results. DS has said that (in English lit in particular) that getting good results still doesn’t necessarily mean that the NEA score will be high. I find it very confusing.

Ds has a big rugby weekend coming up. He, and the other year 13s, leave junior rugby and potentially join the adults. Of course going off to university means that their playing might be curtailed but DS is looking forward to playing adult rugby this weekend. There is so much on for the “commemoration of rugby” weekend. DS and DH will have a great time. Weather is looking a little dodgy though…

good luck for the apprenticeships @Tebheag

I’m sure your daughter has done well with the art coursework - so difficult @ArchitectureMumOnce the EPQ is moderated it will probably be better than expected 🤞

thank you @HereWeAreTodayvery useful to have those grades in hand. I didn’t realise that UCAS did updated grades, that’s so helpful,

@Fabfabfab got to agree about the black to actually like him having it not had any issues. Makes me feel better about possible road trip to Europe in the summer.
DS never told me Geography NEA marks just said he got a B.
Still no luck on apprenticeship lots seem to start May June.

The EPQ unmoderated marks have come back and are not quite what DD hoped for. It’s not going to have any effect on her offers so she just has to move on. A bit disconcerting though after so much effort and time.

The Art coursework marks aren’t actually going to be out for a few weeks when she will also hear her unmoderated exam marks. That will be the real crunch point. She needs one A* for Edinburgh and Art is probably her best shot at it so it would be amazing to have that sort of in the bag going into her other exams but if not, it will really throw her I think.

Full marks is amazing, well done to your ds. Dd dropped 2 marks on her geography and is thrilled. I’ve just made a serious error showing her the updated UCAS grades as she has a couple of grades in hand in each subject if I’m reading it right. Hope she doesn’t start to coast which is what she did in GCSEs

Wow @Ventress full marks in both NEAs! Surely that's an Astar? Saying that, DC was one mark off a full score on the English NEA and was told that's an A. Got Astar in his recent mini mocks so it's all starting to come together hopefully.

@ComingInByAnsible I remember the sport facilities at Warwick from the OHD and was very impressed

Well done to everyone's DCs on their NEAs! Keeping fingers crossed for the As and A*s.

History NEA here-29. Quite pleased as i was stressing due to DD doing the majority in one all nighter😖 an A is in sight thankfully

That sounds like a really positive visit @Echobelly I tend to agree that going for the highest mark as firm is a good idea.

Fantastic that your daughter had a good vocal exam @JessyCarr she will have such a great time in France.

I was going to mention moderation but others have already got there. DS has had both his history and English literature NEAs moderated and returned. He doesn’t know his grades, although he got max in both so presumably he will get A star, but it’s not yet a given.

Ds did a history “mini mock” yesterday- although it was all of last year’s exam so I think it was more than a “mini” exam! He said he has glad he didn’t do his A level last year!

It’s great that your DS enjoyed their Warwick offer holder day @ComingInByAnsible. I remember the sport centre as being really good! No pressure on just 7 days to decide 😱

According to DS yes

Cross-post with your update, @Echobelly, sounds like a successful trip!

Congratulations to everyone on the NEA results. @Fabfabfab, I don’t think we’ll know this year’s boundaries until after the results day (but maybe I am wrong).

Well done to your DD on French speaking, @JessyCarr! Sounds like she’ll be in her element next year.

Great news about the accommodation booking @Ventressand @MysticCatLady.

Hope Manchester went well, @Echobelly.

We had a really great day at the Warwick OHD for PPE today (apart from the hour-long traffic jam leaving campus at the end of the day). DS very impressed with the course, career support and the sports centre. He still hasn’t made up his mind between this and Exeter Econ and Politics though, and it’s now only seven days before his offers expire!

Successfully - I'm glad they did manage to get a faculty tour and to meet some staff, and visit the Manchester Museum that was interestingly political in line with DC's interests. They have said they will talk to friends who go to Manchester and Goldsmiths and make a call. DH says he is happier to accept whatever they decide knowing they have had a proper look at Manchester now. My advice would still be to go for Manc if all things are equal - it has the higher offer that they are, I'd say, 90%+ likely to meet, so then they could always have Goldsmiths as a fallback as even if something goes a bit wrong they'll still meet that offer.

@JessyCarr thank you, he explained it to me earlier and I understand the system a bit better now in that they add all the grades up so it doesn't really matter being one mark off an Astar. Great that your DD did well in her exam today! Worth celebrating all the achievements at this point. DC is pretty happy with his English NEA and has gone out with his girlfriend tonight. Still waiting for his History NEA though. @gingercat02 @MamOfTwodo you happen to know what the grade boundaries are this year for A and Astar?

@MamOfTwo well done to your DC!