GCSEs 2012 support thread

Dd 'revised' in the garden yesterday and got sunburnt with a bit of sunstroke last night as well. I am so cross, she wanted a tan, but completely misjudged how long to stay out. Fortunately she doesn't seem too bad today, but just beware all the rest of you with dc out in the sun again today.

She has a long science exam tomorrow (which she is revising hard for) and English language on Tuesday which you can't really revise for and RE later in the week which will need a bit of work too, but she seems to know quite well. She is borderline on grades for all 3, so we're hoping for good papers.

Wall to wall revision here despite the nice weather

DD has both History and Sociology IGCSEs tomorrow. Both long papers and a right pain having them both on the same day as they are both strong subjects for her and I think it will compromise them slightly. (whereas bloody Chemistry which will be a C grade at best was all on its own last week grrr)

Have been helping her since about 8am this morning but we are now off out to walk the dogs in the lovely weather :)

Most of his friends are doing a resit of the Eng language on Tuesday. I wasn't happy about them taking it a year early and very few got the grades they hoped for, not least because they didn't take it seriously enough in Y10. DS got an A and realistically there was little chance of improving on that and he is mightily relieved not to be doing it again.

DS confessed to me that he has never felt so stressed as he did before last Thursday's English Lit paper. I was surprised as although I knew he was a bit worried it didn't show.
No revising this weekend, just physics this week and he got 100% on the practice paper on Friday

Daffodilly2 - what English does your ds have?
Dd has an English language re-sit on Tuesday, non-fiction texts.
I always look at past papers on-line and look at the mark schemes and tell dd what to include and what examiners are looking for.
We've had no wobbles so far, if they come it will be because of History after half term! Not sure any of us will get through without a wobble somewhere along the way. Good luck to your ds!

For first time, DS has been really down about a GCSE - is very under confident of English on Tuesday, feels he's useless with expression. He hates English and it is his weakest subject but he should still do well - but lack of confidence is not going to improve him on the day!

I had just been thinking how well he has been managing stress of exams - quietly confident, ready for the challenge - then English

No revision here either, but, in a total attack of I'll do anything other than revision ds has actually partly tidied up the hell hole that is his bedroom today!

Oooooo. You are making me very jealous cardibach

It is beautiful here. We have been sitting on the balcony looking at the sea, and have been for a walk on the cliff path. Preparing for a Eurovision Party now, DD has made one of her famous cheesecakes. Soooooo much nicer than nagging about revision.

Very today. I would love to live near a beach. DD went to revise in the park.

beach

Looking at the weather forecast for the weekend, I'm glad DD only has Welsh next week so doesn't need to do major revision! WOuldn't fancytrying to persuade her to revise when the sun shines and the beach calls!

DD needs an A or A as she wants to study Latin A' level. She has the most brilliant but completely crazy teacher. DD is too lazy to study most of the time and needs a kick up the a**, spent the entire afternoon watching videos on her iPod. It is really hot here admittedly.

The grade boundaries are definitely higher, however I also think that reflects the fact that half of the exam (the set texts) is just learning so easier to score highly on. DS is looking for a C in latin but after that exam he thinks it should be in reach.

Cardibach - well done on your bi-lingual daughter.
BringBack1996 - DD thought Latin was fine but thought she dropped around 4-5 marks (out of the 60). That worries me a little as I think the grade boundaries will be quite tight. It is probably a totally prejudiced view but I always think kids who choose Latin must be clever anyway and there is not a large spread of abilities as in a more mainstream subject.

Apparently the Latin was easy but DS knows parts of his translation were wrong. Tbh I'm just happy that he managed to come out of the exam happy as he is truly awful at latin!

Sorry, no, ds's only Res. Mat. exam is his last one on 27th June! (AQA)

Help help. Did anyones DC do the DT resisant materials this morning? Or does anyone teach it. Bought Ds and a friend home. DS yeah it was fine wrote about Lovegood(?) and other friend says no, that wasnt the choice it was to write about Dyson. Anyone?

BIt of both, Fluffy. SHe has been in Welsh medium education since age 5 and is completely bi-ligual. I am a struggling learner - much better after a couple of pints. Just seen her - apparently Food was OK, could go either way. THis worries me a little...

DD is at last on study leave. The school announced it to students yesterday that as of today they only need to come in for exams. I know that DD & friends are all gutted as they hoped to do last photos etc today. I think the school has done it so that the more yobbish element arent tempted to start a bonfire in the library (it is a serious risk, when I suggested it to DD as the reason she just said 'good point').

So that is it, DD1 is no longer in compulsory education. The end of an era! And it is all a bit of a damp squib!

Phew, thanks so much for that - you are quite right! Slightly different (maybe different texts?) 29th, 11th and the last one on the 20th. I have the print out from the school on the kitchen notice board and check it several times a day. DD didn't even realise she had an English exam yesterday, last weekend!

Latin here too plus Spanish.

Fluffy, I'd just check that Latin is three exams- for us it's four. Two literature papers on 11th and 20 th June, if it's the same board

Oh cardibach, hugs to your dd, sounds like shes very sensible getting out and about, lol at theraputic flirting.
Ds was lucky yesterday he got the poem he wanted (phew) so said it was all straightforward. Today is Dt this morning and economics this afternoon. With it being a long exam this morning and with him having extra time, its all a quick gallop to economics this afternoon. Anyone else on economics?

Cardibach, great that she is a bit better. Hope it goes well today and you all have a relaxing weekend. Are you bi-lingual or does she just do Welsh at school?

My DD has Latin this morning and is I think, a bit over-confident. She was plugged into a Latin Ipod Ap as she left this morning. She wants to do A' level so hope the paper is OK. There are no controlled assessments in that one - just the three exams, so no marks banked so far.

Next week 2 physics papers, more Latin and English. Thankfully her weakest subjects maths and History are after half term.

THanks BeingFLuffy. Your assessment has made her smile! SHe seems better today. I gave her a night off and went to a local educational camp where our prospective Y7 pupils were team building. SHe helped the sixth form boys run the discp and had a bit of a therapeutic flirt, I think!

Food Tech this morning (common sense, apparently), then Welsh on Monday (Language, so no revision as such) and then nothing til after half term when she has Maths.