GCSE Support Thread 2013

DD said German papers were OK - higher not foundation. She is not looking forward to Physics tomorrow - other than she will never have to do it again. Have suggested she might focus revision tonight on the Eng Lit Poetry as she wants to do well and do Eng Lit A level, but as with all proffered advice (and I have tried very hard not to) it was met with disdain! Roll on Friday afternoon when both music is over along with the emotion of the last 'all in together' day at Secondary school with Leavers' service and ritual de-facing of shirts. And a prank! I have said to think on and make sure it is nothing too outrageous as they can still be banned from the Prom.

Our MFL teacher said the German foundation papers were very fair. I'm just waiting for ds1 to get home to tell me what the higher papers were like...

It has been a full on week hasn't it? Dd has 8 papers this week but some of her friends have 11! She seems very pleased with how Latin went today but is dreading physics tomorrow - she did some physics revision in the Easter holidays but other than that yesterday was the first time she had time to look at it. Roll on half-term!

Phew seems this has been a full on week for most of us!
DD had Eng Lang and Chem p1 on Monday, Eng Lit yesterday and Latin language today - Biology tomorrown and Eng lit p2 on Friday! - glad to get to half term!

DD had Chem and Eng Lit earlier this week on Monday, and next is Physics and Eng Lit (poetry) Thurs, Music on Fri.

She is very stressed about Physics, it's her weakest science and the teaching has been poor this year due to a succession of supply teachers and lots of gaps and inconsistency.

The school are not allowing study leave and yesterday she couldn't find a quiet area at school to work, hopefully she can get her head down somewhere today.

She got quite upset and frustrated last night revising equations, not being able to get them to stick...me trying desperately to avoid a full on meltdown but can't say anything right.

See how she is when she gets in this afternoon.

yes, its tantrum city here at the moment too, poor DD2 is getting a really hard time of it although I do keep trying to get her out of the firing line...

I agree. My son's GCSEs are all 'sudden death' at the end of two years, but I prefer it this way. Constant modules and course work mean they never get relief from the stress.

Another mum with DD sitting German today, Physics and Eng Lit (Poetry) tomorrow and finishing the week with Music. Will then be just over half way! DD swings from her usual warm, polite, engaging self to a raging, door slamming wild child. She has worked hard, but I have come to the conclusion that two years of near constant testing and controlled assessments etc is far more stressful than terminal exams after a two year period of study.
Good luck to all DC sitting exams today.

I agree that maths 2 on IGCSE seemed better, and this is from a girl who really can't manage Maths. Yes, German today and then Biology and the modern poetry bit of English Lit tomorrow... Then breathe

We seem to have only crashed and burned in Chemistry so far, and frankly I'm amazed its only one that has freaked her out...

Rock on A levels and subjects we like

German this morning, then another marathon 4hr day of Physics and Lit tomorrow. Then we can breathe for a bit.

School are putting on 4 hrs of history revision over the hols, so that takes the pressure off at home and gets him out of my hair, so we can get on with packing!

German tomorrow.
Not sure whether it's ok dd does past papers upstairs and then comes down and says 'yeah it was fine I marked it and it was fine'!

She's very narky with her sister at the moment, think it might be 'kicking the cat' a bit!

Circular, the poetry definitely can be revised for!

Yes, I heard IGCSE Maths 2 was better than Maths 1, too.

not fluffy oh dear, is she ok about it? How many questions did she miss?

Hopefully, it will just be a couple of marks missed.

IGCSE maths 2 anyone? Suspect it was better than 1.

Now only school exams, thank God.

Praise be, no Greek. How DH and I loathed it.

Another resounding OK here for RE today, this is the definitely a theme.

Exam free day tomorrow then Physics on Thursday.

Over half way thorough the papers now, thankfully.

Boschy - Cant get away with testing DD either, although she allowed a limited amount last year.
Study leave now officially started, but little evidence of more than a couple of hours revision today.
She claims Eng Lit poetry(Thursday) cannot be revised for, pointless spending more time than she is on Music (Friday) not worth starting any science or geography yet, as nothing else till 10/6.

Reports on yesterdays Chemistry is that it was OK. Physics is on Thursday.

Nothing like a bit of healthy competition!

DS has also now finished maths and is home. Biology next on Thursday. His sister (who's one year older than him) didn't get an A* for biology, so he is very motivated to do well on that paper!! (Not quite sure that it's for the best of reasons, but nevermind.)

I'm impressed by those whose children LET them test them on subjects etc. DD1 is having none of it, and doesnt actually appear to be doing a great deal of revision at home. However she's not v academic, and I am just hoping she scrapes through with enough Cs to look good on her CV! she's got her 6th form place unconditionally tho I suspect we will be retaking maths for the next zillion years... today is her first exam free day since the beginning of last week so no doubt she will come home and complain how boring it was!

Sorry, it's GCSE RS, AQA this pm, not IGCSE.

IGCSE RS this pm for us as well.

Had Maths paper 2 this am. So three complete GCSEs done and dusted now. I wish it wasn't so bitty--parts of exams all over the place. Would be much better to have a total blitz on, say, Chemistry and complete it all in a few days.