GCSE Support Thread 2013

My dd did RS today and they were given the wrong paper. If anybody noticed they didn't say anything during the exam. It was for a slightly different syllabus, all religion instead of just Christianity I believe. The head is requesting special dispensation re the marking. I'm struggling to understand how this happened.

Hmm. DD1 thinks that the listening was horrible but the reading was fine. French is very double plus not her thing though.

DS said French and RS were ok and he was happy with his answers. Nothing here for another 10 days now then its English lit and Music listening before half term.

Dd did French today as well and said it was okay, too. Some easy, some hard was her verdict!

Hello, my DD is currently in Y11, so is in the middle of all her GCSEs - she does 9 IGCSEs and 1 GCSE.

She told about the 'killer question' on the Edexcel IGCSE Maths paper, too. She found that question very difficult. There's a thread on The Student Room here which discusses it and your DCs may want to take a look. Having read it, I'd say the general consensus is that it was a tricky paper.

She's also got Edexcel IGCSE Physics and French tomorrow. For the French, she's made a sheet with useful A* phrases to put in the writing. Is there any way for me to share this on Mumsnet? I think it may be useful for some of your DCs, even the ones that don't do IGCSE.

Good luck to all the DCs!

DD1 just text to say that the Ferench Listening was okay but thelast question on the Reading was difficult but overall okay!

IGCSE's have no course work and are not modular - just an exam at the end of 2 years. In comparison, the GCSE DD1 just took in French was only worth 40% as she had already completed 60% in assesment. They are not harder just a different format.

Maths went ok this morning - some new level 3 algebra paper of which there was very little revision material for.
Biology and PE tomorrow.......
revision ongoing.......

The "i" in iGCSE means "International" apparently.
Some schools choose them as they claim they are more academic, others because they think the format is preferable. My dss school does nearly all iGCSEs and this means pretty much no course work / assessment, just lots of old fashioned exams at the end of year 11! The school think this suits their boys better...
In the long run can't imagine it makes a jot of diference... a GCSE is a GCSE...
Good luck to all dcs.
Physics tomorrow for ds, lots of loafing about today...

can someone tell me what's the difference between iGCSE and GCSE? does it make any difference in the long run?

Hi there - just looking for some support here as DD1 has her GCSE's and IGCSE's starting today - French and Physics tomorrow

I ahve been feeling rather worried...

RE this morning 'went ok' according to DD1...

Just popped on here as it's DoD.
I was on the 2012 thread and DS1 now plunging in to AS levels, DS2 in year 10 only has Maths GCSE this year. They are relentless these exams.

Casey we have special exam breakfasts here as well. DS1 was up at 6 and eating full English at 7am .

Good luck to them all.

Good luck to all
My yr10 dd started it all of her igcse maths last friday. Today Is the worse for us as my yr11 ds has 2 french gcse exams today, dd yr10 has cooking gcse practical and dd yr 6 has english sats this morning and english level 6 sats this afternoon

Good luck to all!

Casey, Ds even suggested he have breakfast!

And asked for porridge.

And got it...

Ds tucked into FIVE banana and maple syrup pancakes followed by weetabix this morning and headed off to the station having given me a kiss on the cheek! I nearly fell over in surprise ...

DD just left for RE and French today.... This is my third child to go through this - it does not get any easier.
Good luck to them all.

Good luck to everyone for week 1.

DS has gone off happy this morning because I made him a bacon sandwhich .

Good luck to all taking exams.
Hope the mums & dads can stay sane for the next 6 weeks too.

Good luck for week 1 and a tip:
ds1 isn't great in the mornings and often skips breakfast.

For exam days we have special breakfasts: so we buy things that we know he likes and make breakfast more of an occasion on those days. (Pain au chocolate, brioche, tea cakes, pancakes, etc.)

This does help him get going and make him feel more positive about exam days, as well as refuelling him!

Good luck to all our DCs!

Good luck for week one! Can't believe its been a year since I was here for my daughter.

Son is year 10 and only has sciences and maths, so he starts next week I think. His revision started today! I am very relieved it has!

We don't do Citizenship at ours, Roisin, but I guess it's probably worth turning up even if no revision has been done. May get a half GCSE for nothing, may not...

French tomorrow. That could be his last ever French lesson.

DS has RS and French tomorrow - I thought he was revising in the kitchen but I've just been in and there's no sign of him