Any parents of Y12 DCs up for a support thread?

Ds has turned a little bit stressy. Last night he was up revising til midnight! He has history this afternoon and gov & pol tomorrow morning then it's all over, just the long wait til August. He is just cramming those last essay questions from past papers.
Our students seemed okay ish when they came out last night, no weeping and wailing as has been on previous occasions but I don't think they do wjec science subjects (not sure as ds doesn't do science).

DD was fairly happy with physics, although she thought it was quite tricky. She did wonder if she would finish, but speeded up as she went along. Today was the first time she ended up in the exam hall with her brother who's doing GCSEs. She's now revising for geography for tomorrow.

She's also just realised that some of her friends have finished and now have over 2 weeks off. They get another week of study leave after half term.
Her exams go on to June 18th!
Hope the DCs get a good night's sleep.

Ds school doesn't offer critical thinking or general studies. It doesn't appear to have been a drawback. Some students take 5 AS levels, but only in the maths, further maths,,statistics, mechanics area. Otherwise it's 4 and again a few students continue 4 into A2.
Also extended qualification is pushed heavily, ideal for non essay writers but just more essays for ds. Still he used his epq for a competition essay, so two for the price of one virtually. Results from the comp due in the summer.

Yes dd did physics this afternoon too. It seems to have gone 'alright' which is good considering she didn't manage to finish the paper in Jan (it was a resit).

DSs school only do Extended Project, although DS is taking and engineering course instead. DS hasnt got physics for quite a while yet. He doesnt have any more exams until June.

DD's school doesn't do GS or CT but they all have to do an Extended Project.

Cardibach I hope DD is having a better day today.

No exams today but biology and geography tomorrow.

That's quite interesting to read. DD's school offer neither General Studies nor Critical Thinking. I guess they don't see it as a disadvantage though.

I guess her physics must be over now. Anyone else doing physics today?

DD did compulsory CT this morning too. She doesn't like writing much and would have preferred not to do it, but has enjoyed the course at least.

It is useful in as much as it boosts UMS scores which universities like (for their league table stats) even if they don't count it for offers. This allegedly makes it a little more likely dc will be accepted if they miss an offer grade in their proper subjects if they also have done CT/GS.

Also in a few weird cases it helps, like Barts medicine where applicants are ranked on projected final UMS scores and bizzarely just 3 full A levels and one AS at full points isn't usually enough (so applicants from schools who have insisted it's taken have an advantage over those that aren't), or Southhampton who will count either CT or GS towards their scholarship offers (eg 5As needed for full tuition fees discount for maths), but such cases are rare.

ds has had General Studies this morning. They all do it (ordinary State comp). I didn't realise it was quite unusual until recently.

Ooh, I like the idea of not having to put it on your certificate

Interestingly, DD has just texted me to ask me to transfer money onto her food account. Absolutely no mention of the exam. Obviously went well then

legallady my DD is doing CT this morning and ws not looking forward to it - no real way to revise for it.

But I understand that they can choose not to certificate it if they don't like the result - so its like pretending it never happened.

As a subject, I think both my girls have found the subject valuable, tbh. Is helped their thinking and their approach to their arguments. And one is all sceiecnes and the other all social sciences. But it must depend on the quality of teaching, I guess.

legallady all the courses DS1 has looked at exclude Critical Thinking. He was conned into signed up for it at the start of 6th form but dropped out within a couple of weeks as he decided his efforts were better spent on Maths. He is not good at essays.
DS2 is looking at a 6th form where it is compulsory, I think it might be a deal breaker.

Anyone else's DC being subjected to critical thinking today? It's compulsory for DD (much to hers and most of her friends' disgust) and I don't think she's done more than a couple of hours work in preparation for it.

I really hope universities ignore it completely when making offers as she is predicted an E in it ...........

Oh cardibach and dd, how awful. I hope her toe feels better today. Could she go through the past papers with her tutor? Our tutors still go to the lesson in case students turn up. Ds goes in everyday but doesn't always need help but he likes the feeling there is always someone to ask. It maybe that she is working so hard she needs a bit of a break, a good few hours off doing something completely unrelated. Last Friday ds had 2 exams and come home to just veg with a takeaway and watch a movie and not do any revision at all. He slept in the next morning till he woke and then started back on the all day everyday routine. He certainly looks better more of a spring in his step. This might be the time for dd to just take a short break and feel better. After sorting the past papers of course. Good luck.

Oh - perhaps I can take comfort from that then. It wasn't the one ds was hoping to drop! Thanks Mottled

BackforGood, yes DS did the Great Gatsby and Shakespeare for his coursework. Even the hardworking girls found it challenging! It is his best subject and was is on course for an A. I have two older DCs, so have been through endless exams so I do know that it's better if everyone finds it hard....:)

Sorry Seeker - missed your question. No, my ds did Great Gatsby and Cloud 9 (is it?). Maybe the same as themottledcat's dd ?? He's also been doing The Taming of the Shrew but said that wasn't for this exam, but for coursework I think.

I hope everything's ok with her notfluffy.
DD's poetry was Yeats, but was ok I think.
Physics and geography skills this week for DD.