Any parents of Y12 DCs up for a support thread?

yes DD ran out of time on Economics, and she mentioned multiple choice being hard too.

She is in Geography currently, am hoping that's going ok.

Have DD2 with GCSEs today as well - 2 x Biology papers - you can imagine what our house is like at the moment!

Student room is awash with disasters for economics, running out of time, unsure about multiple choice etc. Hopefully the grade boundaries will be lower and the exam on Friday will be easier.

DD said C1 was ok but the last couple of questions were tricky. Economics was awful, she didn't have enough time. it is Geography today- but the exam is at 7.30pm due to the time difference. At least she gets the day to revise.

Core 1 done here. DD seemed very pleased. Geography now tomorrow.
If the paper is really hard and everyone struggles, then the UMS points get adjusted I think.

Yes, she had done well in the practice papers - I think she got 97% when she did the one set in January (although not for real unfortunately). Of the 2 it was the one she was more confident for - so we'll have to see how she gets on with the second paper.

secretswirrels - am hoping the grade boundaries will be lower.

DS really pleased about core 1, seems to have the same answers as the others. Said philosophy was ok, but i know he didnt put the effort that he has put into maths.
He has forgotten his key so he is locked out until we get home from work.

Yy bluestring. Ds is/was predicted an A but said it was awful. Then he said still its only half the marks as there is another paper, trying hard to keep his spirits up.

BlueStringPudding Has she done okay in practice papers? If it's a really tough paper the grade boundaries may be lower.

DD had Economics today, she's predicted an A, but came home saying it was awful :-(

Economics today, really really hard apparently :-( History tomorrow, philosophy and gov & pol on Friday.

Philosophy and core1 today
Core2 and decision2 on friday

Exams starting this week everyone?
DS has PC2 today and Statistics on Friday. Plus several mocks.

Good luck to them all.

Yes, I'm not sure what is achieved by these late mocks either, only that it does make them revise, and as you say, gives them confidence if they do well. However, DD gets frustrated as she wants to concentrate her revision on the more imminent exams occurring in the next couple of weeks, whereas the Biology mock this week was for unit 2, which is not until after half term.

Yes DS has had "mocks" throughout the year. I agree it seems a bit late now if they don't do well in the mock there is hardly time to remedy it so I'm not sure what is achieved? Revision perhaps? He has done well in them all so far so I suppose it's been a morale booster if nothing else.
He has the real Statistics paper next week as well as mocks in other subjects.

Yes, my DD has been doing mocks in every subject too. Maths mechanics, Chemistry and Physics last week and Biology this week. She has had mocks on and off throughout year 12 (the first one in November), rather than a formal 'mock week' which some schools favour. It seems rather late in the school year to schedule these mocks, as her first two AS exams are on Monday - core 1 and mechanics.

Are other DCs doing mocks? DS has been having mocks in every subject. He's had Chemistry and decision this week, Stats today and core 4 last week. Next week core 3, physics and biology and probably more but I forget.
The good news is that he did really well in the horrible paper they did last week so his confidence has bounced back.
He is fast running out of past maths papers and has been doing at least two a day. He has a flow chart of progress .
Well done cardiback DD for giving blood, quite unusual in a teenager I would guess? What prompted that? DS is so pale and tired looking I think they would give him some rather than take it.

She had a good excuse then you are right to be proud.
DS has been fast asleep i our bed since 7.30. He went up to chat to DH who was in hospital today (he is ok). Dh came down for his tea and said ds was playing a game on his ipod. Went up to talk to hom a few minutes later and found ds fast asleep . Left him as he obviously needs it.

Well done to your ds Bruffin, you and he must both be pleased. at 35 past papers. He obviously has every intention of doing well if he has that many to practice with. Good luck to him. I see the maths student swirling together in the library and I have no idea what they are talking about but then maths was never my forte.

I think if you get a UCAS or Student card you get a discount as well.

I said above ds had a wobbly bit earlier this year. Teachervsaid he was heading for Us. This was before he got his jan result.
However got a lovely email from his teacher who said she was really pleased with him and now thinks he will do well.
He has 35 past papers and is now getting really good marks. He finds Core2 easier than Core 1 strange boy.

Gulp it's really here. First exam in less than a week. Chin up everyone.
Theas does your son have a student rail card? It makes a huge difference to the cost. Ds got his free with a bank account (not sure which bank, maybe nat west?) but it has been really worth it, something like 30% or more of the cost. Iif he had paid it would have covered its cost on the first trip.
And yes cardi 6 hours a day is probably more than adequate

Sorry Cardibach, forgot to ask how did the show go? Ours was last week and it was fab. Ds was helping but behind the scenes thank goodness. Parents who think drama, music and art are easy options know nothing! I felt so much for all those students who spend so much time but gosh it was worth it (IMHO) not sure how the parents would feel.

Sqwirrls at a paper making them cry, your poor ds and his friends, how awful for them.

Oh I agree scwirrls, the vast majority of our 6th formers look exhausted. It seem ridiculous and so very different to when I took mine a hundred years ago. DS has been working over the weekend for maybe 6 hours a day, my worried side wants to say, do more but my sensible side says, well if you feel you've done enough (gulp).
He did go sailing on Thursday afternoon which was lovely for fresh air and a complete change, and I did encourage him to go.
Thanks for the links I had heard of Push but forgotten all about it, and the other one is new to me. Deffo agree retention/ graduation rates are a key factor.