Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

GCSE exams

134 replies

chart53 · 08/06/2014 21:47

Feel current exam cycle, with all 10 GCSEs taken in the Summer, is too much for young people. So far, my daughter has taken almost every day,so 16 exams since the 6.5.13 with another 6 to go this week. She is both mentally and physically exhausted. My older daughter took exams in under the modular scheme given her 14 exams which she found stressful enough! For young people to complete 22 exams in one go seems borderline insane. If Gove wants to reform GCSEs he needs to look at the whole exam not just when you take the exam. I think he needs to try 22 exams in five weeks to see how he fairs!

OP posts:
AllsFair · 09/06/2014 18:49

It is supposed to be hard, that is what makes the grades reliable. Spreading them out makes it too easy, and the high grades are worth less.

Another one who did O levels, far longer papers, far more exams taken together, a relevant experience for a levels, degree, job, etc.

ThreeLannistersOneTargaryen · 09/06/2014 18:47

DS1 started his GCSE courses last week. In the May/June of 2016 he'll be sitting 24 exams. It does seem a bit much.

13Stitches · 09/06/2014 18:45
13Stitches · 09/06/2014 18:45

^"The amount needed to learn isn't that much">

You are sadly mistaken. GCSE's don't take 2 years for nothing.

13Stitches · 09/06/2014 18:44

Whether it is more or less than people have previously done is irrelevant.

I think it is too much. I've just some a revision session with a small group of dedicated yr11s who were almost incoherent with exhaustion. They we're there because they felt they should be, but in no fit state to revise after weeks of exams.

creamteas point about shoving all the module exams to the end is spot on. Linear courses should be examined in a more coherent way. And hopefully they will be (it remains to be seen).

The government have really messed up the last few cohorts. (With the reactive, rushed and poorly thought out changes) How has this been allowed to happen?

bronya · 09/06/2014 18:35

I did more than that together, in the '90s. I don't remember it being an issue at all. My friend's DD is doing her GCSEs this year, and other than on one occasion, has always had half a day between exams to revise for the next one (or an evening, with a half day after the next exam). The amount needed to learn isn't that much (you could learn it in a couple of hours - 4 max) so seems fine to me. And I've been helping with the revision for the subjects I know, so I have a good idea of how much they need to learn!

I remember taking A-levels as one series of exams at the end, too, with no retakes. Personally, I think that's less stressful as you get two full years to learn the stuff, then revise and sit the exams. Good preparation for finals too, for those aiming for Uni.

creamteas · 09/06/2014 18:27

Not got problem with this myself having done 10 O levels all in the same time period

I also did O levels, but there were a lot less papers per subject. That is because they were designed to be linear rather than modular. Gove is too stupid to realise that moving all the exams to the end does not make it linear assessment.

When the new GCSEs come on board which are designed to be taken at the end, it should be better for pupils. The current cohort have been shat on, and there is no other way to describe it.

sausagedog12 · 09/06/2014 14:55

I may add though that the coming in for revision during these exams is ridiculous and time consuming.

sausagedog12 · 09/06/2014 14:54

Not got problem with this myself having done 10 O levels all in the same time period with 3 hour long papers. No controlled assessments to bump up your marks.Everything was counting on those exams, didn't have internet,study aids at fingertips, had to just get on with it best we could. I think they have got it pretty easy these days but that is my opinion.