Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread

A revision/activity weekend sounds like a brilliant idea. I was glad DD left her desk this afternoon to go and do her DofE volunteering - outside in the sunshine dead-hedging etc.

Have dropped off for this thread for a while as DS was just getting on with his studying. We had parents evening on Thursday which went well all teachers very positive. He's done another set of mocks and improved his grades in maths and chemistry. We've been doing past papers in both of these so was pleased with those.
He's away with school for a revision /activity weekend so far we've had tweets that they've done science maths rs as well as going hill climbing.
He's in school for 2 days over half term for tech and chemistry.

Half term has just started here and then it is the mocks all week when dd goes back.

Wow, I didn't know that you could climb the O2, that sounds like fun.

Climbing the O2 - we have often stood and pointed at people doing that! Achieving something physical is a great way of showing them that they can do something really challenging - DD seemed to gain a lot from us climbing a volcano last summer
And well done to dingit minor on the maths front!

Dingit - great news about the maths

It, not is

Half term now for us, thank The Lord, dd needs is, as they all do bless them.
Ended on a bit of a high with her getting a C for maths ( she's doing additional). Early days, but I think the tutor is already paying off.
She has to go in to school twice next week, then we are ending on another high, climbing the O2 for dhs birthday

Very glad they are over BTM. I think a mock related embargo a good plan !

Is everyone on half term next week or is it varying around the country?

Aww, how lovely SugarPlum.

They are done! DD has said she has failed every one, so we are not going to talk about them at all next week! She has 2 or 3 CA's to do anyway, so needs to focus her attention on them

That is good BTM, so they are very familiar with it all by then by thd time the real ones come round. I can't remember A level results but O level stuck out a bit. Met up with friend who brought them to me this summer when she was back in the country, she can't remember bringing them up.

Her parents took us both to the South of France that summer and we had a fantastic time. They still live in the same house. I made the 2 hour trip back up to meet her, pulled up in front of their house and she was waving to me from the window as she used to and I was transported back to when we were 16, which is nearly 30 years ago - how did that happen ?!

Errol, that sounds like a good result re the options. DD is always looking at the maths mark schemes - she must be an expert on them! I don't remember being able to access them at all back in the Dark Ages, before computers existed!

My DC's school do all exams in exam conditions in the same halls with the same tables, etc IYSWIM, from Y7.

I can't remember getting my results for O levels at all!

That is good news Erroll on the 6th form and fair play to your DD looking at the marking scheme - I am very impressed.

I doubt very much your DD will do more Mocks BTM. I don't think many places do what DD'S school is doing. It might actually be helpful in DD'S case to do a few more as I feel the more experience of sitting in exam conditions tge better. Plus as she did so badly in Maths, if (and it us a big if) she can pull off a better grade next month I think she will get a boost. I can't even remember my Mocks thinking back, just the real thing and results day. My friend brought them up to me, I was working at my Saturday job place.

Bit at mocks last term and then more mocks - doing them about now, once, seems a lot more sensible. I shouldn't think yours will have to do more, BTM - hope it's going well today.

I wish DD was doing To Kill a Mockingbird - haven't seen the film for decades, only read the book last year. Will be interesting to see what the sequel is like.

Anyway, she's at her desk doing maths - last I saw complaining she couldn't get the marks scheme to download. I don't think that during my entire education the idea of a 'marks scheme' ever crossed my conciousness!

DH contacted the school about her options for next year and it sounds like they'll make sure she does get a place for the comp sci (seems very unlikely the DT will run), and for the 'enrichment' they have to do, she could do an EPQ essentially doing some electronics rather than just a long written piece. I think that's pretty positive, DH is quite good at squeaking the wheel in a constructive sort of way.

God, I hope DD's school don't try to put in any more mocks - she just won't be able to take it. She is already overstressed about the 5 CA's she still has to do. And todays mocks, of course.

Yes SugarPlum, and sounds good. Virtual only, of course

Roll on 3.30!

DD has more mocks in March apparently but core subjects only. DVDS are great idea, will order Mice and Men. I thought they would be doing Romeo and Juliet but that apparently was course work.

I asked about the Language and it sounds very different to précis and comprehensions etc back in the day. DD is doing the IGCSE too.

BTM could we drink lots of virtual and eat virtual ? If I do too much of the real stuff I will get even faster and be an alcoholic to boot.

Wonder if you can buy shares in Rescue Remedy ? I used Aconite which is a Homeopathic one for my finals and looked like a drug dealer dishing them out before we went in !

Had parents evening tonight. All went well apart from a couple of warnings about borderline grades. DD announced on the way home that they were talking rubbish about doing past papers !!!! They also apparently have more mocks in April.

Errol DD's school only does a few exams for mocks so as not to lose too much teaching time to exams. So for Double Science she only did 2 papers (no biology), and only one paper for maths, English history etc.

DD also didn't do an English Lit mock. I may order the DVDs of her set texts - To Kill a Mockingbird and The Crucible - if only for a bit of Gregory Peck and Daniel Day-Lewis to lighten the half term revision angst.

No idea Errol. I know DD is doing the IGCSE for English!

Have ordered An Inspector Calls too!

dingit - let us know if the dvd is good please! Mine does have an eng lit mock, but was complaining that they were only doing one of the papers, there's two in the real thing. Is this a newer one maybe and they're short of past papers?

dingit, I think I had better do that too!

Teen, my dd didn't do an English lit mock either, which I thought a bit odd. Only now do they seem to be concentrating on the course content. I suppose they know what they are doing, but dd is worried as she thinks it's her weakness.
We have bought Of Mice and Men on DVD to watch in half term.