Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread

sugarplum - that sounds like a bit of a learning experience in itself - good for her going alone!

crazy - that sounds like it might suit better if he's interested in psychology but a bit weak on the non-biological sciences. Hope he figures it out - def a good idea to put a lot of thought into this now!

Mine has half term sessions for revision, I am less than convinced but they want to do them.
Meanwhile on the degree front, now looking at animal behaviour or biology combined with psychology.

Also feel the same about half term revision. I am really worried about Maths though. Parent's Evening on Thursday, I shall ponder after that.

She had a college interview today and he mentioned the Maths, have g seen her Mock grade. Slightly stressful start to the morning when DS the up, meaning I couldn't take DD. She was determined to go so had a taxi. I specifically said which Campus and he went to the wrong one luckily he went to reception with her so was still there to take her to right one. Then coming out of the interview she got lost but all came good in the end.

I will expect DD to do none. She is doing mocks this week, so next week is exercise (skiing!) and relaxation

I feel the same Teen. I want him to do some but i want him to have a break.

Crazytights, have a look at this www.russellgroup.org/InformedChoices-latest.pdf if you haven't already (even if he won't be applying to RG universities). Lots of degrees don't need or want that subject at A level.

A zoology degree will have a lot of science in it eg genetics, evolution, cell biology, physiology. And will sit with Biological Sciences - biology degrees require biology and usually chemistry according to that guide (they don't break it down further). I think chemistry is seen as a very solid A level for science courses - it is needed to understand a lot of biology for example - and leaves a lot of options open (speaking as a chemistry-loathing scientist, it seeped in everywhere!). Maybe it would help to think about degrees separately from what he wants to do as a career (as in, I would think people with degrees in zoology go on to a range of careers, including perhaps lab work, teaching, environmental work or analysis) - and think about what subjects he enjoys most now? Good luck, ds is about to choose now, and I am not sure he knows what he is letting himself in for with a lot of essay-writing subjects!

How much work do you all expect/want your DCs to do over half term?

I'm torn between thinking DD hasn't got much revision done in the last 6 weeks, so needs to crack on, and the fact this is the last 'break' before 4 months of slog!

Thanks everybody. We're going to have to talk this through tonight.
He did want to become a vet and did triple science with that in mind but then changed his mind to being a psychologist which I don't think is suited his personality because he doesn't have the patience to deal with potentially difficult people like his little brother

He's now switched back to the idea of something to do with animals and possibly with wild animals so hit on zoology but maybe there are other options. As his 6th form interview is this week he needs to come up with some ideas and fast!

DD's last exam is History on 16/6 I think. Mocks started today with History.

Wow, I won't tell my dd that, hers is the very last exam, physics 19/6!
Mocks again for her after half term, plus two trips to school during half term for intervention. Makes me feel glad I'm not 16 again.

Morning. DS has been given his exam timetable. it will all be over on 11/6.
Parents Evening on Wednesday.

Crazy - I found this which might contain useful information. TBH it sounds to me as though if he's finding even GCSE chemistry hard, he might want to think carefully about what may be entailed in a Zoology degree.

Crazy, geography?

I don't know what would be a good combination for zoology, but it is a massive step-up to do the sciences (loads of sixthforms round here require a minimum of an A at GCSE) so he is sensible to consider something else. What other subjects does he enjoy?

What A level would you put with psychology, philosophy and biology? DS has ruled out chemistry because he's heard that it is the hardest A level there is and is already finding the GCSE hard, ditto he's finding Physics hard.
He wants to do zoology at university.

We haven't booked anything as yet this year but I was thinking about a night away over Easter to break things up a bit. School run revision sessions over Easter Holidays so those will keep her busy.

Maths still going badly, F again in another test. I had a call from English teacher and reception on my phone was poor. I thought she had said she was one of the teachers from the English department, turns out she was the other, both start with same letter. Put my foot in it a bit and had to dig myself out of a bit of a hole !

They used to have to do it at DD's (half award) - she was so glad that they decided not to in her year.

They have to do Citizenship for GCSE a my DCs school - that was what some of the CAs were!

Yes - some of the CAs are a lot of work. I don't think my DD has had a lot of homework set other than those recently. Oh, there was something she was meant to do for citizenship - some sort of 'presentation' that the teacher wanted them to memorize but DD's firm line was that (a) its not a GCSE subject; (b) they're actually only meant to get h/w for GCSE subjects; (c) she had a German speaking CA and a drama CA to learn - so she was just going to read it. I tend to agree - citizenship is a good idea but making it into a chore and a burden on top of everything else isn't terribly constructive.

Yes, that's what I am hoping. She has found it very difficult juggling homework/coursework/CA's and revision. Surely it will be a bit easier by the actual GCSE's?

I suppose at least they'll be out of the way and she might be able to relax a bit during half-term, Tilly. I'm sort of glad my DDs school doesn't do them till afterwards, but then again I can't help feeling a break would be good.

We are away at half-term (worked out perfectly as DD has mocks next week) but then not at all till the summer holidays as she was adamant she wanted to be at home to revise/panic.

She is in major panic-mode with her mocks next week