Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread

No thoughts about Prom dresses here. Not sure if DD will actually want to go... But I like that dress CrazyTights! DD is short and curvy too

this dress

Urgh, prom... DDs school doesn't have an official one at this stage only at end of 6th form, but apparently someone is going to organise one. Are people really buying dresses for them already? Mind you, I can imagine DD realising she needs to get something at the last minute ie during her actual GCSEs - she's not into shopping and esp not dresses, could be more stressful than the exams! (I only half jest) Anyone got a link of what a short, curvy girl who doesn't like 'pretty' and doesn't want to look like the 'popular' girls might be persuaded into?

DD2's mocks aren't until February although she has already had a 10 hr Art exam and her portfolio is due in this week so she's a bit stressed. Revision is going well, so far.

She's got an interview for sixth form at another school later this month and needs to get her act together to formulate a 'Plan B' just in case.

On the up side her prom dress and shoes are bought and hairstyle and make-up has been decided on.

Lobster, I just let my DD get on with it - I was quite surprised she was revising at all over the xmas hols as her mocks aren't till after the halfterm. I think she did quite a lot but probably not on the subjects she doesn't like.

Her school is doing some sort of 'exam preparation workshop' one evening next week, which a parent can go to as well - think I'll have to delegate to DH. He was always much more into planned revision than me (we uni'd together).

GinandTonic and Lalsy, that sounds tough - Fingers crossed it all goes OK.

DD has done a small amount of work and a large amount of moaning. She has 5 weeks till mocks, but also has to do a few CA's

Hello, may I join in? ds is about to start mocks - two weeks but this week which is only 4 days he has 12 papers - so like yours Ginandtonic. He has worked over Christmas, sensibly I think given he was on his knees at the end of last term, but hasn't covered everything or had a chance to practise questions.

It is hard at this time of year isn't it? Such a long, tiring term, with a lot of illnesses. Then if they did say 1.5 day per subject in the holidays that would be most of the days gone, but even doing a good amount each day that won't cover the syllabus for many I wouldn't think.....Hurrah for FT and its lovely slim booklet say I .

yeah, ds2 has a hectic mock timetable too: I'm pleased that they're doing full mocks of nearly all the papers, but it is a lot! ds1 did "only" 9 GCSEs, 1 of which was done in yr10. ds2 (different school) will do 12, 1 a year early.

So this month he has mock exams - 7 days of exams: 17 papers in all! Eek! pity the teachers who have to mark them all.

Fortunately the actual GCSEs are spread over 6 weeks, with a week break in the middle for half term.

Ooh that's a tough timetable!

DD only has 2 science exams, and 1 each for English and Maths (plus options subjects). There is a lot of content for science, glad DD hasn't been having to learn all of it for mocks.

We've been 'nag-central' here over christmas ... poor kid - his yr 9 brothers have been lying in until 11am while he's been kicked out of bed at 9am every morning to get a morning session done. Seems to be ok - but there's simply so much to revise! And this isn't even the whole curriculum!

Goes back to school on Thursday ...

Thurs 8th: English lit, maths n/c, RS
Fri 9th: Biology, Classics, Maths calc
Mon 12th: Chemistry, Physics, History
Tues 13th: Classics, German
Wed 14th: Physics, Geog x 2 papers
Thurs 15th: Chemistry, Classics
Fri 16th: History, Biology

b...l...o...o...d...y ..... n...i...g...h...t...m...a...r...e......

Thanks Theas18, that's reassuring to read.

Lobster if your DC says they are ok and you have no evidence to the contrary you are absolutely on the right track offering help if needed but letting them get on with it. The mock results will be reassuring too im sure ( or show where they need more help/ guidance).

The hands off strategy has been our technique and has this is our 3rd child it's a but easier to hand control to her.

It certainly seems that the older 2 have had no issues balancing uni work load with excellent results but also a heavy extracurricular ( and social ) commitment - im not saying they aren't having the usual all nighter to meet deadlines erc but deadlines are met - they have learned at gcse and a level how to manage themselves rather than be managed which is good.

Lucky DS! Mine had mocks before Xmas and has more after Xmas so has been hard at it, though they have just said they have a lot of art homework which will take all day - they've revised instead. I've offered help doing a revision plan but they said they don't need one, they get up, they revise, they have a break when they need to and then revise some more. Oh, ok then lol

lobster you and me both! DS I adamant he doesn't need to do anything over the holidays as per HTs instructions. Mock results are back on Friday 9/1/15 so then we'll see where we need to focus his attentions.

Phew! I was starting to think that I should be doing more, which I am prepared to do but I've not seen the need to so far and was thinking that maybe I should have made the need IYSWIM.

If she is getting on with it, then you are not being irresponsible, you have an organised child. Different children need different levels of input I think.

DD1 picked up after a 5 day break surprisingly well, but it is a tough slog for her.

I'm feeling quite inadequate here, I haven't made a timetable for revision for my DD and I'm leaving her to get on with it. She seems to be managing it well and says she will ask for help if she needs it. Am I being irresponsible here?

Thursday 20th August is lasered onto my brain!

I am not certain, but it is usually about the 20th August (DH has to go in for them every year!)

DD has done just about nothing so far!

Can't remember at the moment but we did find it (I think on the AQA website) before booking our summer hols. Now I've got my calendar for next year I could do with finding it again too.

We've had quite a few Christmas/relatives/travelling days, with little opportunity for homework. But ds2 did quite a bit today and has plans for more tomorrow :D

He has mocks w/c 12 Jan for 2 weeks, pretty crammed with exams.