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Original poster

Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread

967 replies

Littleham · 23/11/2014 12:17

Is anyone else fed up with GCSE's and the stress they create? Thought I would start a support thread for the following few months. Mocks start next week at my dd3's school.

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 19:23

OddBoots and TheFirst, my sentiments exactly.

Sparkling, DS is in Y9 and doing as nobleG says. But I'm not worrying about him till DD gets through Y11 and onto the messed up A/AS levelsConfused

noblegiraffe · 15/12/2014 19:16

Current Y9 will be doing grade 9-1 GCSEs in English and Maths.

dingit · 15/12/2014 19:13

And our year 11s will be doing the messed about A/ As levels sparkling.

Sparklingbrook · 15/12/2014 19:04

DS2 is in Year 8. he will be in the first year to test the grades 1-9 when he does GCSEs. What joy,

TheFirstOfHerName · 15/12/2014 19:03

The in the A messed up my formatting! Grin

TheFirstOfHerName · 15/12/2014 19:02

I strongly object to any child being set a target of A, A is the highest target grade that should be set. They should be able to get above their target rather than only being able to achieve or get below it.*

Totally agree.

OddBoots · 15/12/2014 18:58

How frustrating TheFirstOfHerName. I strongly object to any child being set a target of A*, A is the highest target grade that should be set. They should be able to get above their target rather than only being able to achieve or get below it.

TheFirstOfHerName · 15/12/2014 18:54

DS1 is only in Y10, but GCSE targets all A or A*. If he gets one grade below, it comes up as orange on his report, and two grades below comes up as red. Last report looked very... Autumnal. Sad

He had a German CA a few weeks ago, and English CA today, but the only actual GCSE he is doing in 2015 is Latin Language. He got 42% in the most recent test. Shock

HSMMaCM · 15/12/2014 18:51

Oh dingit we had that trouble with statistics last year. DD passed after a lot of revision with me, but many failed.

Only 6 more mocks to go this week.

dingit · 15/12/2014 18:43

Yes Tilly, I think we will get her a tutor if the results are bad.

bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 18:35

Ho yes Sparkling.

Dingit, that sounds bad about the teacher and the cock-up. Is there any chance of her getting any special support?

dingit · 15/12/2014 18:15

Oh

Sparklingbrook · 15/12/2014 18:15

Wine dingit

dingit · 15/12/2014 18:14

Of Ffs. Dd has just come home to say their mock paper was the real one she sat last summer that she got a u for. ( further maths). she said she still struggles with the topics on that paper, due to a total cock up at their school, they only got a teacher just before their mocks, so no one went over it with them. Looks like another u then Hmm

Sparklingbrook · 15/12/2014 17:25

Not forgetting the 'attitude to learning' scores graded 1-5.

bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 17:24

It makes me mad that they can make teens feel like they are failing, based on some spurious grade that came from what?

We never had this pressure. It's the bloody league tables and the constant pressure from government to improve. GrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrAngry

Sparklingbrook · 15/12/2014 17:22

We get the colour coded reports too Tilly. Bit like traffic lights. Grin DS1 has his final and only exam this week on Wednesday morning for one whole hour.

bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 17:20

God, mocks in the last week of term - gruellingSad

Yes, DD has had similar pressure from early on being forecast mainly A*'s and A's. How they made this judgement, I don't know, but it means that when she gets anything less (mostly at the present), it flashes up in red as if she is failingAngry

arlagirl · 15/12/2014 17:04

Ds is currently doing mocks..finishes Thursday. He has actually done a lot of work as his end of year 10 exam results were a bit mixed.
Just had his report..he is forecast 10 A*s....no pressure then.Shock

bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 16:58

TeenAndTween. 5 hours a day sounds brilliant - not sure my DD would manage that at home! And great that you can help her.

Cinnamon, sympathies. The holidays definitely can't come soon enough!

Just had DD's report which is very positive overall, although some grades are currently a bit worrying compared to what her targets were. Parents evening this week tooShock!

TeenAndTween · 15/12/2014 15:43

My DD has mocks second week in January, so DD is planning 5 days off over Christmas but otherwise 5 hours per day. She hasn't really go the stamina for more than that.

I'll have to help quite a lot too. Today received a report saying probably dyspraxia. She can't organise her way out of a paper bag, so revision scheduling, focus per session, helping with revision cards all need me.

At least most of the CAs are now done, except 4 MFL ones which I presume will be done next term.

CinnamonCake · 13/12/2014 20:26

Hello all, may I still join? I have a DD in Year11. Mocks were done weeks ago, she's had most results back and is stressing about the subjects she didn't do as well as expected in.

She is exhausted and the holidays cannot come soon enough.

I'm exhausted too and dread to think what it will be like during April/May/June. I probably need my roots done daily then.

Sending lots of positive, calming vibes to you all.

bigTillyMint · 13/12/2014 08:16

Oh, yes, that's a given!

Sparklingbrook · 12/12/2014 13:23

I have visions of new Christmas items being placed on top of all the papery clutter. Grin

bigTillyMint · 12/12/2014 13:21

Sparkling, if it's any consolation, DD's stuff is everywhere. I daren't ask her to tidy it up ATM - I think it could tip her over. Maybe after Christmas?!

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