Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread 2

Sugar I've got 6 academic years between mine, so I'll get a year off Secondary next year. It will be weird having 1 at 6th form and one still at Primary!

No thoughts at all of universities here. I doubt DD will go down that route, much more likely that in 2 years time it will be job or higher apprenticeship. Hopefully by then she'll know what she wants to do!

Hi wordfactory - we're visiting the Uni of Salford (in Manchester) at beginning of July dd is determined that she wants to go somewhere that has the right course for her which is very commendable I think and may impress them at interview perhaps? She thinks she may want to do wildlife conservation. So paying little attention to me saying Bath might be nice why don't you go there?! - such a pretty city with nice tea shops! And has good student ratings which is another thing I feel she might take into account? But happened to stay at Bath Uni for a conference last summer so that naturally had me considering it for dd. But there are lots of attractive cities I feel - just think it would be nice to be somewhere pleasant for the 3 years (or possibly 4 with a placement) I don't know much about Manchester though I imagine it's quite lively with lots going on?!

Would you mind me asking which ones you are looking at? My dd is interested in Engineering too, and I'm afraid I am clueless. I have spotted a course she can do at Kingston in the summer, but it was full this year.

Respect Littleham ! You will be able to write a book by he time you have finished. Errol I would be very interested in what you learn as suspect DS might go down that route, though bit early to say.

I have 5 years between mine so will have DD leaving school as DS starts Upper School - which means I'll get off lightly but will feel like I'm doing it for ever.

DH is going to take DD to a couple of uni open days at the end of June. They're not necessarily the ones she's likeliest to want to go to but we're all a bit unclear how engineering degrees work and exactly what sort of engineering she will want to do so it's more information gathering.

We can keep each other company then. DD3 will also do her A2's at the same time as DS does his GCSE's. The trouble is that I'm already over half way to zombie status.

Littleham, that's hard going! I will have DD doing A2's and DS doing GCSE's in 2 years time hopefully I bet you are an expert on unis!

Yes, we have one doing A2's and one doing GCSE's. To make matters worse, my dd1 has just shown me her first year university exam timetable (with exams in June).

I am most definitely not visiting ANY universities this year with dd3. After two years of traipsing around every university in the land I am having a year off! She doesn't have a clue what she wants to do yet anyway. Even the A Level choices are still a bit fluid. She is very clued up on all the university stuff (after watching two older sisters go through the process).

Which university are you visiting *juggling?

I feel for you Fairenuff and anyone else (Littleham? ) dealing with GCSE and A level at same time.

Agree that info on here is hugely helpful. I've spent ages on here trawling for info for friend's DD who had disaster in AS getting BCDD (from AAAA predictions) with one of the D's being subject she wanted to take at degree level . Thanks to help here plus her determinaction she managed to turn things around, submit excellent UCAS form and got offers from all 5 of her applications, including Exeter and Bath for Economics .She has also got an offer of a place at Reading which has paid placements with one of the big 4 accountants and potential job offer at end which is the one she is firming on.

She obviously needs to pull off the grades but I think without the info on here she'd have lost hope after the AS results.

Not thought of visiting UNIs here either. I made enough mess of the whole sixth form thing

We are coming towards the end of the whole UCAS thing with dd about to sit her A levels and the information from posters on mn has been massively helpful.

Thanks SugarPlum - yes, I noticed there were Open days available in October too (at the Uni dd and I might visit) I think generally all the Uni's put on quite a few these days - not like when I was applying and the first time I saw any Uni was the day I went up on my own for my interview. I think that was very usual too and far fewer parents visited back then - young people were expected to be much more independent than they are now!
Perhaps we'll visit one or two more in the autumn?
I do think it can be helpful generally to look ahead and consider options, including contingency/ back-up plans.
Personally I found it helped both with motivation and with managing anxiety.

That sounds like a good plan SugarPlum - I think we will try to do that too.

DD is very sensitive too riget now and I am a bit worried about her and the replacement Ethics teacher.

Juggling you may have a good point. Last summer DD was a bit anxious about this year and spent some time looking at degree courses as she said she found it helpful to have an end goal in sight. She has found one she really wants to do and has consistently been interested in for months.

I think we might have a look in the Autumn once (hopefully) in 6th form. I have seen people go through the whole UCAS thing recently and want to make sure the whole process well spread out making use of the quieter times .

I'm hoping it could gently help with motivation (which we all need after all!) - plus it's always nice to have things to look forward to? Would be fun for me too I have to admit! - though of course cost of Uni can be quite scary these days plus the whole idea of them leaving home

My heart goes out to all those anxious DC.

Exams can be very stressful. I still remember the feelings.

My friend always says she was about 25 before she realised that April and May write rather nice months.

Oh gosh! I hadn't thought about visiting Uni's yet

Ooh, I've just booked for me and dd to go to a Uni open day after the exams - to a Uni with a particular course that's caught her eye. I was unsure before as there are so many Uni's and courses to choose from, but dd showed me the website for this one she fancies, and I reckon going somewhere and having a tour round, meeting some students, and finding out more about courses in the general subject area she's interested in will all be good.

So feeling quite excited now to have that to look forward to for after the exams. I know it seems quite early but a bit of a taster I think is all to the good - plus I have a friend who visited some with her ds last year! (ie Y10)
Anyone else thinking of going or been to one already?

Hope dd approves when she gets back from band practice!

DD has been trying to not succumb to her anxiety/panic and keep a positive outlook. She has been doing really well and is trying really hard to not crumple and cry, which is great. However, this is causing her to be ultra-sensitive and fly off the handle at a certain teacher who she thinks hates her

Huge sympathy to those with anxious children, I'm in the club. She hasn't done hardly any revision since Easter as the first exam gets closer. I haven't pushed as don't think it would take much to send her over the edge. One of her friend's is on half timetable as very anxious snd having bad time at home.

Juggling I wouldn't know if DD was up all night, I don't go in her bedroom.

HSM what a lovely thing of the French teacher to do.

I'

The idea of WF coming back to a Frozen duet is making me smile.

I was put with a friend last night. A year ago we were drunkenly counting GCSE'S on her son'sson's behalf. A year on he is on a BTEC and heading for distinctions. It is encouraging to see life after GCSE'S for those who struggle

Lynette and Juggling, I feel your pain - I have an anxious DD too, although you wouldn't know it if you met her at home! Not getting enough sleep is a real issue for her, but we don't seem to be able to crack that.

Juggling, I am hoping that too, but I fear it won't all be plain sailing.

dd's school were also good when she had a meltdown around French speaking test (a few weeks ago now) Had to tell them she'd been up all night preparing and was still very upset and worried. They said that she didn't have to do it, it was just an option (was an opportunity for a second attempt) Another time I asked could she come in at lunch-time as had been up again all night. I know it's not good BTW but I go to bed myself around midnight and sleep soundly so I don't know about it til the morning. But I guess if that's the worst of the teenage years school can cope! There is a lot of pressure on them - some of this was dd being given the opportunity to re-do something - a kindness that I feel is rather a mixed blessing!

I hope the exam season is easier than all the controlled assessments?
I can hope can't I?!