Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread 2

Oops I am very bleary eyed today and seem incapable of doing a link correctly this morning ! One of the two I ordered is from ASOS BTM. DD took a bit of work on the Lindy Bop dresses but I got there in the end! Just hope one of them is OK as this has been a big distraction, one I needed to get out if the way though.

Those Maths things sound excellent, wish DD had them . Also wish I knew how she did in the mock this week. I need to sit down with the Easter revision session timetable later, or rather DD does.

SugarPlum, I LOVE those LindyBop dresses. Will start trying to work on DD

DD says no one will rock up in a very traditional prom dress (costing £300 like some of the ones linked to on that thread) - she was looking at stuff on ASOS!

Yes, those maths identifying sheets are good, aren't they Fairenuff? DD had one too.

Piccy Littleham?! DD is short petite, but wants a maxi dress. She does look fab in body-con as she has an hour-glass figure, but I am wondering if short might be better - off to look at the thread (not that she's fretting yet, like DGodD, it will probably be lastminute.com!)

Goat, there was some of that going on at DD's school too, but it seems to have died down. DD says she is going with her two besties, but has also got a plan with a male friend from primary (who is really lovely) that they could go together if they don't get better offers!

DD is also petite Dingit, have a look at [www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2341896-Prom-dress-help-please?msgid=53443305#53443305 this thread]]. 2 short ones now on order.

That's good news Goat I don't think DD and friends have sorted the who is going with who bit yet.

We haven't got a prom dress yet either. Last week was the saga of who was going with who to the prom and DD was very down about the whole thing. Suddenly on Friday night she and her best friend were asked to go in a four with two boys who they are friendly with, so great relief all round. Now I must brace myself for a shopping expedition.

Littleham, I'm relieved to see your dd has a short prom dress, I was starting to think that dds short dress was wrong. She's very petite, so I think a short dress does suit her.

So do I Littleham as have been doing the same, but don't yet have a dress - that would be too easy!

Survived the prom dress expedition. She now has a short blue / green dress & it is beautiful. I need some .

Prom suit was me fairenuff whole suit is described as slim fit, not exactly skinny but not flares

That sounds really good on the maths resource.

I agree that down time is really important. No point in getting too tired, nothing will go in.

Ds has just said that he's going to catch up on Art coursework this weekend. He also brought me his report (all letters and numbers) which shows predictions of As and Bs so he is happy with that and keen to get on with revision

His maths department have printed off a breakdown of all his maths subjects highlighted in green (stuff he knows), yellow (stuff he needs to brush up on) and orange (stuff he isn't really sure of) - his words

It's really useful because he know where to concentrate his revision efforts and the school have bought into an online math programme where he can do past papers which will be marked instantly. He can do whole papers or just focus on certain topics so yay for school there, brilliant resource

Can't remember (sorry) who posted the picture of their ds's prom suit but I did like it. Are the trousers skinny? Ds likes the suits with skinny trousers but I'd like to get him something he could wear again for interviews, etc. Would skinnies be ok for interviews do we think, or not formal enough? Bit clueless here

She I'd small tilly and yes she took plenty of layers. I suspect the girls will all cuddle up in the tent too.

She's gone with a nice gang. All fit, hardy specimens. No whiners!

DD is having a day off (or maybe the whole weekend!) - we are off to see DGodD play hockey!

Errol, that is exactly what I am thinking would be a good plan for the evenings - will talk to her about it in the car They do still have 4 weeks after Easter, so don't want total burn out early!

TWF, hope your DD has lots of fleeces/socks, etc. Mind you if she is a titchy as DD, a child's one wouldn't be too bad!

That sounds like a reasonable way to do it, fairNuff, if that's what your DS feels comfortable with.

As to evenings and weekends - they need some downtime. The weather is nasty today so DD's not going to do her volunteering but she will next saturday, and I'm going to try to encourage her to do a bit of exercise and chill in the evenings (unless she really doesn't want to)

faire I think that sounds like a top idea.

At least that way you can be sure you're not missing anything. The scatter gun approach is just a disaster waiting to happen.

DD has gone off on DofE. Mucho traumatica last night as her new sleeping bag was too big for the ruck sack. Why oh why did she not tell me earlier? So off she went with a child's one we had in the attic. She will freeze.

Still she has Super noodles and a Toffee Crisp to look forward to at dinner .

DS quickly packed his bag to check giving us time to sort out any probs before he goes on Tuesday.

Ds is going to stick to the school time table for the next two weeks, as if he were at school and revise each subject as if it were a revision lesson. Not sure what he's doing about evenings and weekends, I'll have to ask but today I think he is just having a rest.

Draylon how did your ds's mocks go? That was the thing that motivated my ds to really start buckling down. I think it was that he saw he could get really good results if he put the effort in.

This morning over breakfast, we discussed English Language - the exam DD likes the least because she reckons it depends so much on exactly what the questions are. For instance whether the 'persuasive writing' happens to be a subject you know (or care) about. Also she dislikes figurative writing - she says she's a realist and so doesn't like metaphorical 'bullcrap' (unless it's humourous but she's no delusions of being a Sir Terry). Is there any way of 'revising' Eng. Lang?

Anyway, she's currently doing a maths past paper.

Also, there was a piece in this week's New Scientist about learning - some of it was quite interesting, about what strategies have actually been shown to work (and some traditional ones which apparently don't, though I'm not sure I agreed) - some of you might want to take a look if you can get hold of a copy.

Well done on getting through all the various trials. Great to get some of these things over and done with. 'The Box' sounds intriguing.

The App. has set my dd French revision this morning. No school sessions for us so she will have to be quite self motivating this holiday. Prom dress shopping is this afternoon as a treat.

That sounds like a good plan and very organised Errol, I hope the plan works out.

That is brilliant Tilly, well done to your DD.

Great news Sugar, another one with a clever DD.

My DS's revision is a little higgledy piggledy, partly because he is in school so much this holiday, almost every subject is holding an intervention class of some kind and the days he isn't he is at Cambridge University on a 3 day science masterclass. I feel bad pressing him to do more study on top so we are taking each day as it comes.

SugarPlum, that's fantastic - what a talented girl she is!

AuntP that's good news - on the way up

Errol, what is The Box like?
Dingit, rather your DD than me And my DD nags/tells DS too!

I think I'd better ask DD what her snacks of choice will be!

Glad they are both back safe and sound Errol. I would panic about lack of 2nd rucksack coming back with DD but if I look round the house I see books everywhere so figure it is fine .

Keep forgetting some of you are breaking up later. Auntpetunia 'not happening' is a favourite phrase of DD'S too.

Last of the 2nd lot of mocks done today, he's had maths and geography back and got B's so they are both improvements. We don't break up till next Thursday so not got the easter revision food problem yet, but am stocking up slowly on be cheese and hot cross buns, his snack of choice ! Hope the DOE weekends go ok dingit

I mentioned a revision timetable and got told not happening, so I'm going to suggest he downloads the apps mentioned above.. If your on holiday now enjoy and don't stress too much.

And another Yay! for Sugar's DD.

DD and The Box are safely home, together with her second rucksackful of books and folders.

Fabulous Tilly

DD'S Japanese tutor told her she thinks she has an A* , if not then an A.

Errol you have made me smile about sustenance. My friend has triplets doing AS at the menu and was on a run to stock her freezer this morning in anticipation of Easter revision. That sounds like a sensible plan she has come up with.

Drayton, huge sympathies. Sneaking suspicion this will be me in 5 years with DS.

Tilly - Yay! What a relief for you all. In some ways, going through that sort of crisis of confidence but then facing up to it is good for them - proof to themselves they can deal with situations outside their comfort zone - but the going through is tough. for you and all round.