Year 11 GCSE support thread 4 - more exams

It's only because my lazy so and sos went for double not triple science that most of the worst for them is over. Also they are doing iGCSEs for most of them although I am not sure if that affects timing.

I find it interesting that some have nearly finished whereas Dd has barely started! She had 5 exams before half-term but has 13 to go (3 history, 1 English, 2 Geog, 2 maths and 5 science).

She's quite glad to lose a bit of momentum - they've been working so hard for the last few months, I think it's good to have a few days to yourself. Dd's glad to have half-term as well, as they haven't finished the chemistry and physics syllabus and there's no more lessons, she's got the space and time to learn from the revision guide - it's just a case of damage limitation for these now. Luckily, all the other subjects finished at Easter and they've been revising in class so she's confident on the other subjects.

yes, we're seeing the big difference between double and trip science now - mine have no more science and most of their class still has more.

They still have English, maths, history and music i think but the bulk of the exams are over. Apparently there is quite a bit to revise for English and music. I was saying only history probably was a hard core revision subject but I'm wrong. One is doing history upstairs - interesting he colonised his sister's bed room when she left home which is now his day study, computer room and yet still shares a room with his twin. It's fascinating. Mind you I visited a friend at Durham university when I was at university and I remember she had very weird twins next to her in college who dressed entirely identically and even often moved in sequence and used one room as a study and the other as their bed room so total twin closeness might not be a great idea for independent life. There have been law cases over identical twins at university having very similar results without any cheating. Mine are doing identical GCSEs but it looks like one of their A levels will differ which is probably a good thing. it's been very helpful though doing the same GCSE if one forgets work or the other wants to know what the homework is.

Work finally began here at noon.

DS is doing a Latin language paper and DD is in the dining room reading some biology. I swear DD is using ( and messing up) every room in the house!

Noses to the grindstone here, mainly due to DH going over their Maths and keeping the momentum going.
I'm just keeping the cupboards stocked with food and making sure everything is there when they want it!

Yes thanks spud, have sent it to my DD too.

Fairenuff, DD isn't nearly as disciplined as that - she may do anything between 3 and 6 hours a day I guess. With her mates

Ds has had the weekend off and is now treating each day as if it were a school day and revising 5 subjects a day for an hour each.

He is having the same breaks he would have done at school. He will finish at 3.30 and may do another hour or two in the evenings.

This is what he did during the easter holidays and it seemed to work well for him. It's so hard trying to get the right balance isn't it.

I am escaping for a couple of days - visiting DM, so I hope DH gets her up for her Maths tutor (she was skyping DGodSis at midnight...) She is a bit jaded so we need her to just keep on trucking - Maths, Eng Lang and History plus B1 and P1 still to go

Oh, I'm so glad we have this week in the middle for something of a break.
dd was getting exhausted with all the late nights and early mornings
She was pleased to realise she has one day per remaining subject over half-term so that's her plan for the week. Though so far I think it's been mainly biology - still that's her key subject and one she wants to do for A level.
Am hoping I can persuade her to come out with us for a little tea party at a friend's house this afternoon. I think she could do with some kind of a break and some socialising!
Hopefully will be able to as a friend will be there she hasn't seen for a while
I'm looking forward to it too

Momentum slowed here too!

Yesterday both DC came to walk the dogs with DH and I, then volunteered to help with gardening. And both mithering DH to play footie etc.

Truth is they wanted to be outside and I can't say I blame them.

It doesn't help that some of DD's mates are virtually finished, whereas we still have quite a lot more exams to go. One Mum was suggesting a trip to London and a sleep over, but her DD only has maths and one eng lang paper. We've still got all the sciences, history, Latin too.

geoffbarton.co.uk/student-resources.php

geoffbarton.co.uk/student-resources.php
This looks good for Eng Lang revision.

DD asked to be left sleeping.........A bit of science for her today . The urgency seems to have faded with this half term week, but I don't want a panic on Sunday. Hmmm. It's going to be about striking a balance over the next couple of days.

Until last year I thought comicon was just a US thing which people like the Big Bang boys went to.

Phew Lotus - thought I was the only one who had never heard of them!

Yes it would be really interesting to compare then and now! It all seems much harder now to me, but that's probably because I have forgotten everything I learned the night before

Don't understand what any of those cos or com things are but it's good when teenagers have hobbies. I don't know what revision mine did today although one is asking to be woken at 9am each day presumably to revise so that's a good sign. Their worst exams - science (only doing double) and I think all of French are over so they've broken the back of them. They are both doing English lit and lang, maths, geog, history, 2 sciences (physics, biology chemistry), French and music. 9 which is almost identical to mine O level in 1977 except I did my music in lower sixth and I did German (but just physics/chemistry so one science). We found 2 months ago some of my old papers but I think it was mostly A level. Still it's interesting. May be when I next root them out I should put them online so people can compare then and now.

We all went to the Manchester comicom last year - I hadn't known what to expect but it was rather sweet and good natured, I think many rather gentle souls not quite at home in the brash reality of modern life. DD doesn't do cosplay but her 'calm you shall be and carry on you must ' yoda t-shirt fit the bill nicely. this year it is going to be when we should have been on holiday but dh has a (probably minor) health issue which has forced us to cancel so maybe she can go either with friends or us.

Wetsuits- decathlon is quite good if you're average height but as DD and. I are both short we get ours online. There's quite a few companies and I've found that if you phone and tell them what you need it for and size they will give good advice - I think they tend to be actual specialist shops staffed by enthusiasts.

DD is plugging away, she revised U1 biology yesterday and a sixth of human geog today but is now doing a biology past paper. She'll probably call it a day after that.

Yey - more cosplayers! Dd is into many animes. She's heard of Night Vale but isn't in to it. She would love to go to more met ups but as we're an hour away by train from London I've always thought it was a bit much to go on her own - I've tagged along to a few and then gone shopping when I've been satisfied she's safe. Now she's 16 she can go on her own (within reason)!

She was so fed up of the meet-ups only being London based and having no one at school to talk to about it that she started her own local group for the thing she likes. They now meet up regularly. She's a very quiet person but has really come into her own - it's lovely to watch.

Comicon is very popular here too :)

One of dd's friends is into cosplay in that very serious yet trendy teenage way that makes you feel a bit old when you don't know what they're on about! dd went along to one of the meet-ups where she got to meet others who share her Night Vale obsession - don't ask me what that is either - some kind of radio station based thing?

Oddboots. Know how stressful that can be (having been through similar with PIL). Look after yourself.