Anyone else's DC got mocks in New Year and doing NO visible revision??

Kit - I feel your pain, Mocks were a really stressful event. For my DD the outward signs were good, she had created a revision timetable, highlighter pens and revision books were purchased but her mock results showed that either she needs to put more effort into her revision or improve her exam technique or both as her results were a mixed bag. She had a 1 in English and a U in French.

She has some real exams in Jan/Feb which apparently she is revising for. Again the outward signs are good but any conversation we have with DD about revision ends up as strop, slamming doors, eye roll.

What ReinetteP said about 2 completely different kids but both found own way.

I had 1 that never revised anything. They felt if they didn't know it then quoting out of a book wouldnt help them know it either. They also found revising to be very stressful and made them panic. They did great at gcse.

I have another teenager who revises constantly despite being top of the class in most subjects. They panic all the time especially if they read only half a paragraph, dont understand that first half then we have complete meltdown until they read the rest of the text and they realise the do know what its about. I'd rather they didn't revise as the stress and anxiety for my dc is unhealthy but the school have been brutal about revision this year. Funny enough the school also said my dc could never attend another class for the rest of the year and they would still get grade 6/7 in most subjects.

There are millions of options open to students if they dont quite get the grades at 16. Some people mature so much later than others and a more laid back approach really wont do them any harm. The schools really push this need to get the gcse grades because thats what makes the school look good. Theres no consideration for the actual students.

I am sooooo with you kit. Family rows about revision achieve nothing so I've given up and told DS it's up to him. We shall see what happens.

I gave up on the GCSEs 2018 thread, because just reading it was making me feel stressed
DD had mocks before Christmas, did very little visible revision and got perfectly good grades - she has since been doing some French on duolingo as she was a bit freaked by the written paper (though got a B on it in the end). I assume some work is going on somewhere, but tbh with dd I know that too much hassling will result in less work not more.

My ds2. These are mocks so I'm not overly concerned - if it goes horribly wrong the consequences aren't completely catastrophic and will show him what needs to be done.

He'd better bloody revise for the actual exams.

Ds1 has A level mocks and he is working hard. They are a total contrast.

Last Christmas, DD had revision for her 3 science GCSEs, not mocks. It completely spoiled Christmas as she was stressed out with the pressure of it all.

She did revise though.

Depends on the general personality. Some of them burn themselves out somewhat by going hell for leather at this point - you’re better off pacing yourself and ramping up in March in my opinion (though obviously not if you’ve done no work whatsoever in preceding years). Some pupils definitely need the kick up the backside of not doing brilliantly to realise they are going to have to put more work in. I never revised much for mocks over holidays (though worked steadily during terms) and found it useful as getting a B without revision comforted me and then I would do more with energy for the real things. However that was as a long time ago when data was less of a thing. The pupils I teach who tend to do well in the long run do a reasonable amount but don’t treat the mocks exactly like the real thing.

I suppose it depends how hard your dS has worked during term time...I have a coaster who has probably only been focused in subjects she likes. DD didnt have a plan until a few quiet words were had over last weekend. This week she worked hard over first couple of day's one full day off - now probably doing 2 to 3 hours a day but very reluctant at applying herself to the subjects she does need to revise ??

Mocks are a chance to practise revising and sitting lots of exams in a concentrated period. There are plenty of pupils for whom mocks are a wake up call when they realise that their particular ‘revision’ techniques aren’t that effective ...

I’d let him get on with it for now with the proviso that if his way doesn’t work then he’ll need to accept more help for the real thing

Nothing in the first 2 days isn't really much of a problem, provided he actually does have a plan. My average-bright but slow-processing DD took 5 solid days off to have a decent break (we compressed all family visits into this time) and then did ~4.5 hours on remaining days. (3 hrs between 9-1, then 1.5 between 4-6. Every afternoon off.)

Maybe have 1 conversation. e.g. Right we are going to let you revise for mocks however you like. However if you don't get XYZ grades for the mocks doing it your way, we will insist on more oversight for the actual exams. Deal?