GCSE 2018 no. 6: stress, struggles and success (hopefully) *Title Edited by MNHQ*

mmzz that also doesn't take into account the starting point IYSWIM. It could be that at this stage your DS is further ahead in what he knows than my DS was when he started, so he may whizz through it quicker. And as I said, DS's dyslexia means it takes longer for stuff to embed so the coverage of the course may be quicker in your case.
Interestingly, I have never felt remotely tempted to sign up for Physics-DS has always just 'got' that from the off and did extremely well in his mock on next to no revision.
As an aside, having a child with dyslexia has been a real eye-opener. DD and I are about as far away from dyslexic as you can get. It's pretty obvious now that DH is an undiagnosed dyslexic. In terms of how DS and he learn/strengths & weaknesses it's just totally different from DD and I. It's fascinating but also very frustrating that the educational system just isn't geared up to reflect their strengths. I'm full of admiration for DS that he is navigating it with one hand tied behind his back. Which is not to say that it's not tough for all the DC-it is, as I know from going through it with DD. It's just different. And in my experience GCSE's are the worst bit-it gets better from here!

Teen that's a fantastic result! Particularly sweet in relation to QB, I imagine!
Happy birthday for the big day, Brainmelt!
I don't think I can face derailing DS from his existing revision method with Tassomai but will bear it in mind for DS2.

Can't shift parents to HT because DS has four exams after that. Also they're coming for my birthday and they are nonrefundable tickets etc. It will be fine he just has to shut himself in his room and I havento breath deep.
we have cancelled Tassomai. DS wasn't doing it and prefers old style notes and revising. He just doesn't have the time for it.
ellen happy birthday fellow Taurus. teen that's an amazing mark!

MMZZ - You may find he will whizz through it (may also find it initially boring)- there are some stupid incorrect answers (Beef Wellington) crops up a lot...but the idea is that the students are asked the same questions about four/five times during the course so the answers should be easy to recall during an exam.

DS doing Tassomai for Bio & Chem only. He started in Feb and has done 20-30 minutes a day for 60 out of 77 days (just checked his usage figures!) and has done 70% of the course, if that's any help in terms of time required.
The last few past papers he's done he's been getting 85-90%, considerably up on his mocks. He has done some 'traditional' revision on top, covering areas where he knew his knowledge was weak, but not that much.
I think it works really well for him because he's dyslexic and spending hours pouring over books, and even writing notes, doesn't mean that the detail will be successfully committed to memory. He's great on the 'bigger picture' of subjects but less good on the minutiae. The little and often thing, repitition, and it being interactive on a screen, has really helped.

Happy birthday Ellenjane!
Lobster congratulations!
Brainmelt I hope things go more calmly than you fear. Would it help if your DS spoke to them - or would they try to distract him?

I think it's a difficult call to know whether its worth it although DD only started 16 days ago...DD finds it easy to use and it has really boosted her confidence getting today's results just at the right moment - she even got a better mark than QBee who had the cheek to ask whether DD should be taking Biology at A Level a few weeks ago...(in fairness she has also done a few past papers too). I have topped up with Chem and Physics today which just cost me £10 till 5/5 when I will pay £45....based on the fact that she will have a full weeks exam leave before exams start, so the opportunity to do a few hours each day and she can choose her own quizzes based on weaknesses.

Just need some good DT coursework marks tomorrow now ...

Oratory1 - enjoying school is so important!

Oratory I think it's worth getting Tassomai even now just for a month, it really does seem to make a difference.

Jufus congratulations to your DD on the dancing! My DD had a very successful competition yesterday too, and there was freestyle there (I loved watching it!) which is unusual for the comps we usually do. how funny if it was the same one?!

It was a 14 hour day for DD though, so not much revision done yesterday.
She did practise her French for the 2 hour journey each way.
Her oral exam is on Thursday.

Happy Birthday EllenJane, hope you have a lovely meal.

Nice to see some bits of good news.

On reflection I wish I'd got tassomai. By the time I considered it I thought it would have been too late but it seems it can be of benefit even in the last couple of months and I think would have suited DS. Too late now though. Great result teen. Anyone any ideas what the grade boundaries might be for the sciences (AQA). DS struggling to get much above 50% in some papers - he should be getting a lot more but can't seem to apply his knowledge to the questions and also his knowledge if quite superficial (dyslexic with poor short term memory for retaining the detail and not enough time spent on it). Having said that he would be ok with 5s in bio and chem and 6 in physics but no idea what % he would need to get there.

Good luck to all those already started or about to start. Nothing until the 19th here.

Some good news though - in that my dyslexic, shy , sport loathing teen can't wait to get back to school tomorrow - they must be doing something right !!

Brainmelt - Could you maybe ask them to come at HT when DS could spend a little time with them?

Happy Birthday EllenJane

Well done for getting extension Loose...

That sounds tricky, brainmelt.

Well done teenmum's DD.

Good luck with all MFL exams just done or coming up.

We're off out to eat tonight for my birthday. Shame DS1 is back at uni but his first 2nd year exam is tomorrow. DS3 has done half of today's revision so far, a bit more to do before we go out. He's already completed his music assessments, though, so can afford to take a bit of time off.

Its massive thank you to Tassomai ..DD just got top marks in class on past paper 2 of Biology exam they sat last week 89%...she has worked really hard (covered 65% in 16 days)...very proud just need DD to do the same in 6 weeks time!

My parents are coming to stay tomorrow till Saturday . Just had stressful half an hour phone chat with my mum trying to explain why DS can't be distracted and the importance of gcses. All she can say is he does too much. This all came about because they wanted to take him out to dinner and it's not a good idea this week and he's really behind and having music rehearsals on top. When they come home everything turns upside down. I am so stressed about them coming

Well done to your DD Jufus...

mmzz sounds good!
loose yay for extension and mum's intervention and congrats to miniJufus...

Update: art department very happy to give extension! Phew!

Well done MiniJufus!
I'm not going to lose sleep over art at this stage and DS doesn't seem unduly perturbed, but I have emailed asking/grovelling for an extension to Monday and explaining the work he plans to do.
If they say no we'll have to concoct plan B...!

Place marking. DD still doesn't know when her German speaking is! But she got into Champs yesterday in Slowdance at her competition (highest possible grade to attain) so she's buzzing today!