Is it just me or have GCSEs taken over your life too?

Ah yes, screen based distractions have never been an issue here but they're now becoming one because it's been too long revising since Easter. Adrenaline and focus are going out the window. He's obviously more of a 100m sprinter than a 1500m runner. Plus it's so bloody sunny and beautiful outside.

Second I think both Gscers and A level students in this house are stressed but they just react in different ways to that stress. Dtwins channel it into revision, and do revision which possibly is just time wasting "busy work" means loads of flashcard with colour coding..Ds1 is stressed too, but channels it into distractions and alternative activities, mostly screen based. I am very keen for him to get out of his room so that he can concentrate better in it (ie exercise and fresh air, talking to people in RL)
Funnily enough ds2 who has Asperger's is also being a delight! Perhaps this an ideal set up for him, focusing on a goal and working hard and intensively.

Twin boys here so both doing GCSEs at the same tme. I really feel that parents stressing can affect their children either by putting too much pressure on or by them rebelling and acting as if they don't care to counter-balance the anxiety of parents.

We have taken the approach of your GCSEs, your grades, we will support you if you ask for something, but otherwise it's down to you. However, they are well aware of the link between all exam grades and the possibility of not doing A Levels and a degree if they don't do well. They also know that exam results will usually, but not always, link to earning power later.

There is no point stressing and forcing them to "study" (not the least because you can't force someone to take it in, even if they are carrying out the actions). I also don't intend to chase them through A Levels and degrees so it's best they learn early how to manage themselves. Sorry, I know that sounds tough but I don't think lots of anxiety helps either teenagers or parents.

DS2 (half way through GCSEs) has so far been organised, calm and generally a delight.

DS1 (A-levels start after half term) is becoming extremely difficult to live with. Everything we do is wrong.

Thought I would share my experience with my DD - zero revision was done for GCSE's and I do mean none, because lets face it what's the probability of going into your DD's bedroom on umpteen occasions and not once catching them even near a book let alone revising!!! Well results day was not a happy experience she got what she deserved rather than what she was expecting/predicted!! Luckily it was enough to still get her on to the A levels she wanted to study. I thought lesson learnt - wrong AS's she did actually revise but it was too little to late but again just enough not to be asked to leave .

So final year A2's are rapidly approaching and in the February she actually said to me "I've just realised if I want to do well I am going to have to do the work myself as no-one else is going to do it for me" finally the penny had dropped .........she's now at Uni on a course she loves and working hard.

I wish all your DC the best of luck!

iknowimcoming perhaps he really can pull it out the bag with minimal work at GCSE. My DD2 really couldn't and works continually but DD1 was much more laid back and put in much less work and her approach still resulted in straight As/A*s.

DD2 was very stressed before Biology and had spent all weekend revising. The night before the exam a boy was on snapchat asking what sections he needed to revise! DD2 said the annoying thing was, that he was the only one to beat her in the mock! Some kids are just naturally very bright and others have to work hard to get to the same place.

I agree that this doesn't work at A level but sometimes kids just have a bad term before they realise this and pull their socks up!

It’s been lovely today as everyone has had a day off. We’ve done normal,things such as gardening and sport. No,revision books has been touched. Back,to the grindstone tomorrow.

Spababe - this is what's bizarre about my Ds - he wants to do a level maths, physics and computing (like could he have chosen a more tricky bag?!) so needs grade 6 and above to get into 6th form - his maths and computing are ok ish but in physics mock he got a grade 4. My stress is that even if he gets the grades his work ethic is so poor that him doing those a levels with be constant stress for him to put the effort in, so I fear 2 more years of constant nagging unless dd going to uni will suddenly change and mature him into a diligent student. Hope that made sense - pimms has been consumed

We can only do what we can. In the end, it's down to them. My DS isn't doing much revision but I'm hoping it's because he's done a lot at school and so far all exams have been declared 'fine'. I take comfort in that word 'fine' also the word 'easy'.

iknow - what does your DS want to do in September? Once you have got what you need for the next step forward, you don't have to worry too much about the rest. Focus on their strengths.

I actually asked Ds for a list of his favourite dinners so I could ensure he was eating properly through the exam period and I've been buying him his favourite lunch to take to school so as I can be sure he'll eat in the middle of the day (rather than bring his lunchbox home untouched and him being full hangry hulk at home time) as i know his performance with low blood sugar is less than ideal.

I read somewhere recently that self-belief is 50% of their grades so I've been tellling him he's capable I know he's capable and I know he'll do well just do your best and all will be fine.

People ask me how he's doing and I say no idea - probably terribly judging by the amount of revision he's done/doing. People smile and say oh he'll probably surprise you - and then I want to cry, actually cry because I know he won't surprise me and if he does it'll only be that he's done even worse than I already think he'll do. I wouldn't mind if he didn't have the ability to do really well - it's the lack of effort that does my head in - pass the wine/gin

Laughing at "fine, I guess" as a 'stock answer'. No, my dear son, what you mean is 'You guess Mum, it's all for you to Guess Mum, I dare you, go on, ask me to explain a bit more and Risk Rocking The Boat'.

Therefore my 'stock answer' is: "That's good"

Better get back to the work backlog caused by keeping everything fine, nice and good. And wine.

I think I've found my people!

Me to Ds - how was your exam? (any and every exam, all the same response, exactly the same response)
Ds- meh - looks at phone
Me - meh? What does meh mean - can I have a different adjective?
Ds - I mean it wasn't bad I guess .... back to phone
Me - right, not bad - but not good?
Ds - I mean it was quite good I suppose - back to phone again
Me - sigh

Gin is the only thing keeping me going and after half term dd will be doing a levels at the same time too

Oh yes - and making sure the correct equipment in the correct pencil case goes as well as the correct equipment/pencil case for the correct subject revision at school. Correct exam water bottle and correct clear container with the 'allowable' mints in (ironically also clear). Etc,.....

Anyway, got an amazing 2000+ words out for English Lit yesterday when just a year ago you would be lucky to get 150. Hopefully, they were all to do with answering the Paper questions :)

Thank goodness it's half-term, a chance to regroup. A break from the scheduling of revision to fit the next, and then next exams, sectioning out the relevant Paper sections in the Revision Books, the actual exams and the various collection times to grasp as much Study Leave as possible.

Me involved much? Yes, very - ds has ASD and an 'extreme' educational experience (all or nothing). Like a PP I'm almost enjoying the challenge of it all - my years of ASD-related prep are proving themselves useful now. And the levelling of the playing field as it's all new for everyone.

DS is coping really well (almost scared to say it before its over) and I even got a smile when I said - I've got all Shakespeare's Plays, which one would you like to do next? Like, never again actually.

The day before English Lit she was very stressy, saying she didn't know Inspector calls and had 15 poems to learn and she'd just realised how little she knew them. By the end of the day she had learned it all and came home after the exam very happy. She really liked Physics, hated Biology and quite liked Chemistry and the first English Lit paper. Geography was also quite good. Maths has been her worse subject, followed by Biology.

My DD revises constantly but everything is still very stressy because everything matters so much. If she knows she got a question wrong, it's the end of the world. She's currently stressing that she messed up the maths paper. She wants a 7 but only got to question 8/20 confidently and then it all went downhill. My work friend has a DD very similar and the two of us sit in work waiting for a text or call to tell us how the exam went feeling sick!

@tiredand44 He came home the happiest I'd seen him in weeks - it went well apparently so after listening to all that whining and moaning and doing my best to cajole and commiserate, it is over. No more English Lit ever - went out with some friends last night to celebrate!

It’s takimg over my house! DD has abandoned her room and her notes are all over the kitchen table so we have to move it all to one side when we want to eat.
She is working hard so I can’t complain. Now Lit is out of the way she’s calmer as that was the one she was really worried about.
In two years I’ll have double trouble with DS doing gcses and dd her A levels. He will be a completely different kettle of fish and it’ll be a case of my being much more on the ball with what he’s up to.

Im printing this thread off for performance management evidence in october.

Why did Jonny underachieve?
Because he will not work independently but has a great score on fortnight.

Mine was laughing and saying thanks mum.... seem we were joking about getting a bath to find the size of and object..... it was one of the answers and she had googled it to quote it last night.

How did your DS find English Lit today? Apparently it was fine...but then all exams are fine in this house 🙄

Same response here... "Yeah it was ok" ...I'm not expecting great things tbh. I've had the same reply for all exams to date... even physics.

Me - How did your exam go?
DD - Yeah it was ok
Me - Did you manage to answer all the questions?
DD - It was boring really. I finished after about 20 mins and had to sit there until everyone else had finished.

(A physicist she is NOT!!). Ill mark that one up as a F then...

elfrideswancourt was just thinking about A pair of blue eyes when revising (me revising not him, clearly) Hardy poem with ds2 for Aqa Eng Lit. Read it quite recently for second time.

I'm enjoying the Gsces strangely enough, it feels quite exciting watching it unfold, and seeing their reactions; but admittedly they are both working quite hard. Lots of meltdowns though and ds2 is struggling to get what he needs for sixth form, so that is a worry at the back of my mind.

Another one with an A level student thrown into mix. that is going to be far far worse, as he is really not revising and my teeth are itching to start rattling at him!

Taken over my life and dining room table ! Books everywhere !