GCSEs 2018 (12) Are we nearly there yet?!

devilish

Talking about sciences dgd says biology easiest out of sciences but hardest as the amount you have to learn. The units for it are massive. Tbh she prefers human biology and not too keen on plant biology. Chemistry she's finds OK and no complaints about it but physics she says is the hardest because its so boring! Physics teacher was still teaching last unit ( space) a day before first exam. Its a good job dgd studied it a bit beforehand as she realised they were so behind. As it is she says they only skimmed it but its not that big a unit. How is everyone's DC finding the sciences?

82 posters - bet there’s probably a similar number of readers too. I lurked on it for at least 8 threads before deciding I was being silly and I might as well try to join in.
It was a comfort to know others were going through the same trials and tribulations (and that I wasn’t mad!!!). Not to mention all the sensible advice for you all (take your pick which is your favourite)

Interesting secret teacher article about revision sessions. DD had a biology revision session last week and went to the school hall to find some of her friends but no teacher!

There was a history session later in the day with content recap taught by one teacher and exam technique by another. One half was great for DD as she liked the teacher the other half not so much.

We are digging deep this evening to finish American Civil Rights so that she can concentrate on Biology tomorrow.

This time next we it will all be over for us. Weird.

horrendous for us, (not ds2)

Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone. TBH although it’s been horrendous for Ds2 it has made revision etc far easier for Ds2. That sounds awful - but Ds3 failed the 11 plus much to everyone’s (except mine) surprise and I am sure it was because ds1 was at home in a very bad way. It was in the months before he moved into his first provision, so when he needed full time 2:1 and dh was having to leave work at 2pm every day to help out. It was very hard for ds3. (We’re not fussed about him not passing the 11 plus - his school is a much better fit for him).

I asked Ds2 if he wants to go through biology tonight with me, but he said tomorrow.....

Yeah CGP have been a god send. They don't have detail or reading around but at least you know you have covered everything. DS has found some of the text books so wordy he can't find the information he needs. The CGP question and answer books have been useful too if you don't have time for a whole paper.

Just chatted to DS about biology on Monday..,"yes yes I know all the stuff" ok then name three places where hormones are produced "ummm thyroid pancreas and...ummm...dunno"
Good start

Agree Oratory DS used the CGP books as his starting point so ensured everything was covered I'm not sure he even looked at his school books

Oratory I think DS was a bit overwhelmed by the volume of all the sciences! He spent most of Easter trying to catch up. By this stage I think he’s very happy with Biology, which is good because he plans to carry on with it! However, he’s not as confident with the other two. He should be fine now but I could tell he was worried a few weeks ago. He prefers the paper two topics, though, so I think the worst is behind him.
In any case he’s playing games on the computer so clearly not that bothered...

Agreeing with whoever said the volume of biology is huge. We re also finding school have been a bit cought out by the scale of the new stuff in physics. Trying to revise things now they either glossed over quickly in the last few lessons, or things they learnt at the end of year 9 and didn’t have time to go back over.

It does sound like quite a lot of you could be neighbours

Devilish I found your posts very sombre reading, some on here truely carry a very heavy burden, it puts my worries into perspective...........Brainmelt I would of totally agreed with your rant

By 2020 I may well be TheNinthOfHerName

First name change was after the hack and sharing of passwords. My actual password wasn't there but a mistyped version of it was. Yes, I have changed it.

Second name change was after receiving a PM from someone I know in RL.

Terf - So my DS will be 500m down the road from Hills at his school 6th forn

reservoir makes perfect sense if you're at a school you like! We're at a 11-16 school and amazed by the huge choice of post-16 options. I think it's been good for DS to HAVE to think carefully about the future rather than just drift into sixth form like I did, he's changed his mind several times since visiting schools and talking to students/staff so fingers crossed he gets the place at Hills and is happy

When you get ds results make a beeline for that maths teacher mmzz and shove results up right where it hurts!

Got to say dgds school puts no weight in the maths challenge thingys, they don't tell the DC till day before they are doing it! They have had quite a few go through to Olympiad but never announce it. They just give awards out at house assemblies. Its weird some schools set store by the maths challenges but some dont

I agree to a certain extent with the Secret Teacher and have a lot of time for John Tomsett. But ds found some of the extra revision sessions useful - I've left it up to him to decide whether or not to go and that's how it should be!

Staying on at school 6th Form. I think you already guessed where he was.

DD has managed to do 2 past papers this morning and then emergency shop required because we have run out of paper...Its nice that the exam is just 1hr because she can manage to do quite a lot of pp's over the weekend (IGCSE Edexcel).
I think when a love one is dying its so so difficult..my M & D died within 6 months of each other...my DF had just had enough and they were about to put him to palliative care when he took the decision to pull out any tubes that were assisting his breathing (COPD) so within a few minutes he was gone...my DF was diagnosed with heart problems shortly after...had a pace maker fitted at 92...but didn't react well - was given a week to live and lasted 12 weeks just through her will to live (Tough cookie), it was such a tough 12 weeks for all of us - we decided one of us would always be there - so I was driving 240 mile round trips 2/3 times a week....but I would not change that because she seemed chirpy for most of those 12 weeks.

It is interesting to see how schools have dealt with revision ...DD has not been into any revision sessions since the 7th May when they broke up for study leave.

Reservoir where's your DS hoping to do sixth form?