GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

adrinkofwater I glanced not in great detail at the MSC entry requirements for all the Uni's and that was my opinion too...there did not seem to be any consistency e.g Bristol doesnt mention science GCSE requirements but required an A in Maths...but Lancaster wanted AAA AAA BBB ...when DD looked through the requirements she quite fancied Leicester (GCSE's B/6) ..obviously these are minimum requirements and they have the pick of the pack....but with some strong A level predicted grades she could have a chance (assuming she gets the B in Chemistry in the IGCSE where the first paper was considered to have a few curved balls).

I'm actually quite chilled about GCSE's (sorry)

Re the step up to A level l think what my DD found is that you have to do quite a lot of work yourself - not just questions, but you may not be taught everything. For biology, she wrote up all her class notes into another book, also looking at the text book to see what hadn't been covered.

For medicine, some med schools do base who they interview heavily on GCSE (eg Cardiff). Others base it purely on your UKCAT score as long as you have met their minimum GCSE requirements (eg Newcastle and Sheffield). Others use a mix or different entrance test. So 5 8's not necessary!

Sorry that didn’t really answer you question at all :).

Hmm not sure re step up. DD s didn’t find it too much of a problem but they did have a string of A stars and worked hard from the off. With lower gcse grades or poor teaching or if you don’t engage at the start it could be harder. Having said that with harder broader gcse s that may have closed some of the gap. It is a big step but I think it will depend on individual dc and also how well they have been and will be taught as to how hard they find it.

mmzz we're in the Deep South of the county - by a lighthouse! We went there last year not realising it's a working lighthouse so the first misty night was rather noisy! But they supply ear plugs...

I think I’ve saud before some med schools place more store on gcse s so you may limit your options with lower grades but it certainly doesn’t make it impossible. Key is researching the different schools and applying to those that fit your strengths. You only need one offer after all. Also a lot of people now see med school/Oxbridge as a two year process and if they just miss out apply again with actual a level grades and more work experience and critically another years maturity

Bluebelle - I would have thought you are probably right but I'm not expecting 5 8's from DD (she will probably have a mixture of A*/A's a few 7's and I expect a B in Chemistry). DD is very philosophical about it all (she knows she probably should have worked harder but cant change that now). Its head down (she is very capable) to get very good predicted grades and regular work experience to show she has a passion and hopefully they will see that she has matured since GCSE days. She will also consider graduate entry too....she's at school that will give her sound advice so I will go with the flow, next years 6th form cohort are heavily medicine orientated (they are running 3 Chemistry groups and 4 Biology groups for just 69 students) a lot of the parents are GP's etc.

I think DD will be very fortunate with the weather too (NCS 1 st week in in Shropshire/Welsh border)...cooling down all week and then looks like rain after lunch on Friday when they will be on the way home.

DF has invested in some Honeywell fans and she has brought one over to our house....DD's bedroom is a barn attic conversion with three velux windows which makes the room like a sauna....

DS brought up results today and as he wants to do medicine we've discussed the minimium grades he needs to realistically carry on down that path, we decided 5 x 8's which should include the sciences and at least a 7 in English......I would be happy to be corrected from those of you whose DC go to schools where medicine is a popular option

AH When DD was getting off the ship this morning she said it was change over day for the entertainment team and how excited they all were when they were getting on ... I would be keen for DD to do a couple of contracts because its a good way to see world...one of my friends was a croupier in the Caribbean when she was younger and she's now an Accountant but she looks back at her time at sea with so many happy memories.

I remember A levels being a significant jump from O levels but it was just so much better to know I'd chosen three subjects that I really wanted to do. And we were ready for the jump!
Like mmzz I wish we just knew the results now! It's not crucial for DS to get mega high grades so we are safe talking about his first choice to him. At least next weekend we go away for a week and it looks as though Devon will be a lot cooler than London is at the moment. We're looking forward to being able to go on long walks without melting after 10 minutes!

@stickerrocks - It definitely will be a change but we have YH'd a lot too so she's used to basic accommodation and bunk beds. We both commented when we were getting off at ports how prison looking the staff accommodation was ..DD has been doing a fair amount of fact finding on work on cruise ships (she is friends with the teen club manager from last year and this year). I thought she might like the kids entertainment but I think she quite fancies working for the Cruise Director in some capacity....but that is many years ahead. She did say it was interesting to have been on two cruises one with all British teens and the other with European teens and how it was far nicer being with the European teens who were more chilled and less "beef".

DD is quite good at making soups and my advice for her this coming week will be make sure you are in a group with someone who can cook for the following week....although hopefully DD is capable of following a recipe....and if all else fails they can order a Domino's!

I think DD's community action project may also have a few difficulties given that its results week and they are off on the 23rd and DD is going on a sleep over that night...so not sure how with it she will be on 24th!

Oddly enough dd is very au fait with London & on a recent school trip when they were running late because a couple of students were at the wrong meeting place at the wrong time she went to the teachers & suggested an alternative, better way back to get them all back on track!

Teen - Dd would love to work in a cruise ship. It’s a great life & although there are lots of duties the pay is good. I’d miss her though.

I have an older DS and can confirm for him the A levels were a HUGE step up. They need to put in the work from the off and not wander off for coffees with mates in their 'frees'. My DS realised early into the first term and has worked incredibly hard. Also if they don't pass exams at Christmas, the college my DS goes to won't let them continue and they have to change subjects or move to a BTech. Same again with exams at the end of the first year. I know this seems harsh but it saves them wasting 2 years on a subject and then failing it. However having said all that, the harder GCSEs are supposed to make the step up to A level easier so let's hope that is the case. Let's face it, some kids start A levels that should never be doing them and should be on other pathways more suited to their academic level.

I don't think they will be a shock to the system for your DS because he is already used to thinking for himself and planning. Those who do the bare minimum and rely on the teachers to tell them the right answer struggle. I would always suggest taking subjects you are genuinely interested in, because that gives you the motivation to find out more and work outside of the classroom in free periods.

Teen she may find being "below stairs" on a shipa shock to the system, but I can assure you that week 2 of NCS will be good preparation for such hardships (but Mum, they boiled the mince...!)

NCS week 3 begins tomorrow. It's slightly disappointing, as they effectively cut 2 days off the skills week so that they could start planning their community action, but their final week overlaps with a 4 week group also based at their hub site. This means that there are twice as many community projects all being planned at the same time, they are struggling to get venues. and can't publicise events planned for Wednesday because there is nowhere confirmed yet to hold them. DD is letting others panic at the moment, but I think she may get fed up tomorrow.

Sometimes learning to get out of these scrapes and errors is more valuable than never having made them in the first place :) Terrifying as it may be for us !

DD back from holiday with her DF and now I'm busy washing bits and bobs for her to go to NCS tomorrow ...

I think she will remember this summer has the summer for making lots of new friends ..although she's slightly nervous about tomorrow which is hardly surprising when you are about to spend 3 weeks with a bunch of complete strangers.

She said this afternoon she'd consider maybe taking a year out after she finishes her degree and work on a cruise ship and see a little bit of the world.

Also agree re comments on independence and trying things out and making mistakes whilst we are around and on the other end of a phone to help out and run to the rescue if neded :). I remember DD2 asking to go to a party in London (an hours train away plus tube) last year. With trepidation I agreed as I felt it better she get used to doing these things alone. DD1 was surprised at uni when others had never caught a bus before and were totally fazed when on a London trip without a clue what to do !!