Are we ready for a GCSE’s 2019 thread?

One exhausted girl here this morning. She woke up as normal but fell back to sleep again and I had to wake her up at 7:20. We live opposite the school so no problem but v unusual for her (and now she's a bit stressed about late start) thankfully the end is in sight. Although I may have to get her to think about sleep routines when we get to the summer .....

The worst day of mocks over with (today was three essay subject exams - so 'worst' because most intense but not 'worst' in terms of interest in topics...

DD has two days of exams to go - finishes on Thursday. Has no exams on Wednesday and apparently intends to sleep. She is affronted that they have to go into school on Friday for normal lessons

The best thing (perhaps only good thing) about the mocks is to show what is working and what isn't when it comes to the exams. The result is interesting, but I don't think that there is a particularly strong correlation to final results.

The upside is in finding out whether their revision approach (or lack of ;) ) worked and if there are any in-exam techniques that they need to brush up on.

For my DS last year, it definitely showed that 'winging it' wasn't enough so we had to find a way around the procrastination.

We're halfway through mocks - not going great so far according to ds but I'm just trying to stay relaxed about it. He says they're ridiculously hard.

However, I got him to have a look at Mr Bruff last week and he loved it, so feels a bit more confident about his ability to get to grips with Eng Lit.

His final GCSE timetable arrived yesterday and he's been entered for Theology & Philosophy (RS) which he was hoping to be allowed to drop as he really hates it. But we had a good chat about it and I think he sees the sense. If he dropped it he'd only be doing 8 GCSEs and I was feeling quite concerned about that.

Onwards and upwards!

Mocks done - Phew. Now we just wait for the results next week. She says she will be devastated if she gets less than 7 in anything other than German.

DD did really well over Xmas with revision, especially as she was not feeling well for the entire time. Culminated in a terrible weekend last weekend, and Monday at doctors with a UTI. She spent her first day of mocks seated by the exit door, with a bucket next to her, as she felt so sick and faint. Apparently Biology went OK though, we shall see.

With antibiotics she was a different girl by midweek, and the rest of the week passed in a flash.

German is the main issue, she hates languages, and her oral was a disaster. She completely froze, forgot all her practice answers, and burst into tears. Her teacher was lovely though, turned off the recording, and offered extra lunchtime lessons on a one to one basis. Hopefully her reading/writing will offset some of the lost marks. She will be happy if she scrapes a 6.

Well done on all those getting mocks results and good luck and sympathies to those doing mocks at the moment!
Dd got her results today - Brown envelope in the hall etc - she's generally pleased. Got an 8 for geography with very little revision but will not contemplate doing A-level then a mix of 7s and 6s with a 5 for English lit. She was most disappointed with her 6 for history as she did the most revision for it... I don't think she's as good at the essay writing subjects so she needs some help there. Anyone know any good history resources to help? I'm onto Mr salles/Mr bruff for the English! Thank you

Joining for solidarity.
DS1 did his mocks before Xmas and got his results today. On target for 5, one below for 4, so no disaster. They also reduce their marks by 5% to encourage them to push on. College application done. Parents evening next week. Time marches on.

First week down here to Mrsr8 - she's shattered. Has an awfully essay heavy day on Monday with RE, English Lit and Classics - I'm going to buy chocolate and cake by the bucket load for Monday pm!

Grr started typing and then lost it all!

DD had chill over Xmas, some homework and science revision.
Mock results day today - brown envelope and everything! Not had chance to chat to DD about it, but results pleasing. English, maths and PE need work. Maths was surprising. PE I'm not sure if grade takes into account practical/coursework.
She needs to start working towards mocks end Feb.

Good luck to all those doing mocks now!

Can I join you all? I've spent too much time reading this thread yesterday and today in between working! Thanks to everyone who has shared online resources, really helpful.

My DS is getting his mock results back at the moment and they are all pretty low compared to his targets and I think they've given him a bit of a shock.

Two things I'm wondering about.....firstly, a few people said they used online tutors, can I ask how that works and if it is good?

Secondly, when my cousin's kids did their exams five or so years ago, it seemed quite common for parents to offer financial incentives for results. Is that still the done thing? I suspect it might motivate my DS, so am considering it!

Oh no those poor stressed children... I've tried to reassure DD to treat it all as a learning exercise - how she copes with real stress (her school have done half termly/termly/end of year exams since year 7 so on the one hand she's used to it but on the other those tests have become "routine" rather than formal iyswim?) and where her knowledge gaps are....

We have a parents evening in Feb to discuss mocks/plans for GCSEs etc. Have just realised though that it is the night of a gig we have tickets for... obvioulsy am prioritising parents evening working out the timings to get to the gig too