Gcses 2019 support thread 5

For those of us still going - good luck!
DD went to a revision session yesterday after German, only her and her friend was unsure of the room number. When they knocked on the maths dept door a teacher who has a reputation for being rather stern answered and advised them to go to the room they thought it was being held in and she’d check. As they were walking down the corridor they hadn’t realised she was behind them and dd said ‘after the mock i’d Just be happy with a C’. The teacher looked and said, ‘oh, are you FSMQ?’ and then proceeded to be really encouraging, saying that it is really hard, and they had all done really well to get this far, be proud of what they have achieved and no matter what result they get the School will be pleased for having a go, and to think of it as putting them in a great place for A level maths no matter what. Dd said to hear it from this one particular teacher really meant the world - with it being a grammar school there is so much emphasis on grades to hear ‘it’s ok, we’re proud of you’ from a really strict member of the maths department has taken the pressure off a bit and helped her with the last minute study. (FWIW I actually get where the school is coming from, if they have taken the supposedly top 30% of pupils in the area then yes, they should aim for higher grades......but that apparently is not the way I should be thinking........ dd agrees with me but apparently I am a lone voice in agreement with the school so I keep my mouth shut in real life.....!)

Finished today. Unfortunately it ended on s bit of a bum note as daughter missed a bulletin point on one of the German questions so is unlikely to get a 9. She’s a bit disappointed bless her but these things happen. Nobody will really care how many 9s she gets in a year or two. These 9s are so much pressure.
I am just relieved it’s over now. She has some nice things planned with her friends and DoE this weekend do fingers crossed for dry weather...

She is going to the US to study the IB so we am off to the US embassy to sort out visa tomorrow and have a celebratory lunch.

Well done to those that made it through and good luck for those with exams tomorrow

well done to all those who finished today

moral support to those who still have tomorrow

Arewedone-that parent is correct. No one marker will mark a whole paper. They are allocated specific questions and mark those from a variety of students, with their marking being checked by moderators and senior examiners at regular intervals to check they are being consistent and adhering to the mark scheme. The whole paper may be looked at during the grade boundary setting process but not for remarking purposes, only to settle examiners minds that the boundaries are set correctly for the vast majority of students.
There are a number of papers on line that set out the whole process if you want to know more. Most exam boards have their procedures laid out and Ofqual also have a document that gives a procedural overview I think.

So for example if I was marking Eng Lit I may get allocated 500 Question 2’s to mark and when I’d done that would get another allocation.

I think it depends on the board. I think I’m right in saying that Edexcel are all scanned in and then different questions are marked by different people - scripts / questions are handed out to examiners in batches and all marking is online. Senior examiners moderate to ensure uniformity.

Can anyone shed light as to how papers are marked. Does a single marker mark 1 whole paper. I ask as I bumped into a parent who was talking how individual questions are marked separately and an entire paper is marked by a few people which is why each page is barcoded?
Doesn’t make a heap of sense but if anyone knows please can you explain!!!

All done. Phew.

Further maths went well and ds is just home after another ‘gathering’ at a friends.

He’s worked so hard (seemingly) so here’s hoping for good results for all.

Thanks for these threads. I haven’t posted much but just knowing you’ve all been out there has helped x

Dd has finished! Herman went well. Dd said it was a nice paper. Phew, so good to end on a good note!!

Now another party tomorrow evening (it's a birthday party and as they have all finished exams it will be on the actual birthday, not the weekend ), another party on Saturday, then Prom, then college Welcome Day...

Good luck to those still sitting exams in the next day or so. The end is in sight, hang on to that!

See you back on the 22nd August. (Wibble!)

Congratulations to all finishing German and those with tomorrow left!
Poor baby buffy gets his teeth pulled on his first day off hope he’s ok.
Dd finally up and dressed by 1pm, resisted the urge to complain

we are done! Huzzah!

DS said further math was better than last weeks and he now thinks he is in with a good chance of an A or B.

German he felt went well - the writing bit he managed to modify his speaking exam (discrimination I believe) and cram it into the written (sports).

I'm just thankful that's all over for now. See you back here on 22nd august ladies!

Hurrah! German went well and DS really hoping that will pull his grade up to something reasonable.
Statistics and Advanced maths tomorrow for DS's cohort so they do all at least finish together. (Further maths today but DS's school didn't do that as well this year, thankfully!)
We counted up he's taken 28 written exams in total so it really feels like a marathon.
So sorry I didn't find you before. I have an older DS so have been through it once but different specs and very different children.
Looking forward to some downtime after tomorrow.....for me, let alone DS!

Dd had German this morning. (Edexcel)

It went well but she realised afterwards that she'd forgotten to tick which questions she chose. The exam papers had been "wrapped" by the time that she'd found the examinations officer for help. Does anyone know if it's an automatic zero (her fear) or when the scan can't find a tick, will someone manually add the tick?

Binkom, ds was going to do advanced maths, but pulled out, his would have been tomorrow. The rest of his maths is Edexcel, not sure if the advanced is too.

It's funny that some schools have them in every day until the last exam.

ds had all the end of term /leaving stuff before the first exam, as that is when they went on study leave. Had a party, assembly etc.

Had an excellent morning. Took a reluctant ds to Next, bought a lovely suit (£85, not bad at all) plus shirt, tie and shoes.
left home at 11:15, home by 1:30!
can't believe it! Mind you, some items are being ordered in in the right size, so just praying it all arrives.

I can't tell you how relived I am, 6'3" with very long body and arms, and size 13 feet, I thought we would get stuck at some point. In fact once we had the suit and I mentioned shoes, ds said - yes we have been avoiding the shoe issue haven't we.... then I discovered Next go up to a 13! ds even said - I don't care if they aren't really comfortable, they are for special occasions.
So now he has a suit and decent shoes that he can use for weddings/interviews etc for the next few years, and all for a reasonable price.

But the best bit was ds trying it all on (he is a strictly jeans and T shirt man) and realising he looked GOOD and standing up straighter, and trying different styles and really getting into it. Dh was at home and he said - ds was still glowing when he got home, obviously a happy lad!

Yep - Herman is being dumped (poor chap but he didn’t seem very trusting, always asking questions!!!😂😂).
Dd’s Maths is FSMQ? Roll on this time tomorrow.......and hopefully the damn dress will be here!!!!

Herman done! It was ok apparently
She's now baking her dad a late father's day cake! Hooray no more revision!!!

Confused about the further maths options. There seem some finishing today and some tomorrow. Are these different boards?

Fos- that’s a relief no more Herman
Dd still in bed