Y10 and 12 parents - Exams 2022 covid adjustments consultation

@OnTheBenchOfDoom Also OCR history here. They started content in yr10. Sat the paper 1 for the mocks but just starting the two other topics now. Agree, history around is the most interesting so pity if it's taken out.

@Butterfly44 do you only start the GCSE topics in year 10?

Ds1 started it in the last half term of year 9. Ds2 is year 10, they started after Easter of year 9 giving them a full term to learn content. Ds1 initially needed help with History so I know it inside out from testing his knowledge. They do OCR, I don't know if any other board does History Around Us. Ds2 has already completed paper 1 which became their mock paper. They have also completed the first topic of paper 2 and have started background to topic 2. So if there is no History Around Us then it will be revision and mastery in year 11.

I've been meaning to do this as I will have a yr13 and a y11 next summer, thanks for the reminder.

Many thanks that’s so helpful

@OnTheBenchOfDoom More behind on History here. Not only have we got the history around us topic but also the British themes to cover. Exactly halfway through subject content 😕

@noblegiraffe I feel they will go back to the 2019 grade distribution, it is the one they are saying was the last correct, none adjusted, under our control grade profile, surely it has to be that one. The table online showing the algorithm grades compared to the CAGs was just ridiculous. We have a curve for a reason to adjust when needed.

Ds2 is doing History, they have 3 papers, 2 papers both cover 2 topics each so they have not yet taught the History Around Us content for the stand alone paper, it is one of the most interesting because it covers a local site and they learn about how that site has changed over time. Ds1 did it and it was fascinating.

Unseen poetry is part of English Lit but yes English lang they do a comprehension piece and yes lang is the one that counts when they say GCSEs in Maths and English.

Sorry for intruding into 2022 exams, my DS will sit A Levels in 2023. Do we expect public exams to be sat in 2023. Tbh, I was expecting them in 2021. Given we are using CAG, I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens in 2022, too. Though, I am unsure about 2023.

4-6 weeks notice is hopeless. Why so little? I just presumed they'd tell everyone really early?

Perhaps I am being dim but are there any adjustments planned for English Language GCSE? I don't see how you could do advanced notice of the topics as it is analyzing unseen prose/poetry?? English Lang is the one they have to pass or retake right? Does it mean the grade boundaries are likely to be lower?

What do they mean really by advance notice of topics? Like what?
And what kind of critiques should we be putting in, any suggestions?

I do coming 4-6 weeks ahead is the most bizarre concept. Good luck r et parent who struggles to get their children to crack down early to revise - “but we don’t know what they want us to focus on yet”. Our school has 10 day odd of teaching at the stater do summer term before the exams start - this news will come out in the holidays. So children will be trying to interpret this stuff alone

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Yes, thank you Noble you keep us very well informed.
Any chance you can tell me now what my DD's GCSE results will be to save me 4 more weeks of worrying?

Thank you, as always, Noblegiraffe, popping this here so I can come back to it.
Had DD2 with CAG GCSEs last year, DD1 with TAG A Levels this year (🤞) and so DD2 will be back in the mix for A Levels in 2022. It’s been a bummer of a time 🙁

I really don't understand this 'advanced notice' stuff.

Won't it just add massively to the stress of pupils & teachers? They have a nice steady build up, then suddenly a month before they are told 'light and dark in Macbeth' or something and then the teachers feel they have to cram that theme and all possible ways it could be asked?

(My DD might be an exception. Her processing skills mean anything like time tables & formulae seem really hard for her to remember.)

They literally have no interest in any subject outside of a handful - which peculiarly included ancient history.

Last year history and geography teachers in my school were literally twiddling their thumbs and humming while the rest of us were struggling to get our courses finished.

I have done noble but last time each subject did get a box : and it still didn't make a difference. Partly, it has to be said, because of the apathy of teachers of the subject (who then whined afterwards) so that most of the people who responded in my subject were from exam boards...

A formula sheet may not be much adjustment, but it could be a big help in Maths & Physics for some who struggle to learn them but know how to apply.
It will certainly help if my just-finished-y11 DD has to retake next summer (will they stick that adjustment in for this Nov too do you know/think?)

Thank you, will have a look and share it with a few friends. Interesting that you say that about the foundation/higher papers, that would definitely apply to our DC1 who's on that cusp.

And can anyone link to the Y10 thread?

Art & design, but not DT?
DD has done absolutely no practical work this year due to Dt rooms being only used for Y11 bubble...who then didn't even have exams!

My heart is sinking a bit at this (thank you so much for the alert though). I carefully read it all Kath year for my year 13 child and thought the outline about delayed timing and increased optional itsu made some sense, and then there we were, flailing around all spring term, not knowing what was going to happen and trying to get an irritating teen to start revising for an unknown aim.

I really can’t bear it if they muck around through to eater again for my year 11.

But I guess I will have to.