GCSE Supporting - first week nearly over

Aqa physics and computing went well for ds, but they are his favourite subjects.

I've been looking at twitter and lots of people are saying OCR computing was not what they were expecting and they really struggled.

Sorry, just jumping in here. DD found Physics really easy which was lovely to hear as it's her worst Science. Computer Science was kind of tricky she said though, a lot of things she couldn't remember even though she revised pretty hard!!! She said she wished whoever had written it hell lol. She's finished until half term now which is so great so we're relaxing. 😁

@bendmeoverbackwards -DD sat that Physics paper. She said it was ok but am not getting much out of her. She’s pissed off as she is in a row of desks which are in direct sunlight and it’s uncomfortably hot. The school have said there is nothing they can do. Am just hoping the weather doesn’t get any hotter after half-term.

Dd is done now for half term. She’s still being moody with me so no idea how her exams went today.

She did Edexcel combined Physics (higher) and Class Civ. Any feedback from dc on Physics?

@kennythekangaroo your poor dd. Glad school are being supportive (as they should be) and hope she enjoys the surfing.

DS found OCR computer science fine except for one weird question (only a 4 marker though). He is incredibly good at coding/programming etc so it is all easy for him. He does get annoyed that some of the info they have been taught is just wrong though. There was one question on paper 1 about local area networks and the answers that the teacher told them would be marked as correct are all wrong! DH works in the industry and can't believe what crap they teach them.

Comp sci is one of DD's favourite subjects. She is planning to do it for A-level and spends quite a bit of her spare time coding so I was expecting it to be OK but it's defintiely the worst so far. She says there were lots of very obscure questions, things that they hadn't really been taught and very little of what's usually on the paper. The whole group of them felt the same way and have spent all the time since venting and making memes...

Lots of kids have definitely put themselves on study leave here. DD likes this - she says the ratios are far better and she gets more help on the things she's interested in. One of her wiser thoughts on the whole process really.

Looking forward to half term!

Hello again.
DS thought that Edexcel Physics higher was generally a good paper. He even had a bit of time at the end to check through his answers.
German writing tomorrow.

Yep OCR Computing (or whatever it is called) is what DD attempted too.

She found paper 1 easy though.

Oh don't get me started on leavers hoodies DSs school are handing them out on the last day of exams. Not so much leavers hoodies as left hoodies.

I’m pleased to hear others found OCR comp sci different to what they were expecting.

It was OCR. Apparently most people were stumped by it, so my son said.

DD found the AQA physics paper tricky. She didn't appreciate the focus on maths. Plus, although there were 4 associated practicals which she spent most of her time yesterday pm going over, not one came up - that seems a little harsh! She thinks she passed, but it will bring her overall grade down as biology and chemistry have gone really well so far.

She has German writing tomorrow morning, the last of the 4, then a (final) P.E. lesson, then get this... double German!!! School attendance is compulsory until end Friday. Apparently they will just watch a German film or something, but it's pretty ridiculous if you ask me.

We've had some pretty stiff letters from school about compulsory attendance up until half term - pretty much threats that it will be treated as truancy if they leave early after an exam. Fortunately after half term it's a bit more relaxed, but they still have to attend any lessons where they haven't yet done all the papers.

so many put themselves on study leave so it's fairly quiet ie unsanctioned study leave they are supposed to be in and kids/families have decided for themselves not to go in.

DS school expects the in uniform and states they may not be allowed to sit if not.

Uniform was the expectation when I did exams at school - so wasn't surprised. They also will have to wear uniform for leavers assembly after exams finish where they'll give out the hoodies and prom tickets trying to get them to attend I think.

"How are kids coping when they have to go to school all day while taking exams too? What are they doing during the school times?"

Better since so many put themselves on study leave so it's fairly quiet - though doing PE seems waste of time - it's mostly now revision with teachers doing some for subject left and rest allowing them to do self study. It was worse in first week when it was very noisy and disruptive in lessons and has gradually improved for him

"How are kids coping when they have to go to school all day while taking exams too? What are they doing during the school times?"

My DS is coping really well with it. A lot of exams are in the morning, then he just has normally lessons and after school intervention.

It's working out for him as he prefers to be in school (really struggles to concentrate on revision at home). The lessons are quiet and he's getting a lot of attention from the teachers as most kids are up and leaving after the morning exam despite the fact they don't start study leave until 15th June. He had history intervention yesterday and it was just him and one other boy!

Was that OCR? DD said that it was nothing like what they were expecting

Still in full uniform and timetable here, whilst they still hold the threat of ‘no prom ticket’ over all their heads if they don’t comply… honestly the amount of ridiculous “rules” put around this prom ticket, I doubt they have 10% compliance as it was utterly pointless what they set out at Easter. And yet they wonder why they are still a “requires improvement” school 6years later! Treat them like proper young adults and just maybe the majority will comply and those that don’t won’t anyway. There’s going to be a mass exit with most not choosing the sixth form either, shame really when that used to have a better rep than the main school.

Edexcel Computer Science was horrible, DD didn’t finish it all, predicted a 9 but she says no way is that happening.

Timetable finishes tomorrow - leaver's assembly and shirts etc. Then they just go in for exams and revision sessions. Uniform for exams though - although they've all been wearing their leavers' hoodies instead of blazers this week.

DD1 is better in school to be honest - she gets sad when she's on her own so I've been glad she's been going in.

His school is a grammar school and they were given the option to study in school, but that definitely wouldn't suit him as he likes his set up with his books and access to online resources!

My son started study leave over a week before the exams began - he has to attend all exams in school uniform.

How are kids coping when they have to go to school all day while taking exams too? What are they doing during the school times?

My son has been coming home from exams and then revising solidly, on areas he needs to work on, before going to sleep at around 11.30pm.

We had a message saying leavers assembly tomorrow, shirts signed etc and finish early. After holiday there will be lessons in the subjects they are sitting exams in.

So uniform? I’m going to have to call the school aren’t I.

I had to ring my DD a few minutes back to ask her to get the washing in. Her detailed review of the Computer Science paper was "ok". She would not be drawn further. Better than wank, I guess? But Computer Science is normally her favourite and best, and she's normally far more positive about it.

On the plus side, by a massive stroke of luck the first of yesterday's "unseen" poetry was a poem they'd looked at in some detail in class in Year 10, so the whole group feel pretty good about that one.