GCSE supporting - to half term, and beyond!

Most difficult day of the exam period here too. Maths then History. He loves History and is very good at it but American West is his least favourite topic. Too many treaties/dates to remember I'm told!

I've got everything crossed for a good Maths paper after the last one was a bit of a horror.

Good luck to everyone else today especially those with this combo.

Is it worth mentioning to the school about bad hay fever? Its been worse over the last few days and causing more Asthma. DC doesn't want to make a fuss.

Good luck to all the History/ Maths students today. History is tough. With my exam board, the very short exam makes it all the worse. So much studying, so little time to express it all. Sucks.

@Piony the exam board is Eduqas and they do 2 exams of 2hrs 15mins each. One calc, one non calc. I believe other boards spread it out over 3 exams.

@Neversaygoodbye happy birthday to your son for tomorrow! How fast has 16 years gone ?🤷‍♀️Hopefully he can have a lovely relaxing afternoon off x

Gosh that's a long maths exam @closethedrawer . History's a long one for DD, 2.5h inc extra time, but maths is not too bad.

Her last day of 2 exams though, and last late finish at school <waves pom poms>

Good luck to them all today, especially those who struggle with maths.

Has History GCSE always been this hard content-wise? Even the super bright kids at DD's school were in tears after the first paper and the teachers are considered pretty good so I'm not sure what's gone wrong? Is it because of Covid?

@Jowak1 my DS is also 16 tomorrow! He has PE exam in the morning so sadly not an exam free day.

Today is DS's worst day by far. 2hrs 15mins of maths this morning, then Elizabeth and the Cold War this afternoon. As others have said, there's just so much content to learn. He's tried really hard but it's going to be a struggle today.

Big day today for lots of them. Maths and History here. DD blearily 'finished' the cold war last night - I worry that she's weak on Elizabeth. Seems happy with her Islam paper (they didn't have an RE teacher for two years so revision has been far harder than it should have been). Maths not her fave either.

Supportive cheers for all parents - this is an absolute slog. Well done to all of you for helping them through it!

Son has maths and history today then a day off tomorrow for his 16th birthday!

DS also has Maths and History today. He has been revising but History (and Geography) is so content heavy. I don't remember having to learn so much info at the GCSE level. Nor do I recall having to answer history questions in such a set, formulaic way. Thank goodness for his first day off tomorrow.

Good luck all today. I know it might be a tough one.

DS also has maths and history. Not seen much revision going on since the second week of exams outside of what the school is doing with revision lessons. Seems to have lost the momentum completely. Just hoping they're enough to get him half decent grades.

@ 10in10 I got this for my son. There are different types to choose fyi 😊 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1433685838/candy-grampoem-good-luck-chocolate-and?ref=yr_purchases

Some of dds teachers are saying come in, some saying don't bother. The receptionist last Fri said get your mum to ring in sick for you!
She doesn't know where she stands but I agree she'll get more done at home.
@TeenDivided up at quarter to 4 for a 5am cycle to work. Fortunately I am very much a morning person.

Maths and history here today. No exams yesterday but my DD went in anyway - I was happy for her to stay home but I said just consider how you will feel if they cover something useful in class (she had a science lesson which is her weakest) she went in and they did cover something useful so it was worth it.

Only about 1/3 of people in though. We got a thank you for coming in and engaging text from the school.

Maths and History today. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for DD and hope it all goes well. She's been revising so hopefully will pass

@Rowgtfc72 Someone else up at stupid o'clock.

DD 18 is resitting maths today. Her first actual attempt with proper exams. I so don't want to have to do this all over again next year (she is staying in college for a y14).

Best wishes to all, especially anyone trying to scrape that pass.

Maths here today. Dd went into school at 11 yesterday as no exams. There is no official study leave but she said only a couple of kids actually went in at 9.
I asked if she'd got loads of revision done- she replied one past paper. That was it. She's going to see if she can come home after maths to revise here for Fridays exam. She's getting more done at home.

DS's relatives have been doing similar- he's very much appreciated everything -

Hetty's brownies
Nando's gift card - had a nice lunch out at the weekend as a break.
Autobiography of a footballer he likes
Snack delivery from a supermarket- nachos, dips, cans of drink, sushi, sweets etc.

He's a lucky boy!

I think DD has American mid west and the Normans (or something like that) for her History. She's gone from hoping for a 6 before GCSEs started to being happy just to pass after a horrendous paper 1. But she had to do either History or Geography and thinks that Geography would have been just as bad.

DD is doing OCR history, but I agree the actual content is insane. Her paper is on Monarchy and Democracy, but covers the time period 1000-2014, from Ethelred the Unready to Tony Blair and everything in-between.
The paper is only 1 hour, but the potential for questioning covers such a ridiculous range. Poor thing. If she didn't hate history before... she does now!

Restoration England here alongside medicine.

The content is insane! We thought it was one of her best subjects - got an 8 in the mock but now thinks she'll be lucky to get a 6.

Oh well. Doesn't really matter...