Parents of GCSE 2025

Thank you @sausageupanalley See you on the other side!.x

Similar @48wheatiesreally hoping the chemistry goes ok, he says he can't do it but rather than using today to brush up he's just sticking his head in the sand, so frustrating. Hope all goes well for your boy tomorrow as well x

My son has ASD, so we are very much in autistic overwhelm shutdown mode. No revision ..and I cannot even mention it. We'll just have to pray for a manageable chemistry paper so that he's not put off sitting the rest!

Hi, I just wondered how everyone is getting on? DS has still not really pulled his socks up, very little revision done this weekend other than something the school organised. I can see he is stressed but is then doing other stuff rather than revise. I've tried nagging, talking him through questions which is what he asked me to do but then when he doesn't know it he gets angry. Am dreading this week and It's going to be a nightmare run up to results day. Was wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation, I know there were a few of us a while back who's kids seemed similar.

Thank you x

Good luck to everyone’s DC with MFL speaking! And hope your DD get back onto sessions with CAMHS @froggybiby

Ah no need to ask a question then but the candidate can prep a 1-minute speech so I hope they have done that. Sometimes candidates are not aware and it's a bit of a wasted opportunity to prep something good. With F tier they get more support on the questions for the photocard as well so should be good.

The teacher/examiner should remind her (she still gets the marks for the question if they do that, as long as she does then ask a question obvs)

Thank you @clary it is AQA. My friend is a head of MFL and gave him this advice tonight too. So it's appreciated.

Into the breach now everyone, solidarity to you all 🙌

Thank you! It's Edexcel French foundation, so not too tricky (we hope!!)

Thank you Dd has Spanish on Tuesday and the question in general conversation was the thing she forgot in her practice and got very confused so that has helped.
it is her least favourite subject

@VivaDixie your DS and his school sound very similar although mine isn't doing a language. It is relentless, but the beginning of the end is in sight!

@VivaDixie @48wheaties best of luck with MFL speakings. If it’s AQA remind them to ask a question in the general convo, extend answers on the photo card but don’t waste time extending for the role play - as long as they cover what’s asked for ie number of details. If not AQA then I have alternative top tips! :)

Not long now - less than two weeks til our first exam. Too late for independent revision now (more or less, and he's so unwilling!), hoping the school and my DS excellent short term memory will push him over the line.

Best of luck to your DS for Spanish oral tomorrow... DD took her MFL ones last year so at least that is that done...
I get you with English ...the language one was the one DD failed at the mocks too.

My main worry is that she can't do an exam due to her anxiety as this happened 😕 for previous mocks...she is now back on CAHMS waiting list after 8 sessions. This week was quite stressful as she badly sprained her ankle on the way out from her (potential) 6th form...

Hi everyone, DS school were great and had revision sessions on over Easter, I honestly think if they didnt have this then he would have been a nightmare to motivate.

We have found that once he got over the initial 'I am NOT doing this' and got into a routine set by the school and us at home, he is now in the zone. We still have arguments and he wouldn't revise if we didn't get him to, but once he does he focusses.

He has Spanish speaking tomorrow morning so we have been hammering that this weekend, from what I can see he should be fine so fingers crossed.

He did however say that my sessions are far more fun than DHs unfortunately I cannot do science or comp science but if i can make his sessions fun then at least he is doing something! DH is working on the comp science and science subjects, he should still pass those.

We just want him to get 4s and 5s. He will be happy with that as that is all he needs for College. English is still a worry though as that's the only one he didn't pass in the mocks.

Good luck everyone

Thanks for asking. DD has her French speaking exam tomorrow. She says she ready 😎

How’s everyone’s DC getting on?

Ahhh that’s what’s throwing her because for some of the poems the teacher has interpreted a line one way but Mrs Rumsey says something different (for example). It’s definitely a confidence thing.

Eng lit is not my main subject but glad to help; I have supported enough students that I know a bit and really at this stage it is about practice and confidence. Worth remembering that as long as you can argue the point in a valid way, there is no wrong answer.

@clary Ive forwarded your reply to DD and she’s said thank you very much! ☺️

One big plus from a glance at the spec is that you are provided with the poems if you choose to do the first question. The second one is more like the AQA GCSE qu where you choose a text to compare with one you are given.

She needs to know terms for language, form and structure and be able to pick them out – so maybe practice with some of the poems. Perhaps the ones she understands best – pick an example of a metaphor, a simile, etc. Is there a theme to the anthology poetry selection (doesn't look like it to me)?

Then I think one good way at this stage is to find as many past paper or past paper style questions as you can and try to answer them – even just making bullet points of notes of relevant points (eg the sample question on the website talks about powerful images in two specific poems – so try and find as many as you can and note how they are presented). She should have some decent notes or backup from her school on how to do this and examples to follow?

Just wondering if any of you have any tips for getting to grips with English poetry please? It’s iGCSE edexcel (if that makes a difference) she’s looked at Mrs Rumsey’s annotations online (suggested by teacher) but still doesn’t understand and is really struggling to memorise. We are both very literal so find this kind of thing tough. The stand in teacher is now on indefinite sick leave so probs won’t get advice on return as main teacher on maternity. Any guidance much appreciated!

Your child is in a similar situation to my son. He excels in mathematics and science but struggled with English in his most recent mock exam. Although English is not my first language (unlike my son’s), I believed it would be beneficial for both of us to study together like I did with my older child. My older child has severe autism and dyslexia, and he attended a special needs school. However, by teaching him in the same way I have been teaching my younger child, he was able to pass the Functional Skills English Level 2 (equivalent to a GCSE Grade 4) in just three months.

We’ve been working through all the English textbooks as a team, creating flashcards, and practicing extensively with past exam papers. As a result, he has significantly improved his understanding of language techniques and the correct use of punctuation.

He has also become faster at writing longer texts, as I encouraged him to focus on depth in his writing. This approach involves asking plenty of "why" or "how" questions and providing factual evidence to support his points.
We only started studying together two weeks ago, so I’m hopeful he will continue to improve. At the end of each day, I feel exhausted, but it’s been completely worth it. My son, who didn’t always appreciate my efforts before, has started showing gratitude for the time and support I’ve given him. I wish your child all the best !