Parents of GCSE 2025

I've just taken the hit in ink and printer paper - they are on boards website as pdf so print them off as A4 sheets - then shoved them in polly pockets for each paper - and another for mark scheme and answers - and put those in folders and they work though them.

Though if there are work books for their boards often also get those - as some subjects only have a few years exam papers.

You could try asking department heads - as Science in DC school - DD2 does triple - but the entire department produce printed out booklets for revision for each topic based on past paper questions. They are the only department to do that - some teachers will give out printed past papers but most don't.

I can find papers online, I just can't print them out.
DS would work better with a booklet rather than loose sheets.
I might just buy a couple of practice workbooks. I know they do the past papers as practice in school.

Have you asked the school? They won't necessarily give paper copies but can link you to online papers.

I hope everyone is well - first exam for us will be over 6 weeks today.

I wonder if anyone can advise if it's possible to buy exam papers printed out anywhere. I am looking for more niche subjects, PE, computing and there doesn't seem to be much choice.
Printing out whole exam paper and mark schemes seems unworkable as I don't have a printer that can print in booklet form.

No study leave at DS school too. Like you all I am secretly relieved as I know he will get much better structured revision at school. They are setting a new timetable after first week in May to take into account the exam timetable with revision sessions just before the next exam.

I haven't read the whole thread but will join and lurk here. I'm on a year 11 support thread with a range of DCs - I don't remember feeling that everyone is expecting all 9s. My DS's grades etc seem to be picking up a little but I'm not sure how much revision he's doing, and he's planning to do a college course in music performance, rather than A levels, at this point.

Fantastic - congrats

A quick 'proud mum' post if you don't mind indulging me! Ds is not a 'grade 9' student and has to work really hard for his results, with a lot of prep and guiding he's been doing that. His school require 44 points in top 8 to stay on for a'levels and he's come home today with 49 points in his mocks. I'm so proud of him. And moreover it's made him see the benefit of the revision timetable we've put in place and using the resources (lots of which I've found in here!)

No a level study leave at my school either. And year 10 have done work experience.

DC school does timetable lessons - and they do revision for that exam in those lessons till it happens then they can do their own revison for other subjects.

They tend to lose more and more pupils over the weeks as they just go home after exams so lessons get quieter for remainder and then may half term happens and afterwards there usually an announcement they can go in just for exams left.

How interesting. DS also at inner city comp with lots of dtsadvantage & think rationale is same. Some ship out to grammars and they seem to break early. DS said he would rather be in school with his friends so that is good.

Our school did a "normal" timetable with taught lessons if there was an exam in the subject coming up and free revision if there was not. I think there were also sessions on the mornings of exams - so if business was in the afternoon, all those doing business could attend revision. (I'm not exactly sure how other year groups were taught during this time!)
It worked well - although DS said there were a lot of distractions.

No study leave at DS school. He's at a mixed comp and there are plenty of people there who have no place to study at home and no one to stop them from treating study leave as extended holiday. It was better for my DS1 to be in school as he would have struggled to focus at home, DS2 could do better at home but as he is far from the knowledgeable place I expected him to be in at this stage, I think he will do better at school.
School's results improved quite dramatically after the cancelling of study leave a few years ago.

We haven't had the letter from school yet but I expect they will only make school optional after the final compulsory science exam.
(Also, study leave messes with attendance figures, big issue as well for many schools)

Yeah I have mixed feelings about it. I mean DS’ ‘study leave’ is just the last two weeks of the exams. It would be good to have more time for his own revision, but I’m not sure how he would manage. I wonder what they do while exams are on because normal timetable would be out the window…

We don't get study leave - they all have to be in all day every day till the end of exams.

Part of me is very relieved as now I don't have to try and supervise DD revising!

My ds is on study leave from 11th April - the day he breaks up for Easter holidays. The school are offering in school revision sessions the last week of the holidays though.

When do your DC get study leave? My DS is in school until May half term.

@TeenToTwenties I think some schools provide a lot more handholding than others and some children are only just 14 at the start of year 10 whereas others are almost 15. I can see a HUGE difference in my DD's attitude now she's 15

I think many aren't intrinsically motivated at this age. GCSEs are to have in your back pocket for life, something to build on - years later if necessary.

However, if a child has to be pushed through GCSEs just to scrape into A levels, I would question whether A levels are the right next step for them.

According to my DS all his friends are going to work in family businesses and don't need GCSEs at all!
As I said above, DS only needs 4s but I have managed to convince him that 6s in maths and English would do him no harm.
He has also recently discovered money to be a motivator - I am buying him clothes for attending revision, doing past papers, etc. I feel that kids should be intrinsically motivated (kids on the other GCSE thread are!) but I'd do anything at this stage to get him over the line.

Agh it’s helping to feel less alone with this stress. DS’ grades are not yet what he needs, but he definitely thinks will be ok on the day/ loads of time. I’m tearing my hair out. He said last night some of his friends aren’t working because they have a post - 16 plan for a specialist route which requires low grades. That probably isn’t helping. It’s hard when you know they could do better. As pp said i just think some children don’t yet have the maturity to see what is needed.

I agree. Some children just develop later in that they don't yet have the maturity at 14 when GCSEs start, to recognise the importance of these exams/ think it'll be OK on the day.
I actually think A levels are easier...only three subjects and they are so much older and more mature
In some ways, my DD would benefit from repeating a year as they do in some European countries (although obviously she would hate this!!) . I actually think she'd get all 8s and 9s!
I think for some teens, it's just getting to the next level and starting with renewed vigour.

@EarthlyNightshade, my DS needs five grade 4s including English and Maths for his chosen 6th form college. He sat one GCSE last year so already has that under his belt. He should manage it no problem, but I'm such a worrier that I keep thinking if he's only getting 4s in some subjects for his mocks, it doesn't feel like an absolute certainty.

I can't see him 'pulling it out of the bag' i.e. reaching the grades I know he's capable of, but I'm shifting my expectations. I would have loved him to fulfil his potential but he's not going to, so as long as he does well enough for next steps that's fine. Still time to fulfil his potential later!!