Parents of GCSE 2025

Can I ask, how did you know what to script? It sounds like a great idea!

My son looks exhausted and he is less chatty than usual so clearly tired and feeling the pressure. I'm considering my main job just to make sure he is well fed and to not cause him any more stress. He has to cook his own tea occasionally when I'm working an evening shift but other than that I am not asking him to do anything. I've advised him to study. I don't think he is doing much study but I don't see what else I can do. I can't force it. I think they will be finished in just over 14 weeks.

I totally get what you say about “effective” revision, I’m worried about that too.

I'm in. Feeling a bit down after the other thread. I'd be thrilled if my dd got 4s and 5s! Not sure if she's going to pass Maths. Latest mock results are not in yet. She seems to revise but I'm not sure she's doing it effectively but won't listen to me or my suggestions.

Can I join in please? 16 yo DS, doesn't find exams easy, wants to stay on at his school and do a'levels so needs to do well enough. To be fair he is putting the work in, I just worry it's not very 'effective' revision.

Just checked the exam board… the window is 1 March to 30 April.
Do you think I can ask for an April slot? It’s not as if anyone can give her the “answers”
It’s just that she’s not going to perform at her potential at all.

2025 speaking windows confirmed | Pearson qualifications

I'd question that, @gatheryerosebuds (see link above). Schools aren't allowed to do speaking exams out of the exam board's window.

@apostrophewoman

Ours are in 4 days so well before 24 March

@apostrophewoman

It's actually really annoying as we only had three weeks' notice and I'm not sure my daughter will perform as well as she could have done with another couple of weeks.

You sometimes wonder whose benefit it's for.

Ah, no, that's an earlier window, it starts on 24th March. As a school, we do the speaking exams as late as possible, your school must be gagging to get them done!

@apostrophewoman
are iGCEs in the same window?
We were told at Parents’ evening that it was the real thing but I’d love to be wrong 🤣

The MFL speaking exam window doesn't open until 9th April and runs until the 14th of May so all speaking exams MUST take place during that window.

Schools haven't even been sent the speaking exam material yet, so I would imagine that the ones next week for you are mocks or practice.

Isn’ that the truth. Have had some useful típs there and some nice pósters, but i don’t think a support thresd is the place for listing numbers of 9s or even how papers could be completed in half the time.

My DS is tired and has some gains to make for A level requirements. All getting a bit stressy. He is working but really struggles with organition. Am helping as much as possible but we argue about it. Gosh it’s a tough time for them and us!

Hello 👋
Dd2 (16) is a very anxious child generally.
Predicted grades are quite uneven - wants to go to a local 6th form.
Seems like only yesterday it was dd1!
Dd has some creative subjects which mean a couple of her subjects will be done by may.
Not much revision going on here (except the subjects she loves)
I just want her to get the grades she needs first the next step.

Agree with that!

My cv has just had 'X GCSEs including English and Maths' since I was about 25. Nobody has ever asked what subjects I took or what grades I got.... or even cared.

The main thing is getting what they need to get onto the next stage. It's worth fighting to drop really weak subjects if that means they can then have more time to invest in bringing up ones they need a certain grade in, or to get the English and Maths over the line.

DD only needs 5 including English and Maths for her next stage, she'll end up with more, but because we ditched her weakest subjects she has a smaller exam load and isn't going to be having to revise two subjects the night before, and it should be easier to keep her focused.

Yes I'm in, my daughter is home educated on an EOTAS arrangement due to complex needs, will get 75% extra time in her exams which she will take from home. The stress levels are rising although she only needs four 4's in her GCSEs for the college she wants to go to.

She's not suited to exams so these will likely be the only ones she'll ever has to take (if she passes) as the BTEC she wants to do is assessment based!

Solidarity to all of our young people!

My other child is a high achiever and is at a top university so one of the things I have to manage is to never let her feel compared!

It’s clear that for a lot of kids this is such unfair way of testing their knowledge, continuous assessment over the course of the two years would be far fairer and more useful in my opinion. I think that’s more like the American system? I also think there should be the choice of functional skills and more vocational options.

My DD is doing maths resit, so I may pop in from time to time.
(She's 20, at college, no GCSE passes to her name but does have functional skills English. Life goes on even without GCSEs.)

Ah hello people, so glad it's not just me tearing my hair out with my lazy boy! He's done next to nothing outside of school so far and is so casual about everything he just doesn't seem to really care, except I know he does deep down but there is a disconnect between what he thinks deep down and what he says and does. It's so frustrating as if he worked I'm sure he'd do quite well but at the moment it's all quite a worry and I'm dreading results day already. I'm glad there's a few of us on here going through similar, I am worn out by it all!

Joining here too... cannot wait till end of June when it's all over.

Dyslexic ADHD DD who has never achieved in line with targets.

November mocks were dire, in middle of Feb/March mocks now and she's gone up 2 grades in Maths, so while I'm not feeling laid back and relaxed, it looks like we might be done and dusted with that this year. Not heard how any of the rest have gone yet.

She's on a reduced set of exams, but doesn't appear to get what actual revision really looks like. School do seem to be very on it and doing loads and loads of past papers so I'm trying to convince myself that it will all come out okay even if she doesn't do much effective revision at home.

I feel like I've found my home.

My son is completely unfussed, completely unstressed, completely unbothered.

Doing zero revision, not even completing all his basic homework.

Thinks it will all be fine. He'll pass everything fine. Despite evidence to the contrary in mocks.

I have tried everything - bribing, paying, encouraging, threatening, removing privileges and devices. Nothing works. My anxiety is through the roof.

Absolutely dreading results day. And the fall out afterwards. Although not sure how I'm going to even get through until June to be honest!

I can't wait until the end of June when this is all over. ASD/ADHD DD has done zero revision and no amount of begging, pleading, bribing or sweet talking is going to change that. I'm swinging between guilt for not sitting on her and helping her do it (when I have no clue) to 'it is what it is' and she has to do it herself. She scraped 4 passes at her mocks, and I just pray she'll pass those and a couple more but I'm not holding my breath.

Thank you for starting this thread. Other threads on here are full of high-flying kids with parents who have no idea what it's like to have a non-academic child. Sigh. I could sob!