Y11 2025/26… come and join

good luck! Will be nice to have one done

Got this!! Let us know how it goes x

Ah good luck!!

The day has finally come, first GCSE today 😱 Spanish speaking.

Of I go by DDs reaction of crying earlier she is also struggling with the balance. She had to teach herself a topic for Chemistry and Biology per teachers Google notes this weekend. Then I got a email reminder for parts homework for all 3 sciences teacher never even mentioned it DD thought it was just homework set on Google classroom to do. Currently gone out with mates for an hour or two. Then doing flashcards she has written for Spanish on Tuesday when she gets back, just glad they have a TED day tomorrow.

My DS is prioritising material not revised for mocks, so other part of history, poems and 20th century English lit(Lord of the flies being played at 1.2 speed on audible when we drive anywhere) and maths. In effect trying to get the grades up in the weaker subjects. He did science last week while at school.

also now prepping French oral. We have 15 questions and many of them in parts a, b and c. He has no chance of remembering it all, and the memorised bit is his weakest part but we are going to try and do 10-15 mins each morning before school and then see.

We have put nothing in revision timetable before half term when exams after half term. And for the moment nothing any evening to give some flexibility as usually DS can cram facts and exam technique is what school is for so evenings now for cramming subject by subject plus homework.

DS taking 2 new subjects for A level (politics and economics) so doesn’t really matter what he gets what grade in, more he needs an overall very high point score

DS also focusing on A level choices of maths and sciences, and the GCSE he is least confident about (Greek - lots of vocab to learn and he's doing the two year course in one so lots to cram in). He's also done a bit of DT and computer science. MFL speaking exam is already done so that's at least out of the way. I think it helps, exam content revision wise, that he opted not to take either history or geography - I worried about that at the time but am quite relieved about it now!

Prioritising A level choices Maths and the first ones

DS is prioritising maths and his a level choices . Science just sends him into a spiral and impacts other revision so I’ve told him to park those for now . Hoping school can help boost him next week

Just been out for a meal to mark the end of the holidays. I fear DD is going back pretty much as tired as she was when she broke up. She has insisted on doing 5 hours a day from Monday to Friday. I did explain this was more than the school had suggested. To no avail.

Yes my son focussed on chemistry, biology, history, french this Easter. French is his weakest. He has also left physics for now. He needs to get these blooming poems learned. He’s done a sprinkle of geography and PE

Anyone else’s kid finding it hard to give equal weight to every subject? The content load is just immense.

Dd is focusing on her alevel choices plus her other two best subjects. Also trying to park physics and written Spanish until later as they’re not until after half term. (Speaking a week tomorrow!)

Whats everyone else’s strategies?

Edited to add: for those with mfl speaking exams looming, how are you doing memorising the general convo questions? Dd has learned 8/10 so far but tying herself in knots getting them mixed up. There’s so much 😞

Oops just been told I had wrong date got Spanish speaking exam on Tuesday.
Dont recall it being that early when DS did it.

I hope your DS recovers quickly. What a nightmare, poor him and poor you.

Thank you for everyone's kind words. It's really been a shock just hoping we can get some support in place for starting college. His school have no sixth form and he has chosen a very big college in the nearest big city, I think with the hope of being fairly anonymous and not around the same people he goes to school with. Just got to get through the exams first though, one step at a time.

Sorry to hear about the kids having bad days.

DD has her last Easter revision session at school today most have been helpful some with different teachers which she said was good. Thankfully only morning session today and then weekend got to concentrate on Spanish speaking. I think it's on the 20th

@ECT22a trust near me do same. Language lessons daily all the way through Yr9 and extra study lessons and Easter sessions so naturally the pass rate is very high.
When I was at that age there was a thing about how many you took in the same year being a factor later. Not sure how that now applies

Dd’s speaking exam is 23rd April. We’ve decided today that from now on she’ll do little and often for speaking revision, instead of big blocks. It’s just too stressful.

At my school (normal inner city comp) they sit Spanish GCSE in Y9 and get phenomenal results. I think it’s such a good idea. But alas, here we are 😬

@Littletreefrog thinking of you and your DS.

@Littletreefrogits so tough when they ND as it’s a layer of pain on top of pain. We had an ok day today but yesterday DD wasted a lot of time avoiding two subjects she didn’t want to revise

Hope DS gets the help he needs @Littletreefrog

Thinking of you and DS @Littletreefrog

Gosh I’m so sorry. I really hope the school are being supportive and have offered options to reduce exam load if that’s helpful. Sending strength to you too x

Really sorry to hear this, I hope he is getting good care. Glad the revision is helping him

DD’s speaking exam is 20th April… so so soon. She’s revising so well but then getting herself in an anxious muddle.