Y11 2025-26 - Trying not to melt and pushing through the final weeks

Anyone heard of their DC for biology? DD is about to finish. I nervously tried to check Reddit but 15/16yo are not very disciplined at telling us whether they are AQA/Edexcel, combined/triple, foundation/higher... lol
I'm loving the iGCSE kids in other countries trying to gleen information from other time zones 😆

They had prom before the exams started!

I dont know whether its in case people go away after exams...or whether the venues are cheaper before wedding season starts...? (Or both)

We had a similar comment from ds. Apparently as its all "the better/more fun" subjects (apart from spanish) of science and maths/further maths
Im not quite sure where he came from!!!
Although if its keeping him going at this point thats all we need

Another hour to go for up the update from triple…

Then it’s straight home to prep for Spanish listening and history 3 tomorrow.

Morning! I laugh every time I see the thread title - no melting here, I've turned the heating back on this morning!
DD was grumpy, scared and tearful all in one this morning. Paper 1 didn't go too bad for her (she thinks) compared to what the general opinion was on it, but she was so scared for paper 2.
She's got an awful week ahead, culminating on friday with chemistry and dance. Double exam day after 3 weeks and 20 exams is just mean.

My son much brighter this morning. Let’s hope for a kind biology paper. Then he next has history tomorrow afternoon

I’m not convinced a huge amount of work has happened over the weekend in our house. Biology this morning and then no exams tomorrow.

good luck to all

DD had a very intensive weekend of revising for Bio and FM. From crack of dawn until late evening Saturday and Sunday.

She got up this morning saying she was actually excited for the exams today! I think she must be delirious now 😂.

Good Luck all for Biology
After a horrendous 1st AQA paper we are hoping this one is much better and the revision pays off!

This week is going to be a tough one. DS not too grumpy this morning but he looks shattered. I have to entertain work colleagues all week too so won’t be around in the evenings.

He is v excited about the World Cup though post exams. His friend is apparently going to host sleepovers as most of the games are at ridiculous times. I think his mum is crazy

My DD will defo find just 3 subjects much easier and is aware of the jump as she’s already talking about it & not trying to cram at the end

My ds A Levels were much less stressful. It's subjects they have chosen and emjoyed for a start and far less exams. 23 is just insane when you think about it.

Ah bollocks, after seeing your message I googled and discovered Art has an exam too! 🤦🏻‍♀️ But not a written one.

Oh I don’t doubt that at all - I’m talking simply in terms of 8 vs 23 exams!

My colleague whose child is sitting A-Levels at the moment says they're much worse than GCSEs. I told him I don't want to hear it! I suppose the pressure is on for university/apprenticeship admissions, but still.

6 left here. Biology tomorrow DD hasn’t done any revision for as she has been trying to teach herself Further Maths (PM) - the school have done bugger all very little to prepare them for further maths. They’ve never had an exam, they haven’t even finished the curriculum, I don’t understand why they put children forward for it without space in the curriculum to teach them properly.

All we have left after tomorrow is Maths, chemistry further maths paper 2 and physics. Monday 15th can’t come quick enough.
@ShesRunningOutTheDoorsorry your son is struggling, DD has found it much harder after the half term break.

7 exams to go here, DD fairly upbeat that she'll now be ticking each GCSE off as she does them. 4 hours 15 of revision today she said.

DS also announced today he is 100% staying at his current school for 6th form. In a way it’s a big relief because there’s not nearly as much pressure to get big results

My son over it, has spent weekend watching the young sheldon spin off. He’s tired and snappy. It really is an exhausting process

6 to go for us , last exam is physics next Monday and can’t come soon enough . These last ones are definitely not being worked as hard for which is worrying .
We are planning a big family bbq for evening of last exam and going to buy some sort of special cake / dessert . Cant quite believe it is only a week to go 🙂

Which A level is coursework only?

AQA has kept MFL reading and listening exams on the same day but Edexcel has decided to split them - so AQA R&L is on 9 June, W on 16; Edexcel has L on 9 June, R on 16 June and W on 17 June.

The jury is out as to whether splitting up R and L is a good thing. One teacher friend of mine thinks it is good as the YP get so drained by the listening they need the reading on a separate day; another thinks you are in the zone so get them done in one go.

We still have 9 including 1 double day 🙁

We are all over it here too. Only 4 to go but momentum definitely slowing. Just want them over now but having bad dreams about results day already. Hopefully they won’t last all summer! Biology tomorrow (should be ok) and History Tuesday - will be very tough, he will almost certainly run out of time and can’t remember lots of it either. I was quizzing him today, it was demoralising - I think at this point he’s just worn out as I reckon I remember more about it than he does!