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

Edexcel maths higher and AQA Geography reported as good today. Apparently a very mixed reaction on the maths with some thinking it was easy and others hard.

DD seems to be plodding along. I've stopped feeling any stress about it now (I know that's very lucky and fingers crossed it continues) although will still be on tenterhooks for the actual results.

DS reported that AQA higher Maths today was easy - he said he even checked the front booklet to make sure he hadn't been given the foundation paper! I'm a bit sceptical and that he's actually slipped up, he has form for making really silly mistakes - not reading the question etc.

He has been ridiculously confident after all exams, even the subjects he can struggle with. And only revises when supervised. It could go wildly one way or the other tbh!

Apologies - I can't now find the post about the candidate not provided with their access arrangement.

According to JCQ regs, that's maladministration and the centre should be reporting themselves.

https://www.jcq.org.uk/knowledge-hub/suspected-malpractice-policies-and-procedures/

DS has been allowed to drop Spanish ( a few months ago ) and is doing statistics instead - this suits him as he has a maths brain and should get a relatively easy pass.
school have recently changed options rules and students no longer have to take a language .

Spanish GCSE in year 9, no Spanish for two years, then Spanish A level. That would be a challenge but I guess if you are keen you would make the effort. I’m impressed that you have quite a few who kept it up. In fact I’m impressed you have quite a few (so more than, say, five?) doing A level MFL at all.

Thank you.

Yes I'm going to chat to him about changing his options to A levels in English, History and Politics.

He's currently decided to essentially take a year out whilst he decides by doing a Level 2 in Culinary Skills so he 'can feed himself in the future'. That's all well and good but I think he'll get bored with that in 3 weeks if he's anything like me!

They can do French GCSE in KS4. I guess if they want to do A Level, they try not to forget their GCSE content - not an easy task probably! We have quite a few doing A Level in our sixth form that did GCSE in Y9.

That's cool! But yes, what happens if YOP want to take A level Spanish?

Tbh many schools no longer insist on GCSE MFL which is a shame but also not a bad thing. DS2's year at his school had to take it and I think they have revised that policy after a spate of grade 2s and 3s among YP's 6+ grades.

For sure btw it’s fine to quiet quit on a subject; if you don't enjoy it and it's not going to go anywhere in future, better to focus on the biology (or maths, or history) that you do enjoy and it will be needed.

@Drivingselfmad that sounds like a really interesting approach! So is there no MFL in years 10 & 11?

My DD has sacrificed Spanish, sadly. No revision happening for it all. I’m in two minds about whether schools should be insisting they take a language for GCSE tbh. It’s so valuable, but it seems kids can be very reluctant and can just neglect it. At the (state) school where I teach, they do Spanish GCSE in Y9 - it’s treated as a core subject from Y7 (lesson every day), and by Y9 they’re able to really focus on that one GCSE, and they get excellent results.

Law!

Sadly she did get at 6 in mocks but I fear she’ll drop at least a mark or even 2. She’s worried she’ll fail.

Same here I call French the sacrificial lamb. We’re forcing on others. S
My DD is pissed of she’ll miss English language revision tomorrow afternoon for French.

Yes, foundation paper. She got 3s in the mocks and has hardly done any revision I'm afraid. I haven't pushed it as she needs the time for other subjects to be honest. I'll pass your tips on to her though. Thanks

Three today for my DD. Because of extra time (dyslexia, ADD and Autism) she only had 15 minutes between them. I’m very proud of what an absolute trouper she is!
Maths was tricky, Health and Social okay and Geography she missed one & mark question apparently.
One more this week. We don’t have study leave but I’m letting her stay at home tomorrow to get ready for Friday. She’s absolutely wrung out!

Although last time, he theorised that all the parents on this thread were giving fake advice to try to make other students slip up and bump their own DC up the bell curve. I despair.

Lol! My youngest DC has just (FINALLY) finished his master's degree with his viva today (just to add comprehensive responses on this thread – “it went pretty well” :D) so I have no skin in the GCSE game beyond I guess anyone I am tutoring. But apart from a few pre-speaking sessions I only had German GCSE this year.

I promise the advice to check your verbs are correct and answer all bullet points is sincere and genuine.

DS reported that Edexcel Maths Higher was "fine". Edexcel Geography B was also "fine". Your guess is as good as mine. I was surprised I got so much detail about physics yesterday.

Thanks @clary. I've screenshotted and sent to DS ready for French writing tomorrow. Although last time, he theorised that all the parents on this thread were giving fake advice to try to make other students slip up and bump their own DC up the bell curve. I despair.

@BeasKnee is she doing the F paper? A reasonably able candidate should get a grade 4 on that for sure.

Tomorrow's French is writing for AQA and reading for Edexcel so all the best for both from me. Remember with reading to answer all questions and look out for negatives (ne ... que; ne ... jamais) and also make sure the translation makes sense!

For writing use any spare time to check your verbs and other errors that are classed as major (such as mixed up tenses, or the wrong person with the right verb) and also make sure you answer all bullet points fully (eg if it says "what you like eating and why" – if you don't address the "why" your mark for communication will be a max of 6 out of 10 for the crossover essay).

That sounds great.
He does have a very strong sense of justice so perhaps the legal professions would be a good direction.

Thank you.

His brain is more like mine , finds the English / essay subjects more straightforward, some of the Maths and Sci are more like a foreign language. I don’t think it’s unusual to be better in one direction. I did a Sociology degree and loved it

Dd adores English literature and history. Those along with psychology she’s aiming for an LLB at uni.

Not history but French has been abandoned here. It's a shame but it's one of those subjects where if she hasn't picked things up well along the way it's very hard to get back up to speed with. Probably the same with you and history as there is so much content. I'd love her to scrape a 4 but I'm not sure she will.

I'm so confused about my son's learning style and future potential. I've read that a lot of people's children are struggling with history but it is the only subject my son has completely excelled at. He's predicted a 9 and put no effort in at home. Ever.
English he loves too and does well in lit and lang.

But the sciences and maths we'll be lucky if he scrapes 4's.
5's would be a dream.

Why would this be? What could be a good career if he finds history and English easy? He hasn't a clue what he wants to do.

Its such a huge workload! Infact alot of the subjects are. When you think about gcses, they are not easy. I hope your son gets a pass X