Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Private GCSE - wtf have I got myself into

106 replies

DoggerDidIt · 08/09/2019 11:46

DD year 10. We were talking about GCSE's etc and how difficult they are compared to when I was at school.

I ended up googling with DD if you can do private GCSE's and it looks like you can. So DD bet me I couldn't get a 7 or above, I said i'd do it if she did it with me and now I've agreed to do a private Psychology GCSE with her next year.

She's well up for it but i'm wondering wtf i've got myself into. Can she do a GCSE privately at the end of year 10? Are her teachers going to be pissed off with me? I looking at the books etc we need to order and planning how we're going to study it all.

Any tips gratefully received!

OP posts:

fedup21 · 08/09/2019 13:57

Why on Earth would you do this?!

Getting her to do an EXTRA GCSE in one of the most stressful periods she will ever have experienced so far, just for a bet with you?!

Knittedfairies · 08/09/2019 14:02

No; if you must do it, you need to take one of the GCSE courses she's already doing. It's unfair to add to her load.

JetPlanesMeeting · 08/09/2019 14:08

Maybe you should be on the GCSE thread for year 10s, and have a look at year 11s too to see how stressful it is to take 8-10 GCSEs at school anyway.

I feel like I did do a couple of GCSEs alongside my now year 12 son as they were the ones I helped him to revise. I knew it inside out by the end. It increased his grade by a lot just having me guide him/test him. No way would I ever have competed against him.

Ds1 sat 24 papers for GCSE for 9 subjects.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General education Private schooling Secondary education

Drabarni · 08/09/2019 14:17

Mine started an extra GCSE, it didn't last long as too much study needed for the ones taken at school.
Luckily we hadn't bought it, it wasn't Psychology but having seen the syllabus when ds2 took it, the content needed lots of work, especially the case studies.
Good luck, but keep an eye on your dd as it's a huge amount of work.

SistersOfMerci · 08/09/2019 14:22

I wouldn't like to be in your shoes when the head of year gives you a call and a ticking off

My dd didn't even have a part time job, 10 GCSEs took every available minute of her time to get the top grades she needed for 6th form and ultimately in to uni.

TanMateix · 08/09/2019 14:22

Fine for you but not for her. If she fails this private GCSE you cannot pretend it didn’t happen. So why on Earth you are putting such pressure on her to do an extra is beyond me. You need to study a lot to do well, if you are not taking it seriously it will go down in the record as if she had failed a subject in school.

TanMateix · 08/09/2019 14:27

And yes, you have to declare every GCSE results in UCAS applications so having a failed GCSE in psychology because she didn’t get enough tuition or it was too much work, is not going to look well in her application to study psychology.

underneaththeash · 08/09/2019 14:31

I'd second doing something that she is already doing.

Interestingly, I think the GCSE Maths in it's current form is more difficult than the one I sat in 1991. I'd have really struggled with the English Lit too, mine was all coursework based and I've a rubbish memory.
French looks about the same. But I'd say the History and Geography are slightly easier.

ChicCroissant · 08/09/2019 14:51

Why didn't you pick one of the ones she was already studying? It does sound competitive, I bet it was a 'harder in my day' conversation that kicked all this off I simply cannot understand why a parent would want to add to their child's workload in this way, it's one of the most unsupportive things I've read on MN ever and incredibly mean.

If you want to take a GCSE privately, I would suggest finding somewhere you can take the exam first as not all places will accept external candidates.

slithytove · 08/09/2019 14:51

I didn’t read this as competitive? I saw it as daughter bets mum about mums achievement, mum says she will try if they do it together - like a support thing. Nowhere does it say that mum is trying to do better than her daughter. And if daughter is trying to do better than mum, then good!

I agree that it should be an existing gcse not an extra.

Derbee · 08/09/2019 14:52

It’s massively irresponsible to add to her workload by doing another GCSE just for a bet. Choose a subject she’s already doing, if you want to be childish and do this bet

slithytove · 08/09/2019 14:52

Also sounds like op was saying that GCSEs are more difficult now, not easier

Cherrysoup · 08/09/2019 14:52

You will need to pay to enter as a private candidate. Why not do a gcse she’s already doing? I did a French A level privately (got an A*), I just paid the required fees and turned up to the correct exam times.

user1471525753 · 08/09/2019 14:59

From am admin point of view, she won't be able to enter as a private candidate at her own school, so they'll have to agree to enter her as an internal candidate. They might accept you as a private candidate but most schools don't accept private candidates as it's a lot of work for no benefit to the school.

DontJustDoItBnQItInTheStore · 08/09/2019 15:01

This is crazy.

If you want to do it, you should do the GCSE subject she is best at for real competition.

It's basically pointless really. An educated adult of average intelligence with considerable more life learning and life experience who commits themselves properly to take an exam designed for 15 - 16 year olds should easily be able to get a top grade.

HeadintheiClouds · 08/09/2019 15:02

What nonsense... Do GCSE Maths, or have you deliberately selected one that you think you can “beat” her in?

Comberton123 · 08/09/2019 15:04

Your daughter's results will determine what she can or can't do next in her education . Adding another GCSE could jeapardise her outcomes, and therefore her subsequent choices at both further and even higher education levels. The reformed GCSEs are content heavy and the questions are demanding. Why don't you use your time to help her revise for the ones she is doing, to maximise her results.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 08/09/2019 15:05

I have a DD in year 11 and no way would I be adding to her already huge workload!
Do one if you want to but pick one she’s already doing

PatriciaHolm · 08/09/2019 15:07

I also have a year 10; I think this is bonkers, really. They have so much on their plate already, adding another exam just because is a very bad idea. She needs to concentrate on the exams she is doing at school; why don't you do one of those?

kateandme · 08/09/2019 15:09

i woudnt.please dont.have you not seen the utter stress and turmoil the kids have been having over their gcses in the schools this year.not witnessed it? because we all have.and it looks terrible for most of them.radio show talk ins.therapy.time off.in the news.the pressure is seemingly worse each year and it all over the place you cant miss it.

dont add more for her.she wont back down.you must.your the adult.
and also i dont know id do one she is already doing.i dont know how that would help or be easier sinc you will be competing with her and she wont want to let you down even more so.

if you want to do some further learning do so.but take this pressure of it being a gsce off your daughter.
she needs your support this year.not to struggle to possibly come to yo uwith how hard it is or for help if she think mum is doing one aswell so she has to put on a face of being fine because mum is.

AnyFucker · 08/09/2019 15:12

Is op coming back ?

Darbs76 · 08/09/2019 15:24

Not a good idea. Agree with pp, do one she’s doing already not a whole new subject for her to learn. My son is just starting yr 11 and 10/11 are difficult years. I think it’s a silly idea and you’re playing with her education. You do a GCSE - why does she need to do it? She’s already doing plenty

washyourface · 08/09/2019 15:30

is op coming back

I think she did but under a failed name change

sashh · 08/09/2019 15:30

Iwas going to suggest you both did general studies, but apparently it's no longer available.

As a PP said you have years more experience and maturity. Pick a subject your dd is taking and you do an A Level it it, it would be fairer comparison. GCSEs can be taken at any age but are intended to test 16 year olds.

CheesecakeAddict · 08/09/2019 15:45

At a first read it sounds fun (nerd alert!). But as a teacher I am telling you the new GCSEs are super tough and your daughter will feel it next year. Don't add to her pressure. Do one of her GCSEs. Could you maybe do it in one of her weakest subjects to spur her on?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5