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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS thinks he can teach himself to pass an exam in a week. AIBU to think he is wrong?

755 replies

user1494154933 · 07/05/2017 13:45

This is going to sound ridiculous and I wasn't going to post, as you'll probably call me stupid Blush or irresponsible, etc.

My son is now 18. He isn't a 'genius' or anything like that. He did ok at GCSEs but didn't try hard at all. I used to try my best to get him to revise for him exams, he refused to and said it was pointless and exams don't help etc. which is ridiculous because as much as I do agree it's about memory, you clearly do need to know, anyway, he did ok and got accepted into sixth form, he decided not to go and got a part time job but did a part time photography course in the evening (he is still doing that).

I don't really know how it came about but I think I brought it up about how his exams were important and does he agree now he has matured and he was saying how he doesn't agree because exams aren't showing how intelligent you are, etc. and anyone can do them if they learn the exam technique. Last year (around december) he was telling me how he was going to prove it, he booked himself into the Maths AS exams for this summer (last year you can do these ones I believe). He hasn't learnt anything yet Hmm and I keep bringing it up (he spent £150 odd pounds for the exams (private candidate) and will sit them at his college he goes to part time) and he is telling me 'to wait and see'. He says when he has a week until the exam he will start learning the technique of it? I could slightly understand if a different subject, but he seems to think for Maths it works the best. I really don't understand his whole thinking behind this, but can't wait to be like WTF when he doesn't pass...

AIBU to think this is just stupid and not possible?

OP posts:
Original poster
user1494154933 · 15/05/2017 22:10

Thank you for doing that Noble. I feel really mean and my son is a little bit unhappy with me!

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 15/05/2017 22:14

He has done extraordinarily well so far but
a) that was only a mock
b) there are still 2 harder papers he has to get to grips with

eatingtomuch · 15/05/2017 22:14

Why is he unhappy with you. He has done amazing and should be pleased.

Original poster
user1494154933 · 15/05/2017 23:01

He's happy with his mark, but annoyed I didn't believe in him!

Yes, he still has the other 2 papers and the real things to get through yet...

OP posts:
annandale · 15/05/2017 23:06

Well, I personally am deeply impressed.

Does he actually like maths? Does his photography have an abstract or mathematical element?

Trills · 15/05/2017 23:10

You were absolutely reasonable not to believe that he would do well.

It's not "not having faith in him", it's "paying attention to the world".

All the evidence suggests that one week's learning does not make for a decent A-level grade from a GCSE B student.

GardenGeek · 15/05/2017 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Etymology23 · 15/05/2017 23:18

Good job in the mock ops son! Gives me hope for my professional exams coming up!

I taught myself gcse and a level maths, but not in a week! I've not generally found teaching much more useful than a textbook for maths - if you tend to get the concepts first time round then text book plus past papers is the fastest way to assimilate the information- I can read at least 4x faster than I can read aloud and therefore be taught. I'm mighty impressed that he's done that much in a week though :)

noblegiraffe · 15/05/2017 23:20

I honestly don't get how he only got a B at GCSE. If he can produce work of that standard after a week, 2 years after his GCSE, then why couldn't he do it for his GCSE?

Maths teachers - the presentation of his answers is the sort of work you dream of. You'd think a girl had done it. (You know what I mean!!)

Original poster
user1494154933 · 15/05/2017 23:24

Haha about a girl had done it. I remember his science teacher used to say that about his work!! Is there really a difference!?

I honestly don't know about his B in GCSE, I tried and explained before, but apart from that, don't have anything else to add!

I will absolutely be amazed if he does as good in the other 2 papers. Not sure about his photography... He's great, but don't see anything maths about it! He does enjoy maths, yes.

OP posts:
hellomarshmallow · 15/05/2017 23:35

This thread is brilliant Smile

OP your son has a great attitude. I admire his risk-taking and proactive approach!

ZilphasHatpin · 15/05/2017 23:47

Ahhh! Well I am really happy for him. A B is a fucking awesome mark for only having done a weeks learning!! I hope he takes this and runs with it for the actual exams! Just imagine what he can do with the next few weeks!

Wish him the best of luck for Wednesday from me please OP. I was rooting for him anyway but that mark has fully convinced me he knows exactly what he is doing and knows he can do it. What a smartie pants you have there!

BitOutOfPractice · 16/05/2017 00:05

Somehow that has pissed me right off!!

ThomasRichard · 16/05/2017 00:11

That's brilliant OP! :o at the extremes of opinion here. Best of luck to him in his real exams, I say. It's jolly hard to admit you made a pig's ear of something important and try again so it sounds to me like this means a lot to him and he's passing it off as a stunt to avoid the pressure/teasing.

splendide · 16/05/2017 06:15

Ha ha amazing!

kiwigeekmum · 16/05/2017 07:28

That's so cool! I'm impressed and cheering him on for his real exam!!!

I guess it makes sense in a way - we are all different, our brains all work differently. He's obviously figured out how his brain works and listening to a teacher day in, day out, isn't working for him.

Ceto · 16/05/2017 08:01

I suspect the answer may lie in OP's statement that he loved maths and regrets not working for his GCSE. This sort of thing will come much more easily to someone who genuinely loves the subject and has a natural affinity with numbers than it would to someone like, well, me.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 16/05/2017 08:13

I've been thinking about this..... (Obsessively!)

It sounds like he has worked really really hard - about 12 hours a day for a week? So that is about 84 hours of work?

And this is worth one third of an AS?

From memory we had 4 hours 40 a week of lessons for A level maths. And the homework was supposed to take a similar sort of time. (Although I'd whizz through it significantly quicker most of the time. Chemistry on the other hand.....)

So 9 hours a week for A - level maths. So 3 hours a week for a third of the subject. We are about week 30 into the year so 3 * 30 = 90. And that doesn't allow for the fact that this is the easiest third or the fact that I some people used to spend lessons gossiping and flirting.

So (although still impressive) I guess it is not that shocking if he is a "true mathematician". (Which, B grade notwithstanding, it sounds like he is!)

Could he have not submitted some coursework for GCSE or been entered for a lower paper.

MsJolly · 16/05/2017 08:27
Shock
noblegiraffe · 16/05/2017 08:38

There's no coursework for maths and if he'd been entered for foundation, the highest he could have got would have been a C.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 16/05/2017 08:59

Grin BOOP. I sort of know what you mean but it's bloody impressive all the same.

Stil not sure it's a method I'd recommend though. I don't think it would work for most people.

noblegiraffe · 16/05/2017 09:09

I think it's safe to say that this candidate is pretty unusual!

BitOutOfPractice · 16/05/2017 09:15

Rafals yes it's impressive. But it kind of makes fools of all the parents and teachers who say "work hard, go to lessons, listen to the teacher and you will succeed". Of course most people need to do just that.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 16/05/2017 09:19

It is fascinating. If he is a natural mathematician, then what a waste of talent. An A at AS level would start to open extra doors and with some extra time and effort, that would be achievable.

Let's see what happens with the next two modules. C2 is quite a big step up.

hackmum · 16/05/2017 09:24

Blimey. Well, that's a whole load of us (me included) having to eat our words...

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