Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Bobbiepin · 17/08/2017 08:12

Intrigued lurker.

Polter · 17/08/2017 08:31

I completely missed this thread, but want to join the wait for results 🤞

RainyDayBear · 17/08/2017 08:49

I remember this thread, wishing him luck!

HotLadybird · 17/08/2017 09:17

🤞🏻

BeakersofNaiceHam · 17/08/2017 09:24

Good luck I hope he passed although he might be intolerable if he does Grin

Notanothergirafffe · 17/08/2017 10:09

Another interested lurker.

dontquotemeondailymail · 17/08/2017 10:16

So intrigued...!

Redcliff · 17/08/2017 10:21

I was wondering this as well

IamNotDarling · 17/08/2017 10:27

Fingers crossed!

user3785022135267845922 · 17/08/2017 10:41

Well I'm around the 40 mark now, so a levels were quite sometime ago for me!!!! I did no work for the two years i was at college, spent around a day revising for each exam. Passed them all - not well though! A couple of b's, a 'c' and a 'd'! Does he have the syllabus? If he has the syllabus he will be tested on, I think a week is a long time! But if he doesn't know what he'll b tested on, he'll struggle!

(Btw, I also felt at that age (and still do) that a levels only test memory. A younger friend of mine got 4 A *'s . We completed a doctorate together. She struggled with thinking creatively and having her own ideas. I like that your son is rebelling a bit against the system, and he is right about the silly exam process - however, if he is not attending classes and doesn't know what he'll b tested on, it might come back to bite him! He sounds smart, so maybe when he's a bit older and realises he has to play along a bit with the system sometimes, he'll do some access courses to get to uni, where he will be able to learn in a more creative, less rote, way. Has he considered studying subjects like philosophy or sociology which look at challenging the existing systems, finding logical arguments for things etc ... sure he'd excel at these

Yogafire · 17/08/2017 10:47

Good luck to him!

HighwayDragon1 · 17/08/2017 10:51

Any news yet?

MrsHandles · 17/08/2017 10:53

Ooh, interested to find out!

WishfulThanking · 17/08/2017 11:01

Exciting! I really hope he's done well Grin

Dina1234 · 17/08/2017 11:01

I sat an undergraduate criminal law exam with literally three days of study (no lectures, no reading, nothing, I didn't even own the text book). I still passed. Unfortunately I only had to to revise for three topic for three questions but two of the topics formed one question in the exam. If I had had a week I would have been able to do an extra two topics and would have done well I suppose. If I can get a 2:2 answering only two questions in a criminal law exam I'm sure he'll be able to pass his A level exam with a week of study.

NiceCuppaTeaAndASitDown · 17/08/2017 11:03

Really hope he's passed!

stayathomegardener · 17/08/2017 11:18

Actually fingers crossed for him.
He has won me round.

lozaa · 17/08/2017 11:20

Fingers crossed place marking

Haggisfish · 17/08/2017 11:22

Fingers crossed here, too!

noblegiraffe · 17/08/2017 11:22

I know what he got 🤐 Hope his mum updates soon because I'm sitting on my hands here!

3boys3dogshelp · 17/08/2017 11:22

I've lurked from the start and can't wait to hear how he has got on!

CotswoldStrife · 17/08/2017 11:24

We are all desperate for an update here @user1494154933 !

user1494154933 · 17/08/2017 11:31

Hi all, he did pass but only with an E, I feel like we were both right Grin the sheet of paper is very confusing! But for the 1st exam he got an E for the 2nd he got a D and for the last a U.

OP posts:
essieestherson · 17/08/2017 11:31

🤞🏻

Haggisfish · 17/08/2017 11:33

Fair play to him!