Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Potentialpoochowner · 17/08/2017 16:28

What's he going to do now then?

Your son sounds like an extraordinary young man. Here's hoping he channels it in the right direction Smile

Potentialpoochowner · 17/08/2017 16:29

Oops sorry, cross post. Great news that he is continuing with his studies. He is certainly gifted at it.

musicposy · 17/08/2017 16:32

Well done to him! He's done really well to do that all alone. DD worked her socks off and got a C, she was crying because she was getting A on the past papers and is very keen on a uni that will want an A. She got B in mechanics C in Core 1 and D in Core 2. Hopefully she can resist Core 2 at least.

SasBel · 17/08/2017 18:12

Well done that man! Hope the future studies go well.

UnderslungBowlingBall · 17/08/2017 19:30

Very well done to him Grin

winewolfhowls · 17/08/2017 23:08

Super. He's a star.

sunshine11 · 18/08/2017 17:25

It depends how his brain works. I have a photographic memory and so I excelled in subjects that involved regurgitating information in essay format. I studied modern history at university - skipped lectures, smoked and drank loads then spent two weeks reading text books, scored a first!

RobertsCrew · 18/08/2017 17:35

Hopefully he will learn from his results. My daughter did A level maths and just got accepted into university and it's honestly one of the hardest courses you can take for alevels. Do you mind me asking what exam board he's on? He's going to have a major wake up call if he's planning on taking the full alevel as it only gets harder from now!

bbismad · 18/08/2017 18:28

YABU... he's an adult, leave him to it.

ProfAnnieT · 18/08/2017 18:32

Thank you for coming back and updating. :) Hopefully he feels proud of himself but also motivated to actually properly try, as he can clearly do/be so much more if he applies himself.

IfyouseeRitaMoreno · 18/08/2017 18:34

I'd say that was a win for both of you!

Best of luck to him Flowers

AyUpMiDuck · 18/08/2017 18:40

my DS didn't work for GCSEs either and got an A for maths ! Then he started maths AS in sixth form WITHOUT the Further Maths GCSE that most of his classmates took, and he couldn't keep up.
3 weeks later he dropped maths and switched subjects. I offered him tuition etc but he was emphatic. Now he says he wishes he had worked a bit more because he needs maths for his chosen Uni subject and is thinking of taking an extra year to do it. I say what's the point, you couldn't do it before, what will have changed? (Or is it me? )

Misplacedcell · 18/08/2017 18:42

B grade at GCSE and one week planned study for AS level. Do not take the risk. Simply do not. Not only plenty of practice papers (as you say, they are all online) but also thoroughly study the appropriate text book for all the little extra challenges (typically hidden towards the end of chapters) that might get thrown in on the day . Aim for an A grade, not a casual B or C. Otherwise why bother at all?

RobertsCrew · 18/08/2017 18:45

If he had only taken it for 3 weeks there's a strong chance he would be okay if he stuck at it. I know my DD struggled a lot with the step up and took a couple of months to really adjust. He should just speak to his teachers with any concerns and more than likely they will help out with him catching up. The step up from GCSE to alevel is huge. At the end of the day all that's really important if they are looking to get into uni is going to the right uni for the right course. After that alevels are irrelevant. If his heart is set on that uni subject that needs maths then he should go for it and stay on Smile

AyUpMiDuck · 18/08/2017 20:06

Roberts Crew thanks for the support (hijacking the thread here!). Its now coming up to the A level year and there's still a chance he can get a place at a decent uni without it so he'll try that first.

TheDailyWail · 18/08/2017 20:44

Brilliant!

Strotty · 18/08/2017 21:57

Did you watch programme on boys/ girls this week? Basic premise is that boys overestimate their abilities........ case in point!! But do keep us posted as to how he gets on!!

RobertsCrew · 18/08/2017 22:15

AyupMiDuck Sounds good! Its a crazy experience going through A levels and applying to uni. Really exciting to know they are finding their passion and university though. I even enjoyed visiting the unis as they are all so different. Advice for anyone is that when they are applying to uni visit as many as you can because you never know what it is like until you visit. Wish all your kids the best in their futuresSmile

SherbrookeFosterer · 18/08/2017 23:11

Treat it as a game, stay lighthearted and keep us posted.

Also let him know he is now a MN celebrity!

raveinpeace · 19/08/2017 09:24

.

LynetteScavo · 20/08/2017 09:00

Well done him...would it be totally impossible for you/him to fund the second year of Alevels for him?

I also think you were both right...Smile

Ippydippyskyblue · 20/08/2017 21:37

Young men in their late teens and early twenties are easily persuaded by their peers and he's probably see the series of revision books that state that by going through them in a week he could facilitate a pass. Either that, or he's been cramming on the quiet!
It's his money at the end of the day, and it could be an expensive lesson for him to learn.
However, I was told that I'd never get a GCSE in a particular subject. I worked not particularly hard for six months and got a B at A level.

Logans · 21/08/2017 03:46

Loved reading this thread OP! Well done to him. I'm so glad he will be doing more maths given what Noble has said about his natural aptitude.

Blondefancy · 21/08/2017 04:18

Actually maths is probably the easiest to pass as it is all about learning the various 'rules'. I am rubbish at maths though 😂It's because I don't care enough about it to pass though!

Etymology23 · 31/08/2017 23:26

Well done OPs son! (just managed to find this again!) I'm delighted he'll be carrying on with maths. :)

Blonde fancy - if the only reason people do badly at maths is because they can't be bothered to learn the rules then I would be amazed. A lot of people work really hard and still struggle with maths at gcse and a level!

Swipe left for the next trending thread