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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 · 12/05/2017 10:19

Seems to be going well, but I suppose I don't really know!! He worked all day on it (apart from going to college in the afternoon). Has probably used up all of our ink and paper because he is just printing and printing...... He seems to be very chuffed and keeps trying to show me how he's doing it, but I don't want to let on that I don't understand Grin

He definitely hasn't been doing maths this year, when would be have been doing that!? He is doing photography and surprisingly takes up so much of his time, he's finished his portfolio, so that's the only reason he can do this week.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 12/05/2017 10:24

He's probably chuffed because C1 past papers look very similar to each other which may give him the false impression that they are easy.

Is he just doing 7 days on C1, then another 7 on C2 then his applied module?

noblegiraffe · 12/05/2017 11:02

Also worth noting that while he's printing, he may look busy, but he's not actually doing any maths.

user1494533866 · 12/05/2017 11:11

Sounds interesting. I don't think he'll get above a C, but maybe a D or lower. I know people are saying a B isn't good, but the OP has already said he didn't do anything, so we have no idea if he even went to all his lessons! I think a B is great considering. Good luck to him.

@noblegiraffe what will you do if he actually passes? Grin

Trills · 12/05/2017 11:27

Printing things doesn't magically put them in your brain.

user1494533866 · 12/05/2017 11:30

I doubt he's just printing things Grin I'm guessing he's printing out all the papers/mark schemes?

BelfastSmile · 12/05/2017 11:51

The thing is, if he's only going through past papers, and following through the mark scheme, he's basically just going from line to line in the mark scheme and going "yeah, that makes sense; I can see how they got from that line to the next line". But that's not the same thing as being able to come up with the solution himself.

He may well also find that there are areas of the syllabus that don't happen to be on any of the papers he's looked at, so he could get into the exam and see them for the first time.

In the other hand, he could get lucky and just about pull it off, especially if the B in GCSE was a result of laziness rather than lack of ability.

It'll be interesting to see whether he changes his mind about it all during this week!

It would also be nice to see him find an interest in maths and then redo it properly!

Ceto · 12/05/2017 12:02

What day is the actual exam/s?

noblegiraffe · 12/05/2017 12:24

C1 is next Wednesday morning.

He's the Dunning-Kruger effect in action. If he knew what he was doing then he'd be working from the screen instead of wasting precious time printing and organising bits of paper. If he's sorting questions by topic then he's wasting time because a) there are websites where that's done for you and b) he could just use a textbook.
I also agree with the PP, passively looking through a mark scheme and understanding it is very different to looking at a question and actively coming up with the answer yourself.

If he does pass, then I'd be pretty bloody annoyed that a school let such an able mathematician get a B, then do photography!

Ladyvird135 · 12/05/2017 22:29

I am on the edge of my seat here! Do keep us updated :)

MsJudgemental · 12/05/2017 22:39

My son is currently revising for his AS maths. As the saying goes, 'Don't complain about the grades you didn't get with the work you didn't do.' I look forward to hearing your son's results.

Original poster
user1494154933 · 13/05/2017 14:05

So far, so good from his end... Still working hard at it which is surprising

Yes, the 1st exam is on Wednesday at 8:45. He's still far too confident... He wants me to do an 'official' mock with him on Tuesday, that will be fun.

OP posts:
Haffdonga · 13/05/2017 14:07

He sounds like a clever lad. I think he'll do it. Good luck to him!

ZilphasHatpin · 13/05/2017 14:14

Well he certainly sounds disciplined. I reckon you might be surprised OP. At least he has faith in himself even I feel you don't.

ZilphasHatpin · 13/05/2017 14:15

if! Not I feel

noblegiraffe · 13/05/2017 14:19

Which topics has he mastered so far?

NoFriendsNancy · 13/05/2017 14:24

Blatant placemark for the results!

MrsKoala · 13/05/2017 14:31

I sort of did this for maths gcse and driving. I just couldn't hold information over a period of time so a week before the gcse (i failed at school and retook when i was 30. I just did loads and loads of past papers. I worked out the easy quick marks to get and the ones i wouldn't waste my time on. I got a b.

With driving i was similar. I did lessons on and off for 18 years and failed . 1 lessons week type thing and the following week i had forgotten everything. So i just block booked 2 weeks of 4 hr lessons every day and did mock tests over and over again. I passed with no minors.

Original poster
user1494154933 · 13/05/2017 14:39

noble he says he has mastered differentiation and integration (he apparently enjoys finding the area under a curve?) I swear he is on a wind up! Also mastered the questions that ask about surds (something about rational?) and circles. To be honest, he is shouting this across the room and it's hard to get what he is saying (I am not clever)... Mind you, he gave in and brought a text book, so who knows.

OP posts:
Girlwhowearsglasses · 13/05/2017 14:41

Oh I'm sort of willing him to do it now! He has chutzpah! 10/10 for sheer bloody-mindedness

Grin
ZilphasHatpin · 13/05/2017 14:44

Why would he be on a wind up? Tbf it just sounds like you don't understand what he is talking about. That doesn't mean he is making it up! Those are all topics covered in AS maths. Why is buying a text book = giving in? Confused surely that's just him getting as much variation on possible questions as he can.

Starlight2345 · 13/05/2017 14:44

Do you know. I am rooting for him a little bit

Butterymuffin · 13/05/2017 14:50

This seems to be taking up a lot of your time and attention. While he's studying printing I'd go out or to another room and leave him to it. I also wouldn't get drawn into doing a mock exam with him (how would that work anyway, will you have answers to refer to?) Let him do that with a friend if he wants. Fair play if he wants to try and see if he can pass, but it all sounds like a bit of a performance for your benefit and I'd try and withdraw from that side of it.

danTDM · 13/05/2017 14:56

yes, I passed my A levels and philosophy degree this way Grin
am no genius, really not.

danTDM · 13/05/2017 14:57

I did take 'proplus' though Grin

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