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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Year 13s and exams

29 replies

Teenageromance · 03/09/2020 21:33

Year 13s returning to school and told they are going to have mock exams in the first 2 weeks back. Only 5 days face to face teaching since March.
What do we think?

OP posts:
Noodledoodledoo · 03/09/2020 21:55

We held virtual mocks, I am sceptical about some of my results.

We need to submit UCAS grades in the near future for Oxbridge deadline.

Original poster
Teenageromance · 03/09/2020 22:17

Yes but is it fair to test all students - how much confidence will they lose if it doesn’t go well. I am seriously concerned for the mental health of this cohort. Too much pressure when they are already vulnerable.

OP posts:
CoRhona · 03/09/2020 22:25

But mock exams show how much is still to be learnt. When do you think they should do them? At least this way they have a few months to address any issues.

WonderWebbs · 03/09/2020 22:25

Really tough for the year 13's. My DD has exams starting tomorrow, delayed end of year, and she has only been back two days. School told them they needed to revise throughout August. Not much of a break in our house. Although DD is lucky that lessons were online throughout lockdown. This year is going to be a tough one.

Noodledoodledoo · 04/09/2020 13:17

First UCAS deadline is 15th of October - when do you want them to sort all the info they need.

carlyanne78 · 04/09/2020 13:22

DP's school had mocks first day!

heartsonacake · 04/09/2020 13:24

They should have been working and revising while they’ve been off, so no, I don’t think this is unreasonable.

Year 13s need to have cracked independent study if they want a hope of succeeding at university. If they’ve struggled with that uni isn’t for them.

yoikes · 04/09/2020 13:30

Ds1 went back this week straight into preducted grade exams....he looked ill this morning.
He has been working very hard all through August but feels very underprepared.
It's all very well to say they need to just cope, but what about those colleges/schools who's online provision was poor/non existent??
I made a complaint re the online provision at my ds1s college and they conceeded it had been "poor".
Not going to help the students though is it?
Bloody tutor sat on his backside being paid full pay for months for doing fuck all! 😡

Original poster
Teenageromance · 04/09/2020 18:48

@heartsonacake I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous as what you posted. We are in a global pandemic which has totally disrupted education and you think this is a test of their work ethic! Many students at uni don’t study their subject during the summer break - they travel or work or have some down time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Teenageromance · 04/09/2020 18:49

‘Uni isn’t for them’ my god the arrogance of this statement

OP posts:
BostonCalling · 04/09/2020 18:54

@Teenageromance

To be frank if year 12 students have done no work at all since March, they are unlikely to be the type who will cope with the indie debt study needed at university.

Most schools have been providing at least some online lessons but even if they haven’t, students should have been revising this year’s work and looking ahead in their textbooks.

ChanceEncounter · 04/09/2020 18:56

@Teenageromance

Yes but is it fair to test all students - how much confidence will they lose if it doesn’t go well. I am seriously concerned for the mental health of this cohort. Too much pressure when they are already vulnerable.
Totally agree. They need a few weeks to settle in. This seems an unhelpful approach tbh.
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 04/09/2020 18:57

DS1 has mocks next week. The need to get the predictions grades ready for those people who are applying Oxbridge and Medicine etc. they have an Oct deadline for UCAS I believe.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 04/09/2020 18:58

predicted

Zoecarter · 04/09/2020 18:58

They should have been working and revising while they’ve been off, so no, I don’t think this is unreasonable.

Year 13s need to have cracked independent study if they want a hope of succeeding at university. If they’ve struggled with that uni isn’t for them.

@heartsonacake this is 100% correct. If am a level student can not studdy independently they will not succeed at university.

ChanceEncounter · 04/09/2020 18:58

Mine has had predicted grades, so mocks are coming a bit later.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 04/09/2020 19:02

Just checked on UCAS. The Med, Vet, Dental and Oxbridge deadline is 15th Oct so there really isn’t much leeway for schools if they need to do mocks for predicted grades.

Original poster
Teenageromance · 04/09/2020 19:04

I’m not talking about them not being able to do independent study - what is it about Mumsnet now where people trigger post and don’t read. It’s about getting settled back into school life and everything that has happened and being thrown straight into mocks at the same time.

OP posts:
PremierInn · 04/09/2020 19:18

I can't believe that comment about independent study!

Sure, at uni you get given a print out and a few links then use your phone to study for the next few months with no input from your lecturers til exam time.

My child had to get a fulltime job first so that he could buy a bloody laptop. Turns out its quite hard to do A level maths on your phone!

No live classes/zoom of course. Unlike Uni where you get ..you know ..actual lectures and seminars. Oh and there's a library. You don't have to rely on youtube to learn your subject.

Absolutely ridiculous comment

Anyway .. the exams are going to assess the gap in learning ... any guesses there if there is a gap? ... look forward to an announcement about postponed summer exams if they have any sense (doubtful)

PremierInn · 04/09/2020 19:19

By 'few months' of course I actually mean 'six months' = 'an entire academic year at uni'

BostonCalling · 04/09/2020 19:27

@PremierInn

There were funds available for schools to buy laptops for disadvantaged pupils that you/your DC could have applied for.

PremierInn · 04/09/2020 19:31

That is so naive a comment I don't even know where to begin

pointythings · 04/09/2020 19:32

BostonCalling except that they never arrived even in those schools that did apply - by June 7th the majority were still waiting.

We're lucky - my DD had a laptop already and her school provided well. She did mocks at the end of the school year, mid-July.

PremierInn · 04/09/2020 19:37

I joined mn just to post on this thread, it made me so angry.
I'll take a deep breath and a bit of a step back as I think I am projecting my anger at the last six months of non education at the wrong people
There are so many young people out there like my son who got nothing. No online classes. No lessons. A few online links. A refusal to print anything out (we have no printer). And no, schools weren't just handing out free laptops. I imagine there were a few laptops for those on the absolute breadline. Our school don't do anything like that. They did nothing and we were made to feel like scum when I asked for help. There was no help.

ChanceEncounter · 04/09/2020 19:38

[quote BostonCalling]@PremierInn

There were funds available for schools to buy laptops for disadvantaged pupils that you/your DC could have applied for.[/quote]
No, not for ages. It was a massive news item!