To think that going from 6 in year 10 to 7/8/9 in year 11 is possible?

[IDontGetOutMuch]

Dd has done year 10 exams. She got 6 in a couple of science subjects. Ha I g looked at her papers, she either got nearly 85-90 per cent or a poor mark.

Is it reasonable to think she can improve significantly between now and next year's exams, given that she seems to understand some areas really well and we know where she needs to improve? Or am I being unrealistic?

Would be great to hear from parents with fairly recent gcse experience!

Thanks! Positive realism is what we need 🙂

I'm thinking I can help with the info questions-the recall, even the longer ones where a logical sequence needed. I'm hoping tutor will drill down into the data questions and graphs. She tends to be good at remembering info and is a good writer.

My ds has just left sixth form after doing his A levels so he did his GCSE 's 2 years ago and in a few subjects he improved by 2 grades, for example in drama he was scoring grade 6/7 at the end of year 10 (devised piece writing was worth 70% of grade ) and he was totally shocked to get a grade 9. This happened in 2 subjects which were his favourite and he consistently revised as soon as he started year 11. We had a revision timetable and got a set of 5 blank flashcsrd packs for his notes. It absolutely is possible!

When we checked his end of year 10 results and then mocks in November of year 11 it was clear where the hard work was needed. The mocks also identify any gaps in their learning and any weaknesses.

Good luck to your dd

Ps his science results were worse than expected. Just remembered that. He hates science and is not very strong and he was predicted 55 and got 33 they didn't affect his A level choices so he wasn't too bothered.

It’s a while ago now but at my school loads of kids got a D in the mock then a A or B in the actual exam… Most of them weren’t prepared for the mock but got tutors for the exam

That's really helpful, thank you. I have suggested yo dd that we start gently revising at start of year 11. I think she's realised that the work you do nearest to exams is more productive and less panicky if you start early. Less intense too. She has also learnt that well paced revision can actually be, if not too of her list of things to do, not actively unpleasant!!

Up to a 7 for sure.
8 is possible. I think a 9 would be a stretch.
All will require effort - but picking up on something like graphs, and working out how to nail those questions will make a big difference in all the sciences (one of the learning objective for all 3 sciences is use of data graphs are common)

DD2 was hitting 5 in Biology and Chemistry, 4 in Physics and Maths. She got 7 for everything but Physics, and that was a 6. She worked her absolute arse off. So yes, it's absolutely possible. 9s may be a big ask, but big improvements can happen.

I was looking at ds1s y10 report earlier as I’ve just got dd2s today. He went up 4 grades (5-9) in two subjects and 3 grades in a couple too. Also came down 1 grade in two (8-7 and 7-6). They were both science subjects. It’s definitely possible to change a lot, sadly in ds case it wasn’t always for the best.

You sound very invested in your daughter's exam performance. It's not necessarily a bad thing but they are HER grades and sometimes pushing a person does not result in the behaviour you want. Be wary you don't over pressure her.

Also, there are more important things than grades.

I think 9 would be a stretch but 8 should be manageable if she puts a lot of work in.

I tell my pupils (when they are disappointed with yr10 results- which is generally at least half the class 😂🙈) that they should be as a minimum aiming for one grade higher on the year 11 mocks and then one more grade in the real thing.

They don’t all manage that- it takes work and a stable MH/Home life as well. All things being equal though it is doable.

@User0ne it's a fair warning, I'm trying to strike a balance. Her school is very light touch, so some of the stuff a more homework/study focused school might be insisting upon is coming from us. But absolutely-she has to work and want to work. I think she does-and she asked to do revision with me at table rather than one. I also think revision skills aren't always intuitive. They need to be learnt.

I guess the point of this thread is to help me to see what realistic progress could be so that I'm not giving her false hope, but genuine reasons to aspire.

You are on the right track that revision/study skills need to be taught. If her school is light touch on this there is a fair amount of material out there you could find/do with her.

My rule of thumb would be choose a system that appeals to her and then most importantly stick with it- chopping and changing is the enemy.

I break down DS’ revision into 3 parts.

1. Knowledge - find the gaps & weak points.

Extend & read around the subjects a little to help with interpretation / explanation questions.

1. Question interpretation & technique.

We look subject by subject. Does DC get stuck on a particular type of wording / diagram etc… What is the Q asking of you? Each exam board / subject will have a style. Are you writing enough / too much? If the Q is 4 marks - bullet point 4 answers. Don’t re-write the Q into the opening of an answer. It wastes time & you haven’t answered the Q. Etc…

1. Exam technique.

How much time have you got / how many Qs are there? Where should you be aiming for by half time etc..? * every Q you can’t answer or want to check at end. It makes going back & finding them quicker.

DS likes a system called Cram. It’s online flash cards. You make them through excel. Good for quick, repartition learning eg languages, chem & maths formulae. Even grammar rules.

Thanks Katie. I have bought revision guides for most subjects, which we found really helpful, and she has found that doing exam questions is the most helpful thing, especially for science. Just learning content was no help for sciences because of a large proportion of marks being for interpretation of data and the subtleties of how the longer questions need structuring. She was really starting to get the hang of this, and do I'm hopeful that long term, gentle revision of both this year's work and the new content will bear fruit.

The most helpful thing she has learnt is the idea that early, regular revision, even gently, is actually more stress relieving than starting later.

Agree that using a revision guide and practising questions is the way forward. Then you can identify problem areas and concentrate on those.

The most helpful thing she has learnt is the idea that early, regular revision, even gently, is actually more stress relieving than starting later.

That’s a great lesson to have learnt. It’s really important that she revisits the year 10 topics all the way through year11 as well as starting to review the year 11 material at home once it’s been taught.