To not know when GCSEs happen?

[AliceMay55]

DS is in Y10. We are looking to book next year’s holidays, but have no clue what the GCSE schedule will be like with mocks etc. (DH and I grew up abroad)
I asked the school 3 weeks ago and they are yet to respond! Can someone help me please?

1. when are GCSEs usually held?
2. Do they write exams every day or will there be a gap between two exams?
3. do they get study holidays?
4. When do mocks happen ?

1.

I feel your pain. I was also educated overseas and have zero clues what’s going on. DD is in Year 10 and there is so much assumed knowledge / lack of info about mocks and actual exams which is also critical when i have to host dozens of family members from my home country at random occasions during the year.

Generally the exams will be over by the end of June. The exam dates depends on the subjects and the exam board. Mocks usually before Easter holidays, depends on the school. Your child may have two exams in a day but again it depends on the subject and board.

DC is now in year 12 so did GCSEs last year.

Mocks were Oct of Year 10 and Feb of year 11. Exams started mid May and went on till around 23rd of June if I remember correctly. Study leave varies from school to school but I def wouldn't book a holiday until beginning of July.

1. GCSEs can be anytime from the first week of may to the last week of June. There will be a half term toward the end of May but not a good idea to go away then.
2. There will be gaps but it will entirely depend on which subjects she takes with which exam boards. She may even have a clash and the school will have to manage that, keeping her incommunicado between them
3. They will go off on study leave usually around the May half term but every school handles this differently.
4. Mocks are around Xmas of y11 but could be before or after.

Mocks will differ depending on school but actual GCSEs will be May and June. Usually finished around 20th June but always a couple of exams later than that so will depend on next years schedule which I doubt will be released any time soon. To be safe I wouldn’t book anything before first of July.

I grew up abroad as well and did not have a clue when my eldest did her GCSE. Her exams finished at 11:00 and I was at work and unable to pick her up from school after exam. She had to stay at school or arrange a taxi/ friends help as we live rurally. Something to think about.

GCSE exams a roughly the same time Mid May to the end of June. Well exams finish mid 20s but there is always a contingency day (though never been used yet) at the end of June.

They don’t have an exam per day, most subjects have 2 exams and they are spread out, but you can end up with 2 on the same day.

No-one can know when your school holds mocks, that is totally up to the school.

This year they start on 15th May and finish on 21st June. It depends on what subjects and what board.
most y11 students will finish full time schooling on 15th May and just go to school for exams. Some students might go into school still for revision. Whether there is a large gap between exams depends on the subject and exam board.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zw27tcw

next years dates have not been finalised yet.

different schools have different mock dates but look on the school calendar for this years and it will probably be similar.

If you Google the exam timetable for a board like aqa that should give you some idea when they happen. It is usually mid May until mid June.

Each subject has 2-3 papers so there may be gaps between exams or not. Sometimes there are 2 exams per day. Each student's timetable is depends on what subjects they take.

Our school doesn't do study leave. Nit sure about others.

As an ex-teacher, they generally start 2nd week of May and are done by the second to last week in June, but there's often one or two stragglers exams. I wouldn't book anything for before the last weekend in June

Don't take your kids away until after the last exam - you'll completely disrupt any rhythm your DS has got for revising. Also if you DS gets stuck or needs help you'll be away. The marking will be getting tougher after the leniency of the covid years. You have been supporting your kids through around 11 years of education - all that time and work and effort for him and you - don't mess it up for him at the last minute.

Main exam time lasts around a month - depending on number of subjects taken there can be exams on most days as some subjects have two or three separate exams. Some subjects can be outliers - have part of the exam some distance from the main block ie performance ones like drama or art or dance and sometimes langauge speaking and listening.

Mock or practice exams tend to be with just before or just after Christmas though not always.

Legally your DS is still part of the school and you could be fined I think even if the year group is on study leave.

My DCs' school always has the y11 prom and 6th form taster day at the very end of June, just after the exams have finished. That is something else to bear in mind.

My children are older.

GCSEs are usually around May/June time. For about a month or slightly longer.

Mocks vary depending on the school but usually more than one set of mocks one being either just before or just after Christmas or both.

You could look on line for 2023 GCSE exam dates to give you a rough idea. If you are so inclined.

Also be mindful at my childrens schools they had leavers assemblies and prom events. So you may or may not want to factor in these dates. Maybe look at the schools website for year 13’s for 2022 or 2023?

They need to be available up until the end of June for contingency days this year. Mocks vary considerably by school. Have had them Nov, Jan and March.

They usually start just before half term (although some assessments like mfl orals are earlier) and end around third weekend of June but there is normally a back up day in the last week. Timetable depends on options and usually spread out. Can be two or three papers a day but not every day. Year 11s technically "leave" at end of June but there are often tasters for sixth form, work experience and Prom after that.

May and June. But if there was an issue at the school, or worse a pandemic like situation early July could be used in a last case scenario.

Mid July onwards you are fine to go away.

My son has already had one language exam. Rest are 11 may to 16 June. For him…. Check with school.

Language exams also have speaking tests which are during April and May before the main exams.

individual schools choose when mocks are. I’ve known schools hold them anytime between November & March.

Actual exams are May & June although things like language speaking exams, drama/music/food tech practicals can be anytime from Easter onwards.

The official school leaving date is the last Friday in June. Exams are all finished by then but you need to take into account if your Ds wants to attend prom as they are often after exams have finished.

Mocks are usually before or after Christmas break, sometimes a second batch in March, dependent on school. You could check yours' online calendar fir this term. Study leave is also school dependent. Some do none, others by May half term onwards.

DS is doing them this year, his last science practical is in 28th June.

I would advise booking beginning the of July. My sister in law booked a holiday for the end of June this year thinking exams would be over. Then the exam timetable came out and they were going to be away when the contingency days were planned. She had to cancel and change the holiday.
The school I teach at has moved year 11 mocks around this year and added extra ones in February. All schools are different.

What about the contingency day?

Suggest you look at school calender for current year 11s to give you an idea for this year..however from February to after Easter holidays will be revision work and then exams from May until end of June.

Mocks depends on the school but usually before Christmas or after (so this calendar year)

Contingency day this year is 28th June. It is always before the last Friday in June.