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Original poster

DS unwell and GCSE exams

26 replies

Newusernamemay · 23/05/2023 10:01

Posting for traffic

He's had an upset stomach since last night (d not v) and he's due to do a religious studies gcse exam this afternoon and tomorrow an English exam. He's still complaining of stomach ache and has said he doesn't know if he'll be able to sit the exam but he'll try and sit tomorrows.

So I don't drip feed he is suspected to be autistic and has anxiety around the exams so it's been a battle to get him in anyway but I don't think this is due to anxiety although it could be

Wwyd?

OP posts:
ChrisPPancake · 23/05/2023 10:04

I'd call the school and ask the exams officer for advice.

FelicityFeatherstone · 23/05/2023 10:11

I would tell him to go in and give it his best shot and that I'd be happy to come and collect him once the exam was done

So you're encouraging him to do it but he's got the 'carrot' of being able to come home afterwards to decompress

Of course if he's genuinely got a bug then that's a different matter but you suspect this is anxiety talking so I'd take him in and then pick him up afterwards if you think this would calm him

Mushroo · 23/05/2023 10:11

Has he just got a nervous tummy? I’d try and get him in unless hes literally not able to get off the loo

lanthanum · 23/05/2023 10:13

Definitely call the exams officer.

bobisbored · 23/05/2023 10:13

Imodium and send him in. Let school know. He will be allowed toilet breaks. Good luck

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 23/05/2023 10:14

Call the school and say he has a bug, he will have to do resits of the exams. See how he is for the next exam. If its the same with nothing between then it's nerves.

Personally, better not to potentially infect his classmates and cause more of them to miss exams if it is a bug...

TwoTowers · 23/05/2023 10:16

If you contact the school they may be able to set him up in a private space with toilet access - so he can try the exam. I think unless he can’t move from the bathroom it will be better to try it

LIZS · 23/05/2023 10:19

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 23/05/2023 10:14

Call the school and say he has a bug, he will have to do resits of the exams. See how he is for the next exam. If its the same with nothing between then it's nerves.

Personally, better not to potentially infect his classmates and cause more of them to miss exams if it is a bug...

Resits are not really a thing. Only English and Maths in the autumn, If he can sit the exams he can get special consideration with a gp note, and could be sat near the door in case he needs to take a toilet break. Imodium may see him through. If he misses a paper he may get a grade overall if he sits other papers or assessments.

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 23/05/2023 10:34

LIZS · 23/05/2023 10:19

Resits are not really a thing. Only English and Maths in the autumn, If he can sit the exams he can get special consideration with a gp note, and could be sat near the door in case he needs to take a toilet break. Imodium may see him through. If he misses a paper he may get a grade overall if he sits other papers or assessments.

Show quote history

I thought all exams offered a resit? One of them is an English exam. That's why speaking to the school is a good idea as they'll be able to advise more about what's best.

But if he is ill, why risk infecting everyone? Surely we've learnt from the past few years to be considerate....

SeasonFinale · 23/05/2023 10:43

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 23/05/2023 10:34

I thought all exams offered a resit? One of them is an English exam. That's why speaking to the school is a good idea as they'll be able to advise more about what's best.

But if he is ill, why risk infecting everyone? Surely we've learnt from the past few years to be considerate....

Show quote history

Resit other than English and Maths would be the following Summer and may interfere with A level or other FE study. Lack of English or Maths may mean they gave to start a L2 course rather than L3 and lead to a 3 year sixth form.

LIZS · 23/05/2023 10:44

He would have to resit next summer for rs and English, if it is literature.

OliveWah · 23/05/2023 11:03

I'd give him some Immodium and take him in just for the exam and be there to drive him home straight after. Immodium is pretty good at stopping an upset stomach quickly, so should have a chance to act before this afternoon.

SweetPetrichor · 23/05/2023 11:17

Dose him up with Imodium and send him in. I’d bet on it being ‘exam tum’ rather than a bug. And if the worst comes to the worst, he sticks his hand up and leaves the exam, but unless things have changed, you need a doctors note to legitimately miss an exam.

Wildlyboring · 23/05/2023 11:31

There's a link between ASD and gastro issues, my daughter also has anxiety and gets an upset stomach if she's anxious or has something important coming up. Maybe the school can give him a side room?

lalalalalalaleeee · 23/05/2023 12:19

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 23/05/2023 10:14

Call the school and say he has a bug, he will have to do resits of the exams. See how he is for the next exam. If its the same with nothing between then it's nerves.

Personally, better not to potentially infect his classmates and cause more of them to miss exams if it is a bug...

Ours still have to go on, they have a special room

gogohmm · 23/05/2023 13:05

He needs to do his best, I suspect it's anxiety - would some magic medicine aka a placebo help? Dd took ibroprofen before exams for "pain" that I'm pretty sure was anxiety

Mangogogogo · 23/05/2023 13:08

Is it still the case that your grade is docked at a B or C for resits?

if it is I would call school and send him

Quartz2208 · 23/05/2023 13:13

There are no resits apart from maths and English language in November. Tomorrow is English literature so would miss it until next year

This is the second R/S exam so you could get marked but you would need medical evidence.

if he is worried I would see if he can sit near a door with easy toilet access an invigilator aware of that and some kind of toilet pass so he can go easily (he would need to be taken)

we have pupils with covid coming in masks and seats isolated - so yes the school will want him in

euff · 23/05/2023 15:04

The anxiety is bad enough without the extra anxiety from worrying about bathroom issues whilst in school and doing an exam poor thing. Stress and anxiety really do cause these issues so it could be that or a bug. I would inform the school so they can take appropriate steps. Imodium should sort out the worry of needing the toilet urgently during the exams.

cestlavielife · 23/05/2023 15:08

It is better he goes in and tries then if he does not complete school can put a note why. He will still get a mark.

Presumsbly they know his isdues alteady and are proding separate room etc ?

Failing to attend without doctor note is not good. Gp likely to say go in and deep breathe

ChrisPPancake · 23/05/2023 19:00

What did you decide in the end @Newusernamemay ? Is ds feeling better?

Original poster
Newusernamemay · 24/05/2023 00:07

I sent him in and he completed the exam although he's saying he doesn't think he did well etc. He still seems unwell and hasn'treally eaten since he came home and he's saying he doesn't want to do his exam tomorrow as he can't concentrate whilst feeling unwell and that he'll fail etc.

OP posts:
Luckypoppy · 24/05/2023 00:43

Get him a docs appointment and ask for a fit note. Contacted exams officer to warn them to
Apply for special consideration. He still
Should sit all exams.

Sorry for random spaces and capital letters. Typing with broken finger.

cestlavielife · 24/05/2023 11:22

He should go and try
If unwell during he tells invigilator they will note it.

He may do better than he thinks and you then just wait for results to decide what next.

Blort · 24/05/2023 11:28

I agree with contacting the doctors.

If you cant get him in speak to pharmicist and check it would be appropriate to give him buscopan which is an over the counter medication for stomach cramps Which may help for tomorrow. Today give him a hot water bottle and if he'll drink it diarolalite solution or just advise little sips of maybe a cup of tea with sugar.

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