Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mock gcse

16 replies

TheOpalFox · 16/06/2025 11:38

My sons doing his mock GCSEs and he just so upset :( it’s horrible to see :(

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 16/06/2025 11:38

Which bit is he upset about?

MintTwirl · 16/06/2025 11:40

What is it that he is finding difficult? Are there ways you and school can work to help him feel happier and more confident?

TheOpalFox · 16/06/2025 11:42

rubyslippers · 16/06/2025 11:38

Which bit is he upset about?

He keeps thinking he will fail and it’s too tricky for him.
thankfully communication between me and school is good

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 16/06/2025 13:22

Well you are not being unreasonable. Perhaps ask to move this thread to the education board.
Have his nerves translated to more revision? Is he worried about getting the grades to do certain subjects at Sixth Form? I’m sure the school has reassured him there’s plenty of time for improvement. I did get my son a tutor for English closer to the actual exam as I think exam technique is important for a decent grade. And encourage him to go to any after school revision sessions - at our school it was considered ‘uncool’ but needs must! Plenty of support and encouragement and working out a revision schedule with plenty of time for sport/socialising may help. But in the end they are the ones taking the exam so they have to put in the work!

leccybill · 16/06/2025 17:29

There's still two more terms of learning and likely 2 more rounds of mocks before the real thing so plenty of time to improve.
Don't forget, Year 10 were in Y5 and 6 during Covid so didn't do Sats. They've never sat a formal exam before so it's bound to be nerve wracking.

Emmz1510 · 16/06/2025 17:32

Exams are so stressful for them! Is he right in the middle of them?
Do you think his upset is about not having done enough revision and not knowing what he needs to know? If so, support him to revise what he can and do past papers. Remind him that they are mocks and hopefully he can learn from this experience and work harder for the proper exams.
If he has worked hard and you think he will do well but is just anxious, then it would help to remind that he has worked hard and if he does his best he should be fine, also remind him of previous successes he has had.

Hercisback1 · 16/06/2025 17:34

Is he in Y10?

Realistically what does he and you, expect him to get?

If he's working and the effort isn't working, then that's a different conversation to if he's not revising and then crying about the stress.

Littletreefrog · 16/06/2025 17:36

Some more information is needed Does he have any SEN? Is there any reason he thinks he won't do well? What are you and the school doing already to stop him being upset?

He can't really 'fail' a mock GCSE. They are there to see where they are at and give those that need it a rocket up their backside. He has a year to go until he needs to do them for real so plenty of time to help him wether that be relaxation techniques or some more support around revision or whatever help he needs.

witwatwoo · 16/06/2025 17:37

They’re a practice

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 16/06/2025 17:50

DS is doing his actual GCSEs now - last one tomorrow. He was Y6 when lockdown happened, so also didn't take his SATs. Mocks are important for getting used to the austerity and formalities of exam conditions and familiarising with exam Qs, the topics which always come up, gaps in knowledge, learning to deal with the stress, the nerves, the environment. DS did 3 sets - end of Y10, before Christmas of Y11 and before Easter of Y11. By the time he got to the actual exams at the start of May, well it was pretty much business as usual. They had 3 weeks of exams before half term, and three weeks after. They were still in lessons, out of exam times, until half term.

Your dc is only half way through the courses @TheOpalFox. These Y10 mocks are as much about process and practice as anything else. DS's school allowed very anxious children to have their exams in a smaller room than the big gym. Y11 is all about helping the students learn to pass exams. Good luck to you both. Support her as much as you can - new pen, water in an unmarked bottle, clear pencil case, approved calculator, reminders to go to sleep! Get up! Have a break! Don't let her burn out.

What mocks can't emulate is the sustained 5-6 week GCSE period, but in a way real GCSEs are a bit easier, because the exams are more spread out. DS has only had 2 days with more than 1 exam and no clashes.

edit: I still don’t think that 5-6 weeks of largely written exams, with very little coursework, is the right way to assess 12 years of formal education though, for people who are still emotionally immature.

sophiasnail · 16/06/2025 20:14

It's really hard isn't it? As a secondary maths teacher I hate seeing kids not coping with pressure but it is far better to go through this bit now when the outcomes really don't matter. Would it help to sit down with one of his teachers to explain what would happen if he"failed them all"? As adults we know nothing terrible will happen if they don't go well, but obviously it's a real possibility in his mind. I usually sell year 10 end of year exams as a chance to make a list of all the things we need to practice next year.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 16/06/2025 22:24

leccybill · 16/06/2025 17:29

There's still two more terms of learning and likely 2 more rounds of mocks before the real thing so plenty of time to improve.
Don't forget, Year 10 were in Y5 and 6 during Covid so didn't do Sats. They've never sat a formal exam before so it's bound to be nerve wracking.

You’re assuming op lives in England. In Wales we have national testing every year from years 3-9. Most schools also do some GCSEs in year 10.

How old is your son and has he revised well for his mocks @TheOpalFox? If he’s no revised well is that because he doesn’t know how he learns and revises the best, did he bury his head in the sand or was he over confident and the reality has come as a shock?

The reasons behind his upset will help you find the way forwards.

Doone22 · 17/06/2025 20:48

All these things, 11+, GCSE, a level, degree etc , all they do is give you more easy choices, they don't make you successful or happy or fulfilled. I've drummed this into mine from day1.
My eldest dropped out of college, then school, then apprenticeship then left the country then came back, put herself through an access to uni course and ended up with a master's in medical biology from kings college
I tell mine to treat exams like a pub quiz, unleash your competitive side but enjoy it
Tell your lad to read all these!

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 17/06/2025 21:10

Mocks are for students to practice sitting exams so they're prepared for GCSE's and for teachers to see gaps in learning.

MyCyanReader · 17/06/2025 21:32

Then you need to work on his mind set.

Failure is success. If you're not falling things then you're not making progress as whatever you're doing is too easy.

It's a mock. Practice. Failure is just there to be learned from, not to be feared.

GotMarriedInCornwall · 18/06/2025 18:27

Teacher here!
My Year 10 tutor group are currently sitting their mocks too. I have told them all that this is their opportunity to make mistakes, get things wrong and find out what they do and don’t know. The worst case scenario is they don’t know any of the answers and the world will still keep turning. All we ask from them is they give it their best shot because they are not being fair to themselves if they don’t.
It’s hard for them, but so important. The more they get used to the pressure now, the less stress they will feel this time next year.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread