Christmas half term - Year 13 (another original thread title!)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Carrying on from previous thread

I'm so rubbish with thread titles. Anyway...

This time last year there was lots of chat about tests/exams/mocks at this point. Are there fewer of them, or is everyone more chilled about them?

You fell off my tio again!

Flat mocks are generally a good kick up the backside to do some more work for the proper exams. I've seen some kids improve from Us to Cs, one even improved a U to a B, but I've also seen kids go the other way and drop a couple of grades between mocks and the real thing.

Everything is just plodding along here. Nothing much to report. I got an email today about parents evening in a few weeks.

Welcome back MsAD
Great news flatmouse !

Does anyone have any advice for another20 about holiday revision classes?

Last day of term here and we are looking forward to having a break.
There are mocks after half term here but that only means one exam for dd.
I could recommend holiday revision classes near me for another20 but am unsure what she means by "around London". Probably too far away - but there are residential options.

Another20 you also need to tell us which subjects.

I can't wait for half term, one more day. Nothing much to say here, dd is head down working, doing OK.

I cannot wait for half term!! I'm exhausted. I assume the kids are all exhausted too.

I'm nowhere near London so can't help another20, sorry. Many, many years ago (21 to be precise) I did a revision course at a university over the Easter holidays. They had a few subjects running at the same time in different buildings. So it might be worth getting in touch with the closest unis to you and seeing what they can offer, or ask school if they've got any recommendations.

Another week before half term here - but last night i reviewed DS planned revision timetable and suggested alterations to make it more achievable.
Have bought folders/dividers - he needs to organise himself better - bits of paper scattered everywhere will not work. To be fair once he had them, he did sort himself out - so that's a start.
DH went off to work with a USB stick with past papers/revision guides that DS has downloaded to be printed off.
The main thing is getting him to realise that having his phone on the table is distracting - he thinks it isn't - as he reads yet another snapchat message!

Thanks OhYouBadBadKitten - looking for any recommendations for RS and Politics A level crammer revision courses in London or just outside (NW) - or alternatively a good tutor agency. He is a bright kid at a good grammar and predicted an A but would benefit from some focus and polish to make sure he is well over the line - so any recommendations are welcome.

Two weeks holiday for ds starts Monday as we celebrate Chinese New Year. All his coursework is finished, for some subjects content is now complete (English and geography ) but for chemistry, bio and maths still a lot to do.
He has received five offers, but not made any firm decisions at the moment.

English coursework was meant to be finished by half term but I don't think it will be.

DD got a D on a Pyschology test. It is a module that includes statistics and she always does worse than on other modules. Last time she got a U so I suppose it is an improvement. She really needs to nail it as she is getting A/A* on the other modules and it would be a shame if this one hurdle brought her mark down.

Half term here next week but mocks are the week after so it will be mainly revising, plus a trip to Newcastle for the Offer Holder Day.

Half term for us next week too. I'm so glad DD had mocks straight after Christmas as it means we can go away for the week without too much worry. DH has to go to New York for work, so as it's half term, we're tagging along!
She has completed and handed in all coursework for French and History this week so feels ready for a break.

Ursula DS1 is supposed to be completing English Lit coursework (I think it's on Irish literature?) and History coursework (India). I have seen some reading happening but no actual writing yet.

I am told that everything is up to date and seeing as it was someone from student support that told me this I do believe it.

My DD is doing English and History coursework too. I don't have much faith in the history teacher. DD was told that her essay was getting there and then this week that it had to be all restructured! Also it has to be in a week earlier than they were told. DD is frustrated and I am annoyed!!

Ursula and the second
Dd banded first draft of coursework in 3 months late whilst the rest are handing in final drafts hopefully she’ll do her proper draft over the holidays

English coursework task 1 is to be submitted tomorrow and dd is currently over the word count but under if she does word count and quote count

Does anyone know what a net count is?

DS has handed in his coursework - Geography had a much earlier deadline though. Still has the EPQ to finish. He said he will get it finished after mocks.

Half term for for us too - we are also going up to Newcastle for the offer holders day mid week.

We have had DS's A Level exam timetable - he is a clash candidate for one exam so will have to be kept in isolation after taking his morning exam on that day until he can take the afternoon paper. He's not impressed.

DS has two clashes on his timetable as well...he had a few with his GCSEs as well, but I have a feeling his school just ran the two exams back to back, with just a toilet break in the middle. That will mean three solid hours of maths on two days

DD's school run exams back to back. They weren't even given a toilet break in AS last year. In fact the next paper was put on their desk as they were finishing the previous one. I was furious.

Thankfully she has no clashes this year.

English and History Coursework still ongoing here and causing a lot of stress. Two Mock results received are a very mixed bag, third she won't get until after half term.

dd has a couple of days clashes too. But to be fair, STEP papers are three hours long any way. Just glad there are no clashes on those dates.

One of dds friends was going to have to spend the night at a teacher's house due to clashes but she has decided not to sit one of the General Studies papers.

dd had an exam clash for 2 AS exams last year. It was particularly annoying given that she only had 2 AS exams to take! One exam was moved to the afternoon (with permission from the exam board) and the other was held in the morning. One exam was 2.5 hours and the other 2 hours. They had a supervised lunch and toilet breaks in between.
My understanding (see JCQ regs) is that there is a maximum number of exam hours that can be fitted in one session back to back which is 3 hours. See link for details www.theexamsoffice.org/userfiles/files/2015_2016/Resolving%20exam%20clashes_2016.pdf
It won't happen this year as she only has one A2 written exam to take.
The design exam like most practical exams are scheduled before the main round of written exams and schools have a bit more flexibility with dates. The other subject has a supervised controlled assessment instead of a written exam.

I have put a link on your other thread another20. It looks as if for RS there are only a limited number of courses available. I have experience of the one provider but assume that Bath is too far for you (they do have a residential option though). if you want to know what my experience is then please send a pm.

Half term here as well. Thank goodness. It means no expectations of news.
I wish that instead of sending the news on the evening they decide, universities would hold it over until the next day before 10am. That way they young people have the rest of the day free from worrying about news and better able to concentrate on life.

We are ditching the books for a few days and heading to the coast. I've heard my dc talking about taking a dip- even if there's snow on the ground! I'm not.

We had an exciting day yesterday at the Hull offer holder's day. Ds bounded out of bed at 5.30, we managed to catch the early train (only through one which got there in time), complete with thermals! A friend of friend had highly recommended it, otherwise I knew next to nothing about it, and was very impressed. Although I do wonder whether they are doing a massive expansion which has affected their desire to recruit indiscrimately...We saw an amazing library and an art gallery, there was a Waterstones in the student union even, and met all these very sensible and down to earth students. The bus seems to be on a circuit round the student nightclubs as well which sounds reassuring in a strange way..
So ds and I have been mulling over the acccomodation options in quite a lot of detail, probably a bit too early really when he hasn't even finalised his choice. But unconditional offer really makes you focus, if the uni looks good Ds did a 4 hour experience taster in the afternoon. And I talked to all sorts of students whilst he was working, they were all polite and articulate and not too many nose rings (not that it really matters) Even someone with blue hair held the door open for me and ds I did see a few shoes thrown into the shrubbery at the halls of residence, obviously thrown from a balcony..

Audition tomorrow at another uni.

Half term here
Dd is exhausted and went to work today to find out she’s doing 27.5 hours at work even though she specifically told her she didn’t want to work that much
It seems they put on teenagers a lot sigh

DD has told work she will not be in for a couple of weeks because of mocks. And also that her availability will be limited until after A levels. They are being very understanding.