Y13 Summer term: Finishing Lessons, Starting Exams and leaving Sixth Form

[catslife]

So our dcs are now on the last term of sixth form, finishing off lessons and starting their exams.
How did that happen - doesn't seem that long ago since they started Y12.
This is the thread where we support each other as our dcs revise and start their exams, finish off coursework, leave sixth form and make plans for what to do with the rest of their lives. This may involve going to uni or other alternatives.
Every Y13 parent is welcome to join in whether new to these threads or if you have been with us for a while - the more the merrier.

So this week dd is completing her Art Graphics exam spread over several days and also has controlled assessments for Health and Social Care Applied A level.
As if stress levels aren't high enough in this house my MIL was admitted to hospital over the weekend as an emergency. This is approx 250 miles away so trying to work out if it's serious or not.
My priority is dd am not so sure about DH who is her only child and next of kin.

May I join you?

DD1 is a ball of stress (manifesting itself in spots and tearfulness at the moment!).

She's been through the mill with her English coursework. Finally handed version 8 in on Friday!

Oh flatmouse that is disappointing for him. Seems kind of pointless to take the wind out of his sails at this point with a mark now doesn't it?

Oh no flatmouse worth submitting though as a D might help should the worst happen on results day.
rasp
Dd is considering doing a similar thing she’s bored at her current place of work but needs money for uni but wants to be doing something where she’s not bored
Bit
Hurray!🎉 that is a celebration when coursework gets handed in!

Dd has rang in tears this morning she really hates it now. Considering seeing if I can pull her out as coursework is handed in

Welcome Bitoutof! We had English and History coursework which have both been a bit of a nightmare. Think we are getting feedback this week of initial grades. Will be glad when we know what they are.

Thank you for the welcome!

I didn't realise there would be grade feedback. Feeling nervous now!

Ds finished school last Friday and is now on study leave. In exams start on Friday, but his first exam is 2nd May. He spent today revising maths which is the first exam. He took 3 exams early (year 12) so just 13 to go.

Cats I hope your MIL is ok, nightmare :( keep breathing.

BOOP Welcome to our merry throng of stressedness :D

Maybe they don't normally give the raw marks out now, but wanted to give Flatmouse' ds the option of pulling out if he wanted?

Cripes Shanghai. Almost all systems go for your ds. dd has a crazy number of exams too.

Three weeks for dds first exam. Gulp. How can that be? None of our schedules are going to match this time are they? With different subjects, exam boards and modules.

Probably not Kitten we start on the 6th of June and finish on the 19th. I say "we" because I feel like it am going through this pain too.

DS spent the weekend working on Chemistry and sorting out his EPQ presentation which he is giving this week.

He was at an 18th party on Saturday. He and some of his friends had to stop one of the girls trying to drive after she'd had a few drinks. They stood in front of her car so she couldn't move - she eventually got out and took a taxi. His words towards her when he got home were not complimentary.....

Good for your ds and his friends starfleet. Silly, silly girl.

dd starts on 16th May and goes through to the 25th June. It feels like GCSEs on steroids.

I don't even want to imagine the consequences if they hadn't realised what she was going to attempt.

Study leave for DS starts on 23rd May and first exam is 4th June through to 25th.

DD's exams seem to be very close together so she needs to be super prepared before she starts. At least music only has one paper as they have done a performance and composition already.

marmite my dd's are also very close together, start on the 4th June and end on the 19th. Her room is now almost wallpapered in revision notes. I snuck in today whilst she's at school 😂

Checking in. Ds1 exams are over 2 weeks in June. We should be in the swing by then with ds2.

Hope your MIL is ok @catslife.

Last post on EPQ from me now. DS got some feedback from teacher - apparently final artefact was "Fab" but research let him down (so in all the weekly sessions when they were looking at his research why did they never mention it just wasn't good enough?).

I've just read through the spec - it's new version this year (OCR), internally assessed, externally moderated (so unless they undermarked harshly across the board, i don't expect his mark to increase). However, reading the spec has now wound me up! Firstly there should have been 120 hrs guided learning (90hrs independent, 30 hrs taught) - he certainly didn't receive "teaching" on any of the suggested elements during contact time - purely guidance on what to do next.

They are assessed on 4 areas - managing project, using resources, developing and realising the project, reviewing the project. Now based on that, even if research poor, i don't see how it could have such an adverse effect on his marks. He obviously managed the project successfully as hit any checkpoints and had it completed and in on time (which was pre Xmas which seems incredibly early based on what others on here have said - presentation was week after Xmas). Using resources - ok maybe research comes in here? (he also did some interviews to gather information/backup his research). Project developed (you could see in his supporting docs how he had to change/fine tune as he went along) and realised. Then evaluation - he evaluated his research/interviews and his artefact.

So based on the above - not sure how "research let you down" made such a difference. He's been invited in to discuss, so i may suggest he looks at the information in the specification and plans in advance any remedial points, questions to ask so perhaps they rethink their marking.
After that - it's going to have to be forget and move on. It will be submitted as any points will help - kind of hoping for minimum C on EPQ to allow a C to drop to a D in one of his subjects!

Rant over ;)

Hi everyone, thankyou for the new thread Cat (feels a bit weird not to be writing Kitten there - does that mean we've grown up?!)

The rest of us were away for the weekend at a dance comp with DD2, so DD had the house to herself. She took full advantage of the peace and quiet and worked her socks off, she is now ahead of schedule on her revision plan.
She says it shows what a disruptive, distracting family we are!

It's good to see her feeling positive and in control, I hope it lasts.

I was most proud of her this morning though, she had a late start at school so didn't go in until lunchtime and as well as revision, managed to phone and book herself appointments for the GP, opticians and hairdresser! And sewed up a hole in her jeans which has been on my to do list for weeks!

Hi BOOP I think I remember your name from the year 11 threads?

Flat I'm sure I'd heard something about marking being harsher for the EPQ this year, but that grade boundaries will reflect the change. I'll try to remember where I heard/ read it! I do think it would be a shame not to submit it after all that hard work anyway.

DD's first exam is May 3rd, last one is June 22nd, so fairly spread out. I can't believe how close it is now!

My brother and nephew have been visiting for the weekend so a bit of disruption on the revision front. Plus she worked Friday and went to an 18th on Saturday, fell out with me over something I said to a 'friend' and one of her best mates had a riding accident and is in hospital. So not much headspace for revision.

Her exams are squished into just three weeks.

MIL is "comfortable" whatever that means in hospital speak!
DH is making plans for a quick visit if needed.

Welcome to the new thread both to new posters and those who have been with us for a while.
Tagging a few people from the past thread to see if they join us.

@MrSlant
@HesMyLobster
@LoniceraJaponica
@Hardwickwhite
@EllenJanethickerknickers
@MsAwesomeDragon
@doistayordoigo
@NoHaudinMaWheest
@Hardwickwhite
@LonericaJaponica
@Chocolateworshipper

Please feel free to tag anyone that I may have missed.
Thanks

Thank you! I'm in the list, but n/c

Classic over share, panic, n/c.

Yes it's possible that you are not the only missing one that's nc'ed teresa.
I think that @Icouldbeknitting also needs to be added to the above list.
Some may have found it but just not posted yet!

DS1 has been told how he did in his coursework.

English Lit: 20/40 (a low D if last year's grade boundaries are anything to go by)

History: 26/40 (borderline between a B and a C based on last year's grade boundaries)

He wanted to get at least 50% in both, and is pleased with the History.

I've been a very infrequent poster but suspect I will be checking in more often as the levels of anxiousness go up!

Still waiting for coursework and EPQ feedback here. School seem to be on top of revision and there is plenty of it. I'm feeling very nervous about the whole process probably because I'm a control freak....and I'm certainly not in control of this situation. I also have a DS doing GCSEs.

I feel really out of it because my dd didn't do an EPQ because she's been on a Sutton Trust two year programme instead.