Is it too early for an A level support thread!

[HereWeGo2023]

Hello all, apologies if there is already a thread but I can’t find one.
May had finally rolled around and the first exam is a mere 2 weeks away. Exam stress has hit our house! It’s feels like everything is about waiting at the moment - waiting for the predicted grades, waiting for the uni offers, waiting for the exams to start, and then the long wait for the results!
This is our youngest DD but the first one in further education so would love to chat to other parents going through this

First one today for DS (Sociology). Am really surprised that he has two in one day in a couple of weeks as his subjects are a common combination.

@littlequestion maybe a function of different exam boards? My son’s friend had economics and geography on the same day last week, and I would have thought that was a reasonably common combo as well.

We have nothing until June and then 2 in a day also. June is going to be a fun month..

DD msg'd & seems pleased with sociology this morning.

All boards have the same subject on the same day. Clashes occur when it’s minority subjects.

one in the morning and one in the afternoon is just one of those things - there are a lot of subjects to fit in and a comparatively small window.

DD has her second Classical Civilisation paper tomorrow afternoon then on Wednesday has two exams, one English and one History. Quite a lot insuch a short space of time then nothing until Tuesday after half term.

I thought that @KittyMcKitty, but I wonder does that just apply to English boards at A-level? My DD is CCEA and her exams don’t match with what people on here are saying - Politics 1 is Wednesday for instance and English Lit 1 is next Wednesday.

I’m not sure that’s right either, my son is doing CAIE biology and has done three of the five papers and I know some people haven’t started biology yet.

CAIE are not a levels though are they? Correct me if I’m wrong. Anyway they’re not members of JCQ.

CCEA are members of JCQ - is this in NI? And only taken in NI?

Yes, they are A levels. I believe there are some sort of different CAIE Pre- U quals which some other schools do which are some sort of A level equivalent I think, they have separate papers.

It’ll be because they’re not members of the JCQ then if there are different dates I imagine. The JCQ provide a coordinated service between its boards. If they have 5 Biology papers at A level it sounds like quite a different structure as all other A levels are 3 papers plus the practical endorsement. As they’re international qualifications I guess there aren’t many centres in UK which do them?

scotland (although members) have their own system and I think NI do. Which leaves OCR, AQA, Pearson/Edexcel and WJEC who all do same subject at the same time.

My DS is doing CCEA - NI Grammar - and it's a different timetable to most of the English boards.

I wish they weren't doing it - very hard to find revision guides etc.

1st exam tomorrow - Economics - followed by 5 more (Maths, Economics, Business Studies) over the space of 3 weeks - until 13 June, so a pretty good timetable all in all.

No half term here.

All boards have the same subject on the same day. Clashes occur when it’s minority subjects.

Is that correct? I don't think it is. DS is doing Economics, History and English Lit. None are minority subjects. This week he has economics this afternoon and then on Wednesday he has both History and English Lit.

That all makes sense. In particular re the biology endorsement as DS has an actual biology practical under exam conditions. For chemistry (different board) there’s a practical endorsement. Clearly haven’t been paying enough attention to realise the differences so late in the piece!

Yes I believe CCEA exams are only available in NI. It’s not a different system though. Scotland stands alone with a completely different exam system under the SQA - NI is the same as in England/Wales with GCSEs and A-levels, the only real differences are that AS levels are still offered through CCEA and we still used alphabetic grading for both GCSE and A-level. Some schools here will use English/Welsh boards for certain subjects, although the majority of exams are done under CCEA

And yes, CCEA is a part of JCQ

DS misread a question today. I guess it was likely to happen at some point and it is only one question from 3 exams for the subject. He is done now until after half term. Hope he can keep the momentum up for his revision.

DD is starting to freak about psychology paper 2 on Thursday. She has been revising very hard but has been doing past papers today and says they were really tricky for the last 4 years (one 16 marker on something that they barely covered which has 4 lines in the textbook). Hopefully it won't be too bad! Luckily after Thursday she has 11 days until her next exam so I have persuaded her to take Thursday evening and Friday morning off to go and see her boyfriend for the night so she can unwind a bit. She is so desperate to get her 1st choice uni but needs high grades so is feeling very pressured.

Can't wait until 7th June when this is all over (well for a couple of months before we start to stress about results!).

DD found her History of Art paper fine, slightly thrown by an architecture question but nothing too daunting.

On the other hand, big problems at school after a massive cyberattack has knocked out the IT systems. Very difficult for the dc who use laptops for their exams.

Stressing about politics today, DS1 has been pretty good so far but was quite rude this morning. I limited myself to a raised eyebrow and did get an apology as he got out of the car (at 7.10 for a last min revision session!) 😅

DS has psychology on Thursday but also Core maths tomorrow. He's going in for a revision session in school later for psychology. Had one yesterday for core maths. Then there is a bit of a break before the next ones.

History tomorrow and I've barely seen my daughter, and when I do she presents her subject. I'm learning loads about the Tudors! She's handed in three History essays in the last week and a Psychology paper - she's not sure about the value in this as she says it takes away from her revision. It's what the teachers said to do, but it's making her hand ache (she has MS, which presented with numbness and weakness in her right hand and leg).
After second Psychology on Thursday she too has a break until Monday after half term, and as she's already finished art more than halfway to the finish!
I wish she'd take the odd break (managed to get her out for a dog walk yesterday). I think she's approaching burnout.

@HairyMaclary politics today for DD too. She is also stressing about it. Been revising loads but says she could still do with more time. Good luck to your DS

@mondaytosunday DD Has history tomorrow. I’m also worried about burnout. She seems to be managing everything quite well but it’s so full on. I also had to drag her out for a dog walk!
good luck to your DD

Dropped DS at school early for a last minute revision session, he is stressing about politics having found a YouTube video (Mr Patel Politics) with question predictions. I can't believe the exam boards have scheduled politics today, then English and History tomorrow - that's the exact combination my eldest did, I think it is quite common, so lots of people doing that have three essay exams in two days. Roll on half term!

DS had his History today (he's doing Ancient History with OCR). He said the paper was nice. He was chuffed with himself as he wrote 12 pages (I think that's for the 36 mark question).

Just posting for those worrying about other History exams tomorrow, trying to be positive and say I hope maybe they've decided to make them all nice :)