Year 13 2024/2025 - support, discussion and looking after each other - continuation from year 12 thread

[elkiedee]

I've just realised that the year 12 2023/2024 thread is full - oops! - last message on 16 August - don't know if someone started another continuation thread but I can't see it. This coming year DS1 does A levels and university applications, DS2 will be in his GCSE year.

If there is a thread already started please let me know.

@Banan0 sounds positive. Ds also not going to get top grades but that is ok. It can feel difficult when everyone is having straight A predictions. We just have to keep going!! Last ever school October half term for us!

Anyone else not being allowed to read the personal statements? My daughter won't show me hers as it's 'embarrassing'......

We've offered to read DS' and one of us could definitely give it a quick proof read/edit (since that's the kind of thing we do for a living!) but he doesn't seem overly keen.

We read DS one but only because he was a bit confused on what to put so we edited it a bit. He used his older brothers as a guide too. However they relook at it in school so no idea what it will actually look like when it goes.

Has anyone been officially given exam dates yet? I'm assuming I could search for them on the different exam board websites.

No but I have just pulled off the websites. My daughters are quite spread out luckily. None on the same day and only 1 day where she has consecutive days. Luckily everything else has at least a 1 day gap between them.

Ooh I just went to look at dates none on the same day here but a few on consecutive days. All am except one pm one. Last one is 18June at moment which is good as I’ve tentative booked a holiday 29June.

Just had a look maths bio and chem all in a 2 and a half week period from 4th to 20th June. The last week 4 in 5 days but at least not the same day.. as its a really common combination you would think they could space it more!

STEM subjects are always at the end of the exam season as they are quicker to mark than essay subjects!

@PhotoDad very true! Also longer to revise!

Presumably there are a number of papers for most subjects too. I think DS1's 3 Maths papers were in consecutive weeks - two Tuesdays and a Thursday, and the Thursday was at the end of the exam period.

DS1 had his Oxbridge entry MAT Maths exam yesterday, but sadly he thinks it didn't go well - he ran of time and was rushed/didn't finish the last part of the paper. I've been researching the format - not the content as my 80s Maths education ended with O level and I don't think I'd understand a modern Maths question. It sounds like the style of exam is very very different from A level papers as well - all on a computer, online at a test centre, no calculators. Though I found some suggestions that increasing the weight of "multiple choice" questions makes it possibly easier, I'm not sure that's the case for Maths, where the long format questions (now 30% not 40%) offer marks for workings whereas multiple choice answers are right or wrong. DS1's practice was with pen and paper and the format has changed this year. His issue with exams is nearly always timing and technique rather than knowledge, and that's where the change of format is a concern, I fear.

@elkiedee The new online format for (nearly all of) the Oxbridge entrance exams certainly threw a lot of people, so hopefully it will all come out in the wash. There's an Oxbridge thread over in Higher Education which has some useful information and reassurance, although it's had a few problems with attitude and derailing. (But then again, most MN threads have those problems...)

@elkiedee DC1 had a bit of a torrid time with the MLAT last week - lots of unfamiliar vocab and ran out of time. She found it much harder than the past papers she's seen, not helped by the fact that they dropped the section that she's strongest at. This was tempered a little by having a really good open day experience at Edinburgh, although I hear that they tend to make very late offers, and a long wait won't be fun.

I am feeling stressed when I know I shouldn't. Hearing offers coming in isn't great when ds is yet to submit his ucas form. I know he has ages but it's hard not to think that early applicants get better offers. I know that's not true but that's logical to me!

My DD has applied early for a not particularly popular course but unfortunately all the universities she has applied to are well known for very slow offers. Although on submitting she said she was prepared lots of her friends now have 3-4 offers and she will be lucky to hear from any before March..

My eldest submitted his late (a couple of years ago) and got all 5 offers in the following week or so - inc one of the notoriously late ones - so it’s definitely not a disadvantage.

I think ds2 will get his in this month - he’s very laid back but knows exactly what he wants so I’m very much leaving it with him.

@NCTDN DS isn’t handing his in till December. I suppose the upside is that there’s no expectation of offers yet. Also he still has time to change his mind on eg whether he does an EPQ.

@NCTDN DS hasn’t handed his in yet - I think it’s gone to teachers to insert predicted grades etc. I think school will badger them to submit this month, hopefully before Christmas, then he can concentrate on Mocks and his ESAT in January. All in good time.

Can I ask is anyone else's DC applying now for a 2026 start? This is what my DS wants to do, and whilst I am happy to support him with that choice, I don't know if I should be pointing out the downsides....if indeed there are any?

He is my first DC and I think, selfishly, I am a bit apprehensive about having an adult child in the house who is not in full time work or study. He does plan to work during his gap year, as well as go travelling but it is (understandably) not mapped out.

I think I probably need to just go with the flow but does anyone have any experience with older DC and gap years?

No experience with older DC, @Banan0, but DS is applying now for a deferred start! His plans are moderately mapped out as he is a qualified watersports instructor (not an easy thing) and he aims to spend a few months in Australia and then a few in the Med, chasing summer...

He's received a couple of offers already so it doesn't seem to have hurt his chances at all.

My DD is planning to take a gap year she’s got an idea of something to do some extra training linked to her p:t job plus some experience related to the degree she wants to do. I’m going with the flow as the break from education will do her good she has some structure from her sports training and needs to earn some money to help fund university living costs for one year.

Thanks @PhotoDad thats good to hear your DS already has offers. His plan sounds excellent!

That’s all sounds good for your DD too @AutumnComing2

I am thinking that the extra life experience will do my DS good and certainly any money he can save will come in handy.

@Banan0 DD is not applying this year but planning to do it next year with grades in hand (school will still help with her application). I am supportive of the gap year as she plans to work (and save) and do some short courses in her area of interest, and I genuinely think she will cope better with university with a year's life experience under her belt.

I honestly think applying with grades in hand is the way forward. There's so much pressure on children to perform in exams. At least if they knew their grades first, they could focus on where is most suitable.