Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other (new thread from y12)

[scandinavianyellow]

Hello
I have started a new thread following on from this one
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/further_education/5340007-year-12-202425-support-discussion-and-looking-after-each-other-thread-2?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

I can’t think about having one doing GCSE’s and one doing a levels @ComingInByAnsible- what stress!

I love the idea of an advent calendar too., or an exam survival kit! Wonderful ideas 😊

Good luck to our Geographers today!

Has anyone heard back about Geography ? sounds like DS did not enjoy it said he had never seen some questions before.
Got 1 kid sitting 2 gcses today and 1 just sat Geography.

DS said Geography went well, there was one question he wasn't sure of, but post exam discussion has reassured him.
You never really know. He's done papers that he thinks we're great and we're just OK, and vise versa.

Good luck to everyone! The first one for DD is tomorrow (English lit) and is the most dreaded one. Then there's a long gap until the beginning of June. All the other papers are quite cramped together.

Politics aside, I'm feeling a bit sorry for Keir Starmer and his family today. I think his children are the ages to be starting A level and GCSE exams this week.

Dd had geography and didn’t like it at all. We were both feeling good with her prep beforehand. Just feel deflated now

Feedback was one annoying question in geog.

DD’s first exam is tomorrow (business studies) but one of her friends sat Geography today and was surprised by a question on estuaries… a bit baffling as we live in a town on the Thames estuary so it’s our very local geography!

Yes, apparently estuarine environments are a niche topic on the spec, and the AQA candidates were surprised to get a 20-mark question on them. (According to school chat - not one of my DC’s subjects).

@Ventress, we should market the exam advent calendar under the Ventress brand, in recognition of your existing practice! @Fabfabfab, I haven’t come across Treatbox before but it looks great!

The A Level/GCSE combo hasn’t been too bad so far (touch wood), they’ve been quite sweet testing and encouraging each other. But we are only a quarter of the way through both - fingers crossed it continues as the inevitable exhaustion sets in!

DS pleased with today’s physical geography paper. A few weird questions but he felt he could work around most things. Now a pause for him until next week, when he has three (macro econ, history crusades, and human geography).

Good luck to English and Business students for tomorrow!

That was the one DS didn't like, but he has since decided what he wrote was OK

Geography aqa also challenging here. Shame as he felt well prepared and so as his first exam has got it all off to a slightly shaky start. However he seems fine and has gone to do a sport tonight.

Same here.

Geography yesterday sounds like a mixed bag. It sounds like the boards were very different? Estuaries does sound niche but I have no exposure to geography so should probably not comment.

I hope paper 2 is better for everyone 🤞

DS has English literature today. Apparently in the morning (I thought it was afternoon but I’m still “need to know”).

Good luck to those taking English literature and Business Studies today!

I’m glad it’s not too bad in the Ansible household @ComingInByAnsible- long may that continue! Also for you @Tebheagand everyone else with two or more children taking exams.

Same here @MysticCatLady. I hope the children are able to “switch off” from what is going on outside and concentrate on their exams. Hopefully they have good support.

This is DS s last exam this week - three next week I think. He has actually done some revision though - hallelujah!

p.s DS says he’s not Edexcel for economics, he’s OCR . Apologies for the mislead.

Good luck to those doing exams today and well done to any that have already done exams so far. DD's friend said geography was good yesterday, but others who sat the same exam said it was tricky. I think a lot of this is down to individual students perception of what they expected and also how harsh they are on themselves. DD is always on the more harsh side and historically has always done better than she predicts. Hope this continues through A levels 😁.

First exam Friday so we are still bubbling under with stress as DD tackles past chemistry papers and is horrified how difficult some are. Luckily chem and bio are not until after half term so still time to improve confidence.

Good luck for everyone. DD first today, she flounced out the door saying (in her best Southern Belle accent)
"I have always relied on the kindness of strangers"🤭

Love that, @GirlsInGreen - your DD has style!

😂😂 @GirlsInGreen- love it!

There is a distinct air of further maths panic in the house today!

DS has text to say that English literature 1 went really well. So pleased (and a little relieved) for him.

@Ventress DC also said English went really well and particularly liked the 30 marker on Chaucer/Malfi.
2 down, 6 to go!

Sounds like geography was hard yesterday from reading about it although maybe the grade boundaries will therefore be lower.

@AuntyBulgaria hope the further maths exam goes well!

Politics is our nightmare here, dd struggling to focus on it. Making her (and me!) quite stressed as she needs an A. Has another 2 content heavy exams next week too. It’s so difficult when all you can do is feed them and be a venting outlet!

Glad English lit went well. DD’s best friend does that but I’ve not heard how it went but maybe that will calm her a little if it’s been ok!

DD had AQA Business today - she was happy with the paper and I’m glad the first exam is a good start.

Next up, Sociology 1 on Monday, Business 2 and History 1 on Tuesday. Then a two week break - the challenge will be keeping the revision motivation going!

DC's first exam is on Tuesday, when there's a tube strike and their 6th form is in central London - luckily strike doesn't start until midday so they can get in in the morning and that's the only exam affected by it. The rest will be over by the June strikes.