Question about mocks in year 12

[BlueOceanFish]

Hi, my DC is in year 11 currently with the plan to go onto do A levels. However, we’ve got the opportunity to go on a big family holiday to Australia and we were thinking of going in Easter 2027. So year 12.

How bad would this be for her? When are the most important mocks for predictions for uni applications?

Thanks

That depends on the school I'd imagine. My dc are in year 12 and have them the two weeks after the easter holidays. It may also depend when easter falls.

Mocks aren’t the sole predictor for schools; we make holistic judgements. That said I would want them to redo the mocks under timed conditions at some nearby point so probably the week before they went, and what about work they miss? If they’re a great student then fine, otherwise it’ll need v careful thought which isn’t just ‘provide the work’ as a level doesn’t really work like that in most subjects

Ask the school but I would expect them to be shortly after Easter ie before the exam rooms are needed for a levels and GCSEs from early May onwards.

I think the trip would be a bad idea.

Most schools will not rely solely on the mocks as there will be class work etc leading up to them. The dates vary but most will be in the summer term at some point.

maybe check the websites of sixth forms you are looking at and check their calendar. Certainly my school had them at the same time each year (once a levels and GCSEs had finished)

I've got a y12.
He did papers just after Christmas, and will have another set in July (after the national exams finish). So Easter would be great for him.

Can you find a calender for the current Y12s online, and see if they are marked in?

I don't think you are talking about missing school, just lack of revision opportunities? Go for it.

@IceIceSlippyIce I am really surprised your son’s school did mocks after a term’s worth of content.

Check with the school. I've taught in 3 different schools now, and each did Year 10 and 12 mocks in later June, once the actual GCSEs and A levels had finished.

Sorry I should have said not missing any school!

I would check with school - our year 12 mocks are immediately after Easter holidays, we had a (short, UK) holiday booked which I have had to move.

Our year 12 mocks are either side of Easter.

So if the mocks are in year 12 are they important in terms of predictions for uni applications?

Ours are. Think other things are at play but bear in mind Oxbridge applications need to be in by October, they need to get predictions by then.

Yes, in that there are unlikely to be any more mocks before the UCAS predictions go in

Thanks

Oxbridge not an option.

But it would seem like a poor choice of time to go.

Back to drawing board!

Oh no... Mine is starting A Levels this Sept and we were also planning a big holiday in Easter 2027... I'd presumed they wouldn't have mocks so soon after starting?!
Do I have that right - they start A Levels in Sept 2026 and have mocks Easter 2027? They'll have only been doing the subjects for 8 months?

Our year 12 mocks are after may half term (once the majority of gcse / A levels are done). Easter should be ok as long as on top of work. Ring the school and ask as chances are it won’t change much between this year and next year. They are the main predictors for UCAS but not the only ones we use. But other schools may differ.

DC has Jan and June in year 12.

Definitely check with the college as it's so different. DC had mocks in May but then again in September after the summer so had another chance to get it right and his PGs increased at this point (from A to Astar in one subject)

Yes my daughter is currently y11 so we’ve been planning holidays around exams. We’ve avoided Easter this year by going away at Christmas just gone instead. Then to avoid the y12 exams straight after Easter 2027 and the y13 mocks just after December 2027 we’re going to use the two week half term in October 2027. Is that an option for you?