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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

A level Results - 18 days - anxiety rising....anyone else??

999 replies

Poppledopple · 31/07/2016 13:31

Maybe because it is August tomorrow - but seems to have come round quickly. Had a nice break not thinking about anything since last exam and after full on year choosing, applying, getting rejected, getting offers etc....

Might as well switch off and try and get distracted for the next 18 days....as either way it will be v busy few days/weeks after results to get started on next phase of his life.

PFB -- any old hands out there want to give me a slap?

OP posts:
NapoleonsNose · 17/08/2016 06:25

Morning. 24 hours to go. I hope everyone managed to sleep. I did, but not sure I will tonight. Just looked at the grade boundaries and for one of DD's subjects, it looks really high. This is the one she said yesterday that she didn't feel she did very well in.

Northernlurker · 17/08/2016 06:42

I slept better than Monday but had two nightmares about results day. Sigh.

Original poster
poppledopple · 17/08/2016 07:29

What are we to speculate on from grade boundaries ahead of actual results - is it just another layer of angst? I thought that they just shifted about to make things fair?

OP posts:
homebythesea · 17/08/2016 07:38

Really starting to get nervy now. I'm going out tonight to an open air proms type thing which will hopefully distract....DS in a social whirl this week probably for the same reason. Things rather difficult as we are essentially waiting for my MIL to die at any moment, so DH not around (MIL lives quite far away) and depending on what happens in the next day it so I may have to organise a trip to see her which I dread for very selfish reasons. Certainly puts stuff into perspective!

Butteredparsn1ps · 17/08/2016 07:40

Morning all 24 hours to go. Is it too early for Wine?

DD stayed at her boyfriends last night, and is busy today. I'm going to shred a load of paperwork!

Think I might buy a sneaky bottle of fizz later and hide it.

Butteredparsn1ps · 17/08/2016 07:42

home I'm sorry to hear that. As you say it puts things into perspective. Flowers

Hassled · 17/08/2016 07:43

I couldn't really sleep either - and when I did, had a strangely horrible dream that DS3 had broken his foot and I hadn't noticed. This will be a guilt dream because it's all about DS2 at the moment :o.

Hassled · 17/08/2016 07:43

home - that must be hard for all of you - I'm sorry.

NapoleonsNose · 17/08/2016 07:50

home - sending Flowers. It's an anxious and potentially difficult time already but losing a relative during it all must be awful.

Coconutty · 17/08/2016 07:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Coconutty · 17/08/2016 07:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fourarmsv2 · 17/08/2016 08:06

Good luck to all your DC tomorrow :)

I wish my DP had taken as much interest in the process. Did they just not get so involved back then? I got my results over the phone from my BF and then sorted out my own uni place from home by phone and fax!

Patterkiller · 17/08/2016 08:06

I've just came across this thread I hope I'm not too late to the party.

My butterflies are in overdrive this morning. I woke on an adrenalin surge but couldn't remember why so stressed..just for s second.

Dd seems cool as a cucumber but she is quite deep so goodness knows what she's thinking. I'm being the model of calm on the surface.

hellsbells99 · 17/08/2016 08:19

Eeek maths C4 works out at 93.3% for the A* !
and C3 (which DD said didn't go as well as hoped and was hoping for a low grade boundary) is approx 90% for A*

Original poster
poppledopple · 17/08/2016 08:22

Homes I am sorry that you are enduring bereavement at this time you must feel pulled between DH and DS.

I have looked up the grade boundaries - means nothing to me - just a bunch of numbers - are they to be compared with earlier years and then deemed "high" or "low'?

Is the real use to have this info to hand so that you know if the grade slip was just a few marks you have a better negotiating stance with uni?

I imagine that clearing lines and dept are closed at the weekend - so we can take a breather if all not sorted by tomorrow eve?

OP posts:
lessstressy · 17/08/2016 08:27

I'm not sure why they release grade boundaries the day before results, surely it can be of no use to DC and only fuels speculation and angst! Why not release them publicly at the same time as results?

We all have a busy day planned here to distract DD (and me!)

frocksnogandbusters · 17/08/2016 08:40

Hey folks! Grade boundaries, according to DD whose waiting for AAB, gives them an idea as to what they THINK they might get. One friend did eng lit and boundary for her board for A* was 98% so she knows that she can't really have afforded to drop say more than 2-4 marks over the two papers which she feels she did. As I said.... THINK......its all speculation still but I think the students have an idea as to how they did. Who the hell knows though!!

Maybe this may draw things closer to'will I get an email today or not' but then reading pp it doesn't indicate much really.

DD is v emotional but won't even talk about it let alone plan ahead. I have done a list of all the bits she needs for tomorrow and left it'hanging around' in the kitchen. They have to go in to collect results from 8.30. I also have D's who is awaiting AS results on economics and maths. He has to go in from 9.30.

My lack of sleep last night was from Ds thinking he could drink with his sister and her three mates last night. Clearly he couldn't but now he knows that vodka hits you like a steam train when you least expect it!!

TranquilityofSolitude · 17/08/2016 08:51

Another late joiner, although I confess to lurking for some time on this thread. Thanks to all those who have given advice and shared experience here.

DD has looked at the grade boundaries but admits that they don't really tell us much. I assume they may be more relevant for subjects with right/wrong answers where you might be able to leave the exam with a clear idea about how you did - DD is doing essay subjects so it's all a bit vague.

DD had an unexpected disaster last year with an RS paper where 76%, when converted to UMS, became a U. I talked about it on the AS thread last year. We never managed to resolve this, despite school appealing to the exam board and the usual remark/review process. Consequently DD resat that module this time so we are hoping for a much better result, but it all adds to the anxiety now.

To make it all worse, DD's boyfriend is about to begin his 3rd year at her first choice - apparently it's her first choice because of the course content and this has nothing to do with the boyfriend... Hmm

DD2 gets AS results tomorrow as well. It's becoming very hard to think about anything other than exam results!

Biglaugh · 17/08/2016 08:58

After big row yesterday when I said we needed to talk through expectations and plans DD apologised and said she just didn't want to face it.
She was happy in the bubble between exams and results because it was a level playing field for a while instead of her feeling constantly second best because all her friends are high achievers and she is not very good at exams (better at coursework).
I don't know why she wants to go to Uni as she hates studying so much but the herd is all off there...
Feeling like a rubbish mum today Sad

homebythesea · 17/08/2016 09:02

Thanks all

Yes I'm feeling torn. I and both kids want to go and basically say our goodbyes but my younger one had an activity all last week which meant that we couldn't go, and now waiting for these wretched results......and the distinct possibility that by the time we can travel MIL will be gone :(

DH thinks that life goes on etc and we should just come when we can but I would like to be there to support him through this. Best case scenario is good news first thing then we can make plans- DS booked to go to a local nightclub A level results party tomorrow night but I've warned him it might be an early start Friday. Actually he has shown some great maturity in dealing with this over the past few days- hidden depths!!

frocksnogandbusters · 17/08/2016 09:15

Big hugs home that's all very difficult for you Flowers

Cocolepew · 17/08/2016 09:20

Home Flowers
My zen like state never lasted long Hmm
Finally got to sleep after 3.
Hope everyone gets through the day BrewWine

TranquilityofSolitude · 17/08/2016 09:38

That sounds really difficult, Home. Hoping all goes well for your DS so at least something is straightforward.

Dunlurking · 17/08/2016 09:42

What a sad situation home. Hope your ds gets the results he needs and you can work it out from there. Big Laugh you've been keeping us cheerful on here. Thank you. Hope things settle down between you and your dd.

Ds cross with me today for pointing grade boundaries out. Think he's been in that bubble twixt exams and results as well. I'm going to escape the house for the morning and go and spend money and have a coffee somewhere do the supermarket shop. Ds working this afternoon so we only have this evening to live with his mood then

Hassled · 17/08/2016 09:51

Coco - my calm of yesterday has vanished as well. It was nice while it lasted. I don't know whether to tell DS2 about the grade boundaries being out - although one of his friends will probably tell him if I don't.