Oxbridge 2020 (8th thread)

[DadDadDad]

A thread to continue discussing entry to Oxbridge in October 2020 (less than nine months away ). All welcome, although this obviously will be of most interest to those with DS or DD holding an offer, and wanting to find a bit of support.

All too soon, 13 August will come over the horizon. Until then, ask questions... share experiences... discuss news and stats... write a poem... (we did briefly have some poetry on a previous thread).

With huge thanks to @HugoSpritz and predecessors for previous threads.

DH has covid symptoms, no surprise as he has been looking after very sick patients with the disease and inadequate PPE. I’m adapting to remote work using video and phone consulting. Ofqual stuff has taken time to get my attention... seems fair. As others have said upstream, tough if you happen to be in an outlier cohort for your school, DD’s school never been strong on Humanities to Oxbridge for example and results reflect this, this year however there are 8 of them who are realistic A* candidates.. hohum. It is what it is. I hope everyone’s surviving lockdown. Stay well and particularly to all you people who are /have medics x

All the very best to your DH hobbema

Yes, my younger DD did very well in her mocks and I'll be very surprised if she doesn't get top predictions. But DD1 took her mocks less seriously, unfortunately. Dd2 is frustrated she can't sit the exams though, and they didn't even finish some of her courses before schools shut.

The focus on exams annoys me. Once the exams were off, the teachers decided it was ok not to teach the rest of the coursework.

Wishing your husband well, @hobbema. Much appreciation for the hard work and person risk all medical staff and taking on. ❤️

Personal risk

Get well soon Hobbema's DH.

I've been chatting to a friend today who teaches in an FE college where they have to rank around 250 students who are resitting Foundation maths GCSE. Few students engage with their teachers and I imagine some will be struggling to put names to faces. That put my niggling fears about DD into perspective.

Thoughts with @hobbema's husband and with all the other posters and family members on here working with COVID-19 patients.

@Pallando, isn't there still a risk that a significant number of the cohort taking STEP 2 and 3 might be ill at the time of the exams, if the pandemic continues? Arranging confirmation letters for sick children (or whatever will be needed) isn't going to be high on GP's lists at the moment. I have no idea how many people take STEP but could this be an issue?

@GinWorksForMe there is a risk, yes. I don't think there is a perfect solution for STEP, but at least there has been some info released so that students know some of what is going on!

Thanks everyone for this thread. I have found it to be quite reassuring as I have catastrophised about various things (all offers being rescinded, entire year to be resit etc.) Funnily enough DS is supremely chilled about the whole thing: is confident his hard work will be recognized by the right results and he will be heading to Oxford in October.

I remain a little concerned about the A-level marking algorithm. Last year’s upper sixth focused more on rugby than academics and I hope this current year don’t get penalised for that! For example, DS has been banging out As in chemistry topic tests all year, but his school didn’t achieve an A in that subject last year. Will this mean he will be moderated downwards? I hope they wouldn’t apply the rules that literally.

I’m feeling a little sad because we had planned to have maths competitions over Easter (he finds it quite motivating to do past papers alongside me and revel in it when he beats me). So that mother/son bonding experience has been lost

What are your DCs doing with their time? DS is doing a bit of reading around his subject, is learning to touch type and going on bike rides, which is in complete contrast with what he would have been doing if the world hadn’t turned upside down.

SnapSnapDragon
DS is spending most of his time as follows:

• online maths olympiad
• making YouTube vlogs about Minecraft
• playing D&D online with friends

There's a bit of Isaac Physics and A-level consolidation too.

Good to hear your DS is fairly chilIed @SnapSnapDragon.
I too am missing the usual Easter revision “lock down” with post it notes all over the house! DS is still loosely working on his subjects but following up on points of interest and maths practice. DD1 (2nd year Oxford) is still working which influences DS1 to some extent. We also have DD1’s friend staying with us as they couldn’t get a flight home after self isolating in College. It’s a daily routine of runs/bike rides followed by work and some crazy homemade entertainment each evening. And a lot of Skype/Zoom calls!

I thought it was probably sensible to start a new thread - so please head this way but remember to stay 0.002km apart at all times ---> www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3873090-Oxbridge-2020-thread-number-9?watched=1