Oxbridge 2020 (thread number 9)

[DadDadDad]

What a year! Just as we've all become experts (at least in our own minds ) about how to write Personal Statements, Oxford admission tests and Cambridge STEP, the complicated dance of the interview process, and how to simultaneously boost our DSs' and DDs' confidence while preparing them for the possibility of disappointment, we have a new topic to learn: statistical modelling of expected grades.

Of course, like all those previous topics, we're not in control of teacher projection and OfQual rejection, but we have this thread to support each other through the coming months.

All welcome. For the record, I have a DS with an Oxford offer for a humanities subject.

Yes very good luck Chicken DD - the mere thought of STEP hurts my head.

The very best of luck to your DD Chicken. And to you. Maintaining “exam conditions” is no easy task if you have younger children, dodgy broadband, noisy neighbours or a myriad other scenarios.

Hope all went well achicken!

She's still smiling. Passport check took three attempts, but unclear whether that's because the photo is really old or just because her desk is in a dark corner. Hoping it's the latter. They let her do the exam anyway!

Glad to hear it is over. Hope the STEP went well for all those who took it.

Hope everyone’s Step paper went well

My ds sat his in our dining room the invigilator interrupted him 5 times through question 1. They asked for 360 degree views of the room with the mic on. My son showed them this and asked whether it was ok to carry on. They did not respond I think it affected his performance on that question

I am not sure what to do about it should i report it Has anyone else had the same experience.

The room in which he was working was empty. I cleared it all before the exam

Well done to the STEP sitters. So stressful to sit such an important exam online.

DS2 (Year 10) sat a couple of online assessments today and his mouse froze in the first one. I can't imagine how stressful that would be if it really mattered.

@dumbo1 I think it's poor that he didn't get a response to his question and I would report that in case it did affect his performance. I hope he managed to settle down OK.

I wasn't very happy with the lack of much guidance about expectations for their working space. DD cleared her room of Maths textbooks and potentially suspicious looking bits of papers. But we agonised about the fact her (entirely non maths-related fiction) book case is next to her desk, and it wasn't really feasible to empty it. It didn't feel like they'd given much thought to the fact these would be teenagers sitting the exam in a home environment.

At least they will know what to expect on Friday, for paper 3.

Was it run by Pearson Vue? They regularly ask candidates to show the inside frames of their glasses in case a crucial formula is written on the inside, not to mention tattoo checks for hidden quotes & answers.

Hoghgyni no, it wasn't Pearson Vue. The platform was called Mercer Mettl. It felt to me like they were more geared up to big corporations running remote assessments for their employees. A bit on the intimidating side, but then it's a high stakes exam, so I can understand the choice.

I think it made him mess up his first question while he was settling into the paper.

Its is quite intimidating to be checked that many times but apparently it happened to some other candidates too

I will contact step after the next paper. I think it’s important to give them some feedback if this is the new route for exams

Pearson & the main test centres have had to multiply up the volume of remote invigilation enormously over the past 3 months, recruiting a lot of new remote proctors. They don't know the difference between a career changing professional or academic exam versus a language test or skills assessment unfortunately. Students I know who have passed or failed exams taken through remote proctoring routinely feedback at the end of the session, just in case.

Would there have been any suspicious sounds int he room dumbo1? Five interruptions does sound excessive.

I was worried this morning because DH is on conference calls in the adjacent room and his voice carries. There's nothing we can do about it - he's got no flexibility about the timing of his calls.

Well done to the STEP takers. It sounds very stressful with the interruptions. I hope Friday's is better and they can concentrate ok

No noise in the house. All landlines etc were disconnected. The only thing i can think of id the builders next door. It could be my next door neighbour having her patio work done

Gosh, thoughts with STEP candidates, it sounds v stressful. I hope Friday is a bit easier knowing what to expect. Very good luck all.

Well, I can tick mattress topper off the list . D2 broke her lamp, I ordered a new one and added the topper to make the order up for free delivery. Although I wish I hadn't been so efficient, because this morning the clothes horse collapsed...

DS1 has poo pooed my ideas about shopping for what he needs. He wants to get the absolute minimum and then get me to give him the money so he can get it himself on an as needed basis. I am very sad.

I might ignore him though. I think he is just being superstitious about things. For a scientist he is not entirely rational.

Sandy, you only have to wait until 14 Aug when reality hits and then I'm sure he will let you get away with all sorts.

sandy when DS1 arrived at his college (which I suspect might well be your own DS's college), the incredibly enthusiastic student helpers looked horrified at just how little he had to lug up to his room. I felt utterly condemned as a mother but as things turned out, he muddled through, even without the advantage of a hundred and one unnecessary and underused items to convey from Oxford to Devon each term. Less is more when you have to clear out each term!

Apologies. Dropped a hint about DS1's college which I really shouldn't have!

Even the bare minimum clothes/books/laptop plus all bedding, towels and plates etc is going to be too much for D1 to take on the train in her rucksack. We will have to take her in the car which means an overnight stay somewhere (or sleeping in the car )

Jules which is why I breathed a sigh of relief when Durham said there would be no wriggle room on an insurance place so DD couldn't put them down!