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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 stresses....[history depression today and more to come...]

109 replies

DinkyDaisy · 24/05/2023 22:21

My ds is usually quite calm and collected but his history paper today [a whopping 40% Russia paper ] depressed him. He is angry with himself. I screwed it up he texted me at work. Timing that he thought he had sorted through revision went a bit awry for starters.
He is trying to move on but it is hard. He took the night off from revision as the next exams are after half term.
I am sure he is not alone...
He is avoiding exam talk at school as a history post-mortem will finish him off I think.
He needs AAB for university choice and he is doubting himself now...
Good luck to all going through this!

OP posts:
WednesdaysPlaits · 24/05/2023 22:24

Ds is the same. He thought history was ok but is upset over the English lit paper. He was hoping for an A star and now thinks he’ll be looking at a B. Two three hour essay papers plus extra time was way too much in one day

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 24/05/2023 22:28

ds said history questions were not bad but he just messed them up.
2 essay subjects in one day is tough...

OP posts:
HappySonHappyMum · 24/05/2023 22:30

My DD had History today too - she has been so positive about achieving her goal but a waver of doubt crept into her conversation this afternoon. She has English language tomorrow morning and she is exhausted from the effort of it all. It's a lot for them all to cope with - especially if you've done the work and put the effort in - in the hop it will be a little easier.

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 24/05/2023 22:34

ds worked very hard and is just so annoyed at himself yet needs to just move forward...
It is exhausting...

OP posts:
BronnauMawrion · 24/05/2023 22:42

My son has a condition that allows him extra time, so today he was under exam conditions for NINE HOURS.
I find it incredible the exam board don't coordinate and realise that those taking History may also be likely taking English too.
Thank god half term is nearly here.

scabby1 · 24/05/2023 23:35

I agree about the exam board.
My Dd had Politics yesterday afternoon, History this morning and English Lit this afternoon.
I’m sure her combination of A Levels subjects is very common :(

Piggywaspushed · 25/05/2023 06:02

As a teacher of 3 heavy essay subjects, I am really flummoxed by what is going on with exam combos. History, Eng Lit and film were all yesterday and I teach several who do all three and so many clashes are having to be resolved. Yet, no maths, chemistry (biology or physics I think?) til after half term?

It seems odd.

Often students who think they have done badly haven't, so don't panic.

To the PP... 9 hours???

That isn't allowed??

Original poster
DinkyDaisy · 25/05/2023 06:32

Hope he hasn't done as badly as he thought.
2 more history exams- one 15% and the other 25% so another 40 altogether.
So hopefully not all lost...

He had politics the day before that he felt ok about. His other A level is maths.
Just has to get his confidence back after yesterday.

OP posts:
WednesdaysPlaits · 25/05/2023 06:37

I think they go in with unrealistic expectations. Predicted grades are not guaranteed and so many seem to be predicted A stars and As nowadays. They can’t possibly all get them.

cptartapp · 25/05/2023 06:38

DS2 is doing maths, biology, chemistry and hasn't an exam at all for another 12 days. I feel for this cohort having never sat public exams since year six. And many having gone into A levels never having even finished the GCSE syllabus due to Covid.

Piggywaspushed · 25/05/2023 06:41

Genuinely don't understand why STEMMERs get more revision time and study leave. Feeling all conspiracy theory!!

Redundancygirl · 25/05/2023 06:42

My DS is beside himself over physics exam yesterday. Did loads of revision but unusual questions just threw him completely. Left some questions blank and unsure about all answers. Predicted an A & needs one. Now super anxious with 2 more physics exams to come. So so difficult to know what to do to get him to continue and regroup. Any suggestions?

Piggywaspushed · 25/05/2023 06:44

I guess just focus on the next ones. What's done is done. Has he spoken to others who sat it?

Redundancygirl · 25/05/2023 06:50

Yes others found it hard too. He’s just focused on the fact that you need about 65% for an A and how that isn’t going to be possible since he left so much. He has put so much pressure on himself that I’m worried he’ll burn out with anxiety and stress.

I’m going to try and sit with him today to reassure & see if he can look forward. Not much else I can do.

Peacefullythoughtful · 25/05/2023 06:51

So reassuring to read this. Daughter had history yesterday and English- it was hugely stressful! Grade offers seem so high this year the pressure is really on and they are the last of the covid cohort when it comes to exams. Daughter and friends all mixed about yesterday’s history . it will be a long wait til August….

Piggywaspushed · 25/05/2023 06:52

Redundancygirl · 25/05/2023 06:50

Yes others found it hard too. He’s just focused on the fact that you need about 65% for an A and how that isn’t going to be possible since he left so much. He has put so much pressure on himself that I’m worried he’ll burn out with anxiety and stress.

I’m going to try and sit with him today to reassure & see if he can look forward. Not much else I can do.

Has he got any more before after half term Maybe take some time off? Go for a Nandos or to the cinema? Cinema is good because you can't talk and your mind is occupied.

Tudorfish · 25/05/2023 07:03

My easy going DD was anxious before her Tudor exam yesterday. She thought it was very fair but she screwed up timing and didn't finish the last question.

On the plus side she never has to study the "tedious Tudors" again 😊

Notellinganyone · 25/05/2023 07:09

BronnauMawrion · 24/05/2023 22:42

My son has a condition that allows him extra time, so today he was under exam conditions for NINE HOURS.
I find it incredible the exam board don't coordinate and realise that those taking History may also be likely taking English too.
Thank god half term is nearly here.

The issue is that there are often multiple exam boards and so difficult to coordinate - but yes not ideal. I teach some kids with 50% extra time!

PacificState · 25/05/2023 07:11

My DS did the physics paper yesterday and the consensus among his friends is that it was pretty hard and extremely weird. He said nobody came out of it saying 'well that was fine', and he's at a maths school where everyone does physics A Level! Might help your son to know everyone found it a bit nightmarish.

WednesdaysPlaits · 25/05/2023 07:20

Ds was literally on his knees when I collected him from the station after back to back history and English lit with extra time. Didn’t then help that the clutch failed on my car and he had to get out and push me to the side of the road. He’s mainly upset about English lit because the grade boundaries are extremely high (I think from memory they’re the highest of all subjects). So he’s worked out that he’s lost the A star and probably also the A. He feels like he didn’t manage to do as much revision as he should because he was focussing on economics earlier in the week (his worst subject).

I know there will be a reason for it but I agree it doesn’t seem very fair that these heavy content essay based subjects were front loaded but the kids doing the traditional medicine combo of biology chemistry and maths don’t even start until after half term. They were supposed to be spacing them out more.

Piggywaspushed · 25/05/2023 07:38

Film Studies has the highest traditional grade boundaries , as it goes - 92% for an A*!

WednesdaysPlaits · 25/05/2023 07:46

Piggywaspushed · 25/05/2023 07:38

Film Studies has the highest traditional grade boundaries , as it goes - 92% for an A*!

Wow, ok. English lit is very high though I understand.

Tudorfish · 25/05/2023 07:48

Anyone know what the grade boundaries are for History?

DD's school only finished teaching content for Cold War last week.

WednesdaysPlaits · 25/05/2023 07:52

Tudorfish · 25/05/2023 07:48

Anyone know what the grade boundaries are for History?

DD's school only finished teaching content for Cold War last week.

Nobody knows since it depends on how they all do. But when they set the boundaries for all subjects they are aiming to have the same number of As Bs Cs etc as in 2019.

lastdayatschool · 25/05/2023 08:31

I tried working out the Grade Boundaries for A* for the CCEA board - came to the conclusion I was effectively doing their Further Maths paper 😂

ccea.org.uk/grade-boundaries