How were your DC's year 12 mocks?

lifeturnsonadime · 2023-06-30T21:46:13+00:00

What grades did they get and what will their predicted A Levels be? Do those match their planned universities?

Jaxx · 30/06/2023 23:35

Got Y12 Exam results and UCAS predicted grades emailed today. 3 x A star for both 🥳.

How dis your child do?

Original poster

lifeturnsonadime · 01/07/2023 09:41

Jaxx · 30/06/2023 23:35

Got Y12 Exam results and UCAS predicted grades emailed today. 3 x A star for both 🥳.

How dis your child do?

Amazing! Well done him!

OP posts:

JoeyRamonesHair · 01/07/2023 11:17

Horrific - mocks were BCD and she needs AAA to apply to medicine. It's possible to get the grades moved by re-examination in September though. A summer of tutoring is coming up :)

Original poster

lifeturnsonadime · 01/07/2023 12:00

JoeyRamonesHair · 01/07/2023 11:17

Horrific - mocks were BCD and she needs AAA to apply to medicine. It's possible to get the grades moved by re-examination in September though. A summer of tutoring is coming up :)

Ah I hope that this goes well @JoeyRamonesHair at least there is an option for reexamination in September, that doesn't happen at all schools, I know it doesn't at my DCs 6th form.

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BiancaBlank · 01/07/2023 16:35

DD got A* x 3 and an A - unfortunately the A is one she wants to do at uni (history). The school will put A star on her UCAS though, as she has done work at that level before.

Poblano · 01/07/2023 16:37

We have AS rather than mocks, so won't find out until results day in August.

Original poster

lifeturnsonadime · 01/07/2023 16:37

BiancaBlank · 01/07/2023 16:35

DD got A* x 3 and an A - unfortunately the A is one she wants to do at uni (history). The school will put A star on her UCAS though, as she has done work at that level before.

I wouldn't have thought that a prediction of an A at A level history would preclude anyone from a degree in history though?

My DS is hoping to study history I don't think I've seen any degree where an A* is required for entry? Have I missed something?

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Bobbybobbins · 01/07/2023 16:38

We are still marking ours 😅

Original poster

lifeturnsonadime · 01/07/2023 16:40

Bobbybobbins · 01/07/2023 16:38

We are still marking ours 😅

Good point. DS did his before half term which I think is quite early maybe!

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BiancaBlank · 01/07/2023 17:36

Of course she can study history without an A* but she wants to try for Oxford, where the majority of candidates are likely to have it. She’s also annoyed that her favourite subject looks like her weakest at the moment!

Rollergirl11 · 01/07/2023 18:47

DD had Year 12 exams after Easter. She’s currently at A star, A, A and her predicted are 2xA star and an A. They get another set of predicted in October. She also has EPQ which is hoping to get A or above in. She will probs do an early app for Cambridge that she needs A * AA for. Same goes for Durham and the rest she’s interested in are a mix of AAA and AAB. So she’s on track basically.

redskytwonight · 01/07/2023 20:32

Don't know yet (only just done them). Making Open Days a little bit of a guess work as DD oscillates between thinking she can get A star and then deciding that B is more realistic.

@BiancaBlank I think humanities subject marks tend to go up as you go along as they tend not to learn more complicated things (as would be the case for sciences) but simply cover more breadth, so they get better at the skills needed for exams as they go along.

JoeyRamonesHair · 01/07/2023 21:13

Oof lifeturnsonadime - that's a bit harsh! Dd had a national-level performance of her hobby last term which meant she missed loads of school (did a bit online while away but it wasn't the same), so I'm hoping if she keeps everything going through the summer she'll be ok. Just the UCAT to get through first...

JoeyRamonesHair · 01/07/2023 21:14

*Can't imagine kids not being able to re-take! Seems very mean.

Piggywaspushed · 01/07/2023 21:23

BiancaBlank · 01/07/2023 17:36

Of course she can study history without an A* but she wants to try for Oxford, where the majority of candidates are likely to have it. She’s also annoyed that her favourite subject looks like her weakest at the moment!

I wouldn't worry about this. Historically ( see what I did there?!) A stars are hard to obtain in history. DS is doing history with 2 A stars and an A in history. His friend is at Oxford with AAA.

Rollergirl11 · 01/07/2023 21:34

It’s funny you should say that @Piggywaspushed as DD’s predicted A is in History.

Piggywaspushed · 01/07/2023 21:50

It may be its based on bell curves and prior results. Don't despair!

MerryMarigold · 01/07/2023 21:52

lifeturnsonadime · 01/07/2023 16:40

Good point. DS did his before half term which I think is quite early maybe!

Show quote history

Yes my DS did them before half term. Apparently he didn't know before Easter hence didn't revise over Easter. He got B, D, E and they predicted the same.

Very unmumnsetty!

They will have more exams in Sept to revise grades but he really doesn't want Uni. Encouraging him to apply as a backup.

Delphigirl · 01/07/2023 22:31

DD got Astar Astar A which is about 6 grades higher than any of my other DC ever got in their mock A levels. So we are in stunned awe and silence in this house.

2 years ago we were contemplating D, E, U from her older brother and gearing up for an expensive summer of tutoring… they all get where they are going in the end though!

Original poster

lifeturnsonadime · 01/07/2023 23:02

JoeyRamonesHair · 01/07/2023 21:13

Oof lifeturnsonadime - that's a bit harsh! Dd had a national-level performance of her hobby last term which meant she missed loads of school (did a bit online while away but it wasn't the same), so I'm hoping if she keeps everything going through the summer she'll be ok. Just the UCAT to get through first...

I think you've misunderstood my post. All I was saying is that lots of schools don't offer re-takes of year 12 mocks before UCAS applications go in, ours doesn't.

I'm glad your DDs does so she gets to get the predictions she deserves.

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Original poster

lifeturnsonadime · 01/07/2023 23:04

lifeturnsonadime · 01/07/2023 23:02

I think you've misunderstood my post. All I was saying is that lots of schools don't offer re-takes of year 12 mocks before UCAS applications go in, ours doesn't.

I'm glad your DDs does so she gets to get the predictions she deserves.

Show quote history

I've been out at the cricket and think I've now misunderstood your post! !

Yes it's very harsh on kids not being able to retake. I thought that was normal given it's what happens at my DSs son!

Ignore the above!

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Sycamorethanever · 02/07/2023 07:12

DDs school don’t offer retakes either. She had mocks a few weeks ago and we don’t get results until end of term.

Don’t get predicted grades until Term 1 Y13 which makes looking at unis very hard. DD isn’t Oxbridge - hoping for ABB. Unis for her chosen subject are quite different if she doesn’t manage the A.

Piggywaspushed · 02/07/2023 07:24

The retaking would depend on how much weight is put on year 12 exams for making UCAS predictions, though? I'd never make students retake because

a) I weigh up a range of factors to come up with what is, in essence, a guesstimate (and in some subjects the final grade includes coursework which hasn't even been started!)
b) they won't get to resit their actual A levels....
c) at my place, there are two more sets of mocks in year 13

Sycamorethanever · 02/07/2023 07:37

Piggywaspushed · 02/07/2023 07:24

The retaking would depend on how much weight is put on year 12 exams for making UCAS predictions, though? I'd never make students retake because

a) I weigh up a range of factors to come up with what is, in essence, a guesstimate (and in some subjects the final grade includes coursework which hasn't even been started!)
b) they won't get to resit their actual A levels....
c) at my place, there are two more sets of mocks in year 13

I meant there are no more mocks between now and school deadline for UCAS applications.

What is the purpose of mocks after this? If you need the predicted grades for offers?

Piggywaspushed · 02/07/2023 07:44

Mocks are to practise for the real exams! And to teach them how to revise/the importance of revision.

UCAS predictions are a bit of a finger in the wind. Unis often moan about them not being accurate but that is a whole very complex debate,which assumes a student's A level result in and of itself is 'accurate'!

Really, a teacher should be able to predict for UCAS via a whole suite of info, not just one set of exams. They are just one factor. I accept some maths and science teachers don't think like this!