The 2017 Exams thread.

[WankersHacksandThieves]

I think we all found the thread last year useful and supportive so I've set this one up for us all to share our woe, angst and (hopefully) joy for the 2017 exam season. I'm also trying to have something on Scotsnet that isn't politics. I'm trying to avoid that tbh as it just all makes me too angry...

Anyway, I have two going through it this year, DS1 in 5th year sitting 5 Highers and DS2 in 4th year sitting 7 Nat5s.

Studying has been underway since the prelims ended. They are doing 3 x 25 minute Pomodoro sessions on weekdays and 4 sessions each day at the weekend. To be honest it's mainly been used for the coursework up until now but the last piece is due in today for DS1 and DS2s is all in now so proper study can commence.

How is everyone feeling?

I have no idea what/how ds is studying bad mother alert but he seems to be properly focussed and getting on with it. He appears to be sensible in his balancing of studying, playing rugby, coaching rugby, the gym - and only a small amount of gaming once he's done all of that.

He had his Higher Geography assignment (which is done under exam conditions) on Monday and he said it went "OK" - which is a good sign

He did tell me last night how well his English revision went and when I asked what he'd been studying, said the back of his eyelids He then explained that no matter how much he seems to sleep, at the moment he's still tired as he's going through a growth spurt - and that the timing of major exams is not fair on boys

To be fair on him, he's pretty good at going to be at 10 during the week (up at 7).

He's pleased with his essays for his English portfolio, so he's getting more confident about an A for his English Higher.

Geography, Maths and Physics are his strongest subjects. He's said he's going to be doing Advanced Higher Physics and Maths next year, with a crash Higher (for interest) in Modern Studies.

We had to instigate a study regime mainly for DS2 as he needs structure... :o he is actually happier with it ad has said as much. he seems less stressed and has said that he wants us to make him keep doing it when the new school year starts. I think he's found that actually having done the work he is asked for in school feels better than worrying about what he is going to say about the fact he hasn't done it. The boy is learning.

Bed times aren't great. suspect it's midnight or after. Both say they aren't tired. they get up at 7am with very little bother so I'm not sure I can say anything. I'm hoping growth spurts are over as Ds1 now 6'3", Ds2 only just over 6' so probably still has some to go.

We are also starting to become knee deep in DofE and Scout stuff.

Meant also to say that I don't envy you have two going through it at the same time.

I have newfound respect for my mum as my brother was only one year behind me at school too. But I was the geeky "good" kid and my db was the problem child.

By this time when I was doing my Highers, I already had my conditional for St Andrews; they were only asking for 4xB (and I was on course to get 6xA ) but it was a good focus.

I wish I could ask my mum more about what it was like

Dd is re sitting Nat5 maths and doing 4 highers. She often seems to be staying at school for extra study support.

Am dreading the Easter Holidays as she seemed to go into meltdown last year and it was really hard trying to calm her down and support her.

Having two doing things at the same time has always been our life, sometimes it makes life easier and sometimes it doesn't. There are a lot of twins in our family, the consensus seems to be that twins are easier than the one year gap. I think there are similar issues in that there is a need to make sure that you take account of the fact that they are individuals. But you have the added stress of making sure that the 2nd one feels that his talents are equally valued and that he doesn't feel that he has to get the same to gain your approval or alternatively just doesn't try as he feels he won't do as well.

DS1 is tutoring DS2 in Maths for an hour a week and DS2 is finding it really useful. DS1 isn't getting paid but is instead on a financial incentive depending on what DS2 gets in the exam, with a rising scale of award. Ds2 is on his own incentive and doesn't know about DS1s in respect of his own pass/grade. Cloak and dagger stuff but we hope it works.

That sound positive about the supported study at school. How about setting up a study plan in advance of the holidays so that it's all set out and it might stop the mass panic and would show her that she has plenty of time for study and for any activities and meeting up with friends/chilling watching tv etc.

I'm sure they all feel better for getting all the coursework submitted. Just two weeks of school left before Easter holidays and then 2 weeks after before Study leave commences!! I think DS1 gets measured up for his 6th year blazer soon , surely he was only 5 last week?

And on the only political note I'm adding to this thread, DS1s voting card came through with ours yesterday, that made me feel old!

Dd voted last year in the Scottish parliament elections. Ds is feeling left out 😂

Ds is looking forward to voting (not got our polling cards yet though) - it'll be a wee bit of a distraction from his first exam (Higher Maths) the following day

Hello again. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by.

This is just an update for anyone who remembers me from last year.

DS changed schools in June for his sixth year from his local school to a specialist 'centre of excellence' music school within a state school. To cut a long story short he's doing AH music, AS music and A2 music! He has an unconditional offer so the pressure is off. It's such a nice feeling.

Very best of luck to your DS's. I am so impressed that they seem to actually listen to you. I could not get DS to do much studying last year at all.

My DS is annoyed at having a polling card as he feels he has to research the candidates and doesn't like the burden of responsibility, as he sees it. He is struck by the fact that everyone he hears talking about politics is convinced they're right and that a vote for a candidate they don't support is a disaster. Poor DS. Card came yesterday.

Hi rogue isn't it lovely when they find their niche? Sounds like your DS is doing great.

I has come round quickly but I guess we were last on the thread at results time in August so not that far ago really.

My DS hates to make any sort of decisions so I imagine voting might be torture for him!

Fantastic news about your ds' unconditional rogue for him and or for you

Just to clarify: ds doesn't actually listen ** to us at least not straight away .....he'll harrumph at us and then very quietly do what we suggest a week or so later Never a word of acknowledgement though

We "suggest" a lot of things to DS2, tell him why we are suggesting it, make it his choice and offer to nag him to do them if he wants. It seems to work. DS1 just likes to be told what to do, if he disagrees he has a silent protest in which he simply just doesn't do it. he is mainly very/overly compliant though and is quietly competitive.

Our polling cards arrived today

Got a bit of a fright though as I only saw dh's and my cards - but ds had already taken his own card up to his room

Let's hope he uses it wisely

Hi all. Dd is now in S6 and will be sitting 2 AH ( English and Modern Studies). She has also completed a 15 credit OU module- last assignment submitted last week . Now revising and working on dissertations ( and has asked for my help ) with the English. She needs 2 x B for her first choice course so fingers crossed.

I take my hat off to those of you who do this more than once - have to say I'm flagging and really looking forward to the end of May.

Hello folks waves

This year I have DD sitting 7 N5's and DS1 sitting 3 Adv H and one N5 although maybe not since he got an unconditional offer and doesn't want to sit the N5 now

Can't wait for results day in August 🙈🙈🙈

Hi percy and girl63.

I'm looking forward to the end of May but not so sure about results day!

I have DD in S4 doing 5 Highers and DS, a very old hand, in S6 doing 3 AHs. To complicate matters I am their English teacher.

Also mark English for SQA if anyone has questions.

School computers buggered for 2 days has caused immense stress. Roll on 17th May when they finish.

Have seen a truck load of models for senior phase but never an S4 doing 5 Highers.

Is she being presented for them all this year Hamlet? Has she any Nat5's? So curious...

Also mark English for SQA if anyone has questions.

I have one, can you please dig out DS2s Nat 5 English papers and give him a good score? :o

Lol me too. SQA have teamed up with Satan and an new circle of Dantesque hell called emarking has evolved. Sadly Lucifer is omnipresent in our marking.

Can I please join in? I may have posted here last year, or possibly just lurked as I was worried that DS wasn't putting the work in for his N5s... he got 3 As and a B plus nat 4 maths so he's now looking for the same at Higher and nat 5 maths (for which he has a tutor).

I'm not envious at all of those of you supporting more than one DC through exams... my DS is mostly just getting on with it but he does get anxious and has the odd meltdown as deadlines approach. DD has just made her choices for S3.

Lidlfix what's emarking? I've done SSLN marking in the past (I'm a primary teacher), is it like that?

Oh and my DS also v proud to have his first polling card - may well get bogged down in reading up about candidates now though

Of course you can join in Superjaggy, all welcome here, even if you don't have DC doing exams :)

DS2 desperately hoping he passes Nat5 Maths as he never wants to do maths ever again!

My DS feels the same about maths, Wankers. And now he's been told that he doesn't need maths to study law at Aberdeen, he's even less inclined. But as I've pointed out to him, he changes his mind every week about what he wants to study so he needs to keep as many options open as possible.