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Original poster

The 2017 Exams thread.

432 replies

WankersHacksandThieves · 17/03/2017 09:04

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?

OP posts:
ssd · 16/05/2017 12:26

he said the pre lim was harder and he got 51 in that

musicteacheriz · 16/05/2017 12:46

@ssd not the same teacher then!

wigglybeezer · 16/05/2017 18:13

DS2 did not have a good English Higher experience, he got an A in the prelim but managed to get in a fankle with allocating enough time to each section and didn't finish his non-profit fiction essay. He has HFA and is very good academically but is sometimes let down by confusion about simple things. Computer science went OK today though. Wish he didn't need 4 As otherwise I could just relax knowing he has done his best.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 16/05/2017 18:23

DS1 had computing science today too and said it was fine. No more info.

Fingers crossed wiggly, is he sitting 4 or 5 Highers? What is it he is hoping to do?

OP posts:
Superjaggy · 16/05/2017 18:52

DS had Higher Business today, he's not saying much about it so far... it was his worst prelim and consequently the exam he's been least looking forward to. One more to go! Higher Modern on Friday.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 16/05/2017 18:54

We are getting close too.

DS1 has Physics tomorrow and then Engineering next Thursday.
Ds2 has Nat 5 Modern on Friday - his best subject.

9 down and just 3 to go.

OP posts:
IndigoApple · 16/05/2017 19:05

Higher physics here tomorrow too. Been helping DD do the 2016 past paper. Helping probably the wrong word! The written questions are a bit more imaginative than in my day! Don't like the way the multiple choice has 5 options, and those I, II or III questions are nasty.

dementedma · 16/05/2017 19:09

Ds had NAT 5 computing today and said it was ok.
Physics tomorrow and he's done. He's not revising and I am past caring. I hope it all comes back to bite him on the arse and then he might listen when he has to repeat S4. Lazy little fucker!!!!

weegiemum · 16/05/2017 19:28

We went shopping today. Still 2 weeks to the next exam, and after the exams dd1 is on a teaching placement for a week (a Glasgow/West of Scotland schools initiative to encourage pupils into a teaching career) and most of her smart clothes are just a wee bit too "fashionable" (read risqué) for a week in a primary school! She's been quite serious and withdrawn with me recently so it was good to take her out of the house for a bit.

The Boyfriend thought computing higher was good.

prettybird · 16/05/2017 19:33

Ds has been complaining about the model answer to one Physics Higher question "What causes redshift/why does redshift happen?". He says the answer should be that the light coming from stars moving away from us has a longer wavelength, hence moving into the red part of the spectrum". He says the "correct" answer is "it has a longer wavelength" Hmmwhich he complains is tautology, because that is redshift Confused - not what or why or how.

wigglybeezer · 16/05/2017 21:27

He's doing 5 Wankers, it wouldn't be a disaster if he didn't get 4 As but he likes the look of a couple of courses at Glasgow or At Andrew's and he needs top grades for them, ( at the moment it's History/ film studies joint honours) but he is only 16 so time to change his mind.
It's actually dawning on me that I will have to get to grips with UCAS as I haven't before, DH and I went to art school and you applied direct in the old days.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 16/05/2017 21:40

That's good wiggly, at least he can do without getting straight As - he has a back up :)

Neither DH or I went to Uni form school so it's all new for us too. I suspect DS1 thinks he will get 5 As but he's done very little work so if he gets it he probably doesn't deserve it - in saying that he is quite diligent at school and with his homework so maybe he's done enough as he gone along.

He still doesn't know what he wan't to do though Confused. I'd love him to have some sort of direction.

OP posts:
wigglybeezer · 16/05/2017 22:17

He got 4As and a B in the prelims and has been very conscientious with revision so straight As is possible but he still sometimes manages to do something a bit random in high pressure situations so I'm not counting on it . He couldn't read or write independent (was in a reading group on his own below everyone else) until P5 and needed a scribe for long written pieces right up to S1 and then in S2 he lost the use of his writing hand for 6 months due to an accident and had to have 7 or 8 operations! Needless to say, I am very proud of him whatever he gets.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 16/05/2017 23:11

Oh yes, and so you should be wiggly :)

DS1 got As for all except Art in his Nat 5s. He now says he didn't do as much study as we thought he was doing...

He only got an A, 3 Bs and a C for the Higher prelims but says he knows where he dropped marks - he didn't do anything at all in terms of study for those either. To be fair all his teachers say in his report that they expect that his grades should be higher based on his class work.

OP posts:
wigglybeezer · 16/05/2017 23:14

Kids who do proper revision usually improve on their prelims.

Superjaggy · 16/05/2017 23:17

wiggly that's a difficult journey your DS has been on! I hope he gets his As and the course he wants :)

I also have to get to grips with UCAS later this year if DS gets his grades (or even if he doesn't, as he'll be doing S6), it was UCCA last time I used it!

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 16/05/2017 23:22

He says he has done some bits of past papers etc. I just hope it is enough. He is on a big bonus for As so he's maybe done more than he is letting on but I really haven't seen it. he had a bout of enthusiasm just after the prelims but that died away. He says he has corrected on all the bits he didn't do well in in the prelims.

DS2 will be hoping that his study gets his marks up - he has made a pretty reasonable effort but his prelims were very poor. 1 A, 1 B, 1C, 2 Ds and 2 Fails. I think he is hoping for 3 As, 1 B and 3 Cs - I'm hoping that he does that well, I'd be delighted with Cs for the two fails he had for a start.

OP posts:
rogueantimatter · 17/05/2017 08:44

Good luck to everyone doing physics today.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 17/05/2017 09:04

Thanks rogue. Ds1 had two breakfasts today - clearly extra sustenance is needed in order to get through 2 and a half hours of physics!

Good luck to all.

OP posts:
weegiemum · 17/05/2017 09:33

Good luck to those doing physics today!

UCAS forms are reasonably familiar to me as I used to be APT Guidance along with my subject, but its different for your own child! Also, dd1 wants to go to Art college and theres a whole load of portfolio stuff needed that I've never dealt with.

ssd · 17/05/2017 10:19

ds doing physics, its his hardest subject Sad

prettybird · 17/05/2017 10:51

Ds is now counting the numbers of hours of "formal" compulsory exams he has to go (Physics today, Geography next Friday). He's assuming that he's going to get unconditionals Hmm, so his Advanced Highers next year will be "nice-to-haves". I hope he's not disappointed. Grin

IndigoApple · 17/05/2017 11:05

I took DD for a Starbucks before physics. It's getting expensive!

I have started following UCAS on Facebook in preparation! It's totally different from when I applied.

prettybird I'm hoping DD doesn't get unconditional offers as don't want her slacking next year like I did but at the same time it would be quite nice!

ssd · 17/05/2017 11:12

ds1 got unconditionals and still did well in 6th year, I think if they are used to knuckling down they will continue this even when 6th year is a bit of a jolly.

prettybird · 17/05/2017 11:26

We've had quite a few chats with him about the risk of "Unconditionalitis" Grin

He's quite a focussed and self-starting boy though and both Advanced Highers are ones he enjoys and which will make his life easier in 1st year, so, combined with his pride, he should be immune from the disease Wink

The crash Higher in Modern Studies is something he is interested in, so hopefully he'll apply himself to it.

The school is also really good at working with its S6s to keep them motivated.