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?

Given that the offer has been made, I have a question for Lidlfix and HamletsSister

Ds' creative essay for his portfolio was over the word limit (1170 iirc). His teacher has said that in these circumstances, it's usually passed on to a senior marker (or something like that) to check that it didn't just have extra words for the sake of it.

Unusually, he actually let me have a look at it (he's never let me see any of his work for his portfolios - neither last year for his Nat 5, not for his discursive essay), to see if I could identify anything that could be cut. It was the first time I've seen his written work in a few years, so I was interested to read his "voice".

Without wanting to give anything away (just in case one of you, by a strange coincidence, ends up marking it ), I was bowled over by it although I hope his own character is not as dark and that it is purely imagination - and felt that every word in it contributed to the story.

Will the fact that it is slightly too long count against him?

As an aside, I was talking to the very scary and intense English teacher he had S1-S4 when I was serving tea/coffee at an S1 Parents' Evening (I'm on the Parent Council); turns out that not only did we go to the same school but we were in the same English class (Ds doesn't have my very distinctive surname and she'd changed her name when she got married). I can therefore definitively say I was better than her at English as I won the English prize by a long way that year!

I'm surprised at that superjaggy, just about everything I've seen lately, including base level jobs and modern apprenticeships are looking for Nat5 maths which I think is a shame as it's quite a stretching level really. I really don't think, if we wound the clock back a few years, that they'd have been looking for Credit level standard grade or Int2 which I am told the nat5 is the equivalent of. Even further back, they'd be looking of o grade arithmetic rather than Maths.

As a consequence we've told DS2 he needs to get it (he is capable of it, just finds it tricky) but if he does, he can give it up.

It's N5 maths that my DS1 is refusing to sit at this moment in time. His teacher over the past two years hasn't exactly been inspirational which has added to the problem. DD would help him - she's top stream in S4, but he won't accept help from her. Poor sod is doing Adv H English and 2 other Adv Highers so he's not "thick" as he thinks his failure in maths makes him.

Another marker here, Prettybird. If your son's doing higher his word limit will be 1300. If his essay is over the limit (+ they have 100 words grace) then it's passed on to the principal assessor who (we're told) will impose a penalty on it. I've never heard how much though. The teacher should really have made sure he was within the limits before the essays were submitted to avoid any penalty.

Just been back and checked the document ds sent me: if he didn't make any further changes it was 1375 words, so within the 100 words grace you mention.

I think he's been warned that it might still go to the principal assessor.

When I read through it the first time, I genuinely couldn't see anything he could have taken out without diminishing the story. It kept me guessing right to the end and every word counted in building the atmosphere. I suggested 4 words he could take out but couldn't identify any sentences iyswim.

Hopefully he'll be ok.

It should be absolutely fine. Yes, it gets referred but usually there is no penalty - or a minimal one.

That said, if he can use the next month before the final deadline to cut it to below, that would be best. Remember, the title doesn't count.

DD1 is S5 doing 3 highers, 3 Nat 5s (two subjects she took up late -one this year - and resit maths -she got a D )
She doesn't appear to be doing much studying - she did OK in some of her prelims - As and Bs and less well in others - inc English higher.
But she bombed on one essay as she ran out of time or something - got less than 30% -others she was A/B standard -so at least she knows she has to work on timing etc...
Because she has ADHD she could do her exams in learning support and have extra time ...but she doesn't want to ... Apparently she just had a mind blank and just couldn't think what to write in that essay - so hopefully it won't happen in the 'real' exam.
I haven't seen her coursework but she says she is on track with it -and was sitting at her laptop the other day complaining how hard it was to take out 200 words - it would easier to add 200 - so I am guessing she managed it?
Her maths is more of a headache - she is not going to lessons, supposedly studying independently. She crash revised with me the day before the prelim and got 48%.
She now has to go to one lesson a week and also is supposed to go to some after school study sessions (which she isn't).

Her biggest incentive to pass was not having to do full time lessons - which is what she had been told she would have to if she did badly in her prelim. Also if she fails again and wants to resit again next year they won't let her unless she attends all the lessons...
I want her to get a copy of her prelim paper so we know what she needs to work on - but she won't ask... and she is refusing to have maths tutoring... it really is you can lead a horse to water....
Not looking forward to the next few months ...

That's good. I think both his essays are now in for his portfolio, so no further changes (he did his creative one first and he's been working on his discursive one which was completed this week I think ).

I'm normally pretty good at cutting out extraneous words or storyline (I was good at the precis in the old Higher which shouldn't have been taken out as it was/is a good skill ) but I genuinely couldn't seen anything he could have taken out without affecting the integrity of the story. It was very "tight": every word contributed to building the atmosphere and was necessary (imho ) to ensure the full impact of the denouement.

Don't want to give more away in case one of you ends up marking it!

@unlucky83 I remember last year and your struggles with your Dd. Hoping it's a bit more smoothly this year.

Thanks Groovee - Sadly I think it might be worse -although at least (apart from Maths) she is doing courses that she is interested in.
And I think she was a bit shaken up by (some) results in her prelims - hopefully it is dawning on her that she needs to do some work if she wants good grades....and she does.
I think her English report - one of her strongest subjects - saying she had 'reached her potential' so couldn't go on to advanced higher next year with her current performance - really stung.
pretty I didn't do highers - went to school in England. And, although I think we did need to precis as part of some English language thing, I am rubbish at being succinct - as you can probably tell from my wordy rambling posts....when I do try to keep it short I don't think I make much (or rather even less ) sense.

Wankers I'm surprised about the lack of need for nat 5 maths in law too, but he asked at an open day a couple of weeks ago and they confirmed it. Very strange when, like you say, many other jobs and pathways demand it.

I've also been surprised during DD's choices discussions - she's looking towards medicine and was told that she didn't necessarily have to take all three science at nat 5 at the same time. Thankfully she's dismissed that and is taking all 3 anyway, but I do worry that kids are being set up to fail by some of this advice?

unlucky83 you're so right about leading a horse to water... hopefully your DD will settle into studying over the next few weeks. What a pity she was told she'd reached her potential - terrible language to use towards a young learner

I'm impressed at how much your kids are revising and how organised you all are. Ds is our youngest by some years and is doing Nat5s this year. He is completely disinterested and tells me he is leaving at Christmas ( despite the fact he isnt 16 until next January) and will do a modern apprenticeship.He flunked his prelims and will probably do the same with his Nat5s despite being very bright. His school attendance is now at 70% and the school keep phoning me to express their concerns ( which is good) but just more pressure. I have talked to him sensibly, pleaded with him, done the tough love yelling at him think( which resulted in him being in floods of tears, so that worked!). He's only just 15, but well over 6 foot and built like a barn door. What am I to do? Carry him to school under my arm? I have no idea what, if anything he will achieve and feel like a shit parent. I add him to my list of people to support and worry about which currently includes my elderly mother,my father who has dementia and is in care which we can no longer afford to pay for, my dd1 who has OCD and chronic depression and who is currently living at home and sleeping on a mattress on the floor for whatever bizarre reason and who has no job and no future,and my alcoholic brother. DS's exams are just one thing on a long list.........

Oops, sorry to derail. That just sort of all fell out.

Oh I am sure that you are right re the course your son wants to study re the Maths super just thinking that if he changes his mind at some point he could be struggling as everyone seems to be looking for it regardless.

We said the same to DS1 about English as we said to Ds2 about Maths, Nat 5 is needed (and with a decent grade is possible). DS1 managed to get an A in nat 5 english so we didn't insist he took higher. It was really the talk element that was his issue, he is fluent and competent in English itself. We are hoping that he can help DS2 at least pass. DS2 only got 26% in the prelim but since DS1 has been helping (only a few weeks really) he has been getting around 60% in class tests. Hopefully he won't freak out in the real thing.

Aww demented that sounds so tough :( I am sure that it is probably the reason that your DS is not performing at his best too.

I think that nowadays they are under a lot of pressure and actually there is no real reason. It's not really expected that you go to work at 16 and that's you in that job for life nowadays.

He may go and do an apprenticeship and that's the making of him, he may go and do it for a while and feel that he is capable of more and go back to education, he may not complete the apprenticeship, get a job and do well and rise to the top, or he may fanny about for a few years until he grows up. AT 16 he has at least 50 years working life ahead, it's okay to take your time and find out what you want to do.

Imo, our DC (unless they have a burning desire/talent etc) should really just be planning for up to 5 years ahead at any time, any more is too much pressure.

As you say, you can't make him interested and you can't drag him there, all you can do is make sure he knows you love and support him and that he is capable of passing these exams with a little work. If he was to put that in then it would open up more choices for him in life even though he may still choose the same path in the end.

demented, what Wankers said. You've got a lot going on and you can't make him study, but he still has time to turn things around whether it happens this year in school, or next year in college, or in a few years' time when he's realised he needs better grades to do the things he wants. One of my most successful friends (as in, dream job, well paid, he loves it) left school after 4th year, went to college at 17 to re-do his Standards and Highers, then went to uni at 24. Not everyone is ready to study at 16.
On another note, I hope you've got friends and family to support you?

That sounds awful Demented - so much for you to be dealing with at once

If it's any consolation, my nephew, although bright in a glaikit sort of way, didn't "find" himself until he was about 18 or 19. Some kids just aren't ready until their early 20s (or even later).

He was lucky enough to get one of the Commonwealth Modern Apprenticeships in sports and then found a job (in an unrelated field) which he seems to be doing ok in.

He may well get a more formal qualification at a later date - but for the moment, he is happy and doing well for himself.

Superjaggy - I don't think your dd has been misled about the 3 sciences in a single sitting. There are many schools (fortunately not ds' school) which don't cater for all 3, so they have to allow for that.

I think that many pupils (even at those that allow allow all 3 at once) choose to drop/not do one of the sciences and then crash it for Higher or do the Nat 5 in S5 or S6 alongside their other Highers/Advanced Highers, depending on the requirements of their preferred Medical School.

Dementedma, my 18 year old high school drop out is heading off to start basic training in the Navy tomorrow, followed by an IT apprenticeship, it's taken two years to build up his confidence and pass all the tests but we did it and repaired our relationship at the same time, I am starting to recover from the angst ( fingers crossed he makes it all the way through).
Meanwhile DS2 has his higher history and Geography assignments on Monday... And I should really start looking into uni open days etc. He's been left to get on with it up to now!

DD1s guidance teacher asked if DD did really need Nat 5 maths - what did she want to do? - she doesn't really know, she does seem more inclined towards humanities than sciences...
But I think you need Nat 5 maths no matter what your immediate plans are -things/directions change and it would be terrible to be stuck with fewer options because you didn't have a basic maths qualification.

demented - you have a lot on your plate. And you have my utmost sympathy - it is almost impossible to get a child who is school refusing to go - you can't carry them and if you try and force them they are likely to kick back...
I know - I stopped going to school at around 13-14....and it was my parents who got threatened with fines/court etc. And the more they tried to force me - 'punishing' me - the more angry I got with them - the more I thought it was 'funny' they were getting all this hassle. I knew there was nothing they -or anyone - could do to 'make' me go.

I did zero work for my exams but did turn up for most of them. I managed to scrape 6 O levels (in England - so the old GCSEs - giving my age away) inc Bs in Maths and English.
I then went to A level college for a year - under duress - but dropped out and went off and became a chef - and was actually quite successful...
At 24 I became seriously ill and was told I couldn't work on my feet any more -so I needed a new direction. After much faffing and indecision at 26ish I went to do A levels at college.

I was accepted on the courses only because of my Maths and English O levels (and I had Cs in Sciences). I got my A levels, went to a good university - got a 2.1 Biochemistry degree and then a Phd...
So there is hope for your DS - he just needs to find his own direction.

I don't know if this helps
I have always told my DD that going to school and getting exams is for her - it gives her choices. She can then do whatever she likes that makes her happy and pays enough to live on.... but it would be terrible to be stuck doing something you didn't want to with no choice.
And I know it is harder to go back to education when you are older...you have to support yourself etc. (I worked 4 part time jobs during my A levels - and worked full time every holiday during my degree to make ends meet) - much easier to do them when you are younger and still in a supported environment.
Get the exams now and then if you want you can go and do whatever - knowing that you have them 'in the bank' for if you want/need them...
Good luck - school refusing really is my worst nightmare - I really don't know what you can do - what would have worked for me - except maybe take the attitude - 'it is your life - if you don't go it is you who will suffer -I'll still have everything I have now. I love you and will help you anyway I can - I want the best for you - but at the end of the day it is your life not mine.
(I should say I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult ...which explains a lot of my teen behaviour ...and why I understand DD1 so well too I guess...)

Thanks prettybird, I hadn't thought of crash Higher, even though I crashed Higher Biology myself back in the day... in any case DD was swithering between dropping one of the sciences this year for German, which she has a real flair for, but it was in the same column as Physics and my feeling is that she'd definitely need nat 5 Physics first.

I totally agree with those of you saying our kids should be aiming to get nat 5 maths as a minimum, no matter what they plan to do in life. As a teacher with a particular strength / interest in teaching numeracy (and 2 kids who both find maths really tricky...) I just find it disappointing that some universities don't see the relevance of maths for some of their courses... so many skills that aren't taught elsewhere!

Thank you all, so kind and has given me some perspective.

Hello all I have 2DS sitting exams this year. DS2 who is sitting 3 AH & doing minimal work as he has 5 unconditional offers & suddenly has his projects to write up. DS3 in 4th year sitting 6 NAT5 the maximum allowed in his school (minimal consultation on that change) he did well in the prelims & should be on course for As. He has now chosen his higher subjects, not much choice really drop one(English apparently no longer compulsory), we insisted he take it. I am frustrated by their lack of planning & reluctance to go to supported study in th Easter holidays. Its going to be a long couple of months.

Sorry to derail/hijack a little. Anyone been to applicant or offer holder days ? Are these very different to Open days - in other words are they worth while ?

Dd's stressy head is on.

Her final dance choreography has been chosen for a dance competition as it's so good. But she's feeling the pressure. The dance teacher told them to think out of the box for a theme and she has. But it's added the pressure with it going to competition x