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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:
prettybird · 06/04/2017 15:35

Neither his dad nor I are tall (me 5'5, dh 5'6) so not expecting him to be tall. He is however hoping to squeeze to 5'8" (about the minimum for top-level scrum halfs). With any luck he has some fairy dust from the tall genes on my side of the family. Smile

He has just come in complaining about how boring Human Geography is. But needs must. unsympathetic mum Wink

(he was ok with the Nat 5 Maths exam - just said the non-calculator paper needed a wee bit of thought and that it was compensated by an easy 2nd paper - but there again, like WankersHacksAndThieves' ds1, he doesn't find Maths difficult)

Groovee · 20/04/2017 06:56

Dd sat her higher Dance practical on Tuesday. She was really happy with it. 1 down 4 to go...

user1487194234 · 20/04/2017 12:33

Well done Grovee DD
They are getting very close now Smile

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 20/04/2017 19:46

That sounds good Groovee :)

I week left of school (plus tomorrow) and then it's study leave/exams and moving up to the next year. time is flying!

OP posts:
prettybird · 20/04/2017 21:18

That's good news Groovee

Studying here seemed to go pretty well over the holidays at least I presume it did as he spent the time in his room

He also got put forward again for rugby trials for "Pathway" and has got through the first two stages: next stage is a series of games against Glasgow South (the SRU classifies Glasgow North as from Newton Mearns up to Oban Confused; Glasgow South is Kilmarnock down to Dumfries).

I'm a bit Hmm about these trials (U18) being carried out so close to major exams especially with the risk of concussion but hopefully he'll keep out of trouble Smile

prettybird · 24/04/2017 15:32

Less than 2 weeks to go Shock How is it going for everyone?

Ds is pissed off that the school is only letting him stop for study leave the day before his first exam (next Friday - Maths). So they expect him to go in on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, when he'd rather be at home studying for his English & Chemistry (on the Monday & Wednesday iirc of the next week) as they are his two relatively weaker subjects.

So I might actually let him stay at home as I'm confident that he will spend the time working. (yes, I know - that will draw the wrath of MN! Wink)

He has the return leg of his Pathway rugby game next Monday (1st one was yesterday and by all accounts he acquitted himself well enough in the half he played). I'm still very Hmm about them having U18 boys playing full contact rugby games so close to such important games. Concussion can happen so easily Sad

ttlshiwwya · 24/04/2017 16:24

Same issue here on the study leave (first day of study leave is Thursday) so I'm planning to do the same as you and let my DS2 stay off on Tuesday and Wednesday. My DS2's exams are better spaced than last year. This year he's got two close together followed by 2 weeks gap and then another two close together then he's expected to go back to school on May 30th despite still having one exam still to go. I think I'll let him stay off until his last exam as well.

Last year he seemed to get ages off but this year they seemed to have cut back (he didn't get any study leave at all for prelims).

Groovee · 24/04/2017 16:27

We're ok here. Dd has been whinging about being in school as she can't be bothered but fine once there. She finishes on Friday.

prettybird · 24/04/2017 16:46

Ds might well be unwell/get a head knock that means that I'll need to ring the absence line on Tuesday and Wednesday Wink

I think his study leave lasts until 5 June, so as his last exam is 26 May, he'll get a week "off". Smile

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 24/04/2017 18:22

Ours break up this Friday with first exam the following Friday. Ds2s last exam is 19th May and he then has 2 full weeks off with his DofE silver practice at the end and then back to school on the 5th. DS1s exams more spread out and he doesn't finish until the 25th and then has his DofE Gold training the same weekend as Ds2s practice. He then goes to register for S6 on wednesday 7th followed by dinner, then has a 2 day S6 conference, then has a week of work experience, followed by Gold practice which runs on until the Monday. So he actually goes back to school proper on the 20th of June!

OP posts:
IndigoApple · 24/04/2017 19:05

Just checking in, DD sitting Highers this year, starting with Maths. Can't believe it's next week! She finishes up this Friday. Tough for the kids expected at school next week!

Wankers, do your DSs use an app for the pomodoro method and if so can you recommend?

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 24/04/2017 19:22

Yes Indigo, they use an app - well various ones on various different things. It's basically just a timer. Just look for an app in the app store and select whichever one you like the look of :) I think they are all pretty much the same. The one on my kindle is called Conserva.

OP posts:
IndigoApple · 24/04/2017 19:34

Thanks for quick reply, will give that a go. Anything to make it more exciting, at this stage! Wink

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 24/04/2017 19:55

ha ha, Ds2 has taken to it like a duck to water. He will happily do 2 hours study because it's only 4 sessions, whereas if I said he was to do 4 hours he'd did his heels in saying it's too much. :o

OP posts:
IndigoApple · 24/04/2017 20:14

I think with DD it means only ever being 25 min away from checking her phone...

user1487194234 · 01/05/2017 22:21

Good luck to all our DC

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 01/05/2017 22:41

Philosophy and Design & Manufacture tomorrow - good luck to anyone sitting those tomorrow.

Spanish on Wednesday

Music and Latin on Thursday

and the biggie on Friday, Maths.

OP posts:
prettybird · 02/05/2017 08:19

Indeed - good luck for everyone who starts today.

Ds apparently did quite well yesterday at the rugby trials (but doesn't expect to get selected as his "competition"'s coaches are the same coaches as the selection coaches who run the elite programme Hmm): he got on for a 3rd of the game and according to dh played better than the other choices in his position.

The session finished with an exhortation to go home and study for their exams. This apparently followed a flurry of emails from parents saying WTF were they thinking having trials in a full contact sport so close to the exams.

In other news, I've just rung the council's absence line to say he won't be in today. Grin

Groovee · 02/05/2017 09:54

Dd has maths on Friday. She's going into school for extra maths so I get some peace this morning.

prettybird · 02/05/2017 14:17

Ds' first exam is Maths on Friday too. He's pleased that his Highers are in the mornings so that he can get them over with.

He's just appeared and said he's half way through today's studying. He's done a Chemistry past paper and a Maths past paper. Not sure what he's planning for the rest of this afternoon.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 02/05/2017 14:47

I have both DSs doing Maths on Friday as their first exam of . It'll likely be a game of two halves given one child who finds it easy and the other who struggles.

OP posts:
SwiftAnchor · 02/05/2017 20:51

Hi all just checking in! Good luck to anyone with exams this week.

DD is doing 5 highers, her first is Music on Thursday. She's been doing a lot of studying, but I think she's getting a bit sick of it now! (Peaked too soon?! 😉)

She had a really bad year last year for her nat 5s health wise but this year has been much better for her so just hoping to get through the next few weeks with no illness! 😊 (fingers tightly crossed!!)

LordPercy · 03/05/2017 07:10

I've both teens sitting N5 maths on Friday 🙈🙈. One who works hard and is going back in for study classes today. The other is not studying a jot and is resigned to failing it - he's got his unconditional offer so doesn't care a hoot.

After that DD has 6 more N5s and DS1 has 3 Adv Highers.

SwiftAnchor · 04/05/2017 10:03

First exam here today Higher Music. DD seemed ok this morning before I left for work, but I'll give her a phone soon to make sure she hasn't fallen back asleep or anything!! Hmm Grin

prettybird · 04/05/2017 10:20

Ds was still in bed when dh and I went out to vote Hmm

He says he'll go and vote later.

First exam tomorrow morning. He still seems quite relaxed and confident. just hope it's not complacency