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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:
SwiftAnchor · 08/05/2017 21:03

Glad to here chemistry has gone well for everyone. Dd's friends seemed to think it was a fair paper too.

DD has higher history tomorrow, she has put in a lot of study time and enjoys the subject so hopefully it will go ok!

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 08/05/2017 21:21

Nat 5 History for DS2 tomorrow - don't think he has done anything today. It's his favourite too and he seems quite confident.

OP posts:
prettybird · 09/05/2017 08:08

Good luck for those sitting History today Smile

weegiemum · 09/05/2017 09:33

Dd1 is doing H history today - she's worked really hard and is as well prepared as she can be I think. She was really nervous when she left this morning, though.

SwiftAnchor · 09/05/2017 10:30

Hope it goes well for her Weegiemum. DD seemed ok heading of this morning, she was hoping that there was a good Nazi question and one on the Labour reforms, so I hope she has been in luck!

I am frantically clock watching, the curse of being quiet in work! Smile

Groovee · 09/05/2017 11:57

My niece is out of higher history, she said it wasn't bad.

English for her and Dd on Thursday x

SwiftAnchor · 09/05/2017 13:30

DD was really pleased with the Higher History paper, she was able to do both the topics that she hoped for.

English for her next too!

weegiemum · 09/05/2017 13:49

Dd1 also delighted with history, especially the Russian question.

She has graphics tomorrow - its a crash higher and she's done no work at all, but got 90% in her prelim under the same circumstances so she's not really that bothered!

Then English on Thursday - another one she's really put the work in for.

OwlMother · 09/05/2017 14:01

DS1 has yet to check in after history, so I am in tenterhooks. He was hoping for a good crusades question- fingers crossed he got it or he will moan!

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/05/2017 15:10

DS2 seems happy with the History Nat5 exam. There was a question about the negative impact of Slavery on the Caribbean that they hadn't specifically covered but he said he managed to put down a few points and he feels he managed decent answers for the rest. He is also quite confident of a good mark for his assignment.

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OwlMother · 09/05/2017 16:16

Ds1 finally reported in after the history higher. He was pleased with the questions but managed not to complete the last essay. I'm going to have to try really hard to be measured about this, it's a recurring theme with him, he gets the timings wrong and I thought he'd sorted it after the Nat 5. I know being cross solves nothing, it's just so frustrating when all the things he can't control (questions etc) go ok, and the bits within his control don't. Sorry- venting!! In real life I'll be nice and supportive. Onwards and upwards to English and he's all done!

Superjaggy · 09/05/2017 17:42

My DS was really nervous for H History too - one he's expected to get an A in. He said it was "fine". Can't get any more out of him as he's back on swotting for English now! Sounds like the questions were fine for the topics he'd covered though.

prettybird · 09/05/2017 18:46

Sounds like History went well for most people (at least the questions if not the the time keeping Wink)

Ds has finished his studying (for English) l for the day. He insists that after 2x2 hour concentrated sessions, nothing else of value goes in.

He's come out to see us (while we were enjoying Wine on the patio rubbing it in) to say he's come up with an different version of "in our own words" from the close reading: Trump's "let's make up alternative facts" Grin^^ he assures us he won't actually do thatWink

After the Close Reading paper he'll be exactly half way through.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/05/2017 18:57

I'm only 4 down of 12! Envy to all those getting towards the end.

Graph Comm Hi for DS1 tomorrow.

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IndigoApple · 09/05/2017 19:24

Glad History went well. It actually sounds really interesting. DD is doing almost the same Highers as I did and some subjects (eg Chemistry) haven't changed much in 30+ years. Neither if us did or doing History.

DD has English on Friday too. She's quite relaxed about the close reading but worried about the Carol Ann Duffy poems.

She will be finished 2 weeks today.

prettybird · 09/05/2017 19:33

Ds has revised "Ambulances" for his poetry, "The Cone Gatherers" for his Scottish text and "A Streetcar Named Desire" as his backup. He's also did Carol Ann Duffy poems last year which can be back up

He seems relatively confident. I can't ask for more - especially as he has another day's revision before the exam.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/05/2017 19:36

I have no idea what texts DS2 is meant to be doing - I asked him if he had quotes to remember, he said "yes", I said "get on with it then"....end of conversation :o

OP posts:
prettybird · 09/05/2017 20:19

I only know because I asked the direct question Wink

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/05/2017 20:27

I tried that, DS2 is an apprentice politician - loads of words, no real answers, then you forget what it was you asked. It's not until much later you realise that he didn't answer the question and he also managed to make you feel that you were utterly unreasonable to have asked the question in the first place.... :o

OP posts:
SwiftAnchor · 09/05/2017 21:05

DD is starting to panic a bit about English now. She can decide what she should do for her text. She seems to have a choice of 2 she could do (?) but feels like she only knows both a bit rather than one really well. I've suggested that she picks one and just concentrates on learning it well all day tomorrow.

I'm assuming this wouldn't be a risk as surely a question would come up that would be relevant to every text, or am I giving really bad advice?? Confused

LordPercy · 09/05/2017 21:21

DS1 wrote 35 pages for Adv H history today which I've just said on my FB so you'll know who I am 😉. I hope it was all good quality stuff 🙈.

Next up Adv Higher English on Thursday then DD has N5 English on Friday.

Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/05/2017 21:29

Sorry Swift I am really not sure what they are supposed to do :(

OP posts:
Original poster
WankersHacksandThieves · 09/05/2017 21:30

...and that's a lot LordPercy How did he manage that in the timescale! Shock

OP posts:
Lidlfix · 09/05/2017 21:52

Swift -depends on genre. Prose and drama questions are very open and easy to shape a response to. Poetry can be more specific.

Groovee · 09/05/2017 22:07

Dd just needs to revise and memorise her quotes and she'll be happy.

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