S5/S6 support thread.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I know I need it this year with Dd.
Everyone welcome to join in.

Wax you are completely right! You can’t change it once it’s done but as you say she can learn from the ones she got wrong for the “real thing”.

OK, I am foreign and DH never did any AHs so am looking for opinions! What is an OK workload for S6? DS is definitely going to do Computing Science, Maths and Statistics AHs. He’s thinking about doing a crash Higher in either Latin (my preference to give him something not numbers!) or Accounting. Is 3 AHs plus a Higher an OK workload? Or too much as he only needs to fill three columns? I don’t know what is normal and would like to have a rough idea before Parents Night next week.

Outside of school he has a p/t job (swim coach so semi-regular and fairly flexible hours at the weekend) and is doing Gold DoE but it doesn’t take up too much time.

Three AH is quite a heavy workload as you also have to factor in UCAS applications and extracurricular activities such as volunteering and school responsibilities which many universities like.

My DS is doing three AH (although one is a total crash) and that is really enough. Universities only look for grades, at max, three subjects at AH (including Oxbridge) so his grades may suffer if he spreads himself too thinly.

Wicked would totally agree with Aurea. 3AH is plenty I know some start with 4 or a higher but only if they are not sure which to choose but will drop the extra one by the October break at the latest.x

Where I teach we give exceptions from "enhancements" to candidates who are doing 3 AHs. This is in recognition of the level of independent study involved. An AH is the same SCQF level as 1st year of a degree and only 3 subjects are studied at that point.

OK, in that case, one of you could pop round and have a word because the batshit crazy boy came home and said he’s signed up for the three AHs and Accounting crash Higher.

He may well change his mind before the start of S6. DH’s only comment was that at least he has some variety and it’s not all numbers (CS being the supposed exception?). They’re both mad.

Well prelim results so far better than she expected still got to get one back. If these weee the final exams she would be delighted. She has now chosen her AH pure maths , mechanics ( which is another maths course) and physics. That should keep her out of trouble!!😂

DS was thinking about doing Mechanics but decided three Maths courses was a bit much so changed to Computer Science. Shame as it looks really interesting!

Wicked I have no clue what it actually is! Maths was never my strong point I am a social science girl at heart as is my ds. Dd is a mini version of her dad all maths and science. Genetics are interesting!!!x

We have two very opposite children as well. DS is all about the Maths and sciences while DD is all about drama, art and music. DS wants to be an actuary, or maybe do the Edinburgh/PwC data science apprenticeship while DD wants to become an art teacher. The only subject they like in common is Philosophy.

How is everyone doing post prelims? Any more offers coming through? All quiet here, not much in the way of results from prelims and still waiting for Dundee and Stirling to respond to DS2s application. It now seems likely that he may be dyspraxic or something related. He had an assessment and he definitely has the physical issues along with extremely hyper-mobile joints which explains his poor handwriting and to a great extent the physical "laziness" we've always accused him of.

They didn't really go into the more mental side of it which is to be honest where we think the bigger impact is, that will hopefully be assessed at the next stage where he will hopefully find out officially whether there is some other cause for his issues or whether it fits into the dyspraxia camp. Then hopefully he can get suitable support in place for Uni.

Ds got 3 A's, a C and a outright fail. He had freaked in the days before the prelim in the fail.

He's looking to S6 now and has his choices made.

@WaxOnFeckOff hope your Ds can get all the right help x

Thanks groovee That's a game of two halves then? I guess he just needs a non-freaking out strategy then. Mindful breathing or tapping?

DS got 4 A’s and a B in his prelims. He was gutted by his B because it was in Philosophy which he loves. They didn’t run it like a normal prelim. Instead they did it like a massive knowledge dump (45 questions in 1hr 45mins for the second exam and almost as many in the first) and double weighted the the essay. They haven’t really focused on essay writing yet and that’s where DS fell down so hopefully he’ll be able to pull it up for the real thing. It was all a bit odd.

He’s busy applying to various consultancies for a work experience week in the summer. I didn’t realise there was quite so much involved- application forms followed by 45 minute long online assessments (situational and maths) followed by 30 minutes written questions plus video interviews. Other than having a group exercise, it’s pretty much the same process as when I did the milk round post uni 30 years ago!

1A 2Bs and 2Cs for DD3. She's ok with that as one of the Bs was English so her folio isn't taken into account and her teacher and I both agree it's strong . One of her Cs was Modern Studies, which she confessed to doing bugger all revision for .

Amongst the cousins (13 from 6 to 27) the best Higher results are 2As, 2Bs and 1C from DD1 and Dnephew her goal is to equal that. Not looking at typical offers from courses she likes the look of- just topping the family league tables .

DS2 got C and D in AH Graph Comm and Maths.
That would get him one of his offers for Uni.
His B in Higher for Computing was enough that he doesn't need it for AH which of course means he hasn't worked on it much even though it's what he wants to do at Uni and he failed the prelim.

Question now is whether I let him drop Computing to concentrate on the 2 he needs. Not helped by Computing exam being day after Graph Comm in May.
Two C's would give him more choice of Uni.

Dd got As for Spanish, Mods & English, Bs for Chemistry & Biology. She wants to do medicine so is determined to work on the sciences more. She's crashing Biology tho and seems to have got a similar mark to those who did the Nat5 so hopefully she will do ok. Medicine is so high pressure, am also looking into revision courses for the UCAT. When I did it it was much less complicated! There really is a lot of pressure on them all now.

Dd got 5 As for her prelims a couple were just on the A band but the teachers said the exams were difficult and marked harshly!! Her maths score was outstanding and that’s what she wants to study. She has mild dyslexia but if you discount the imaginative spelling she is fine. If these were the real deal she would be delighted but knows she will need to continue to work hard. I really feel for our young people as although preparation is key there is a little element of luck on the day and how you feel when you wake up that morning!! Hang on in their mums there are only a few months to go!😂

Yep, in three months it will nearly be over! DS has been invited to rejoin the competitive squad in his swim club. He’d dropped down to the recreational squad a couple of years ago because of the time commitment and now works for them as a coach as well. He says he’d like to but I’m not keen at all- at the moment he swims twice a week and works 4 hours a week. He’d be switching to swimming four times a week plus work plus competing in galas.

I’ve suggested that he ask if he can do a reduced schedule of 2-3 times per week and no galas until his exams are over. He’s also doing Gold DoE and I think in between that and studying and working, he has quite enough on for the next few months!

Alittewornout I meant to add, DS is also wanting to do maths at uni. Has your DD started looking at individual courses yet?

Ooh that’s good to know wicked we can compare notes!! She is looking at the moment and would love St Andrews ( her brother is there doing history and her dad did maths there 30 years ago!) and Glasgow. We live in Edinburgh and she is clear she doesn’t want to study here for that reason which I completely understand. Not sure what her other choices will be. She signed up at school for the Oxbridge information day at the corn exchange in March but I think that is a pipe dream!! But if you can’t have dreams and aspirations at their age when can you!!

*Alittlewornput
*
My son has a law offer from Oxford starting October, so it is possible from Scotland. There were two out of three applicants that got offers to Oxford this year from his average state school..

At the interviews, they seemed to slightly favour state school applicants (at least from my son's impressions from talking to people). They are also targeting recruiting more Scottish students so there may be a slight advantage.

Hahahaha Alittlewornout DS has signed up for the Corn Exchange as well so they will likely unwittingly pass each other at some point!

At the moment, DS is interested in Math at Glasgow, St Andrews or Heriot Watt or the Data Science degree/PwC apprenticeship at Edinburgh. He was interested in Oxbridge, then changed his mind then changed it back again. It’s obviously a big reach, but where I went to uni has a 10% acceptance rate and no one suggested that I shouldn’t apply so I’m being encouraging but realistic.

Thank you both, my dd is at an independent school but is realistic about the chances. As she says it costs nothing to look! That would be so funny wicked if the bumped into each other at the maths talk!!😂😂 She is also interested in engineering. I call her my feminine feminist!z

Ermmmm, they may well be at the same school then.