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Original poster

sqa exams 2023

811 replies

NicolaSturGONE · 05/03/2023 15:50

So only about 2 months til the final exams so starting a thread to discuss revision, exams etc.

Have any schools released details of easter revision classes yet? I've heard nothing from our school and don't know if they are doing any. If they aren't, I might look at what else is on offer over easter.

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spiderplantparty · 07/03/2023 18:23

No, but I'm starting to feel a bit nervous already. DC didn't do well in prelims.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 10/03/2023 18:41

when does study leave start, is it the week schools come back after easter or does it vary from school to school?

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mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 10/03/2023 19:49

I think my DC is back for a week after the holidays but not sure if that’s the same for everyone. Feeling nervous … it’s such a long slog for them!

Lidlfix · 11/03/2023 07:31

Most will be the week after the holidays as that is when the first exam is.

My DDs are all finished school now but these threads were great support. I can still offer teacher perspective - if needed.

Good luck to all DC and hope it's not too trying on you all.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 11/03/2023 07:49

DDs exams are quite spread out, apart from two back to back days. I'm worried she won't bother her arse studying until the day before. She's smart and capable of As and Bs, but she's a bit lazy with studying, preferring to play xbox, see her boyfriend or her pals. She could push herself a bit more. She has tutors for some subjects due to prelim grades being quite mixed, and they have certainly helped her confidence, but I can't obviously afford a tutor for every subject she does.

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KnittingNeedles · 11/03/2023 08:42

I think the policy on study leave varies from school to school. DD is in S6 and her exams are very spread out - she is doing Geography on the first/second day of exams on 25th April and also Cake Craft on 31st May which is the last day.

She is sitting with two unconditional offers for uni with others pending so unlike last year she's much calmer. Her school generally offers revision classes during the first week of the Easter holidays, there is huge demand and they prioritise the kids who are borderline pass/fail, and also those who are on a grade boundary. Kids who are pretty much guaranteed an A are not priority for a space.

RollOnJune23 · 12/03/2023 17:38

I've a dc sitting nationals this year. He does very little study (and needs to, with some learning difficulties) and I'm anxious about how he'll do. He does want to stay on though.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 12/03/2023 17:43

I like your username @RollOnJune23 might change mine to RollOnAugust23 when they get their results and we can relax until next year 😂

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RollOnJune23 · 12/03/2023 18:00
Grin Although I'd like it to be June, at least at this stage there's still hope, in June it will all be over one way or another!
Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 21/03/2023 20:09

DD had a study skills evening at her school. It was some kind of speed networking type event where they had to spend 15 mins in different classrooms or something. DD didn't want to go as she felt it would be a waste of time, but I made her just in case.
Well it apparently was a waste of time, according to DD, her BFF and her BF.
One classroom was all about 'breathing techniques' and 'meditation'
Another classroom was basically "write your exam dates in your diary"
A third was "look at the sqa website so you know how to find past papers"
Basically nothing DD needed help with.
The school aren't doing any Easter revision classes. They have recommended E Sgoil which does look good but DD is refusing to do it as its easter and she 'needs a proper easter break'.
I'm really pissed off with the school TBH because I know if they were doing easter revision classes, DD would most likely go as her friends would probably be going. Trying to get her to study on her own, especially over Easter, is going to be really tough.

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Staggie · 21/03/2023 20:22

I must admit, study classes in school during the holidays was never a thing when I was at school! You could ask her to invite friends over or help her to make a study timetable and reward her too.

RollOnJune23 · 21/03/2023 22:35

Study over Easter in school would solve he one session per subject though, not really a substitute for doing work at home throughout the holiday. It's still a holiday as they don't have to get up early and sit in a classroom! I feel I'm learning as much about the subjects as my ds is sometimes.

Survey99 · 21/03/2023 22:57

DD had a study skills evening at her school.

Ds had one of them in S4 around this time of the year too, Parents were invited too and i can remember thinking there were some useful tips but they were hidden inbetween lots of shite and it all felt about 3 months too late!

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 22/03/2023 08:41

She's very stressed about her Art folio. I think her work is brilliant, but her teacher is being really nit picky and just not happy with anything DD does. She used to love Art, it was her favourite subject, now she can't wait to drop it.

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mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 22/03/2023 09:00

My DC has fallen out of love with school art too… the ‘process’ seems very prescriptive and not creative to the untrained eye!

GottoHandit · 22/03/2023 14:40

The trouble with Art is that you need to clearly show progression and development of a single idea/concept. What I find tends to happen, is that students are encouraged to do their ‘final’ piece first and then work backwards by doing drawings/sketches that show how they arrived at their final piece. So if it’s a colourful, acrylic final piece, they’ll do some black and white tonal sketches, maybe a bit of collage/mixed media,?zoning in on an aspect of their final piece.

It’s kind of playing the system really and giving the SQA what they want. So a portfolio from one student could have five fantastic pieces of work on it and get less than a portfolio that has some very mediocre pieces on it because it then looks like they’ve ‘progressed’ and ‘developed’ an idea from something more raw - even if that’s been ‘faked’. And the evaluation might only be 10 marks but if it explains a line of thinking that is convincing then it can really sway an examiner. Like many of the SQA exams/CfE learning it’s all very formulaic and about answering the questions in the right way with no deviation.

Just my thoughts as a parent who has been through this.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 22/03/2023 15:31

@GottoHandit that does seem to be how DD's school are doing it. The teacher also lost some of DDs work and she's having to redo it so she's been forced to spend lunch times and after school to catch up and its not her fault. Pissed off about it to be honest and DD very stressed.

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Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 29/03/2023 17:46

hurrah the school are now doing easter revision classes after all.

The challenge now, is getting DD to go to them, she doesn't want to!

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Rae36 · 29/03/2023 17:54

It's all kicking off here.

Nat5 ds was happily drifting along passing everything just well enough until he got 38% in a physics test result today so now he's waking up and realusing how much hes got to do.

S5 Higher ds is having a meltdown tonight because he's bitten off more than he can chew and thinks he won't sit higher maths. I've just posted something else about that actually. Couldn't even finish a test paper today becauae it was so hard. He's been trying so hard this year as well, working with a tutor all year. I'm so sad for him.

It's going to take all my patience to get us through the next few weeks. I'm glad I've found you all.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 29/03/2023 19:13

Poor soul, I remember how hard H Maths was although that was 25 years ago maybe more

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spiderplantparty · 30/03/2023 12:52

Poor DS. We got his estimated grades and they aren't great, despite using tutors. I was disappointed in them and he has picked up on this.

RollOnJune23 · 30/03/2023 19:14

What kind of plans do you have / your dc have for Easter, I don't know what to do with respect to studying. He will do the bare minimum

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 30/03/2023 19:35

DD got an A in her chemistry assessment. Apparently its like a second prelim (she got a D in the prelim) so her overall prelim grade is now a high B. We got her a tutor so clearly its making a difference!

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Rae36 · 31/03/2023 13:30

Ds has decided to drop Higher Maths for this year and we're all massively relieved.

I'm trying to get mine to average 3 hours a day on week days over the holidays. I know that sounds like a lot but if we aim for 3 hours and he manages 2 thats fine. If we aim for 2 and he manages 1, that's not so good. We're away for 4 days over easter so wont be revising those days. He's doing 3 highers so an hour a day on each one.

Ds2 is doing nat5s and we got some good advice from another parent recently, that all he needs at this point is good enough grades to get onto the highers he wants to do next year. I think he'll manage that so I'm not stressing about him.

Hopefully I won't end up regretting my hands off approach with him but I can't do everything.

I'm sure my parents were never this involved in my revision. I feel like I'm making this very hard for myself, never mind the kids!

spiderplantparty · 31/03/2023 14:21

We aren't going away this Easter so DS can study. I find it impossible to know how many hours a day he does because he is in his room and I have no idea when he switches from doing schoolwork to playing on his phone but I'm going to try and create a quiet environment for him to do studying. You can lead a horse to water and all that. His estimated grades weren't as good as he had been hoping for so I think he will study without me having to get too involved.