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Secondary education

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Original poster

Mocks - Is this normal practice?

14 replies

Minx179 · 30/11/2010 19:32

DS (15) is currently doing his mocks, he is doing foundation level in most subjects.

Going through his bag at the weekend I found a set of revision papers for one subject which contained the questions to be covered in the mocks and a comprehensive 'ideal' answer for each question. Is this normal practice for 'low ability' foundation students?

Also no homework this year and very little last year. I have brought this up a number of times with the school. Last week the head pretty much said homework is DS's responsibility Hmm. I know this wasn't the case for DS1 but he was doing higher tier

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DustDustDust · 30/11/2010 20:35

For practice past papers, it was usual that we'd get model answers, although normally after we'd answered the questions ourselves. If the questions were the exact ones to be covered in the mocks, then I'd be a bit Hmm.

gherkinwithapurplemerkin · 30/11/2010 20:42

I think that little h/wk for lower ability students is probably pretty standard, tbh. I will stet h/wk but it tends to be of the research or "thinking" type - i.e. come next lesson prepared to discuss a set topic. Regular written homeworks can be a logistical nightmare to adminster with these sets; leads to books and notes) being lost, endless detentions (which they oftdn don't attend) etc.

What I do offer parents is a list of reputable/useful websites their son/daughter can use to extend their learning and practice skills.

As for the giving of mock exams and model answers, I would be pretty horrified if they were the exact papers your ds will sit. If they are previous mock papers, that would be useful for his revision.

Original poster
Minx179 · 30/11/2010 22:30

1 piece of h/wk in this particular subject, given last year. No research. No websites.

Definately for exam tomorrow; papers state X exam 01st Dec.
Page 1
First question is on ..... this is a statement about ...
followed by brief outline of what the question is asking pupils to focus on in the answer.
The second question follows the same format.

On the following 4 pages are 'Advice and examples'for 'D' students breaks down the first answer into the individual components and provides the argument for each component. If a child can remember half of this and maybe add one or two words of their own ....Hmm

The following 6 pages (for 'E' students) follow the same format but provides answers to both questions including quotes and references.

Brings new meaning to 'spoonfeeding'. While proving the child is doing OK I suppose Angry

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gingeroots · 01/12/2010 06:37

Oh Minx that sounds cr*p .
Sorry for you and DC.

LadyLapsang · 01/12/2010 13:14

I don't know whether it's widespread (I've certainly never seen it), but it certainly seems mad considering they won't be able to do it for the real thing! Why don't you email teacher/head of subject, copying in the head to find out their reasoning.

Original poster
Minx179 · 01/12/2010 15:02

Emailed AQA this morning for advice.

The head won't give me a straight answer at the best of times. Unfortunately I like the subject teacher, I don't want to suggest anything until it's confirmed that this degree of 'advice' is allowed.

Had argument with OH about it last night he thinks because school have failed ds in the last three years, cheating and thereby helping to up his grades or helping him get a grade, full stop will help him next year by giving him further options Shock.

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LadyLapsang · 01/12/2010 15:16

But the mock grade does not count towards your son's results. Think the teacher may be doing it so they look good and then if your son's results drop in the summer that's his fault for not revising.

Original poster
Minx179 · 01/12/2010 16:26

LADY Think the teacher may be doing it so they look good and then if your son's results drop in the summer that's his fault for not revising.

That's what I'm afraid of.

Unfortunately this isn't the only subject/year/KS this has occurred. Long back history.

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Pluto · 01/12/2010 16:46

AQA won't be able to advise on internal exams.

How were results in the summer for students in last year's Y11 targeted similar grades as your DS?

WikiFreak · 01/12/2010 16:47

i think its a great eg to help them learn
its not trying to catch the kids oUT Is it/>

Original poster
Minx179 · 01/12/2010 17:40

Pluto - I don't know. Any idea if they are published anywhere? The school only give stats of their A-C and A-G results.
Not too sure that would be an enquiry welcomed by the school. Though I will note for later use.

Wiki No. It may not be trying to catch the kids out. But if you want them to 'learn', why not get them to 'do' the work themselves, by giving them questions surrounding the areas taught in class, to which they have to find the answers, etc?

IMO giving them the answers to read is not going to help them 'learn' much, but it may be enough of a prompt to enable them to get through the test/exam.

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pantomimecow · 03/12/2010 18:43

DS1 has been printing past exam papers and answers off the AQA website as revision for his mocks.

tingletangle · 04/12/2010 14:17

The only time I do something like this is the first timed essay for my year 12 students. As a class we come up with a plan for the essay. The least able in the group will learn the plan and be able to structure it into an essay. The most able will need to add to the plan.

But this is not an internal formal exam, it is just to build their confidence as their is a huge leap from GCSE to A Level. Noone knows the marks apart from me and the student. The least able also need to learn how to craft an academic essay before going away to learn a lot of knowledge.

My year 12s have just had thei mocks, I gave them essay plans for questions they would not be answering that they could use to rehearse writing essays to time. But in addition to that they do timed essays every fortnight which that have to revise for. We work from the model above for the first essay, knowing the title and having to research it themselves to sitting the essay blind.

I expect the students to go the course website themselves to get the markschemes and reports that are on there, both at GCSE and A Level. I show them where to go etc but that is it

At GCSE level my students have examplar answers in their books which we self assess etc but not to questions they would be sitting in the exam.

Your son should have been getting weekly homework. It sounds to me like someone has not been doing their job and are now trying to cover their back.

The only time when this may be acceptable is if this is a bottom set with severe needs and this is part of a plan to ease them into the course. Even then I would be concerned.

I would phone the school.

Original poster
Minx179 · 06/12/2010 12:14

Thanks Tingle.

I will try the school.

DS has SEN; trouble with comprehension, instructions, poor writing, explaination etc he is in bottom sets for most subjects. This is the only subject where his teacher predicted grades haven't been lowered over the course of YR10/11 (D), or he hasn't been moved onto a single GCSE.

It's interesting what you said regarding essay planning, writing. I was talking to DS about this recently, apparently they have been told 'they don't need to know how to write an essay, they should already know how to do this; all they have to do is answer the question'.

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