Sign in here if your child is in Yr11 - taking GCSE's this Summer.

[Milliways]

Hi
Apologies if this has been done this year, but I found a similar thread very supportive when DD started the exam treadmill (not at Uni) and we are about to start again with DS.

Milliboy is 15, late Summer baby so cannot get a job until the end of the Summer hols, when they will have all gone. Good news is - this gives him more revision time

He is at a boys selective Grammar school, so the pressure is on to achieve. He also wants to aim for a decent Uni so understands that good GCSE grades are vital.

Still doesn't make the whole process any easier for him or me :)

Who else has boarded the 2011 Exam Express?

[PaulaYatesbiggestfan]

Alice - I actually prefer the stress !

DS was (is!) a stresser but at least they act on it! DD refers to herself as a 'crammer' which would be ok only she does not seem to!

Pixie DD is doing some awful extra science AS thing ( waste of time as far as i am concerned) she puts in 0% effort and i wish they would not over face an evidently un focused child

At least with the additional maths thing it might help her later.

She is no where NEAR focusing or writing an exam timetable - has gone to london for half term and has today informed me 'London is pro'

[FrumpyintheFrost]

Well it's half term, so DS should be buckling down to ICT and Resistant Materials coursework, but looking at his social plans this week, I dont think much will get done!

DS1 had his revision timetable all worked out, and was already a month into it 2 years ago. I have to keep reminding myself that they are different people, with their own frustrating unique way of working.

How's everyone else getting on?

[Merrylegs]

Heloo, can I join in?

DS, 15, predicted great things in his GCSEs, needs the grades to get into a v selective 6th form, not doing any work - yet. Far too laid back. Keeps telling me 'relax mum, it'll all be fine.'

Will it? Will it? Argh! (And breathe).

One good thing - have his exam timetable, and although the majority of his exams are crammed quite close together, Maths is the only one the other side of May half term. So he has all half term just to revise maths. Have bought him the revision guide 'A* GCSE Maths In A Week'. It may just work....

[princessparty]

Milligirl- the rules on employment depend on whether the child has attained school leaving age (which the whole year group do at the same time) rather than whether they are 15/16

[PaulaYatesbiggestfan]

Oddly all my teens got jobs at 14 ? We must be lucky!

[princessparty]

They can get jobs but need a permit until they ar4e schoolleaving age

[PaulaYatesbiggestfan]

Pixie is your daughter taking the Additional Maths paper this summer then? Do you know what board she is doing?

[PaulaYatesbiggestfan]

ooh lucky Pixie! My daughter has just called me from London to say she has decided on her A level choices. It MAY be the first time she has shown an interest in them!

[Milliways]

Welcome Merrylegs :)

Paula: DS is taking Add. Maths as well - think it is with OCR. He does find it a stretch though. One of his friends just got 100% in the Mock! (DS got something like 68% and was pleased with that.)

[Milliways]

Frumpy: DS is "relaxing" a lot this half-term, but to be fair they have just had Mock exams and he has no course work due at the moment. He has said he will be doing some work though, and he is sensible with knowing what is needed.

[PaulaYatesbiggestfan]

Milliways thank you - dd is doing ocr . I was wondering about past papers - i know what it is called (ish) but not the levels???? DS said it 'would just be c1 m1 s1 wouldn't it?' and dd is so relaxed she has no idea what it is.

Would you know where to start with past papers or what exactly the exam is called?

[ijustwanttobeme]

Is it ok for me to join?

DD is doing

Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Maths
English
PE
Dance
Psychology
Food Tech
IT
RS

She's another one who seems to do just enough to get by (As and Bs), but with an extra bit of effort could do really really well.

One of her teacher's advised her to relax and enjoy this half term holiday as the next few months are going to be so full on.

Good Luck to everyone's DCs!!

[Milliways]

Hi Ijustwanttobeme, good mix of subjects there. :)

Paula: This is the Textbook DS uses and this is a bit about the exam Past papers are also avavilable at that site - but at DS is working through some at school.

[PaulaYatesbiggestfan]

very helpful Milliways thanks!!

welcome i justwanttobeme

[balia]

Everyone having a good half term? Just wondered if anyone would find this useful - it's a link provided by my DD's school VLE and a lot of the revision stuff has been made/designed by students.

getrevising.co.uk/

[Merrylegs]

balia that link is excellent. Thank you!

[kangers]

I would like to join.
DS1 is June baby. He is making a few index evision cards.
He wants to do A levels but its down to him- no tutoring- but I will help him if he asks.
I teach A level and GCSE- but have no solutions. But I know it has to be his call, his achievement- I have to be brave enough to let him fail.

[Milliways]

Balia - Thanks for the link :)

Welcome Kangers! WHat A levels is your DS considering? Does he know what he wants to do as a career yet?

Oh, and what do you teach?

[kangers]

Hi
DS1 thinking of Maths, Physics, Psychology and Theology/RS at A level.
He has no idea about career but maths/physics are his favourite subjects.
I teach psychology GCSE, psychology and sociology A level. Plus Y12/Y13 form tutor. Have also taught history GCSE.
Have already passed Balias link to DS1- thanks Balia.

[kangers]

so is anyone's child actually revising so far this half term?

[balia]

DD is doing Maths revision atm - but then she has a Module the first tuesday back.

She showed me some comments on Facebook (Grrr) that her friends had made...typical teenage bravado about not doing any revising and how they weren't doing holiday work...'cba'.

Teenagers are hard work.

[kangers]

ds1 has done a bit- with these revision cards- but then gone to friends house or friend has come here all week.
my mum (gm?) who was a teacher says its very valuable to have a rest.
Must admit when I was about to do olevels I did not do anything until about a week before so I feel quite pleased that he has done anything at all.
Its a fine line between bribery, encouraging independence, fighting the urge to give him full time tuition myself and continuous arguments.
What a stressful week.

[Milliways]

Just had the "Final" school report :)

[hennipenni]

Anybody elses children feeling the pressure of "deadlines" and the amount of work they are doing in school? DD is shattered and is often aleep by 6pm.