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Secondary education

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Original poster

Science GCSEs level 1 start this week!

190 replies

OrmIrian · 10/01/2012 13:03

I'm hyperventilating on behalf of DS1.... who had one wobble the day before he went back to school but is now irritatingly calm. I am dragging him kicking and screaming through his revision books. We have had lots of eye-rolling, tutting, surreptitious looking at the laptop, attempts to distract me with the Flight of Conchord DVDs.... but we've finished Biology! Hurrah! Exam on Thursday

Just chemistry and physics now..... Hmm

It's a bloody nightmare. I avoided science as much as possible at school and just scraped a C in biology. At least it makes DS feel better - he does at least know more than me.

Anyone else ?

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 12/01/2012 21:23

Thankfully, I only have one child, so I only have to go though all this once! But my god, the module style exams are hard work!

It's like getting blood out of a stone at the best of times, but she's been coming home from school for about 2 years now, telling me she's done this test/assesment/module. She's had some grades in some subjects, but not in others. French seems to have dragged on and on! I still have no idea if she's actually taken a French exam or not!

Hear, hear to the return of linear!

Hullygully · 13/01/2012 09:29

DS, last thing before bed: "So MMR, that's measles, mumps and rubella, right?"

"yes"

"Oh good. I thought it might be flu."

Right. mflu is that? Or rflu?

IdontknowwhyIcare · 13/01/2012 15:09

When Ds was in year 9,(now yr11) they started the science lessons after the exams and when they went back in september studied and took the first part of the science GCSE actually in Novemebr year 10. As I understand it things are changing so I cant make any comment about current yr 9's, but it wasnt as bad as it intially seemed when they did take the first modules.

Original poster
OrmIrian · 16/01/2012 14:33

Chemistry! God help me it's dull..... I don't care a great deal about getting metal ores from rock all that much or processing crude oil. Chemistry is DS's least favourite subject and I can't say I blame him.

OP posts:
Hullygully · 18/01/2012 11:11

Chem this morning.

Ds texted it went "horribly badly"

oh good.

And agree Orm SO SO boring.

Polgara2 · 18/01/2012 11:13

Yes apparently 'it was harder than the biology one' Sad

Hullygully · 18/01/2012 11:17

aggggghhhhhhhhh

Original poster
OrmIrian · 18/01/2012 13:33

Really? Oh dear.......

He was a bit vague on the details as it was so I dread to think how he did....

OP posts:
PatTheHammer · 18/01/2012 14:43

Oh dear, hope they are all ok. My Y10 bottom set seemed to think it was alright, although;

'Miss, why didn't you teach us anything about petrol........??????

Yes, that's correct with have been doing weeks of revision on products of oil and I have never once mentioned petrolHmm...!

Have not seen the paper yet as I have to leave quite quickly at lunchtime. Apparently the longer answer question was on Quarrying and they seemed to be able to write something about the advantages and disadvantages (had to explain what those words meant for the hundreth time on monday!).

Top set Y10 said harder than the biology but easier than they thought it would be.....not sure what that means!

I agree though, some of it is sooooooooooooo snoozeville. When they changed the syllabus I was praying they would take it out, but NO all the boring stuff stayed in! At least in class you can liven it up with practical work, revision at home must be mind-numbing, I feel for you all!

Hullygully · 18/01/2012 16:25

Pat - ds says what is the answer to the limestone and acids question??

PatTheHammer · 18/01/2012 16:36

What was the question? Have not seen the paper yet?

Is it Carbon Dioxide?

HattiFattner · 18/01/2012 16:38

my DD said there was a question on earthquakes in Haiti, and 3 reasons the government had not headed warnings about the impending quake.

In chemistry paper. WTF?

PatTheHammer · 18/01/2012 16:44

Hatti- The last section of C1 is about the structure of the earth and atmosphere. Earthquakes and Volcanoes a pretty big part of it as they have to understand tectonic plate movement. As for the government of Haiti, the info was probably in the question and it was a comprehenison/information finding question..............they wouldn't be expected to know this!

One day the kids will realise that studying science is not about 'learning facts' but applying their knowledge............I hope!Grin

HattiFattner · 18/01/2012 16:52

surely tectoic plate movement is geography. Chemistry is about chemical reactions and periodic tables. No?

Original poster
OrmIrian · 18/01/2012 16:55

Plate tectonics was a welcome respite I must admit! After having got seriously fracked off (geddit eh?) with oil in it's various forms it was breath of fresh air. I did mention to DS that I thought it was geography - he said 'Mum, it's everything!'

OP posts:
HattiFattner · 18/01/2012 16:57

but also, in this example, a big ol slice of international politics, socio-economics, business and backhanders 101.

Oil fracking and polymers and all that jazz is part of chemistry. Earthquakes and seismology surely unfairly advantages students studying geography?

PatTheHammer · 18/01/2012 17:00

LOL at everything!

Strictly speaking it is Geology, but I think since rocks and minerals are chemicals it usually falls under the chemistry part of science. Most of the chemistry teachers I know love teaching it, I don't mind it but I would say there is a fair bit of physics in it too (convection currents etc). My bf is a geologist and she is a rock-mad geek, her classes love it!

PatTheHammer · 18/01/2012 17:05

Maybe an unfair advantage, but then maybe the ones studying GCSE PE have an unfair advantage studying anaerobic respiration and the body responses to exercise. Those studying Food Technology have an advantage when studying balanced diet, food preservation etc.

I think it all evens out in the end, I think the only fair way would be if they all only studied Science.......as it is everythingWink!

Original poster
OrmIrian · 18/01/2012 17:07

Off home now. Fingers crossed that this one was 'good' too Hmm

OP posts:
Hullygully · 18/01/2012 17:08

Pat - it was two equations one for sulfuric acid reacting with limestone and one nitric acid. Two graphs showing the reactions.

They had to work out why there was a diffeerence based on the equations.

It seems.

PatTheHammer · 18/01/2012 17:19

Ok, I'll have a look tomorrow and let you know. Would have to see the graphs, guessing its probably about the mass of product produced or somethingConfused

Original poster
OrmIrian · 19/01/2012 11:51

Well, it was 'alright' with a face like a smacked arse. Which translates to 'bloody awful' I suspect. I asked him if he could answer most of the question and he said 'yes, most' with another sour face.

So verdict is CRAP!

oh well.. Physics can't be as bad.

OP posts:
Hullygully · 19/01/2012 11:58

Maths today.

Ds is at home this morning.

He has just discovered he has been revising the wrong syllabus...!

GetOrfMoiiLand · 19/01/2012 12:01

DD is in bits at having to retake her maths modules. She is having such a nervous breakdown at the whole thing she has decided that she doesn't want to do A levels, and is wanting to leave school, not go to sixth form and go to the local FE college to do a BTEC eitheri n public services or sports coaching. She has her interviews next month.

I am worried about this - she is not at all academic it's true, but she is expected to get A* - C in all her subjects except maths, which is currently a D. I have tried to persuade her that not doing A levels is cutting her nose off, and taking away so many chances. She says that the BTEC is equivalent to A levels (I have had a look, and based on ucas points it is, but lotsof universities presumably won't entertain them).

But she is so stresse maybe a vocational course would be best. She wants to join the army or be a copper.

Hullygully · 19/01/2012 12:16

Getorf - If she knows what she wants to do and knows the route to get there AND isn't academic or interested in it, check what she needs for copper/army, follow that route and sing Hallelujah that she has a direction!