GCSEs 2012 support thread

[Kez100]

Here we go........hold on tight!

No problem Secret , glad they are useful. GIven that his exams are Tues and THurs, is it WJEC? ANd if so, is his third text 'Heroes'? If so I've got a guide for that, too :)

My daughter sends her thanks. The OMAM background context is really useful - something she did know about but hadn't yet revised. Looking at sample papers there is usually a part question referring to that.

She is full of cold and this morning was a struggle but she has regained her sense of humour this afternoon, which is good to see. Hopefully another good nights sleep will help.

Tricky week for all coming up.

cardibach - no it's AQA and he isn't doing Heroes.
The second one is all poetry I think, from Moon and Tides plus an unseen poem.

DS has just come back from a 3 hour long latin revision class and is getting on with a biology practice paper! I think it's finally sunk in that he has less than 48 hours until his first exam.

DD has done 4 Chemistry past papers and been for a long walk with me today. SHe has done reasonably well on the papers, but is still making silly errors. Hopefully in an actual exam she will be more focussed.

DD has Biology on Monday and Chemistry on Thursday. Exam leave finally starts a week on Monday which I think will be a relief for all concerned.

Hmm Ds has been taking exams, controlled assessments and coursework since year 9. It seems to have been relentless. On the whole he has knuckled down and worked hard, tbh I don't think I could have asked for anymore work from him. This is week is the first of this seasons exams but what a week.

Monday Biology
Tuesday none
Wednesday PE theory
Thursday Chemistry followed by Eng lLit (poetry section)
Friday DT followed by Economics

Maybe I'm a soft touch but I'm just planning my menu and shopping for the week so he gets lovely food every night. Yesterday he asked for fairy cakes today .

Good luck to everyone (and the dc of course)

DS has a hard week this week

Monday-Biology
Tuesday - english lit
Thursday - 2x chemistry and english lit again

He was on facetime to his gf last night who is doing AS history at the moment. They were going over revision for germany, I could hear lots of mentions of Goebbels etc It was quite sweet really.

I have one doing A levels and one doing GCSEs as well as ds doing some GCSEs in Y10. It's all a bit stressful! My Y13 and Y11 dds set themselves very high targets and there's a lot of pressure for them to achieve (dd1 needs 3As). I'm just trying to keep everyone happy and keep the peace!

Cardi, I have just sent you an email. Don't know if you can help me at all - if you can it is much appreciated.

DS's first exam tomorrow - what are your day before the exam revision tips that I can get him to do?

BringBack1996 - now I would suggest that he lays off the heavy revision. He needs to relax.

DD has biology tomorrow. She was revising this morning by talking with he friend. The friend asked DD to explain a number of topics to her as she was still struggling. DD found this helpful. IMO the best way to learn something is teach it to someone else.

DD is now chilling out with her boyfriend. She will have a simple dinner tonight (cottage pie followed by cheesecake) then an early night!

Thanks Gnome. In that case I'll casually ask him to explain something about enzymes over dinner! Hopefully he will be able to give the answer!

Fantastic preparation that B Grade! Hopefully gives her lots of confidence for the week.

So proud of my DD. Hit a issue this morning on English Lit but stayed calm all day working on Science instead, until she got an answer (thanks Cardi!) late this afternoon and then she turned her focus to that and has now resolved that issue. I know I'd have been a barrel of stress if that had happened to me at exam time.

Good luck to everyone for the epic week ahead.

Chemistry tomorrow. She's done a load of past papers and scored well with them but she's convinced her mind will go a total blank.

Chemistry tomorrow. English tomorrow. Physics and english thursday.

Shes ok this evening. I keep feeding her trifle and biscuits.

No probs Kez ! Teaching kids who aren't physically present is a doddle - someone else deals with the stress and I just get to give concise information!

Good luck to all chemistry students today (and of course all the other exam boards as well). It's ds first exam of this tranche and I got quite teary yesterday. Just seems like 2 mins ago he was my baby and I really could never imagine this day ;-)

Chemistry, biology AND Spansih today here.

First challenge is to get her up on time!

Good luck everyone for this week.
Nothing here today but the dreaded English lit tomorrow!

Nerves have set in for this week's English. I know because he has barely said a word in the last 24 hours, just grunts and won't make eye contact and picks at his food.
He's fine with the Biology, PE and Chemistry though. On past experience we are in for a few gloomy days and then hopefully after Thursday I should get my lovely boy back.

I am hoping chemistry goes okay. It is DD's favourite subject, taking it on to A level then hoping to degree (thinking ahead!). I just hope that she doesnt stumble at the first hurdle.

Dd has just been to the doctor as her arm has become badly infected following a sports injury the weekend before last - she's now on antibiotics and has to go back if it doesn't improve. She tells me he offered to write a note to the examiner. Is it normal practice to make a deal of something like that? I'd assumed she would just have to get on with it. It's not her writing arm, but it is very red and sore with red streaks spreading up the veins, I guess it has got to the point where it is making her a little unwell.

glauring It's worth talking to the school about. If she has a doctor's note to show it's needed, she might have a little extra time or as I recall with DD1 (horrific hay fever) a couple of extra percent added to her final mark. I hope it feels better soon.

glauring I'd get that note if the doctor has offered. Even if it's not her writing hand it sounds nasty. Hope it improves soon.