Any parents of Y12 DCs up for a support thread?

[cardibach]

to get us through AS and university Open Days etc.?

I think the problem with the step between GCSE & A level is that certainly for sciences there needs to be a certain amount of unlearning to be done. The simplification at GCSE of, say, cell structure needs to be forgotten and the new complexity learned. The same with the terminology. The imprecision which was acceptable at GCSE is now a liability at A level.

For my DD these have been the real problems. The work itself has not been a problem.

Tutor for Physics - young PHD student worked a treat every day of half term. More confident for Electrons in Physics now.

Fingers crossed for Wed. and Further Maths on Thursday.

Good luck all.

What's 'Headstart' ?

Headstart

Ds school made it quite clear the jump between gcse and A level was HUGE. No spoon feeding, be ready from the outset, don't fall behind because it's so hard to make up. They are supposed to do 2 hours independent study/ homework for each class hour! To be fair ds has done this and more, hopefully it will pay off.
This week he is chilling, sorting his folders books etc ready for next year, he finished all his exams before half term, a slew of them. He has one week of A2 lessons, one week of personal statement writing, Ucas prep etc and then one week of work exp.

DD starts A2 lessons next week - still on study leave at the moment. She is also going to CERN and has a Headstart course to look forward to as well as helping out at the Royal Society open science event in June and something else at UEA. She might fit in a few university visits as well! Her choir is then going to be singing at Westminster Abbey for a week in August. Think she'll be going back to school for a rest.

I teach at secondary, though. I am well aware of the jump between GCSE and A level, but this seems to be something else. Also, she can do two past papers in Bio on one day and get an A in one and a U in the other. It's odd. THe exam doesn't seem to be in any way representative of the course. I have some concerns about the teaching, especially in Chemistry. I teach in DD's school, so they are my colleagues, which makes it really tricky.

Thanks for the link secretscwirrels - my boy's definitely not a STEM person, so that'll be why it's not crossed my radar

That's interesting Cardibach. Ds isn't a science person so I really don't know. But how very difficult if sometimes its an A and sometimes a U, and of course hard for you with DC teachers being your colleagues.
What about student room? They dissect all the past papers on there, maybe dc could ask on there about model answers for the U paper, rather than the mark scheme? The only thing I know is terminology is the be all and end all, so I would guess that extends to phrasing. Probably too late but flash cards with the exact phrases?
Fingers crossed its the A paper style questions. Good luck to all science peeps this week.

If any mums would like to join me in a little celebratory 'hurray she's finished' dance, feel free to do so!

Chemistry was tough but not impossible, apparently :)

And, breathe....

Until this time next year!

BeckAndCall - I will link arms with you for a little jig! Similar thoughts about Chemistry here.

Now, all we have to do is make sure that they:

• book university visits
• write to said universities with specific questions
• look at the personal statement
• find a job for the summer
• dont forget everything they have learnt in the last year
• decide which subjects they will take forward
• ...........

.......dont forget to breathe, dont forget to breathe, dont forget to breathe......

I posted this earlier from my phone but it clearly didn't work!
I am dancing too, Beck. Similar report about Chemistry here - DD does WJEC.
University Open Days start now - first one at UWE on Saturday.

Not dancing yet here!
Physics today,went well. Tomorrow and Monday the two big important ones. PC3 and PC4. He wants to do Maths at a top university for which he will need to average at least 90% UMS on each Maths paper.
Roll on Monday.
WorrySighWorrySigh write to said universities with specific questions what do you mean? Have I missed something I should be worrying about he should be doing?

Oh yes the dreaded personal statement. Our head of 6th form has told parents that any student who doesnt have a perfect PS on her desk before they skive off leave for the summer, will be put on the bottom of her pile and may or may not be dealt with in September. DH was furious, not that DS is relaxing skiving off, in fact he will be in school. But really not every student knows what they want to do and August results will have a big part to play. However DS is on a mission and knows what he wants and what he has to do, including hopefully, what he has to write, so we feel very fortunate but still very very .

Hello, may I join you? Really wish I had spotted this thread a few weeks ago! DS has two more exams and we're right in the middle of trying to organise open days. Feel as though we are very disorganised compared to the rest of Y12.

OCR Physics today - son was confident and finished early! Me worried.

Also had a 40 min interruption while someone collapsed and was taken into hospital. Have asked school to tell board. How much do they take that into account?

Hello PurplePotato - you're very welcome

Are you guys posting on here specifically to worry me ??

I'e heard nothing about personal statements this year - only time they've been mentioned was at the open evening in the Summer of Yr11, when they said they need to be done in Sept/Oct of Yr13. Is anyone else under that impression, or is it just me?

Oh the poor DC who collapsed in an exam

BackforGood No PS at DS 6th form yet but it's not a private school or a grammar. Potential Oxbridge and medics are told to make a start when they get results in August as theirs have to be in before the rest. (October rather than January IIRC)
DS has a bit of a start on his PS from some applications to summer schools he did. I keep telling him to make notes but he says it's all in his head.

I have found a great site on the Student Room where they give examples of personal statements complete with feedback. It was really useful for my ds who has just changed what he wants to do. Reading the example of a personal statement confirmed that he has lots to offer and that is the right choice for him whereas he would have been struggling to write anything anywhere near as good about his original choice.

Personal statements are written in September at my school - so that the results of AS can feed into decision making. Oxbridge ones are looked at first by the Head of Sixth, then she moves swiftly on to the others. Last year all but one of our students went to University, most to their first choice, so it is working! No need to worry yet.
DD has been enjoying her freedom today - she spent it on the beach with one of her friends and has now gone over to the friend's house for a barbecue and to stay over.