Year 11 GCSE countdown. Revision angst begins.

[Fastenurseatbelts]

Ok. DS1 has broken up for Easter and we now have to all accept that this is it. He has been doing dribs and drabs since mocks in February and an hour- ish in the evenings of stuff set by teachers.

Nowhere near what I remember doing for my o'levels a million miles ago. Friends tell me their kids are doing nothing yet. Not sure I believe them though!

Waiting for reality to kick in with him but he still seems to be treating it all like an end of topic test in class!

What's happening in your house? Are you staying well out of it or like me walking round waving a CGP guide 24/7!!!!!

Just a point to add regarding the number of papers/timetables; it is the first time that all yr 11 students have to sit terminal (no papers being taken in yr 10 fir the vast majority of subjects). So there is double the amount of exams that the school and students have to deal with compared to previous years.

When did your year 11 start revising ? DD started at Easter but has found it hard to fit in all the subjects. Im hoping it will be okay as she got all A* in the mocks.

On and off since mocks but in earnest since end of March.

Behappy - mine has watched 16 episodes of ER in the last week. She's done a shedload of work too though. They do need to switch off a bit. Can't be 100% revision - even if they haven't done much up till now.

Dd had exam anxiety dream last night - no room in the hall so had to do exam outside our house, paper all back to front, questions didn't make sense and one was about one of the other teachers....poor lamb.

DS lay on the sofa most of yesterday with a box of tissues claiming he was poorly( he did have a bit of a temp) occasionally picking up a revision guide but has got up today and miraculously cured and gone into town off a few hours with his mates. Hmm.

On the other hand his PS3 broke down at Easter so one less distraction.

Oh I'm so stressed its untrue! DS starts tues and it cant come soon enough. They have not been given exam leave and have to go to lessons right up to half term. They haven't actually finished the coursework for their Btechs. So hes still doing that in the evenings and being told to revise too. But hes not doing any revision in the evenings as hes too tired. He did start revising at the weekends in january though. I wish I could just fast foward to june 13th!

I am also getting stressed. DD2 only started doing a past paper for Geography yesterday - she has only done one previously and that was her mock. She has loads printed off to do.
Today she has done 1 past paper for her algebra exam tomorrow but she is not worried about that at all. She is now doing chemistry past papers. She has 1 exam tomorrow; 3 on Tuesday; 2 on Wednesday and 2 on Thursday, and then a 3 day break before the next batch.
We have had emails saying that lessons will continue until the exam in each subject but DD seems to think they are optional as they broke up for study leave on Friday. She is intending to come straight home after tomorrow morning's exam so she can revise for Tuesday at home.

They won't repeat the exact slant of the question but they could repeat the topic. Probably more helpful though to look at what's on the syllabus but NOT on last year's paper - that's pretty certain to come up. Which is why dd has been swotting up kidneys for biology.

Aaargggg.......I would just like to say that I am in awe of all mums (and dads) that are able to retain their sanity and their relationship with their yr11's at this time. If only I could get my dd to see that I am proud of her whatever the outcome of her gcse exams. Life is pretty bad when hound people think that anything less than an A is is fail?

I feel your pain. Dd has nearly all A* targets. It shouldn't be allowed imo.

ds was told curly has come up too often so to concentrate on crooks

Curly what?

Curly in Of Mice and Men?

Ah, thanks MrsM!

Doormouse - I am proud of her whatever the outcome of her gcse exams. How DO you convey that message, without it sounding like the exams aren't that important really? The students are so built up all the time , they MUST get those As, and in one way that's good , as a motivator, but in another it's sooo much pressure.
I'd love to be able to tell my dd that i'm proud of her whatever happens, but i strongly suspect the message she'd get into her head would be 'Mum doesn't think i can get an A in all these subjects...she knows me so well, she's probably right...i'm kidding myself...what's the point of putting in extra effort now..'
Very fine line between unconditional acceptance and goal-setting.

Absolutely agree, Coconutty

Btw, i'm already dreading all this coming up again at AS/A level - with all the pressure of getting into the "right" university.....oh god required at the very thought.

My dd is a fab girl, well rounded and we tell her everyday that we love her. The pressure comes from many sources including herself and we must take some of the blame.. The system has gone crazy, when I was at school a C was a reasonable grade and a A almost unheard of. Oh well, onwards and upwards and this time will pass.

coco we've done geography to death this weekend too! I agree about those dates- DS has literally just written a card of key dates for earthquakes, flooding and tsunami in chronological order. Thats it for tonight though - time for crimson field - history medicine through time!!