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!!!!!

Leeds, ditto.

I've seen that about said about the magnesium question on biology too as that wasn't on the spec - but as dd has pointed out anybody saying that is on a hiding to nothing because the question was phrased in such a way as to give a bloody big clue as to the answer!

HURRAH!!!!!

DS's last exam isn't until 23rd June - double whammy to go out on with physics and statistics! It seems ages away, probably because it is.

Three cheers for finishing art , coconutty

Absolutely agree Coconutty!

In an ideal world they should be taught to understand a subject and have a love of learning rather than being taught how to pass an exam but the problem for our DCs is that they have spent all these years being educated in one way, to then be examined in a completely different way so they havent really adjusted. Even DD's Headteacher has admitted as much and says to blame Gove!

DD has gone to bed accepting whatever way the questions go tomorrow for Chemistry she is unlikely to do well but said she will try and make up for it in other subjects. Hopefully wont be as bad as she is expecting but she hasnt done anything this week on History which is on Friday and that is one of her A level choices so think she needs to park science for a while as she will not be taking it any further.

dd wants to do sciences AND history at A level. This week is basically turning in to a total nightmare for us. Goodness knows how she'll be tomorrow.

Art was handed in on the 9th May.

DD1 is already collecting ideas for A level Art!

She'll be quite happy if they ask off the wall questions in science, probably won't even notice. DH and me are scientists, she's been bombarded with it from birth.

Here we go again AQA chemistry unit2 and 3 today, history revision for rest of day in school. Think DS will be glad to see the back of this week!

Spanish yesterday. Higher reading foundation speaking. Higher was tough but ok. Nothing today, history revision then surgery paper tomorrow.

Chemistry revision over breakfast . . . . this is one of DS's A levels so I really hope it's OK . . . . and then RE this afternoon.

Tense day ahead!

Chemistry C1 and RS today. Maths yesterday was ok - got caught out by a couple of tricky questions.

Dd seemed calm this morning. I am faking it well

DD1 is doing her GCSEs, glad to hear about schools complaining about the AQA geography. Will have a look on TSR later! I love TSR. She has offers of places in Grammar School for 6th form, but they are dependent on grades. She knows what grades she needs to get to go there, which is a huge incentive. Part of me thinks though that she will end up back at school for 6th form, purely to be with her friends.... I don't mind where she goes, as long as she is doing the subjects she wants to do and is happy.

So, on top of DD1 doing GCSEs in Year 11, DS2 doing his Year 10 GCSE assessments and mocks that will decide sets and exams for next year. At our school if you do badly you can reapply to do Year 10 again, which I think is great. On top of that DS1 is under pressure to get his BTEC Level 3 extended diploma assignments in before the end of May.

Me? I am just in charge of love, cuddles, catering and laundry.

FFF x

DD sitting Chemistry IGCSE this morning then coming straight home to revise for History tomorrow. Exams seem to have gone ok so far but I am worried that she left hardcore revision too late. We shall see.

Pleased yesterday is over; a 2 hour maths paper followed by a 21/4 hour English Lit paper...

Marni23 So is my DD. Chemistry today, history tomorrow and she still has to complete the mounting of her art by tomorrow.

Yesterday she had the Maths and the English Lit with Spanish in the middle. Over 5 hours worth of exams in one day. That was her worst day by far.

Next week is hideous too. Thank goodness for half term and a bit of a break!

I haven't from DD about Chemistry yet it was 9am for her (AQA)

She is doing double so only unit 2

I am waiting for dd to text me

She was doing 2 and 3. Have had a quick look at TSR and consensus seems to be it was better than biology. This is both good and bad - bad because IF she found it tough I can't use that for comfort if eveyrbody else is saying it was easy. Good because maybe she will have been happier. AAAAAAAAARGH!

I am eating chocolate buttons for lunch. Can't face anything else :(

On the positive side though the attendance manager rang me about the note I sent re her being off yesterday and said she totally understood. She had an A* candidate daughter a few years ago and she agreed that they are best to work out what is working for them and said she should come and go as she needs and she will sort out the register :) So that was very helpful. I was fully prepared to give them the mummy tiger full barrels effect but it was nice to know they just 'got' it.

MrsMaturin My DD hasn't text me back either. I am taking that to mean it was fine! She was doing 2 and 3 also.

Sounds like DD is doing a different chemistry exam then as hers was just Paper 1 (AQA IGCSE). She's really pleased with how it went so phew! She's upstairs now revising for History tomorrow-it all feels a bit relentless just now.