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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Year 11 GCSE countdown. Revision angst begins.

999 replies

Fastenurseatbelts · 01/04/2014 13:55

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!!!!!

OP posts:
Best1sWest · 04/05/2014 19:39

Really worrying about DS. He has a back problem, probably a herniated disc (waiting for a scan) and is in a lot of pain. He's on painkillers and they are making him very tired. I'm not sure how he's going to cope sitting for long periods of time during the exams. His concentration isn't great at the best of times.

Phaedra11 · 04/05/2014 19:55

Best, what awful timing! Does he need particular grades for 6th form and if so, would they take into account that his results might be affected by this?

bruffin · 04/05/2014 20:03

Dd has been doing her photography all weekend, plus spent a few hours on skype to a friend helping him with history. At the gcse talk the other night they said the best way to revise is to try and teach someone else, so hopefully it will help dd.

Coconutty · 04/05/2014 21:40

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Best1sWest · 04/05/2014 21:51

He needs 5 GCSEs at C grade for a place on the course he wants to do (BTEC) so he should be ok as he has 2 already. I'm going to try to speak to his head of year on Tuesday. He's been in pain for a month or two now and hasn't been doing games so the school do know.

Leeds2 · 04/05/2014 22:37

I am very glad that DD didn't do Art, because I have seen the work that goes into it. But, her friends who did Art have now got one out of the way.

I wish DD had got one out of the way!

Coconutty · 04/05/2014 23:01

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hellsbells99 · 05/05/2014 11:20

DD1 did art last year and it put her off for life! She picked maths and sciences for her AS levels - said she never wanted to do any 'star scribble' ever again.
DD2 is doing her GCSEs this year and didn't pick art after seeing the work load and how boring it was - all repetition etc.
She is revising geography today and moaning a lot - lots to learn etc.
Best - hope your son is okay. Have you tried voltarol/diclofenic as a painkiller/anti-inflammatory? Both DDs have had this on prescription for joint problems and you can now get it from a pharmacy.

LIZS · 05/05/2014 12:18

anyone else's dc revise The Importance of Being Earnest by watching the film this am ?

hellsbells99 · 05/05/2014 12:43

Lizs - no, but sounds a good idea Wink
Might suggest we watch Lord of the Flies later......

Coconutty · 05/05/2014 14:10

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Leeds2 · 05/05/2014 14:57

DD's first exam is a week today. RS.

Coconutty · 05/05/2014 15:13

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MrsMaturin · 05/05/2014 16:22

It depends on the film. A lot of literature questions will centre on issues of character interpretation and detail and the students need to answer that based on the text. If the film is very faithful (as the old version of TIOBE certainly was) then it can be helpful but if the film deviates at all then they can get themselves in to a right pickle.

Dd seems to have done some chemistry today. Literature mock tomorrow.

Coconutty · 05/05/2014 16:41

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Best1sWest · 05/05/2014 16:51

Bells, I will have a look at them, thanks for the suggestion. He's been on Naproxen and co-coda mol and the GP has just started him on Gabapentin on the recommendation of the physio.

Must say he was glad to have Art out of the way too but his biggest regret is taking Music. Loved the performing, didn't like composition and is hating the Theory.

MrsMaturin · 05/05/2014 17:43

I am so relieved dd didn't take music.

SupportManager · 05/05/2014 18:34

Popped back to this thread to see how everyone's getting on. Best - hope your ds is ok.
My dd has spent the whole bank holiday weekend on one subject, drama. she's had to do 5 hrs a day rehearsing for exam this week and it takes a lot out of her, physical as well as mental, so she has been too tired to do any ohter revision. She has done her plan for each night from now on, though, and sorted out all her piles of notes and stuff.
Her friends are the same. they rarely get a break. i've found that other people , who havent had kids going through gcse stress, don't understand it - as I didnt myself until now. Eg grandparents - were a bit put out that she didnt have time to visit on a bank holiday weekend, and thought she was exagerating when she said she didnt have time because of her exams. bit miffed by their lack of understanding, but then TBH I wouldnt have understood before.

yourlittlesecret · 05/05/2014 19:19

SupportManager Your comments about other people strike a chord. I noticed this when DS1 went through it 2 years ago. In fact I was made to feel I was being positively PFB when, even on results day, my sister close family wasn't very interested.
I now have DS1 doing A levels and DS2 doing GCSEs.

mumthetaxidriver · 05/05/2014 20:03

Anyone else here feeling that you too could sit some of your DC's exams? I have spent all weekend helping my DS (apart from an hour of squash on Saturday and a game of football Sunday night - his not mine!) He is keen to work so its not about me having to sit there but he finds he remembers it best if I work with him - especially for Geography and History. I use the revision guides to ask him questions - if he knows it we strike through the page and move on - if not he draws mind maps and then I quiz him to check learning. Going well so far but it does mean everything else in our lives seems to be on hold. I don't think any of my friends/his friend's mums are doing this for such long periods of time - part of me thinks he should be more independent but it suits him and I just want him to do the best he possibly can. He really is grateful for the help and I'm actually enjoying the covering some topics that weren't in my own "O" levels in these subjects but I must say I'll be pleased when its all over!

Best1sWest · 05/05/2014 20:24

Yes, mumthetaxi, I would quite like a crack at GCSE maths.

You're not alone by the way, I have to go through things with DS in much the same way. I could probably sit science as well.

Coconutty · 05/05/2014 20:28

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MrsMaturin · 05/05/2014 20:32

dd is doing lots of mind maps and revision sheets, all up on the walls of her room and she walks around sometimes lecturing herself on them.

Best1sWest · 05/05/2014 20:34

I have my DD sitting degree finals in the next two weeks as well. To say I am stressed is an understatement.

Nocomet · 05/05/2014 20:44

DD1 has been up and down her bunk ladder all day.

Water colours painting in her sketch book, revising up in her bunk while it dries and then adding detail and words. Repeat all day.

Art is going to go right up to hand in dedline in Friday, I could throttle the teacher. It's not that DD hasnt been working all year, there is just so much of it.

Oh well she loves it and is doing A level. Help!

Main problem today is trying to get DD2 to do her German HW, neither of us could think of a good reason why she needed to know the plural of dishwasher, the word for sofa or the sex of a desk.

She simply wants to give up German as soon as possible and I don't blame her, I can't get my dyslexic brain to remember a single word.