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Secondary education

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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:
Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywench · 09/05/2014 01:11

I knew there was a thread somewhere! DS started study leave today but has his first exam tomorrow (LLW) followed by French and RE on Monday. I'm stressed out because he's so laid back and I have no idea how much revision he's done in the subjects that he doesn't like Confused

He already knows what he wants to do at university and what subjects are needed so I have my suspicions that he's focused on those and winging the rest to a degree. Probably why he's sleeping while I'm still awake...

mumthetaxidriver · 09/05/2014 08:01

Good luck to everyone who starts today - our first is Biology & Geography on Tuesday. I'm feeling nervous for him (worried about ones later in week) - he says he's excited about starting now - oh to be young again!!

spongeypop · 09/05/2014 08:57

Toughasoldboots, My DD pulls and pokes at her eyelashes it drives me crazy.

DD has not even started revision on 3 of her subjects. I am so stressed, whereas she is absolutely fine.

I see a valuable life lesson being learnt in August !!!

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 09/05/2014 10:06

DS had his prom last night (aww) and leavers assembly today. At least they get it over and done with before the exams start.

ancientbuchanan · 09/05/2014 12:03

4, including an oral, down, 12 to go.

kaytola · 09/05/2014 14:28

Mine are stressing about the double whammy of two exams in one day. First one of these is Tuesday with Biology (2 exams) and Geography on the same day. I think I'm going to have a very 'interesting' household for the next few weeks. Roll on the 13th of June!

Nocomet · 09/05/2014 14:47

Roll on 13th of June indeed

Toughasoldboots · 09/05/2014 15:25

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumthetaxidriver · 09/05/2014 17:50

kaytola followed by by two Chemistry on Thursday? Just don't get why they do the two papers in the same morning.

Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywench · 09/05/2014 18:10

Well, that's 1 down. DS came home and ate half the fridge before grunting that it was Ok. RE and French listening on Monday but the French teacher decided to put on a revision class on at the same time as the RE exam Confused so that has been rescheduled for just before the exam... There is a slight element of piss up in brewery organising happening with the revision classes Grin Can't wait for 12 June!

eatyourveg · 09/05/2014 19:03

piss up brewery organisation in our school too. dc met one teacher in the corridor today who asked him how revision was going and dc replied it would be going much better if you hadn't lost our books before Easter. Well yes was the reply, I will have a look for them and try to get them back to you before the exam next week! Shock

MrsMaturin · 09/05/2014 19:08

we have further maths to do so not done till 20th I think.

I say 'we' I can barely even follow the instructions to open the Further Maths paper Grin

Dd reports friend broke down in French today. Unable to remember the French for unemployment. I'm not surprised - hardly trips off the tongue does it? Hmm

LeapingOverTheWall · 10/05/2014 07:44

we have 5 exams on the 19th (Sociology, German reading, German listening in the morning, P2 ad P3 i the afternoon) - add into that DDs extra time, and she starts at 9, and wont finish till after 5 Sad.

Timetabling is weird this year - she has 15 exams before half term, and only a handful after, which is when study leave is starting Confused.

Best1sWest · 10/05/2014 09:45

5 on the same day? That is hard. Makes you wonder who does the time tabling. DS has 3 on the same day and I thought that was bad enough.

SupportManager · 10/05/2014 10:08

So glad of this thread - thank you, OP! Thanks
How have the exams gone this week, those who've done them? Do they feel they've done ok? No disassters I hope?
DD's had one exam this week, three more coming up next week.
She's up and off again to school this morning (Sat)for more revision sessions.
They go into school as normal until half term. By then she will have had the majority of her exams so that's a bit Confused .
This is new for me and I would not have believed how much the exams are affecting the whole family - or at least those who understand. Grandparent rumbling still annoying , snidey comments 'oh she cant be revising all the time...' they just dont get it. no she isn't revising ALL the time, but most of it , and when she isn't i think she's entitled to either do nothing, or relax with friends who are going through the same thing.

SupportManager · 10/05/2014 10:21

Leapingover - FIVE in one day, that's grim - that doesn't seem right at all. How can a child keep up the intensity and focus for a whole day, 9 - 5?
i dont know why the subjects are not better spaced out over the weeks. I thought 3 in one day was bad!

LeapingOverTheWall · 10/05/2014 10:25

It's because they claim that the physics is all one exam ( as they follow straight on from one another); similarly with the German. Her timetable has 10 minute breaks between papers, and 20 minutes for lunch Shock

It's partly her own fault as the German is a resit though, but sociology is weirdly early this year

MrsMaturin · 10/05/2014 12:19

Glad to say my parents have been perfectly reasonable. Dd saw them at Easter but only stayed half the time she would normally and they sent her a nice affirming card this week.

Coconutty · 10/05/2014 14:29

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RaspberryLemonPavlova · 10/05/2014 15:52

Thanks Coconutty. He has a revision guide, and used that as base asking friends to explain if necessary so I think he will be fine.

He says he just wants the exams to start now, so he can begin ticking them off.

He is doing Further Maths too, so we aren't finished until 20th June. Prom is that night. They go back in for Leavers' Day on the 18th June.

trulymadlydeeply · 10/05/2014 18:26

I think it's worse for us than it is for them! So hard not to ask too many questions about how much work is being done ...

Coconutty · 10/05/2014 19:10

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RaspberryLemonPavlova · 10/05/2014 21:18

I keep offering to ask questions...... He says its fine!

marymoocow · 10/05/2014 21:34

I'm really confused with our school. DS has his 1st exam on Monday, 2 on Tuesday, has his leavers assembly Wednesday morning followed by an exam in the afternoonHmm . His exams finish on 13th but he doesn't officially leave school until 27th June and has to go back into school from 25th-27th for post 16 induction (regardless of whether they are staying for 6th form) We only got notification of this last week. On a positive note DS received a lovely encouraging letter yesterday about his progress and effort in English (which he has been struggling with) and a £7 Waterstone voucher. His school also sent a good luck card through the post this morning...he was quite touched:-)

behappynomatterwhat · 10/05/2014 22:16

Mine one starts late, not enough and I am worry. And he starts watching Breaking Bad tonight, two days before the exam.... I am like.. 'are you serious?'

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