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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Y13 support thread, anyone?

700 replies

cardibach · 06/04/2014 19:20

I remember our GCSE one 2 years ago. It was a haven! I hesitate to start this as I'm not totally confident of wanting to post DDs results in the end, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
So, how's the revision going? What are the tricky subjects for anyone's DC?
DD is revising steadily, but then she always does and has had some disastrous module results, so not filled with massive confidence. Biology is her issue - she knows and understands it but can't seem to give the examiner what they are looking for. We've had papers back and her tutor says she hasn't answered anything incorrectly, just hasn't said precisely what the examiner wants. Seems so unfair.

I'm stressing. Anyone else?

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whatsinaname01 · 19/06/2014 09:53

Hi purplealert My DS is hoping to go to Loughborough to do Mech Engineering. ABB required as well, he wants to get AAA but we shall see.
It's always been his favourite Uni by miles so would be gutted if he didn't get in.
They are nearly half way through the physics exam.
Fingers still crossed. Just managed breakfast. I'm so nervous

onadifferentplanet · 19/06/2014 10:31

Those saying you hope the Unis will take slightly lower grades, how hopeful of this are you? Ds has a 3 BBB offer from Edinburgh. he should hopefully exceed this in Bio and Chem but wobbling on the B/C border for English Lit.

bruffin · 19/06/2014 10:42

Southampton told ds on the open day they would take one grade below, I also know someone on another course that they were told that they would take one grade below. They said that they go through everyone who reaches the offer, then the ones that one grade out then if there are any spaces left they go through the firms of those who have slipped two grades.

KittiesInsane · 19/06/2014 14:53

DS is back and fretting about a question he think he misread as milli rather than nanometres. Or possibly the other way round.

I'm hoping it's a good sign if one mucked-up question is all he can think of at the moment.

bruffin · 19/06/2014 15:08

I got a text saying he is not sure how it went!

lismore · 19/06/2014 15:19

I'm joining this thread rather late, hope you don't mind, in the hope of finding some ideas of what to say to a stressed DS who is genuinely concerned he may have missed his hard-won Uni offer. Results day seems very far away!

From the last few pages I've read it sounds like many of your DCs have also found this set of A2 exams very hard. last week went quite well but this week has been horrific according to DS. He needs an A* in one of his subjects, unlike his friends, and though he consistently got this in practice papers, the real ones were much much worse and quite odd apparently (Edexcel Chemistry- I feel your pain HPparent!)
I feel so sad for him after the long long slog of revision and wish we could fast forward to results day when at least he could do something useful instead of just worrying.

summerdip · 19/06/2014 15:19

My Ds is fairly confident. Not perfect but he didn't expect this paper to be.
Feels he was not a 100% sure on a few questions. He felt he did well on other papers. His AS is a B - his re-take should push it to an A if he has done as well as he thinks so if he is correct we should be in A/B borderline which teacher predicted.

Maths is much stronger.

Hearing all your stories and feel for all your families. Let's hope supportive mumsnet mothers reap positive results! Supportive homes and all that !!

whatsinaname01 · 19/06/2014 16:30

Yeh exams have all finished in our household. The relief is palpable.
Fingers crossed for all those still going.I know lots are taking Biology tomorrow. Really hope it all goes well.

BeckAndCall · 19/06/2014 17:12

Welcome lismore - you've made it just in time for the after party :). Don't start with out me! We've still got BIO 5 tomorrow and S2 next week. But come next Tuesday I shall break out the virtual Wine and maybe the not so virtual version

prettydaisies · 19/06/2014 19:14

That's it. Finished here too. Physics today was again tricky and also odd, but better than last week's. DS thought C4 was tricky yesterday especially the last question!
We've promised them a meal out tomorrow to celebrate their hard work and then it's just a waiting game.

Original poster
cardibach · 19/06/2014 20:05

Well that's it. The last day of A level revision finished. Bio in the morning and we are done. She did 4 past papers and got 2Cs and 2Bs today, so fingers crossed she can do the same tomorrow! Good luck to all! When is the after party starting?

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FantaSea · 19/06/2014 20:31

Lismore welcome Smile I also would like to fast forward to results day just so we know, but at the same time I am absolutely dreading that day.

cardi hope the dreaded biology goes well tomorrow for both our DDs. DD has worked on it all day and I have tested her on a few bits. The chemistry on Tuesday was so bad that her confidence has taken a bit of a battering (again) so she is doubting herself on the biology. I honestly have aged about 10 years over these A levels, at least I only have to do it once.

Very best of luck to everyone for tomorrow.

Original poster
cardibach · 19/06/2014 20:36

I agree, Fanta - it makes me really glad DD is an only!

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BeckAndCall · 19/06/2014 20:55

I'm on my third, cardi - am also expecting degree results anytime now. Can't imagine what colour my hair would be without the input of Wella........

But next year , oh boy, I'm definitely going away somewhere fabulous during exam season....

summerdip · 19/06/2014 22:01

Most of my Ds's friends have finished. I encouraged him to go and join them for the England game - bit of release.

FP2 on Monday. He has to put in hard graft for 3 days. Had a tutor this afternoon after a long exam. Am proud!

Soon will be over and waiting game as you say. The wonders of Wella! Grin

PurpleAlert · 19/06/2014 22:09

Bruffin she hopes to do product design at Loughborough ( well hopefully) she just loved it there and will be gutted if she doesn't make it there. She was interviewed by the admissions tutor for her course who made her an offer on the day ( which no one else on that day did ) Keeping everything crossed!

Molio · 19/06/2014 22:15

I'm on my sixth Beck. Three finals results in (one in 2012, one last year and one this), two more to go this year and now DS's A2s. Today the 2014 exams were finally over :) But England lost :(

FantaSea · 19/06/2014 22:16

Beck wow, A levels 3 times Wine

It is funny isn't it, up until today I was just focussing on getting through until tomorrow when DD finishes, and had suppressed all thoughts of results day, but after tomorrow that date will be on my mind. I am officially mad Grin

lismore · 20/06/2014 06:31

Last day here for us- Biology this morning then freedom! Ds has a busy weekend celebrating with his friends, most of whom have finished already and I'm going to lie in the garden with a glass (or three) of wine.
This seemed a lot worse than GCSEs, I hope it gets easier with younger siblings. I can't imagine going through it 3 times Beck let alone 6 Molio

BeckAndCall · 20/06/2014 06:41

Hats off to you, molio

For those about to face it - uni exams are easier as a parent - you don't live every moment like we've been doing here. and by the time their degree result comes, you have pretty much a good idea of what it's going to be because of the rest of the results during the previous two years.....

whatsinaname01 · 20/06/2014 08:32

Beck Thank you for that info I was dreading uni in that respect, couldn't imagine the stress levels worse than they have been!
DD's prom today so we have a day of pampering planned. So nice not to be worrying.
Cardi and Fanta Hope all goes well for Biology, have fingers crossed

boys3 · 20/06/2014 08:37

Final exam here this morning. The Chem experiences we have thankfully missed as DS1 all humanities, however for what it is worth DCs at his school have apparently said that the AQA Chems were not overly pleasant either.

Good luck to those with the final few exams next week (mainly STEP?), it is almost over. Just Aug 14th to await now.

Molio · 20/06/2014 08:52

Very good luck to your uni DC Beck.

I'm being a bit mean to disillusion you whatsinaname but some unis/ subjects (such as DD's!) have absolutely everything resting on the nine final exams, taken in June of third year. The stress is unparalleled.......... But enjoy the well earned pampering. We've got a prom here too today, but it's a boy, so no pampering required :)

BeckAndCall · 20/06/2014 09:17

Oh crikey, thanks molio!

Thinking about it, I think current DD at A level stage may fall into the category of everything riding on her final exams at the end of uni...... (Providing these A2 s have not been as bad as we fear and she gets the grades). At least I've had some respite with the older two then!

Original poster
cardibach · 20/06/2014 15:07

Well, finished here. DD wasn't entirely happy with Bio this morning, but no point in worrying now. She said it wasn't like the past papers so she wasn't sure how it went. Fingers crossed. Lots of wine later!

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