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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?

OP posts:
FantaSea · 20/06/2014 15:10

cardi how did the biology go? Hope it was ok for your DD. My DD said it was hard but not as bad as she was expecting but there were some strange questions. I just hope she has cleared a C overall.

Beck I think that is the problem with A levels - we are living every stage with them.

At least it is all over now - I have come over with a total wave of exhaustion this afternoon, must be all the stress. DD is out with friends who have all finished too Smile

FantaSea · 20/06/2014 16:29

whatsinaname thank you Smile I am just relieved it is over now!

Original poster
cardibach · 20/06/2014 17:40

Fanta DD felt a bit the same as your DD - it's reassuring to hear it from someone at a different centre as there have been some issues with the teaching here. One of the boys, who needs an A* and is definitely capable of getting it, had a panic attack during it. Does suggest it was a bit odd... Just trying to delay opening the wine til a more respectable time!

OP posts:
HPparent · 20/06/2014 17:48

Hope everyone is now in recovery mode.

Cardi, DD thought some of the questions on the WJEC paper were odd especially the 10 markers and the second to last (I think). Overall OK though. So your DD is not alone! Sorry to hear about that poor boy.

BeckAndCall · 20/06/2014 18:06

Having a bit of a breather here - an evenings respite as last one is not til Tuesday.

AQA bio seemed to go very well - first time she's smiled after an exam so far!

cardi - a respectable time has arrived.... Open that bottle!

summerdip · 20/06/2014 20:31

So sorry to hear about a boy having a panic attack mid-exam. It could happen to any one of our DC. So sad

Real exhaustion hear and panic when he makes lots of mistakes that he did that in the exams. One to go!

FantaSea · 20/06/2014 22:33

cardi DD did OCR biology and said there were some questions which should have been on the A2 unit 1 exam which was last week which sounds strange to me.

That poor boy having a panic attack - did he come back in and finish or did he have to leave? What a shame for him, especially as he is so able. You are right summer it could happen to anyone, so sad.

Original poster
cardibach · 21/06/2014 16:38

He went back in and finished and was fairly happy with his performance although he said one question was very odd (what set him off I think) and he had to rush the last one as his timing was off. He's a very calm and sensible boy normally. I hope they process a special consideration for him.

OP posts:
FantaSea · 21/06/2014 19:36

Oh dear, poor boy, how awful for him.

Hope everyone who has finished is resting well. DD is wiped out today, just so exhausted.

Littleham · 21/06/2014 21:39

Hello. Hope you don't mind new person posting here, but I thought you might like to know that everyone in my daughters comprehensive thought that the Chem 4 and Chem 5 exams (AQA) were horrific too. Really weird questions / didn't follow same format as past papers / went to the very margins of syllabus. Think this one subject might have cost my dd1 her university place & she worked so hard. Really hoping for low grade boundaries.

FantaSea · 21/06/2014 22:28

Littleham welcome Smile my DD did OCR chemistry and came out crying after the long paper and cried all evening over it, she said it was awful. I too am hoping for low grade boundaries. It is interesting but DD has said that the majority of her exams (maths and biology were her other two subjects) had weird questions and asked things that were just skimmed over in the textbooks and missed out whole topics that formed the bulk of the syllabus. It is so hard to see them so worried isn't it? Has your DD finished now?

Littleham · 21/06/2014 22:38

Sorry to hear that FantaSea. It is very stressful for everyone.

My DD1 has finished now. Luckily, her other two exams (Maths & German) went well, but this may not be enough. My DD2 is in the AS year (so a year younger) and she also said that Biology AS was a weird paper, where they missed whole topics out (no sections on the heart which is a major topic) & they all spent hours revising it!!

FantaSea · 21/06/2014 22:49

I know - DD re-sat the biology AS unit one paper and said the same as your DD2! She said the parts they had tested were very narrow, nothing on the heart and she had also spent ages on that. It is so frustrating isn't it? What is your DD hoping to do next year?

Molio · 21/06/2014 22:55

I have had DC doing GCSE, AS and A2 this summer and all three reported 'weird' questions. Seems to be very much flavour of the year and no doubt government driven.

FantaSea · 21/06/2014 22:59

Molio yes, I agree. DD says that friends who are doing completely different subjects to her have reported the same, and also they all seem to be tight for time this year. DD finds it all very hard and so expects to be right up to the wire with time, but even solid A* candidates haven't finished some exams.

Littleham · 22/06/2014 09:53

Glad it is not just us then. I feel a bit more relaxed about DD2 (AS year)as she has a second chance next year if something goes wrong. She is taking Maths, Biology, History and Geography. She loves all of them, so will decide what to drop when the results come back! Wants to study History at university.

We have noticed that the languages and humanities don't seem to be as badly affected by these strange changes in format. My DD1 has offers for German and Italian, so I'm hoping they will let her get away with a slipped grade in Chemistry (but that is only if other people get bad results, otherwise it is a gap year / clearing).

FantaSea · 22/06/2014 10:31

Littleham yes at least you have a second chance next year if you need it for DD2.

I am seriously worried about the chemistry - I am just hoping DD will clear a C overall in it, I know that sounds low to a lot of people, but it would be a huge achievement for her. DD still seems very twitchy and unable to relax properly, I think she is so used to having to revise and worry about her work all the time, it will take some adjustment to having finished.

yourlittlesecret · 22/06/2014 10:38

It's by no means over in this house.
DS has Decision on Monday, Mechanics2 on Tuesday and then the toughest of all the exams, STEP on Thurs and Friday (2 x 3hour papers).

FantaSea · 22/06/2014 10:47

secret that is a heavy final week, hope it all goes well for him Smile

BeckAndCall · 22/06/2014 11:45

My sympathies are with all those parents and DC who will be suffering, in their own different ways, this weeks STEP papers. Having had sobbing over C4 this week, I can't imagine what that would do to my DD!

yourlittlesecret · 22/06/2014 12:08

Thanks.
Beck DS's Core 4 was a stinker last year. It's definitely the toughest of the A level modules.

The stress has been unbearable at times. It's definitely the toughest week of the whole lot. I am just wishing us to reach Friday.
Then Wine Wine Wine. And that's just DS Grin

FantaSea · 22/06/2014 12:27

secret Core 4 is so hard - DD found it hard this year.

FantaSea · 22/06/2014 12:32

Beck I feel the same, we have had tears this week, but over the chemistry, so I am just pleased to have it over with.

summerends · 22/06/2014 12:42

FantaSea and Littleham I wonder from your comments that A levels examiners are now trying to set questions that mark out A* candidates as people who have read beyond the syllabus rather than testing for perfect answers within the syllabus? This cohort will all be in the same boat though for university applications.

HPparent · 22/06/2014 12:57

Summerends, I think the problem is that these questions e.g. Edexcel Chem paper 5 were pretty much undoable by some of the A* candidates as well. Even candidates with offers for chemistry at much hallowed institutions came out shaken and upset.

I think for the majority of A level students fitting in additional off topic reading for 3-4 subjects is not readily doable. Let alone those who have to work for money and fit in unpaid work experience, plus the extra curricula activities so "essential" for their applications.