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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:
Hairylegs47 · 16/04/2014 19:20

DS2 did well, been to Uni, has a good job. But, the other 3 did just as well without Uni! So I can't even use them as bad examples. They laugh at me as I told them 'you can't just walk into a job' and they pretty much did, even DS1 who managed to get a U for music, a U!! I was mortified, he thought it was hilarious.

FantaSea · 19/04/2014 15:59

How is everyone getting on?

At DD's school they are re-doing the unit 1 chemistry mock after the Easter holiday as a lot of the marks for the year were not very good. DD got a B which I was really pleased with for her, but regardless of your score you have to re-do it. So, she has been revising that hard for the last few days.

Tomorrow's revision is a maths apparently, and she has asked me to help her - I have agreed, obviously, but my last maths qualification was an A level over 30 years ago so I am very rusty! I am hoping that my help will be more of a support role than actually doing it.

Original poster
cardibach · 19/04/2014 16:05

I suggested a new tack with Bio revision today, and I think it might help. DD looks at the mark scheme rather than the paper and first works out what question would generate that answer (where it's factual - obviously if it's from a specific diagram it doesn't work) then makes notes of the key words and phrases from the mark scheme under topic headings. At least it makes a change from note taking/poster making which she has done at least twice for the whole syllabus now, and it might help her to function better in the actual exam, as that seems to be her issue.
She has gone to her friend's now for an 18th birthday meal so no more stress for today!

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bruffin · 19/04/2014 17:16

Ds has come back from revision bootcamp full to over flowing with physics, hopefully he hasnt peaked too early.
He tells me he needed all the food because his brain is burning calories. He certainly hasnt put on any weight.
He has made himself a revision playlist of Idena Menzal Wicked and Frozen songs Confused

FantaSea · 19/04/2014 17:24

cardibach that sounds like a good technique for the dreaded biology. I shall suggest that to DD as she is getting a bit bogged down with the quantity at the moment.

bruffin pleased the bootcamp went so well. DD eats a lot when she is revising - she had some fellow year 13 friends over the other evening (boys and girls) and I was astonished at how much they could get through. I don't mind though, as it shows they are working hard.

Btw, I went to Tesco today and bought 3 bottles of Rescue Remedy on a 3 for 2 offer so we are ready for when the exams start. It certainly helped last year Smile

BackforGood · 19/04/2014 17:49

ds was in school on Thurssday, and one of the teachers brought in a big tub of samosas his wife had cooked for them all to keep their strength up Grin. Bless her.

Original poster
cardibach · 21/04/2014 13:00

How was everyone's Easter?
DD went to a party last night and crashed and burned early. Oops! Had to be picked up at 9.30ish and was a very sad bunny. She is OK today, though, and her very lovely boyfriend is helping her revise Chemistry (he is an A/A* candidate) at the moment.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 21/04/2014 13:09

ds is away on camp until tonight, so lots of fresh air and completely different sort of work. Sleep tomorrow I'm guessing.

FantaSea · 21/04/2014 18:32

Last day of the Easter holidays here today - I can't believe how quickly it has gone. Yesterday DD did maths papers with me helping her (it's too hard for me, but I sat with her and looked up a few things which seemed to help her a lot) and today has been biology. I think DD will be pleased to get back to school for some company and moral support, she has got a bit bogged down with it all.

Timetraveller · 21/04/2014 20:40

Hi all, I've just found this thread, it's really encouraging. I've got DS1 doing A levels and DS2 doing GCSEs.
DS1 is doing Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. He is doing endless papers, and also has to do STEP. It's so stressful for him - he even said the other day that he doesn't want to go to any university, he just wants to stay at home! But I know he doesn't really mean it.
DS2 is a lot more laid back, and usually revises while on facebook, playing a game etc.
I sympathise with everyne, it's such a nerve-racking time, and it won't be over until August..

FantaSea · 21/04/2014 21:09

Timetraveller that is a heavy workload. A friend of DD's is doing STEP and said the exams are after the A levels - so will keep the stress going for longer.

BackforGood · 22/04/2014 00:08

Can I ask, what's STEP ?

BeckAndCall · 22/04/2014 07:36

Back to school here today and I'm a bit nervous about where the time went!

I sat down with DD to prepare a revision timetable about 10 days ago and it all looked good on paper - balanced mix of maths, chemistry and biology. But in practice it's been ALL biology - apparently that's got the most learning to do so she decided to get on top of that first.

So maths papers have just sat on the corner of the desk, taunting her.

Still we've got 4 weeks of school still before the study leave starts so that should help!

backforgood - STEP papers are horrible meany higher level maths papers required for some maths courses at Cambridge and I think Imperial ( and possibly Warwick)

Lancelottie · 22/04/2014 08:40

DS can't multitask at all, BeckandCall -- so we've had months of DT coursework, then weeks of maths catch-up for things he'd missed while concentrating on DT, then a frantic two days of physics over the weekend.

Other DS meanwhile has been looking shifty and assuring me that he does have a revision timetable for his GCSEs. Somewhere...

FantaSea · 22/04/2014 08:52

BeckAndCall we are a bit biology heavy here too. I think it is because the biology is so large in terms of quantity and so much to learn. It makes me nervous when DD spends a lot of time on one thing.

hellsbells99 · 22/04/2014 09:09

Biology heavy here too - mainly because they still haven't finished the syllabus at school so DD is covering the work at home.

FantaSea · 22/04/2014 09:15

hellsbells they haven't finished the biology or chemistry syllabus at DD's school either, so she has been trying to cover it at home.

There were a lot of missed lessons last term for this and that, and also a lot of cover lessons when the teachers were off, so that is probably why they are unfinished. DD is back to school today so I am hoping for productive focussed lessons with the teachers present.

bruffin · 22/04/2014 09:21

I don't ds has finished the physics syllabus either. He said he covered the new stuff in his revision course last week

hellsbells99 · 22/04/2014 10:25

Its a bit of a worry that they still haven't finished the work. DD had a lot of biology not covered and just a bit of physics and chemistry outstanding. Maths was finished several weeks ago - but they did cover a lot of C1 material in year 11. DD only has 2 weeks left in school before study leave - and she has Empa exams during those 2 weeks so will be missing lessons anyway. She has done a lot of revision over Easter although was away on holiday for 5 days. DD2 who has GCSEs decided to do some revision last night at 9pm for a mock she has today after 2 weeks off

BeckAndCall · 22/04/2014 11:34

Glad it's not just us on biology - gives me some comfort!

And DD hasn't finished the chemistry syllabus either, so that must be typical for the sciences, I guess.

But maths is finished, I believe, and the next four weeks are just past papers.

Oh, crikey, it's all getting big in the window!! ( brownie point for the first one to spot the film quote....)

hellsbells99 · 22/04/2014 11:38

whoops sorry - just noticed I had posted on Year13 thread and DD is year 12. Good luck to all your DCs in their final A level exams!

BeckAndCall · 22/04/2014 12:35

Ha ha - and good luck to your DD too hells

yourlittlesecret · 22/04/2014 15:56

Backforgood STEP is the entrance exam for certain university Maths courses. They usually have to do well at STEP in addition to getting A*s at A level. It's very stressful because, unlike say, medicine, they do the exam after A levels and it forms part of the offer.
DS1 here doing Maths, FM, Physics , Chemistry and STEP. He has been doing 2 or 3 past papers each day plus a selection of STEP questions.
Most of his year haven't finished the Physics course yet although DS has.
DS2 doing GCSEs.

Original poster
cardibach · 23/04/2014 12:21

Back to serious revision here today, thank goodness, after a full day's Prom dress shopping yesterday. DD has just done a BY4 bio paper and got a C, so thinks are looking up...
I have to go out soon to visit the school I'll be working in next September, so I hope she'll continue working!

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FantaSea · 23/04/2014 14:34

cardibach well done to your DD - I my DD gets a C overall in the Biology I will be very happy. There is no prom in year 13 at her school, just an assembly where some of them perform musical pieces and then a buffet lunch at school. It seems a bit flat without a prom I have to say.