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Original poster

Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread

967 replies

Littleham · 23/11/2014 12:17

Is anyone else fed up with GCSE's and the stress they create? Thought I would start a support thread for the following few months. Mocks start next week at my dd3's school.

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 01/01/2015 11:06

If she is getting on with it, then you are not being irresponsible, you have an organised child. Different children need different levels of input I think.

DD1 picked up after a 5 day break surprisingly well, but it is a tough slog for her.

TheFourthLobster · 01/01/2015 11:29

Phew! I was starting to think that I should be doing more, which I am prepared to do but I've not seen the need to so far and was thinking that maybe I should have made the need IYSWIM.

auntpetunia · 01/01/2015 15:28

lobster you and me both! DS I adamant he doesn't need to do anything over the holidays as per HTs instructions. Mock results are back on Friday 9/1/15 so then we'll see where we need to focus his attentions.

TheFourthLobster · 01/01/2015 16:35

Lucky DS! Mine had mocks before Xmas and has more after Xmas so has been hard at it, though they have just said they have a lot of art homework which will take all day - they've revised instead. I've offered help doing a revision plan but they said they don't need one, they get up, they revise, they have a break when they need to and then revise some more. Oh, ok then lol

Theas18 · 02/01/2015 00:26

Lobster if your DC says they are ok and you have no evidence to the contrary you are absolutely on the right track offering help if needed but letting them get on with it. The mock results will be reassuring too im sure ( or show where they need more help/ guidance).

The hands off strategy has been our technique and has this is our 3rd child it's a but easier to hand control to her.

It certainly seems that the older 2 have had no issues balancing uni work load with excellent results but also a heavy extracurricular ( and social ) commitment - im not saying they aren't having the usual all nighter to meet deadlines erc but deadlines are met - they have learned at gcse and a level how to manage themselves rather than be managed which is good.

TheFourthLobster · 02/01/2015 04:20

Thanks Theas18, that's reassuring to read.

Ginandtonictime · 02/01/2015 19:22

We've been 'nag-central' here over christmas ... poor kid - his yr 9 brothers have been lying in until 11am while he's been kicked out of bed at 9am every morning to get a morning session done. Seems to be ok - but there's simply so much to revise! And this isn't even the whole curriculum!

Goes back to school on Thursday ...

Thurs 8th: English lit, maths n/c, RS
Fri 9th: Biology, Classics, Maths calc
Mon 12th: Chemistry, Physics, History
Tues 13th: Classics, German
Wed 14th: Physics, Geog x 2 papers
Thurs 15th: Chemistry, Classics
Fri 16th: History, Biology

b...l...o...o...d...y ..... n...i...g...h...t...m...a...r...e......

TeenAndTween · 02/01/2015 19:38

Ooh that's a tough timetable!

DD only has 2 science exams, and 1 each for English and Maths (plus options subjects). There is a lot of content for science, glad DD hasn't been having to learn all of it for mocks.

roisin · 03/01/2015 16:06

yeah, ds2 has a hectic mock timetable too: I'm pleased that they're doing full mocks of nearly all the papers, but it is a lot! ds1 did "only" 9 GCSEs, 1 of which was done in yr10. ds2 (different school) will do 12, 1 a year early.

So this month he has mock exams - 7 days of exams: 17 papers in all! Eek! pity the teachers who have to mark them all.

Fortunately the actual GCSEs are spread over 6 weeks, with a week break in the middle for half term.

lalsy · 04/01/2015 09:45

Hello, may I join in? ds is about to start mocks - two weeks but this week which is only 4 days he has 12 papers Shock - so like yours Ginandtonic. He has worked over Christmas, sensibly I think given he was on his knees at the end of last term, but hasn't covered everything or had a chance to practise questions.

It is hard at this time of year isn't it? Such a long, tiring term, with a lot of illnesses. Then if they did say 1.5 day per subject in the holidays that would be most of the days gone, but even doing a good amount each day that won't cover the syllabus for many I wouldn't think.....Hurrah for FT and its lovely slim booklet say I Smile.

bigTillyMint · 04/01/2015 11:19

GinandTonic and Lalsy, that sounds tough - Fingers crossed it all goes OK.

DD has done a small amount of work and a large amount of moaning. She has 5 weeks till mocks, but also has to do a few CA's

Original poster
Littleham · 04/01/2015 12:05

DD3's mocks seemed ridiculously early (before a lot of the syllabus had been covered) but at least that has meant a more relaxing Christmas holiday.

Good luck to those who have mocks this month. Wine Even if they do badly a good scare can help focus their minds!

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 05/01/2015 23:00

Lobster, I just let my DD get on with it - I was quite surprised she was revising at all over the xmas hols as her mocks aren't till after the halfterm. I think she did quite a lot but probably not on the subjects she doesn't like.

Her school is doing some sort of 'exam preparation workshop' one evening next week, which a parent can go to as well - think I'll have to delegate to DH. He was always much more into planned revision than me (we uni'd together).

TheWoollybacksWife · 05/01/2015 23:25

DD2's mocks aren't until February although she has already had a 10 hr Art exam and her portfolio is due in this week so she's a bit stressed. Revision is going well, so far.

She's got an interview for sixth form at another school later this month and needs to get her act together to formulate a 'Plan B' just in case.

On the up side her prom dress and shoes are bought and hairstyle and make-up has been decided on.

ErrolTheDragon · 05/01/2015 23:40

Urgh, prom... DDs school doesn't have an official one at this stage only at end of 6th form, but apparently someone is going to organise one. Are people really buying dresses for them already? Confused Mind you, I can imagine DD realising she needs to get something at the last minute ie during her actual GCSEs - she's not into shopping and esp not dresses, could be more stressful than the exams! (I only half jest) Anyone got a link of what a short, curvy girl who doesn't like 'pretty' and doesn't want to look like the 'popular' girls might be persuaded into? Grin

CrazyTights · 06/01/2015 07:14

this dress

bigTillyMint · 06/01/2015 07:23

No thoughts about Prom dresses here. Not sure if DD will actually want to go... But I like that dress CrazyTights! DD is short and curvy tooSmile

SugarPlumTree · 06/01/2015 07:37

Good luck to those with Mocks Wine

All calmish here apart from she has her first Japanese speaking lesson today which involves a lot of driving around for me. School are letting her do it during their time though which helps and have been very supportive. Fingers crossed no nasty surprises during today's assessment.

DD not sure if she is going to Prom but I would happily buy a dress now if I could as one less thing to have to sort.

Think I need to sort a Maths tutor.

TheWoollybacksWife · 06/01/2015 07:52

Sorry to derail the thread with talk of prom. Particularly as I missed the Hmm off the end of my last sentence Blush

DD has been quite proactive this school year. She was struggling in Maths so has gone to the extra lessons laid on at lunchtime. It has really made a difference and she is back on her B target. If only she would have confidence in her abilities! It would definitely make things a little less stressful.

bigTillyMint · 06/01/2015 08:01

If only she would have confidence in her abilities! It would definitely make things a little less stressful Yes, here too!

dingit · 06/01/2015 08:02

Errol, same as my dd, shopping for a dress will be a nightmare!
She does look very pretty in a dress, when she does wear one.

Results day for her tomorrow, done to replicate the summer, they have to walk the walk and get THE piece of paper. Gulp. She's getting science today, as teacher wants to do it personally. Not overly worried, she's dds form tutor and already indicated she's done ok.

bigTillyMint · 06/01/2015 08:07

Lots of schools seem to be doing results day for mocks. Not sure if DD's school will. Strange, but maybe it is effective?

dingit · 06/01/2015 09:09

Dd picked up results last summer for double science, and I went with her. It's quite daunting, I think I was more nervous than her, and cried when I saw her grades. I'm NOT going this summer.

TheWordFactory · 06/01/2015 09:10

DD has mock exams today. She'd done a fair bit of revision over Xmas and before so well prepared.

DS is sitting an IGCSE today Shock.

DH has had norovirus so I was worried DS might catch it, but so far so luckyGrin.

TeenAndTween · 06/01/2015 10:52

DD now has prom dress (ebay, pre-owned) and shoes (ebay, new). Dress needs to be shortened by 4 inches and blinged up though.

DH and I visited the 'main' prom dress shop in our nearest city before Christmas. They were giving fitting dates of mid April. And the prices!!

Christmas revision went well, but glad there is another week before they start as she needs more depth of knowledge.

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