Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread

[Littleham]

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.

I don't know what would be a good combination for zoology, but it is a massive step-up to do the sciences (loads of sixthforms round here require a minimum of an A at GCSE) so he is sensible to consider something else. What other subjects does he enjoy?

Crazy, geography?

Crazy - Not sure where you live, so have picked an English, Scottish and Welsh zoology course to google. Some require two sciences. If not - Maths, Geography....

www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees?id=C300&cw_xml=degree.php

www.southampton.ac.uk/biosci/undergraduate/courses/c300_bsc_zoology.page#entry

www.bangor.ac.uk/biology/undergraduate-courses/C300-Zoology

Crazy - I found this which might contain useful information. TBH it sounds to me as though if he's finding even GCSE chemistry hard, he might want to think carefully about what may be entailed in a Zoology degree.

Morning. DS has been given his exam timetable. it will all be over on 11/6.
Parents Evening on Wednesday.

Wow, I won't tell my dd that, hers is the very last exam, physics 19/6!
Mocks again for her after half term, plus two trips to school during half term for intervention. Makes me feel glad I'm not 16 again.

DD's last exam is History on 16/6 I think. Mocks started today with History.

Thanks everybody. We're going to have to talk this through tonight.
He did want to become a vet and did triple science with that in mind but then changed his mind to being a psychologist which I don't think is suited his personality because he doesn't have the patience to deal with potentially difficult people like his little brother

He's now switched back to the idea of something to do with animals and possibly with wild animals so hit on zoology but maybe there are other options. As his 6th form interview is this week he needs to come up with some ideas and fast!

How much work do you all expect/want your DCs to do over half term?

I'm torn between thinking DD hasn't got much revision done in the last 6 weeks, so needs to crack on, and the fact this is the last 'break' before 4 months of slog!

Crazytights, have a look at this www.russellgroup.org/InformedChoices-latest.pdf if you haven't already (even if he won't be applying to RG universities). Lots of degrees don't need or want that subject at A level.

A zoology degree will have a lot of science in it eg genetics, evolution, cell biology, physiology. And will sit with Biological Sciences - biology degrees require biology and usually chemistry according to that guide (they don't break it down further). I think chemistry is seen as a very solid A level for science courses - it is needed to understand a lot of biology for example - and leaves a lot of options open (speaking as a chemistry-loathing scientist, it seeped in everywhere!). Maybe it would help to think about degrees separately from what he wants to do as a career (as in, I would think people with degrees in zoology go on to a range of careers, including perhaps lab work, teaching, environmental work or analysis) - and think about what subjects he enjoys most now? Good luck, ds is about to choose now, and I am not sure he knows what he is letting himself in for with a lot of essay-writing subjects!

I feel the same Teen. I want him to do some but i want him to have a break.

I will expect DD to do none. She is doing mocks this week, so next week is exercise (skiing!) and relaxation

Also feel the same about half term revision. I am really worried about Maths though. Parent's Evening on Thursday, I shall ponder after that.

She had a college interview today and he mentioned the Maths, have g seen her Mock grade. Slightly stressful start to the morning when DS the up, meaning I couldn't take DD. She was determined to go so had a taxi. I specifically said which Campus and he went to the wrong one luckily he went to reception with her so was still there to take her to right one. Then coming out of the interview she got lost but all came good in the end.

Mine has half term sessions for revision, I am less than convinced but they want to do them.
Meanwhile on the degree front, now looking at animal behaviour or biology combined with psychology.

sugarplum - that sounds like a bit of a learning experience in itself - good for her going alone!

crazy - that sounds like it might suit better if he's interested in psychology but a bit weak on the non-biological sciences. Hope he figures it out - def a good idea to put a lot of thought into this now!

That does sound sensible to look at Crazy. Could he do some voluntary work somewhere relevant possibly ? Talking to people in the field might help clarify his thoughts a bit. And will help personal statements when the time comes.

I figured it was all very good for her Erroll but did have an 'Oh no' moment when DS vomited first thing. She's had a successful day today as been awarded money towards her trip abroad this summer by a local charity.

Just out of interest, how much guidance are your dc getting from school with regard to sixth form/uni/ carrier choices? The feed back I get from my dd seems like it is minimal.

Ds did have a careers interview, but who knows how that went!

It must be a little difficult to guide him when all he says is "dunno" but I'm hoping he is a little more articulate at school!

I'm a little cross at all the science Alevel teachers who have told him their subject is "hard"....for DS science is a lot easier than RE or art!

DD's career help at school is in theory quite good.

However she has been slightly scuppered by initial over-optimistic predictions which have gradually been being lowered to where they should have been in the first place.

We have been quite on the ball at home with respect to 6th forms, but I know the school chase those who haven't.

(Pushing of information re 6th form colleges, Careers person interview, interview with senior management, personal statements done in tutor time, tracking of who you have applied to).

Can't link, as on my iPad, but has anyone looked at The Student Room website. There are some useful tips on there about options post GCSE, aimed specifically at, erm students. (Obs!)

Not sure about DD'S school on that front to be honest. She had mentioned a Careers person in passing. She knows what she wants to do though so I think probably not listening to much knowing her. I think the School want to retain as many as possible for 6th form to be honest. They have had an Ofsted disaster and Head retiring so in a state of flux which makes me nervous. However Head of 6th form fairly new snd seems to be good and the school has hugely boosted her confidence so I think on balance is will be ok.

Yesterday's interview was great as it has confirmed she wants to stay where she is and also have her a boost as the interviewer said her short film would have got her at least a merit on the BTEC .

I am nervous about A levels but have always felt that when doing subjects she wants to, she will work hard and come I yo her own . She spent hours this weekend preparing for the interview which was very encouraging. Plus she has taken on board what a lecturer on a course she is interested at local University said re BTEC vs A level students and analysis skills, which is pushing her towards A levels.

Yesterday she also found having an unusual language on her application form is a good talking point I absolutely have to come up with something to get her through Maths though as this year has gone horribly wrong and hopes of a C have vanished.

Does anyone else feel they need a whiteboard or something to keep track of all the things you are trying to sort ?!

Need more than a whiteboard. I have counted up all the exams and assessments between now and the end of the exams (for my A Level and GCSE daughters). There are over 30.

Mistake to count.

DD's school seems quite good at A-level/careers guidance. They've been doing 'careers' in among the PSHE/RE type stuff - I think it's about an hour every other week or so. DD already knew she wanted to stay where she is, and what she wanted to do, except for not being 100% sure whether to choose Comp. Sci or DT systems and control. She'd rather do the latter, but they may not run the course because there may not be enough others wanting to do it. She was thrown a bit of a curveball in her interview with the HT last week when the HT seemed to be very keen for DD to think about some other possibility (in addition to the 2xmaths and physics) and not just put comp sci down as the reserve 5th choice. We're guessing that they may be oversubscribed for this as there's only one proper CS teacher so presumably they're limited to one A-level set. DD really doesn't want to do anything else though. Not at all keen on Chemistry (despite both DH and I being chemists - doesn't find it particularly hard just not enthused by it), and really doesn't like biology teaching staff. And she's one of those who finds maths and sciences much easier than 'wordy' subjects so there really doesn't seem to be anything else appropriate.

Anyway, DD filled in her form and just put down the maths, physics, DT as the 'definite' choices and then CS as the 5th 'possible' but added 'definite if systems&control doesn't run'.