Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

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:
SugarPlumTree · 12/02/2015 21:17

DD has more mocks in March apparently but core subjects only. DVDS are great idea, will order Mice and Men. I thought they would be doing Romeo and Juliet but that apparently was course work.

I asked about the Language and it sounds very different to précis and comprehensions etc back in the day. DD is doing the IGCSE too.

BTM could we drink lots of virtual Wine and eat virtual Cake? If I do too much of the real stuff I will get even faster and be an alcoholic to boot.

Wonder if you can buy shares in Rescue Remedy ? I used Aconite which is a Homeopathic one for my finals and looked like a drug dealer dishing them out before we went in !

bigTillyMint · 13/02/2015 08:57

God, I hope DD's school don't try to put in any more mocks - she just won't be able to take it. She is already overstressed about the 5 CA's she still has to do. And todays mocks, of course.

Yes SugarPlum, Wine and Cake sounds good. Virtual only, of courseWink

Roll on 3.30!

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2015 11:21

I wish DD was doing To Kill a Mockingbird - haven't seen the film for decades, only read the book last year. Will be interesting to see what the sequel is like.

Anyway, she's at her desk doing maths - last I saw complaining she couldn't get the marks scheme to download. I don't think that during my entire education the idea of a 'marks scheme' ever crossed my conciousness!

DH contacted the school about her options for next year and it sounds like they'll make sure she does get a place for the comp sci (seems very unlikely the DT will run), and for the 'enrichment' they have to do, she could do an EPQ essentially doing some electronics rather than just a long written piece. I think that's pretty positive, DH is quite good at squeaking the wheel in a constructive sort of way. Smile

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2015 11:24

Bit Hmm at mocks last term and then more mocks - doing them about now, once, seems a lot more sensible. I shouldn't think yours will have to do more, BTM - hope it's going well today.

SugarPlumTree · 13/02/2015 13:17

That is good news Erroll on the 6th form and fair play to your DD looking at the marking scheme - I am very impressed.

I doubt very much your DD will do more Mocks BTM. I don't think many places do what DD'S school is doing. It might actually be helpful in DD'S case to do a few more as I feel the more experience of sitting in exam conditions tge better. Plus as she did so badly in Maths, if (and it us a big if) she can pull off a better grade next month I think she will get a boost. I can't even remember my Mocks thinking back, just the real thing and results day. My friend brought them up to me, I was working at my Saturday job place.

bigTillyMint · 13/02/2015 13:29

Errol, that sounds like a good result re the options. DD is always looking at the maths mark schemes - she must be an expert on them! I don't remember being able to access them at all back in the Dark Ages, before computers existed!

My DC's school do all exams in exam conditions in the same halls with the same tables, etc IYSWIM, from Y7.

I can't remember getting my results for O levels at allShock!

SugarPlumTree · 13/02/2015 14:08

That is good BTM, so they are very familiar with it all by then by thd time the real ones come round. I can't remember A level results but O level stuck out a bit. Met up with friend who brought them to me this summer when she was back in the country, she can't remember bringing them up.

Her parents took us both to the South of France that summer and we had a fantastic time. They still live in the same house. I made the 2 hour trip back up to meet her, pulled up in front of their house and she was waving to me from the window as she used to and I was transported back to when we were 16, which is nearly 30 years ago - how did that happen ?!

bigTillyMint · 13/02/2015 19:14

Aww, how lovely SugarPlum.

They are done! DD has said she has failed every one, so we are not going to talk about them at all next week! She has 2 or 3 CA's to do anyway, so needs to focus her attention on themWink

SugarPlumTree · 13/02/2015 19:38

Very glad they are over BTM. I think a mock related embargo a good plan !

Is everyone on half term next week or is it varying around the country?

dingit · 13/02/2015 19:50

Half term now for us, thank The Lord, dd needs is, as they all do bless them.
Ended on a bit of a high with her getting a C for maths ( she's doing additional). Early days, but I think the tutor is already paying off.
She has to go in to school twice next week, then we are ending on another high, climbing the O2 for dhs birthday Smile

dingit · 13/02/2015 19:50

It, not is Blush

HSMMaCM · 13/02/2015 20:50

Dingit - great news about the maths

bigTillyMint · 13/02/2015 21:43

Climbing the O2Shock - we have often stood and pointed at people doing that! Achieving something physical is a great way of showing them that they can do something really challenging - DD seemed to gain a lot from us climbing a volcano last summerSmile
And well done to dingit minor on the maths front!

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2015 23:11

Wow, I didn't know that you could climb the O2, that sounds like fun.

EpicBlue · 14/02/2015 07:16

Half term has just started here and then it is the mocks all week when dd goes back.

auntpetunia · 14/02/2015 20:05

Have dropped off for this thread for a while as DS was just getting on with his studying. We had parents evening on Thursday which went well all teachers very positive. He's done another set of mocks and improved his grades in maths and chemistry. We've been doing past papers in both of these so was pleased with those.
He's away with school for a revision /activity weekend so far we've had tweets that they've done science maths rs as well as going hill climbing.
He's in school for 2 days over half term for tech and chemistry.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/02/2015 22:01

A revision/activity weekend sounds like a brilliant idea. I was glad DD left her desk this afternoon to go and do her DofE volunteering - outside in the sunshine dead-hedging etc.

auntpetunia · 14/02/2015 22:14

I agree it seems a great idea. So impressed that a number of staff have given up their weekend to take them away some are obviously staying overnight and other are going in for a session. They've done science today and then gone in those hamster wheel big balls over the hills. Last night they did maths and had a midnight walk. Good mix of work and fun hopefully stuff will sink in and stay.

Horsemad · 15/02/2015 09:53

Our Parents' Evening went well. Good reports, just needs to revise a bit more. I think DS2 doesn't believe in himself. He walks in DS1's shadow and feels he can't emulate his brother's excellent GCSE results. Have told him to just do his best. He'll do ok but won't get as many high grades and that's what he struggles with. Sad

We're on half term now, so a mix of revision sessions and downtime. We went to a visit day at Univ of Nott'm for DS1 yesterday for Comp Sci so relaxing today! Smile

SugarPlumTree · 15/02/2015 10:11

I am impressed at how much extra time some teachers put in to help them get the grades. An activity/revision weekend sounds like an excellent idea.

Horsemad I'm glad it went well. I think it is very difficult if you have two with differing abilities. I have this snd thought with the 5 year age gap and DS being younger it would be ok snd she wouldn't notice but last year when back from his parents evening she made a sarky comment and I realised it isn't really ok and will be an issue.

DD has a sleepover and cinema trop planned for this week. Not much happening this weekend as she feels a bit grotty. I'm hoping the revision books will appear and she will have a bit of balance between.chilling, seeing friends and working. You can all laugh at how naive I am !

TheWoollybacksWife · 15/02/2015 13:59

Any more room on the 'scousers' bench? Grin

There is a five year gap between DD1 and DD2 and DD2 has the ability to better her older sister's GCSE results but the teachers still ask how her big sister is getting on at university. I think it is just the way schools work - my younger sister was in the year below me and was constantly being compared to me. She isn't bitter about it lies

SugarPlum my DD is under the weather too. I think it's a "crash" after two weeks of trying to ignore any sniffle or ache.

bigTillyMint · 15/02/2015 14:34

DD also has the sniffles but is on good form - even managed the 12 hour car journey yesterday with only one moment and did a rough copy of a French CA in the car! She is even trying to speak a bit of FrenchShock

I think the DC's school take some away for a revision weekend or something - very dedicated of the teachers.

HSMMaCM · 15/02/2015 16:18

DD's teachers are offering after school, breakfast and lunchtime revision sessions every day. The French department have arranged a study day over half term and a couple of controlled assessment focussed Saturday's. I'm amazed at the time and effort all her teachers are putting in.

auntpetunia · 15/02/2015 17:22

Squishes right into the corner on the scousers bench to make more room.

DS is back from his weekend away. He's had a ball and claims to have learnt loads. It was particularly helpful that they had different teachers for some subjects (obviously those who could get away) so some of the emphasis was slightly different. He's had a bath and is now eyeing up his bed.

bigTillyMint · 15/02/2015 17:46

That sounds great APSmile

Swipe left for the next trending thread