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Secondary education

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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:
SugarPlumTree · 28/11/2014 14:22

Teacher definitely does assessment, DD got two goes at it as came in under the 4mins (think it was) the first time. Actually I think it was two teachers present. She has just said 25% but pretty certain that is wishful thinking ! We've got a workshop thing on the IGCSE week after next to explain. DD did hers on Orphan Black, enjoyed listening to her on that.

With psychology one of the boys is doing Sport Science and wants to be a personal trainer. Both parents said to me on separate occasions that he's taking Psychology A Level so he understand what makes people tick. I said to both that A level psychology won't help with that but they didn't want to hear it and glossed over it.

I think what happens is it is promoted as an insight into behaviour and I think people think they will be told meaningful truths about human behaviour . Whereas the reality is you have to carry out experiments, learn about null hypotheses , probability, statistics. And that anything you state in an essay has to be backed up with evidence so loads of dates and people to remember. Cognitive psychology is quite dry, social less so.

I haven't seem the syllabus for years so it may be a bit different but doubt it. There is the whole 'I'd better be careful what I say to you because you will analyse me thing ' when people know you have taken psychology and I think people go into it with a very skewed perception of it.

auntpetunia · 28/11/2014 20:41

We've got mocks next week! Though DS seems to be doing diddly squat apart from playing games on his computer. We've had parents evening and everyone said he was doing well and better than expected in a number of subjects. All CAs in English are done with a*s and a in all of them so that's a good sign. He's doing triple science and again the science teacher thinks he's ok.
With everyone telling him he's doing ok I'm havin trouble convincing him he needs to revise. I'm tempted to leave him to it and see what happens with the mocks.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/11/2014 21:59

I asked DD about mocks today, hers aren't till after the Feb halfterm. Which sounds like more sensible timing than now to me TBH.

We did some xmas shopping - on the net of course, more sense than to venture out on this ridiculous 'Black Friday'. For the first time ever she's just asking for clothes, having realised that all too soon she'll need them for sixth form rather than uniform. But then more coursework - electronics today, but that's her favourite subject (together with maths, fortunately) so she's putting in a lot of effort.

TranquilityofSolitude · 28/11/2014 22:16

Do you mind if I join you? I have a DD in Yr11. Mocks this week and next. So far it seems to be going OK but I'm watching like a hawk as I have another DD in Yr12 who also seemed fine at this stage and then went to pieces after Christmas. DD2 seems more worried but also better prepared, so I am clueless. They've been told that they won't get the results of these exams until mid-January which seems rather a long time to wait.

We are also in the position of needing to find a sixth form but our open evenings were a few weeks ago. So far DD2 does not want to go to the same as DD1 but that could just be a sisterly stand-off...

Original poster
Littleham · 01/12/2014 09:12

Good luck for stress free mocks Tranquility. I'm glad dd3's are now over and done with.

OP posts:
Original poster
Littleham · 01/12/2014 09:13

and good luck to your son auntpetunia. Sounds like he is doing well.

OP posts:
MrsSquirrel · 01/12/2014 10:19

My dd is starting her mocks this week. She is feeling confident - hope she feels the same at the end of the two weeks.

In terms of sixth form, I advised dd to just go ahead and apply to her 3 possible places. All 3 are very good (imo) but have different strengths/weaknesses and different atmospheres. They don't really need to decide until after they get their grades in the summer.

bigTillyMint · 01/12/2014 11:02

Good Luck to all those starting their mocks this week and Wine for all of you coping with them!

MrsSquirrel · 01/12/2014 11:06

I got a major eye-roll this morning when I went to her just before she left the house to ask if she needed anything Grin.

SugarPlumTree · 01/12/2014 14:10

I'm cooking roast dinner tonight instead of yesterday in anticipation of a knackered DD today after her first 3 mocks.

She did actually do some revision last night Shock

TheWordFactory · 01/12/2014 15:10

I've got one at home revising today.

Many cups of tea have been made Grin.

bigTillyMint · 01/12/2014 15:15

I am quite surprised to hear they are being given time off to revise. I'm not sure DD's school do this, but DD would love it!

TheWordFactory · 01/12/2014 15:19

It's not official study leave per se.

We have taken a unilateral decision not to go in late following a medical appointment.

Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2014 15:31

DS1 next week has to be in every morning for mock exams, some days he will be done and ready to come home at 11.30. Shock

The next week he has one exam on the Wednesday and that's it. Shock

BackforGood · 01/12/2014 16:34

My dd can come home in the afternoon if no exam, but the way their timetable is set up, there's only one lesson in the afternoon, and there will be the odd other day when they are still finishing an exam after school finishes, so she's not gaining a lot! Grin

bigTillyMint · 01/12/2014 16:48

Ah haWink

Sparkling, do you have to go for him at 11.30?

Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2014 17:13

Mmm. It's currently being 'debated' Tilly. One of the days I am at the Cats' Protection Volunteers' Christmas lunch extremely busy.
Doting grandparents seem keen to fetch and carry him on a couple of the days.
It's difficult because the 'supervised study' sounds great but in reality means 'at the local chippy followed by mooching round town with his mates' if that's on offer.

he would get more revision done back home IYKWIM.

£547 a year for the school bus and then end up driving. Angry

bigTillyMint · 01/12/2014 18:51

Doting GP's are the business! Paying out for the school bus is not so good - thank God we are in London!

SugarPlumTree · 05/12/2014 20:21

How is everyone holding up? Mocks over here and went ok overall, just relieved it is the weekend.

Sparklingbrook · 05/12/2014 20:29

Hi Sugar. bit sad here. They all exchanged secret Santa gifts today, as it's the official last day as they now only go in when they have an exam. Lots next week but the week after next he has an exam on the Wednesday for an hour and he's done. Confused

Feels like an odd end to the term when it's Christmas.

auntpetunia · 05/12/2014 20:32

Half way through ours. Seem to be going ok, he had a bit of a moan today as something was on the science exam that they hadn't covered in class yet.
I've given up asking if he's revised he'll either sink or swim and the results will hopefully focus his mind. My main concern is that he gets all the extra time and support he is entitled to he's dyspraxic and dyslexic so has either a scribe or access to a computer and obviously he has to have them in the mocks to ensure he gets them in the real thing. Think it's geography and English next week so hopefully he'll do some reading this weekend.

SugarPlumTree · 06/12/2014 12:05

That does feel like a very different end of term Sparkling. Bit hard to get your head round.

Glad it is going OK Auntpetunia. I gave up asking about the revision as well.are you finding any difficulties with the extra time ? DD'S Ethics teacher wanted extra time for her but none of the other teachers have mentioned it and Senco not happy.

Sparklingbrook · 06/12/2014 12:14

It's the last Christmas end of term that they will all be together too Sugar, I don't think they are all going to stay at the school's 6th form.

Plus it's right ballsed up my plans for getting lots done before Christmas. Sad

Hope everyone's DC revision is going well. It's hard to believe it's 'only' the mocks', and this all continues for months after.

BackforGood · 06/12/2014 12:23

Dd's don't start until Monday. Well, she had her 'practical' for her music last week, but the rest haven't started yet. She doesn't seem to be over-doing the revision, but is very touchy if I suggest it .....

Sparklingbrook · 06/12/2014 12:27

Oh yes you can't mention Revision. Wink DS1 is at football at the moment and i am assuming this afternoon will be spent revising, but i am not asking him!

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