Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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:
Sparklingbrook · 10/12/2014 12:46

Tranquility DS has to wait til January for his results. They will be presented in an envelope the same as the real thing. Sad

He has come back today saying the Maths one was okay. Four more exams to go......

Eve · 10/12/2014 12:47

we have mocks after christmas so a holiday of revision.

Anyone elses doing Art? ...how much work is needed for that! its non stop!

Sparklingbrook · 10/12/2014 12:50

Oh no Eve that's not good. Christmas revision? Sad

I have heard about the Art. DS isn't taking it.Is it that bad?

Original poster
Littleham · 10/12/2014 12:55

wow - that is a bit scarily formal for mocks Sparkling!

My dd doesn't do art, but I've seen how overloaded the GCSE and A level art / drama students get. She does do music GCSE and spends hours composing, but luckily she really enjoys this and does it for fun.

OP posts:
Theas18 · 10/12/2014 13:23

Checking in here.

3 days into mocks and she's coping. we are taking a " hands off but supportive" attitude as we did with the other 2. In that if she isn't working well/enough we have time to pull things round. She's the most organised so should be fine. She's feeling pressure from herself and her own high standards, we don't need to add to that.

School trip to the jersey boys last night though! Fortunately today she hasn't any exams.

THis is my last set of GCSEs and I can't wait to see the back of them!

DD1 did GCSE art. It was a terrible experience, so many hours and so little enjoyment.

Tranquillity it's all about the games that you play to get the easy marks, and knowing exactly what is required in terms of words used etc. AS and A2 are the same. It's a really vital skill .

HSMMaCM · 10/12/2014 13:59

DD gets a marks envelope in January too. She texted me after French this morning ... Not happy.

OddBoots · 10/12/2014 14:03

My ds is getting his in an envelope like the real thing too but just before they go home for Christmas. I think it's designed to get them to study hard over the Christmas holidays.

IrianofWay · 10/12/2014 14:54

Same here sparkling. Lovely way to taint christmas Hmm

First time in her life DD is getting a duvet day on Friday. The lessons have been continuing throughout the mocks. DD has been battling a cold and is so tired. Friday she has no exams. When I suggested she stay home on Friday her eyes lit up - She wants the extra time to 'practice' for her 5 hr art exam on Monday!

bigTillyMint · 10/12/2014 15:47

Sparkling, maybe it was teens dicuss in on social media last night? Or a panic in the night? I do feel for them.

SugarPlumTree · 10/12/2014 16:46

Thank you all, I feel a big better now. DD is getting a fair bit of stick from the Ethics teacher as she only did one paper instead of two somehow and she is trying to get her to contribute more on class. DD is very hormonal this evening and eyeing up her advent calendar for chocolate.

DD isn't doing GCSE art but I have friends saying their children have a huge work load with it.However she is planning on doing it for A level if she goes down the A Level route *and I am currently feeling the love for the BTEC route right now ). She is doing Photography now but work load seems fairly manageable. Would like the results to hurry up for that as they all got C and above apparently and some encouraging news would be good.

DD'S form tutor who she has had since year 9 has just gone on maternity leave. She is replaced by 2 tutors then in Science by some woman who is teaching from the text book as she doesn't know the syllabus. That's just great for year 11 and fills me with confidence, not.

Sparklingbrook · 10/12/2014 16:49

I wouldn't be surprised Tilly. It feels like he is mulling the papers over a long time after and starting to doubt himself IYKWIM. He is a major worrier.

bigTillyMint · 10/12/2014 17:28

Sparkling, sympathies - I have one of them too!

IrianofWay · 12/12/2014 11:05

Done!!! Apart from Art on Monday. She decided against a duvet day today because there is an extra art session after school she wanted to go to.

HSMMaCM · 12/12/2014 11:59

DD has more mocks Mon-Wed next week. Drama teacher went dramatic because they'll all (except 1) be in a mock when she wanted to set a piece for controlled assessment.

Sparklingbrook · 12/12/2014 12:40

DS1 all done now except for a German 1 hour something or other on Wednesday next week. Feels weird.

bigTillyMint · 12/12/2014 12:53

Glad you've all survived the week!Flowers

DD has a load of course-work for Citizenship and ICT to finish that she now wishes she had done in Y10Hmm

Sparklingbrook · 12/12/2014 13:12

I want DS1 to sort all his books and papers out now. he has files and box files and just reams of notes and papers. they are everywhere. I don't think he wants to let any of it go.

bigTillyMint · 12/12/2014 13:21

Sparkling, if it's any consolation, DD's stuff is everywhere. I daren't ask her to tidy it up ATM - I think it could tip her over. Maybe after Christmas?!

Sparklingbrook · 12/12/2014 13:23

I have visions of new Christmas items being placed on top of all the papery clutter. Grin

bigTillyMint · 13/12/2014 08:16

Oh, yes, that's a given!

CinnamonCake · 13/12/2014 20:26

Hello all, may I still join? I have a DD in Year11. Mocks were done weeks ago, she's had most results back and is stressing about the subjects she didn't do as well as expected in.

She is exhausted and the holidays cannot come soon enough.

I'm exhausted too and dread to think what it will be like during April/May/June. I probably need my roots done daily then.

Sending lots of positive, calming vibes to you all.

TeenAndTween · 15/12/2014 15:43

My DD has mocks second week in January, so DD is planning 5 days off over Christmas but otherwise 5 hours per day. She hasn't really go the stamina for more than that.

I'll have to help quite a lot too. Today received a report saying probably dyspraxia. She can't organise her way out of a paper bag, so revision scheduling, focus per session, helping with revision cards all need me.

At least most of the CAs are now done, except 4 MFL ones which I presume will be done next term.

bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 16:58

TeenAndTween. 5 hours a day sounds brilliant - not sure my DD would manage that at home! And great that you can help her.

Cinnamon, sympathies. The holidays definitely can't come soon enough!

Just had DD's report which is very positive overall, although some grades are currently a bit worrying compared to what her targets were. Parents evening this week tooShock!

arlagirl · 15/12/2014 17:04

Ds is currently doing mocks..finishes Thursday. He has actually done a lot of work as his end of year 10 exam results were a bit mixed.
Just had his report..he is forecast 10 A*s....no pressure then.Shock

bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 17:20

God, mocks in the last week of term - gruellingSad

Yes, DD has had similar pressure from early on being forecast mainly A*'s and A's. How they made this judgement, I don't know, but it means that when she gets anything less (mostly at the present), it flashes up in red as if she is failingAngry

Swipe left for the next trending thread