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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:
auntpetunia · 15/12/2014 20:11

Only result here so far is ict which he got a c in. Apparently he was only 1 point away from a b so I've told him to find out where he missed out and make sure he doesn't do the same in summer. Apparently we aren't getting any more results as they've not been marked yet!! So we've got to decide whether we push over the hols or give him a break.

Parents evening was a few weeks ago so it would be interesting to have another one when we get the results.

Good luck to everyone whose getting results.

TeenAndTween · 15/12/2014 20:16

I wish my DD was predicted all A* ! At least we wouldn't be worried about C grades dropping to Ds.

mother For DofE they aren't meant to use their phones. He will fail the final expedition if discovered to have been using phone for anything except an emergency.

bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 20:18

Well, teen, the problem is she's actually got quite a way to go to get them from her current grades, so not in quite so smug a position, unfortunately.

Sparklingbrook · 15/12/2014 20:18

Sorry. Year 8 parents evening suggested they were the first year of the 1-9, so DS2 won't be a guinea pig after all then? It was said that a Grade 9 would be a A**. Hmm

I think they will have added a Grade 10, 11 and 12 by the time DS2 does them.

TheFirstOfHerName · 15/12/2014 20:28

Teen, A* targets sadly don't translate into actual results for DS1 yet. Current grades vary between A and D!

bigTillyMint · 15/12/2014 20:30

Exactly. And when you have an anxious, self - doubting teen, it's not helpful at all Angry

TeenAndTween · 15/12/2014 20:31

Yes, sorry, didn't mean to sound as if I think you're worrying over nothing. I realise that 'perfect' targets can put a lot of pressure on, and maybe a feeling of it's impossible.

motherstongue · 15/12/2014 20:35

Really Teen, didn't know that. It was only the training this weekend. The final one is in June. There was 12 in his group, one had an asthma attack, one twisted his ankle, another got a itchy rash, one did his cruciate ligament, it sounds like it was a blast! He bloody hates walking so it really has been an endurance test for him.

TeenAndTween · 15/12/2014 20:59

DD endured DofE last year. Her ankles were shot to pieces, she arrived back limping using a stick with them both bandaged up. Took a good couple of weeks to recover. 12 is a big group - surprised it wasn't 2 groups of 6.

They are very strict on not only phones but anything electronic, eg ipods. Absolutely not allowed. Phones to be carried but emergencies only. I think it's good for teens as so many of them are so reliant on electronic stuff these days.

Sparklingbrook · 15/12/2014 21:02

I wanted DS1 to do Dof E. he didn't bother taking a letter Hmm

RufusTheReindeer · 15/12/2014 21:12

sparkling

I thought it said the current year 9s would be doing the new GCSEs

Now I'm confused

I agree re the grades though...winds me up!!! You can guarantee that instead of changing the grade boundaries they will just bring in a new grade

Ds1 finished his mocks last week, has done quite well. History was a bit of a fuck up and dropped a grade or two elsewhere but not the end of the world. He hasn't got English yet and that's not one of his best.

No revision until January but will work on a time table over the holidays

Sparklingbrook · 15/12/2014 21:17

Rufus I think I had it wrong, sounds like it is the current year 9s that get to be guinea pigs.

With the grades 1-9 I think 1 should be the A**, but that wouldn't leave room to add on loads of extra top grades like having it as 9.

noblegiraffe · 15/12/2014 21:29

Y9 will be the guinea pigs for English and Maths, other GCSE subjects are changing a year later. So both Y9 and Y8 will be guinea pigs, but for different subjects.

RufusTheReindeer · 15/12/2014 21:32

Oh thank goodness for that

Although I do worry that the first few years will be downgraded IYSWIM so that the government can be seen to be tough in a. "look how few children get As now we have tightened up" way, on the other hand they may do much better in a "look how much better the children are doing now we have improved the education system" way

Oh god I don't know!!!!!!

Shouldn't be a fucking A grade in the first place! let alone an *

RufusTheReindeer · 15/12/2014 21:32

Aaagghhh!!!!just seen nobles post

Sparklingbrook · 15/12/2014 21:35

A is what they will be aiming for I should think. Wine

ErrolTheDragon · 16/12/2014 16:40

DD was highly amused at the sheer horror on many faces in the DofE session where they were told the 'no electronic stuff' rule. And by the makeup bags which had to be removed from some people's overweight rucksacks on the practice. She was in a group of 4 which she says is the optimum number for the amount of equipment carried per person. I'm glad her school doesn't do expeditions at this time of year, that sounds insaneShock - the bronze were in May and June, the silver will be practice in July and for real next September, which is more civilized and avoids the exam period.

RufusTheReindeer · 16/12/2014 18:13

English language results today

Not good Sad

I think he is a bit disappointed...having said that a fair few children got U!

HSMMaCM · 16/12/2014 20:36

English and maths exams today. Not as bad as they could have been apparently.

motherstongue · 17/12/2014 07:35

Yes Teen, it was 2 groups of 6 but by half way 5 kids all had problems of one kind or another so they merged the group.

Errol - the kids had the option of doing DofE now or at Easter, my DS wanted it out of the way so he could use the time at Easter for studying! I was mightily impressed with this statement!

He's home now, had a soak in the bath and did some Physics revision!!!! Said he has a study plan for the holidays too. I think he is starting to feel a build up of pressure and I'm torn between wanting him to relax a bit and enjoy the holidays with the need to stay on top of things.

Sparklingbrook · 17/12/2014 07:39

Taking DS1 to school at 9am for the final mock. yay! It lasts 50 minutes. Then he's done. Smile

bigTillyMint · 17/12/2014 07:43

Glad to hear the end is in sight! Where is the sense in making them do exams/CA's/ISA's in the last week before Christmas?Angry

Does anyone have any tips on how DD could learn her French speaking and listening CA? She is supposed to do it today, but couldn't remember it at all last night. I can see her having to start all over again next termSad

Sparklingbrook · 17/12/2014 07:52

It's a bit of a shame DS1' school is 12 miles away, I am going to explore in the vicinity of the school for an hour. Grin

ErrolTheDragon · 17/12/2014 08:40

Tilly - my DD was complaining a bit that they had just finished their Biology ISA, which means that their teacher may force them to Play Games in the remaining lesson this week. Computing OTOH they were going to write a game, so that was ok. Grin

bigTillyMint · 17/12/2014 08:52

Or 50 mins of MN IN, SparklingWink

Erroll, your DD sounds very hardworkingSmile