2015 Yr 12 support thread

[Needmoresleep]

Mocks this week, and the reality of AS exams in a few months is starting to hit home. I don't think it will be an easy journey, so would welcome some company.

Funny, Hells, but what persuaded DD that she actually wanted to go to uni was staying at Kingston Uni as part of the NCS Challenge last summer. I think it helped her picture what it would be like, if that makes sense!

What will your DD be doing on her Headstart course? Will it involve staying away?

DD will be staying away 4 nights and won't know anyone else initially, hence her apprehension. I am sure she will be fine. She is doing a general engineering course and it does look fun.

Headstart looks really good hells, hope she enjoys it. My y7 dd currently claims she wants to be an engineer, I'll have to remember it for later! You and I both have daughters in years 12 and 13 I think? Drives me mad trying not to compare them/how much revision they're doing/etc.

Marni she wants to do modern languages

May I join, please ?

We are in stress central at the moment, only 4 weeks to go but goes on for about 6 weeks, grim combination means two or even three exams some days.

Trying to enforce sleep and food and hydration, not sure what else.

Welcome ancientbuchanan. Were you youthfulbuchanan before AS exams were imminent ?

DD also starts in 4 weeks but her's will all be over within 10 days. Nice in some ways but doesn't give her much time for recovery/revision in between. She actually only has exams in 3 of her subjects-the fourth is a Pre-U so won't be examined till the end of the course next year.

Welcome to the madhouse ancientbuchanan!
Hi Atia - yes year 12 & 13 .....what a nightmare!

You have my utmost respect ladies!

Good idea, I think is in order!
The worst thing about having a year 13 DC is that they discover partying! They are all having 18th parties etc. A level exams and turning 18 are not compatible!

It won't be happening in this house, Hells.

• Buries head in sand and screams -

• thinks about what DD has said about 18th birthday and screams some more*

Drinks more wine!!

Ha! Haven't been youthful since Gcses started in year ten.

Need to kick him off intenet now. He will try to claim that he is only on there because I queue barged with the bath.

Children.

Leeds2 - that was my attitude last year.....my DD1 wasn't into partying and alcohol. Things have changed this year! At least she is getting some practise in whilst living at home.

hides in corner and wishes I was choosing a nursery

hides in corner and wishes I was choosing a nursery Ah those were the days.
DS2 has a Headstart course which he will be very nervous about.
DS1 went on one in Year 12. I think it was less academic than he had hoped, more emphasis on careers and uni life whereas he would have preferred more subject content. He was most miffed when one lecture was cancelled in favour of a trip out. He got the impression the vast majority were only there to tick the box and have it on their UCAS statement. The most challenging part for him was the journey which involved 4 changes of trains .

DS has been working quite hard over the last two weeks. Even went a few days without switching on his computer although he did have the cushion of phone, iPad and tv.

Copying something I just posted on the y13 thread as it's about revision and could also be helpful here

Dd2's school had a revision skills session from an external company, and they also did one for parents but I couldn't go, but they emailed us a summary afterwards.

I've copied a bit that seems relevant:

"It is better to work for less time in a concentrated way than to work for longer with less focus.
The optimum time a student should spend revising without a break is 25 minutes. We recommend that students complete three twenty five minute sessions in the morning with a five minute break between each session. This should be followed by up to three further one and a half hour blocks (with five or ten minute breaks every twenty five minutes) in either the afternoon or evening. Students also need to plan “days off” and “treats” within their timetables.

The first 60 seconds should be to work out what they are going to achieve in their session and the final three minutes of each session should be spent simply re-reading the notes they have just made."

Dd2 said that for her 25 minutes is too short, she's just getting started, so she tends to do up to 40 minutes, but the plan is similar - two or three shorter sessions with little breaks, then a longer break, then repeat. She's also making sure to get outside each day.

(Today's excursion is a trip to school for a history revision session!)

DD2 is only just getting up so I don't think she will fit all those sessions in today wink
I am working from home today so unfortunately for the DDs, I can see what they are doing!

I thought their 12 session/6 hour plan was a bit ott! DD2 probably averaged 4x40 minute sessions a day last week which I thought was hugely impressive. (DD1 set a low bar, hence I am easily impressed :) )

DD1 (yr13) is doing approx 6/7 hours a day and DD2 a little less. But we have just had a few days away where they didn't do any. They are trying to study in the day and meet up with friends in the evening.

And lots of piano, guitar, singing, skateboarding breaks!

Well done to Atia and hellsbells' DDs!

Back to college today. DS has done a maths paper every day of the holidays and now feels pretty confident on C1 and C2, but is now worrying he has neglected his physics! He's worked pretty hard and he seems relieved to be going back to college and away from me nagging him!

Morvah - DD is finding physics the hardest out of her subjects.
Secretsquirrels - DD has chosen her Headstart course based on the fact that she wanted one that was quite practical! She ruled out the Oxbridge ones as they seemed more lecture based. I hope she enjoys it.

Back to school tomorrow - our County seemed to have different holidays from the rest of the country. DD2 having her 1st driving lesson today so a welcome change from revision.

DD back on Tuesday. Think she's looking forward to it as a break from solitary revision!
Seems like things are going well but it's a bit difficult to tell with Arts/Humanities subjects I think. When DD's marking past papers she only really has the 'indicative content' on the mark scheme to go on. Think she's intending taking some of her practice essays in to school to ask her teachers to mark them (they offered to do this).

My kids are back tomorrow too. Dd2 has her first written exam in three and a half weeks, but she has two MFL speaking exams to fit in before then. Her school don't give them study leave (not that she'd have much time for any!), they just carry on doing revision at school.

It's seems as if there are a lot of scientists. DO seems to find chemistry and biology more interesting than physics. However she seems to do as well if not better in physics exams. Her exam timetable is amazingly spread out, starting early May and continuing through to 9 June. So a marathon rather than a sprint. It's almost a pity that she has several after half term (2× maths and 1x physics and chemistry) so he will also be a mix of revision and past papers. Lessons are supposed to continue but I can't see them achieving much. AS is too big a distraction.

Yes sciences here as DD hates writing! She has completed the practical EMPAs but has her first written EMPA paper on 1st May, 2 more the following week, then study leave from 8th May, last exam on 5th June, then starts back in lessons on 8th June. Then after results day, she will possibly drop down to 3 subjects (and may do AS Further maths as well which she has already been self-studying for).
I am very organised as I have a wall chart above my desk with everything on!....I can't cope otherwise