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.

Two last week (biology) seemed to go OK. Dd's favourite subject, but also, because of her dyslexia, the most tricky. It is not unusual for her to drop loads of marks because she misreads a question and does not give the examiner what they want.

Three this week, including biology practical. She keeps saying C1 is easy. I keep telling her that this does not mean she should not practice. DS and his friends discovered last year that there was a very strong correlation between hard work and grades in maths. There were some real upsets from bright boys who did not shift up a gear whilst others, who worked hard and practiced loads of past papers, did better than expected.

These exams seem to go on forever. I think she has 4 after half term. At least they are spread out. She also seems to be very calm. Probably a good thing....as long as she is in fact putting in the work. It might be easier if I saw more evidence like revision notes scattered round the house.

Much sympathy Bernadette. Dd seems to have had a good day at revision here but one of her friends was pretty gutted after psychology - ran out of time :(

Ds thinks Latin went ok. Tomorrow revision sessions for
English . Russian history next on Wednesday.

Oh Bernadette how horrible for her :( Much sympathy. Does she have a second paper to balance it out? (And not to jump to conclusions or anything, but she can resit it next year if she's really unhappy with her result.) She must have felt sick. Hope it doesn't put her off her stride for the next exams.

Will there be resits for this cohort? Won't current y11 only do a 2 year course?

Thanks, she said her heart almost stopped when the adjudicator said time is up. There is a second paper but teacher said she will need nearly full maths as grade boundaries tend to be high.

I've said at least she can resit and tbh am more concerned that it doesn't knock her off stride for the next one.

Onwards we go

Sounds a bit confusing if they have two clocks in the same room?

Hope you r DD has done fine, Bernadette.

Good luck to anyone with exams today

DD1 did not look happy when she set off for her exam this morning. :(

I know she was awake during the night, we all were, DD2's coughing saw to that. :(

Who else's DC did Geography this morning? How did they find it?

Leeds2 DS1 was going Geography this morning. He needs an A and if he had bothered to remember to text me or to respond to my chasing text I'd be able to tell you how he had done but as he hasn't done either, I have no idea how it went! It needs to have gone well so fingers crossed!

Why does he need an A, Unexpected? To carry on to A2?

All I got from DD was that this morning's AS paper was a lot easier than last year's GCSE, which she found very difficult. I hope that bodes well!

DD1 did geography this morning (Edexcel). She said it was 'fine'. But she also said (email) there were no questions on specific topics they had been expecting to come up which annoyed some people (not apparently her). She was mainly annoyed about all the admin type stuff she had to do after the exam ended (she does her exams on a computer, due to SpLD). I got one line in the email about the actual exam and half a page about how annoying the admin was. I do not know if this bodes well or ill.

Leeds2 I suppose he doesn't absolutely need an A but he only took Geography up this year and has decided he was to do it at uni! He is also aiming for some competitive unis so he really needs to max out his grades. Anyway, he is home and said it went really well, an essay which he had sent to his teacher last week and which she graded highly and offered some pointers on was the one which came up so he was very pleased about that (something about coastal erosion maybe?). On to the next Geography on Thurs.

Lucky boy, Unexpected! It is unusual, I think, to take up Geography again in Sixth Form, but good luck to him. DD not home yet, but she must do a different board because her next geography paper is Friday - don't know why, but I assumed that everyone doing geography today would be doing the same board!

AQA and edexcel were today. Next Edexcel one is on Friday.Same day as English which is a bit of a pain.

DS1 is very laid back about everything. He had Geology yesterday and the second part of his Physics Empa today. Maths tomorrow!

DD (Y10) is more stressed than him, trying to get coursework done!

dd seems to have had another solid day but is getting a bit twitchy about tomorrow now.

Maths tomorrow here too. DS is also getting twitchy. Does revision alter metabolism?! He is eating us out of house and home. Wants food constantly, yet still looks like a beanpole!

DD2 has C1 today. A few of DD1's friends are retaking this. I am hoping it will go fine.
All those worrying about getting As for uni applications, it is mainly the predicted grades that count (for most unis & subjects but always check the prospectus). DD1 got a high B in the subject that her degree will mainly be based on but as her predicted grade was an A it wasn't a problem.

Forgot to say that they can the resit the paper that they got a lower mark in next summer to try and bring the marks up.

Dd1 said she didn't sleep well and has been up since 5.30 I hope, hope, hope she's happy with the way it goes. She needs the confidence boost. She is very anxious to get good grades because she wants to apply for medicine.

hellsbells I didn't know that about predicted grades. That's reassuring. Although I expect Oxbridge will still want As in everything everywhere!

northernlurker it's awful watching them get so stressed isn't it? DS was up really early too and revising over breakfast.

Fingers crossed for all of them today!