Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread 2

[HSMMaCM]

New thread ..... (DD not sure about the prom dress she has bought!!!!)

Sugarplum funnily enough, our printer has just complained that it is running out of ink. Just going to zoom to PC world now so I don't have to bother over the Easter weekend and we don't get caught short.

Pondering suggesting cinema tonight for a bit of a reward- she has really knuckled down today.

Just popping in to say Hello. My DD is at school today for a few hours doing maths revision. They are able to go in evey day over the holidays but had to book in to revision sessions. She has done 3 lots this week and is in Tuesday to Thursday next week. Term starts again on 13th.

She got an A in an English Language mock last week so she was thrilled with that, she is doing English at A level. (Am I allowed a little boast, not stealth, just blatant - she took English Lit in Y10 and got an A*)

She has ordered her prom dress and has shoes.

She's fairly chilled for now but will build up to a massive stress a few days before her first exam. Once she sits the first one she'll be ok again.

She is working on a timetable and can be trusted to get on and work without too much nagging. I am a bit concerned as she's just started a job 2 evenings a week (finishes at 8) but it is almost impossible for her age group to find jobs in our town so she grabbed one when the chance came along.

I think she'd just like to get it over with now and get to college!

Interesting to read all your top tips - I'll be sharing them with her later.

Good luck everyone's DCs!!

Spudmasher think DH is taking DD to the cinema today.

Hi Madasgardian . You are definitely allowed a boast, how flipping fantastic is that.

I've just been to OOH GP as have a UTI. My blood pressure is up and DH (T1 diabetic since childhood) tested my blood sugar and it was a bit high.

I've had a good talking to about looking after myself and not putting everyone else first. I thought that actually that is true and something I'd share with you all.

Take the doctor's advice, sugar - and thanks for passing it on.
Sometimes it seems to me more stressful supporting a kid through this than it was doing my own O-levels - TBH I really do think they were in many ways a lot easier than GCSEs (well, if you were a natural exam-doer, at any rate).

sugar you must look after yourself in order to look after anyone else. Think of it like an oxygen mask on the plane; they tell you to secure yours first!

Not a bad here at Casa WF. Went shopping with DH and managed to choose sofas, a rug, a coffee table and a lamp.

Dd has done 4.5 hours revision. DS has done 2.5 which is pretty impressive to say he's just back from DofE expedition. He looks so tired but said it was fun.

Thank you both. I have to go for bloods next week as when we dipped my urine at home (DH T1 diabetic since childhood) there was a trace of sugar so we tested blood sugar properly and it was a bit high. Huge wake up call to be honest as think I am quite probably Prediabetic and want to keep it at the Pre stage. My flipping blood pressure is up too. Quiet weekend for me.

No revision has happened here so far today so am very impressed with Casa WF.

I don't remember a lot about O Levels but don't remember them being hugely stressful, I am ok with exams though. DD hates them which doesn't help.

I am in the tiny minority here. From what I have read you all seem to have great kids who want to do well and I cant believe the amount of revision they seem to be doing. My dc has done nothing so far these holidays, apart from one day's session at school and just seems intent on having a rest and a good time. I cannot make her do work and I am so sad and disappointed with her. No point in imposing sanctions etc as it will push her the other way.

So for all of you disillusioned and disappointed mums out there come and join the "lazy, unmotivated, dont care about any of it" club and lets try and support each other. PM me if you like

To all you others, well done for having such great kids. I am so jealous and I dont know where I have gone wrong!

Good luck to everyone and roll on the end of June when it will all be over.

sillygiraffe and lots of sympathy.

I think my DD is somewhere in the middle of revising really hard and relaxing - although she is going into school and allegedly doing stuff in her room, she is not overworking I am fine with this - it would be unrealistic for her to be completely focused and unremitting as she wouldn't want to/be able to keep up that level of commitment for A'levels or university - she wants a social life too!

I will probably be in the "lazy, unmotivated, don't care about any of it" club with DS in 2 years time, unless some miracle happens!

SugarPlum, hope you are feeling a bit better. You definitely need to look after yourself with so much on your plate.

I don't remember doing any revision for my O'levels other than the night before the exam. And I thankfully don't remember any pressure from the teachers who probably didn't care about me (or most of my classmates) as I wasn't top of the top set in my grammar school.

They're still all great kids giraffe, even if they don't appear to be doing much it might just be a different learning style. Some people like a last minute cram, some like a steady pace.

As long as she gets what she needs to go on to the next stage (college?) she will be fine. Does she need particular grades in any specific subjects?

My ds needs 6 grade C or above in any subject (including English and Maths) so actually only half of what he is taking and a lower grade than he is predicted. Technically, he could just pick about 7 subjects that he prefers and just study those. Looking at it like that it doesn't seem too daunting.

sg I don't think it's worth expending energy trying to figure out where you went wrong.

For one thing, you probably didn't. Young people have minds of their own and whilst we can guide them I don't think we can force then to do much that they seriously do not want to do.

I have a fairly easy ride with my two as they want to do very well and have made the connection between their ambitions and the graft needed.

Don't get me wrong, they do not spend all day locked in their rooms revising. And they don't wake up cheering at the thought of two hours going through diffusion. They're not angels.

Well day 2 of our easter holidays, we onlying broke up Thursday, and ds did nothing yesterday except watcheck DVDS and play on line games. Today however different set up, up at 8 am geography revision, via the books I've purchased as his teacher is rubbish, he's helped put the washing on the line and then done a chunk of geography bitesize to see what he'd learnt from the book. He's just informed me he's have 1.5 hrs of gaming and then he'll do some physics.!!

To say I am impressed is an understatement. Giraffe don't despair they are all different. I was like your dd and it didn't cause me and problems some kids get it with long slow and steady others do a last minute oh my god cram, as long as she gets enough to get to college /6th form hopefully she'll be ok.

Am off to potter in the garden and enjoy the sunshine.

Oh and can I say as a result of reading this thread I asked DS about his drama gcse specifically the acting part of it as I wasn't aware he'd done it as it hadn't been mentioned.....It appears the examiner forgot about their school so didn't arrange to visit Despite teacher ringing every week. so teacher and head have said they will either record the acting and mark it and send it off or the person needs to come first week back. How ridiculous is that though to miss a school out completely. DS is not I'm the least bit bothered he said he knows his monologue he knows the group piece it'll be fine!

So glad I asked as now I can check with school when they are gonna do it.

auntpetunia - unbelievable to miss a school out!

SugarPlum Make sure you take it easy during this stressful time.

sillygiraffe All of mine have matured at different times and there isn't much you can do about it. I asked my dd if she was revising anything this morning and the reply came back as 'yes'. Poked my head round the corner to find her sitting in her wardrobe reading a vampire book. Sigh.

Another day another round of revision in Casa WF.

I was asked to make our Easter lunch an Easter dinner and have complied ( turkey in oven ).

I can't vouch for the quality of their revision but I can't question the quantity. Both getting their heads down. ( thigh currently playing footie in garden with DH).

Quality v hours spent an issue in Chez Spud too.
DD seems to have learned every word of the Miss Saigon soundtrack today....not sure how much she knows of the Maths revision.

DD left the family get together to revise. She's asleep

I've been given bit of a conundrum today.

A work opportunity has come up. Something very exciting but I've been asked to fly out to LA for a few days.

Unfortunately DH will also be away for one of those nights. And my Mum who would normally grab the chance to be useful is on holiday.

I dunno what to do really. This is not a great time for this to come up, yet it might never come up again!

Word - will they be alright together for a night? Or stay with friends for a night?

Word another vote for a sleepover - it'd probably do them so good to be away with friends for a night.

DS has three exams at the same time, he says he has to stay in school and not see anybody until after school and then stay and do the exams then so he won't have any time relaxing with friends at break :(

Word, I'd send them off on sleepovers if at all possible - no chance I'd miss out on a trip to LA!

Sarum, that is hard. But it is only one day and when it's done, it's 3 exams out of the way!

DD asked me to wake her at 10 if she wasn't already up. She doesn't look like she's about to jump out of bed!

Tilly indeed, and best that way I think. I've not been and done the wake up call yet either, I think perhaps I should.

Sillygiraffe, I'm in the same situation. I'd be glad to report that DD has done 2 hours of revision per day in the holidays.

I've backed off, given her her internet back, at least she can access revision stuff from the school website if she wants.

I've told her it's up to her, I have stopped being angry at her doing FA in her room all day. Made it clear she can come to me for help. For my part I won't ask her if she has done xyz, I will only ask what she has actually done for school.
Time will tell if she's a genius and doesn't need revision, or just being lazy and ultimately not very clever, stopping to work when it matters.

Somehow I always assumed she would be fine. She was always self motivated and very driven until last year.

My DS does more for school than she does, he's year 9. Hopefully he will remember what she is like now and won't behave the same way.

That is absolutely awful Auntpetunia WF do the sleepover. Life has to go on and it will be a night break for them plus something for you, do you all good. Sarum that is a tough day but as BTM, that will be 3 exams down.

DD hasn't done much the last few days but is planning in Geography later. She's at the table painting at the moment which hopefully bodes well for next year if she does Art.

I'm feeling better thanks and blood sugars looking a bit more normal. Gorgeous day here. I'm making new flower beds and a cutting patch for the summer, my bit of time away from it all.