Finishing (not starting) Year 13 support thread (number 5!)

[Littleham]

Exam season starts....

DS is a bit weird he's just as good at maths and essay stuff which is coming in quite handy. He's ill this weekend lots going round at school at the moment.

Lol, yes, my older girls are both determined to get A* for maths, although they both want to do arts degrees. If you can do maths, it's straightforward.

Dd1's worst subject of the three is her degree subject In fact she has been planning to retake one paper, except she and the other girl also retaking have just realised that half the set texts have changed this year! The school have changed boards for that subject so the teacher clearly hadn't thought to check either! Argh!

So she needs to decide whether to work on the new texts (one of which she sort of knows from elsewhere already), or just use the time making sure she is rock solid on the A2 papers. Can't believe it's got this far and they've only just thought to check. Not worth getting annoyed with dd about it, think that would be counterproductive, and tbh I'm too gobsmacked atm to be angry!

Oh, no, I didn't explain properly - the current y12 are doing a different board, but dd and her friend are doing the same as they did last year. It's just that two of the four texts have changed. One of the remaining two is the one dd didn't bother working hard on last year You need to have revised at least three out of the four ...

We are on the final leg now of exams (IB). DD has 3 exams on Monday though, History, French and German. She is going to have to be isolated after German because of a timetable clash with French. She is not too happy to say the least, 5 and a half hours of essay in one day.
She has been ready to leave school since xmas, she is one of the older ones and once the units started giving out offers she was ready to go.

At least the end is in sight welshpixie! Dd has several friends doing the IB and it sounds gruelling. They will be finishing on Friday though and dd won't even have started her exams yet!

These exams remind me of a hurricane. You know they are coming because the forecast says so and it starts as a depression. Some people prepare for it and others just go about their lives until just before it hits. Then we all start worrying / panicking....attempting to batten down the hatches.

First one wall of the hurricane hits and then you head into the eye (Half Term with an eerie waiting lull) followed by the potentially devastating eye wall.

You think it will never end, but manage to survive it only for next years hurricane season to start again.

Littleham Love it

Brilliant, Littleham and so true!

Bloody hell! Ds predicted 3A* and needs 3A's for his degree course- but has just told me that's it's not 'clicking' and he is currently getting all B's in the past papers and apparently it's not improving-- he didn't want to worry me by letting me know! So every time I've asked him how he's been getting on he has said its going very well!!! I don't know what to do, and he is very stressed!!

What did he get last year waiting?

Waiting I expect just telling you will take a lot of pressure off him. I do think that stress can block our minds from thinking clearly. Is there a completely different activity he could do, like archery or canoeing or something. It might help to 'reboot' his thought process?

Did I tell you about the hippo? (The part of the brain responsible for learning and recall is called the hippocampus). Make sure he is looking after his hippo and not working it too hard.

Littleham you've clearly been thinking about this a lot

nicecardigan he got very high A's.

Farenuff I expect part of the problem is that he hasn't engaged his 'hippo' enough this year- he has been mooning around after his girl-friend who subsequently finished with him 2 weeks ago-

I'm annoyed that the college haven't raised any concerns, according to Ds they don't think there's a problem.

i am worried stupid!! although he has an obtainable insurance he says he now doesn't want to go there.

What subjects is it waiting? If it's maths/science being more familiar with the content may help.

yes it is maths/science and i think your right- he seems to of based all his revision on past papers but says he is loosing marks because he can't make the connections between the topics. I've suggested he looks at the whole course and makes mind maps to show how each area is inter-connected (basically just bloody revise!)- his first exam is in 3 weeks.

I would leave the past papers for a bit and spend some time revising the actual course and then go back to the past papers. Understanding the course will help him apply the knowledge.

thanks nicecardigan thats what I think too

Littleham I was soaking in the bath earlier when that line from Katy Perry's Firework popped into my head:

'If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow'

Think you're onto something there.

Spot on with the hurricane analogy Littleham

Waitingaround, I would agree with NiceCardigan - concentrate on the course. Fingers crossed for your DS that he gets over the mental block - I'm sure he will. for you! I really hate the exam process, it is a pita.

Love the hurricane analogy Littleham.

Waitingaround also agree, go back to course itself. Maybe tackle some end of topic questions in revision guides? Also, do they have any school drop in sessions available at where he may be able to get some teacher feedback on where he's going wrong in the exam questions.

DD did a massive amount of revision all week, but too exhausted to have done much this morning, and has p/t job shift this afternoon. Sensibly avoided a party last night, but what was meant to be a quiet, relaxing night in with BF went on later than planned.

First exam Tuesday, physics mech resit. Know she's worried. Should easily improve on last years , but still can't get above a B in past papers and beginning to lose heart. Seems to be putting more work into Maths for Weds, being so close to full marks spurring her on.

Agree with the hurricane analogy!
DD1 has just said she has only just realised that there is no school tomorrow or ever again and has gone all sad on me ....I have just said, don't worry you will be there on Thursday for your resit .
Told her to get focussing again after the leavers assembly and pub crawl, and then out with her boyfriend last night.
DD2 in year 12 has exams all week except tomorrow. But she is chilled (far too chilled) and yet to start revision today.

Hope the re-sits go well everyone.

My dd goes on study leave on Friday. I need some high decibel ear defenders as my son is testing dd on Biology. It is very LOUD.