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Secondary education

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Original poster

Average (or lower) acheivers exam thread time?

299 replies

yolofish · 27/04/2015 00:57

Is it time for this? I mean those of us with kids who will not get 11 As in their GCSEs, or 4 As at A level.

I know most mumsnetters will not be in this particular boat Wink but quite frankly in this house we just have fingers crossed for a C at GCSE English language for DD2, so she can get into 6th form and dance to her heart's content, and for DD1 good enough results to get into Y14 to finish off her media studies A level (started too late in Y11 to finish this time round).

They are not knuckle draggers, or indeed thick as pig shit (both comments I have read on here). They work hard, are good kids - but a row of A*s will not be on the agenda.

Join me please if you feel the same!

OP posts:
SugarPlumTree · 05/05/2015 13:34

DD in the iGCSE English language now. She did say she's hoping that once she has done it she'll be able to start revising again as currently given up revision a she says it isn't going in. I keep repeating my mantra of 5 C's in my head and try to look calm.

What is your DS doing today Kittie? Can only imagine how stressful your morning was,

Horsemad · 05/05/2015 13:56

Fingers crossed it's going OK SugarPlumTree Smile

Minifingers · 05/05/2015 14:59

Joining thread.

DD charged off today not in proper uniform (she refused to put her school trousers on because she said they didn't fit properly - they do). Her first exam (English) at 1.45. School phoned me to say they wouldn't let her sit the exam unless she was in proper uniform, so I went scurrying in with her trousers at lunch. I think she was hoping not to have to sit the exam because she's bunked off for the last 3 weeks, and hasn't done ANY revision at all (or any work for months), so may well fail anyway. (note: she's in top set for English and her target grade was an A*).

I will have aged 10 years by the end of these exams and gone up three dress sizes. I'm eating so much from stress.

She didn't sign off her science course work last week, so that hasn't been submitted, hence those GCSE's are now down the pan. Already withdrawn from Spanish (her only language) and citizenship (hasn't done coursework). Hasn't attended any revision sessions this term, or done any work AT ALL. Her current modus operandi: lie constantly about where you are and what you're doing. Swear. Be violent to your siblings. Stand on the doorstep smoking. Threaten to run away. All solid tactics for stopping anyone asking why you're not studying.

It has occurred to me that she can't resit her GCSE's - I'm not aware of any FE or sixth form college which offers a full GCSE course. Is anyone else? I know she can do them individually later on, but that's not the same is it?

So what happens next? A foundation level BTEC or something?

What school/college would want to take a 16 year old with a solid record of truanting and disruptive behaviour?

SugarPlumTree · 05/05/2015 16:02

Minifingers that sounds tough Wine . Someone we know has a place on a level 2 BTEC at college and needs 4 D's . 2 other people have stayed in at DD's 6th form and are resitting Maths and English plus doing some BTECs along side it.

I think some colleges realise that year 11 can go horribly for some but give them the chance to turn over new leaf. A friend's DS was a nightmare in Year 11, banned from Prom etc. He did get enough to get onto L3 BTEC and she was like a different woman to a year ago when I saw her recently, he is getting Distinctions.

If you stand back and look objectively is there a chance she can pull off 5 C's? I reckon she will pass the English language, what is she like at English Lit and Maths ?

Has she said what she thinks is going to happen next year ?

Minifingers · 05/05/2015 16:10

She is insistent that she will get maths and English, and 3 others.

Her mock results suggest not.

She has - literally - done NO work at home, and hasn't been into school for weeks. Last minute revision is the key to scraping a 'C' for the bright kids who've do every little other work, but she's not even doing that.

KittiesInsane · 05/05/2015 16:25

Thanks SugarPlum! The little blighter has the luck of the devil -- he's just rolled in triumphant because it was postponed through teacher illness.

I won't say exactly which one but it was a 'high control' assessment.

I am hoping he has now gone upstairs to write a LOT of notes for tomorrow.

DontBeAMeanie · 05/05/2015 16:25

Oh dear Mini that must be worrying for you. At the end of the day you can't force them to work. Hopefully she will get her act together eventually. Good luck. Thanks

DontBeAMeanie · 05/05/2015 16:28

Wow, Kitties that really was a stroke of luck for your DC. Hope the note taking goes well.

KittiesInsane · 05/05/2015 16:30

I think it would have been kind of him to let me know. Might have saved me mainlining chocolate fingers through exam-nerves-by-proxy.

DontBeAMeanie · 05/05/2015 16:33

Aghhh! He didn't let you know. How infuriating. Angry. They really don't have a clue sometimes.

SugarPlumTree · 05/05/2015 17:18

She may actually be right though. Friend's DS did absolutely sod all in French and passed. Mocks are sometimes marked hard so you can't always tell. I reckon if she is good in English which she is from previous prediction, a session with one of the revision guides for Mice and Men will go a long way if she reads some of the past papers to see types of questions and is good at winging it. Poetry some people just get and can pull out a good answer. I guess some subjects depend on whether she has been entered for higher or foundation. Also she might she have controlled assessments from last year that will mean she won't need to do quite a well in some of the exams ?

Really do feel of you, she is taking a big gamble but one I have seen some children pull off at GCSE, it doesn't work at A level.Think at this stage you can't really change her behaviour, only how you respond to it. Sometimes for your sanity and health you have to step back a bit and try to break the cycle of conflict it is very easy to get into with teenagers.

Minifingers · 05/05/2015 17:44

"a session with one of the revision guides for Mice and Men will go a long way if she reads some of the past papers to see types of questions and is good at winging it."

She won't do that.

SugarPlumTree · 05/05/2015 17:47

Ah ok, though she was planning to do some the night before, sorry.

Guess then it might be an idea if you hit the phones to see what the situation is at local colleges so if it does all go horribly wrong in August you know more what the options are. Sorry you are going through this FlowersWine

Minifingers · 05/05/2015 17:48

"you have to step back a bit and try to break the cycle of conflict it is very easy to get into with teenagers."

Oh gosh, we stepped back long ago.

Still feel an obligation to try to get her to sit her exams, fools that we are....

SugarPlumTree · 05/05/2015 18:03

I'll shut up as am not helping, sorry . Totally get you feeling an obligation and guess it has heightened as exams draw near. Really sorry you are going through this Flowers

thunderbird69 · 05/05/2015 18:28

Wondered if many of those who are struggling to get motivated/interested in their GCSEs are the younger ones, not 16 till after they leave school?

Minifingers · 05/05/2015 19:01

Dd won't be 16 until August.

Really wish she could do the whole of year 11 again.

She phoned DH earlier btw and said her English had gone well. Praying for a pass for her, so she doesn't have to retake.

Minifingers · 05/05/2015 19:02

Oh, and don't worry Sugar! Thanks for taking an interest. Smile

SugarPlumTree · 05/05/2015 19:14

That is good news about the English Smile Fingers crossed for you all.

Original poster
yolofish · 06/05/2015 08:50

mini I do really feel for you. was it the IGCSE English? DD2 said it was 'good' too, so fingers crossed. Her textiles coursework is finally finished and will be signed off today; DD1's photography A level coursework finished and signed off yesterday. Huge relief.

No more for us til Monday - RE and Citizenship GCSEs.

How many exams does everyone else have? DD2 has 21 GCSE/BTEC exams, which seems many more than DD1 did 2 years ago. 6 of them are science!! (for which she got an E in her mock - so those will be fun...)

I think it is probably harder for those who have the "cant take a horse to water" offspring, your frustration levels must be so hard to maintain under control. Wine even though it's a bit early stilll (but sun must be over the yardarm somewhere in the world, right?)

OP posts:
homework · 06/05/2015 12:20

Hi my. Ds sat the first part of the English language I gcse yesterday , the reading part and sounds like it went okay , the second part is on Friday afternoon the writing part , which he struggles more with . He's a d/c grade student in most subjects , but tries hard and will work when you get him in the right mood and decrease his anxiety levels .

It's hard for them these days as there are so many papers , he has 22 papers in total for six subjects . Well at least first ones gone okay another 21 to go .

thunderbird69 · 07/05/2015 20:03

My DS has his last day at school tomorrow - can't quite believe it. First exams are next Tuesday (he has 4!) and he seems to have realised that revising might be a good idea.
Although he appears so laid back he is almost unconscious, I can spot signs of anxiety starting to show; mentioning how hard the exams are and saying that he might fail some. It's going to be a stressful time, hoping that the first ones go ok and that may give him a boost.

Good luck for any with exams tomorrow

Horsemad · 07/05/2015 20:31

thunderbird69, mine too! He has two French exams on Tues morning, followed by two Biology in the afternoon.

Doesn't seem five minutes since he was starting there. Shock

Minifingers · 07/05/2015 20:43

DD has now been withdrawn from triple science because of failure to do coursework. She is still doing core science. What with her being withdrawn from Spanish and RE, she's now only doing 7(?) 8(?). So hoping that now the pressure of doing the science has gone she can focus on her other GCSE's and actually do some work (I live in hope).

Original poster
yolofish · 08/05/2015 10:31

mini have you tried bribery? ie cash for grades? worked for DD1 at GCSE, although I got flamed on here for suggesting it was a reasonable option.

oh god, bloody swings and roundabouts here. DD2 got an A in her photography GCSE exam - hurrah. But teacher has just phoned me, and her coursework, although beautifully presented, is currently an E, with not enough analysis etc. FFFFFFFS. So teacher is going to give her a boot up the arse and she has another week to get coursework up to scratch. And the textiles folder I thought was signed off was being revised AGAIN last night. And she has Citizenship and RE exams on Monday, so she will have to divide the w/e between revising for those and photography. I do NOT want her to waste that A... she may never get another one.
Meanwhile, DD1 got a A for AS media coursework - but two more Ds on her two latest maths papers. Is it time for a drink yet?

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